I am having problems with an xp home pc. A friend of mine (no honest it really is!!) brought me his pc. can't get on internet, keeps crashing, all programs from start programs is empty (although all seem to be still on C: drive), lots of desktop shortcuts not working, can't get into control panel from start menu, can by browsing to it but nothing in it will actually run. similiar story all round the PC really (including system restore).his antivirus software had run out so he had none for god knows how long!!!!! I took the hard drive out of the Pc, slaved it into a test pc I have that has up to date av software. I scanned the slave drive and found and deleted 45 instances of the back door - BDD virus. put drive back in pc but still got same problems with corrupt links/programs etc. tried last known good but that makes no changes. I know it's looking like a reinstall but wondered if any one had any ideas before I go that way??

Start Clean and Reinstall Windows.

Maybe check for, and remove SpyWare. Here you will find links for detection and removal software. Here is another that is at most computer stores, including Office Depot, Office Max: Spyware X-terminator Also, be sure to update any software online after installation, and every 1-2 weeks. Spyware info. from M$ Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery

Start afresh is also my way of thinking. A clean install. Tt Lanfire nf7-s v2.0 XP-m 2500@209x11 SP 97 512mb pc3200 Jou Jye 550w psu FX5600 WDCaviar 160gb sata ;~}

I would download a free trial version of NOD32 antivirus software and install it on the infected machine, I have seen a lot of computers with virus's on them and this AV software is the best by far for fixing already infected systems. http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm Go to the downloads section.

Put the HD in the other computer and backup all the data temporarily on the "clean" computer, then have XP format it for you...then put it in the original comp and have XP setup install XP for you. -Andrew