You never mentioned Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) before in this
thread, Daniel.
Two hours online (or connected to a local network) without a functional,
fully-updated anti-virus application installed is more than ample time to
infect a computer. (Actually, two minutes would suffice!) The fact that
you couldn't download/install MSE very strongly suggests a hijackware
infection is causing your problem.
Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!
HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:
4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
Other helpful references include:
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial AND download/run the
appropriate removal tool BEFORE installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades AND BEFORE installing your new anti-virus application
(which likely will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
Good luck!
Daniel wrote:
> 1. New hard drive
> 2. SP2
> 3. Yes
> 4. 2 hours, while I tried to get MSE installed, when MSE would not install
> I
> downloaded AVG.
> This is a stand alone PC.
>
> thanks
>
> Daniel
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
> news:u9gYmZsxKHA.5936@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> [Please don't answer my questions within the quote of my post, just
>> answer
>> by number.]
>>
>> 1. Why did you need to do a "fresh install?"
>>
>> 2. Did this fresh install leave you with WinXP SP1 or SP2?
>>
>> 3. Did you use the disks that came with the computer-in-question to
>> install WinXP?
>>
>> 4. How long was the computer connected to the internet or any local
>> networks (other computers) before you got AVG installed & fully updated?
>>
>>
>> Daniel wrote:
>>>> Why did it take you 2 years to get SP3 installed?
>>>
>>> It was a fresh install of XP on a formatted hard drive and Auto Update
>>> installed SP3
>>>
>>>> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
>>>> subscription current?
>>>
>>> AVG Free v9
>>>
>>> What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
>>>
>>> None
>>>
>>>> What third-party firewall (if any)?
>>>
>>> None
>>>
>>>> Were any of these applications running in the background when you
>>>> installed SP3?
>>>
>>> Yes AVG
>>>
>>>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
>>>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>>>> bought it)?
>>>
>>> No
>>>> Daniel wrote:
>>>>> I have a PC with XP Home SP3 (SP3 installed yesterday) it has been
>>>>> working
>>>>> well but
>>>>> today, when I double click, or right click/open on a shortcut or
>>>>> select
>>>>> an
>>>>> item in the
>>>>> start menu nothing happens except that the mouse arrow turns to a
>>>>> working
>>>>> hourglass and
>>>>> the program does not open.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas on what could be happening or what I should look at.