I have an older custom desktop running Windows XP Home Edition OEM with SP3 and Office 2001.
Everything worked fine for years until my son downloaded some apps for his cell phone in Nov 2012.
After that the PC was infected with the Google Redirect virus. I couldnt get rid of it so I switched to DuckDuckGo and SpeedBit for my browsing (there were no problems).
In Jan 2013 my Avira Free AV froze, so I switched to Avast 8.0 Free AV. It seemed to work well with my Zone Alarm Free Firewall.
In Feb 2013 all hell broke loose. Avast froze and would not update or uninstall. I finally uninstalled it by downloading the uninstall app from my other PC.
After that I tried to install the free Zone Alarm AV unsuccessfully.
Since then Ive experienced the following problems:
- The Zone Alarm download ALWAYS appears at boot up. I have to access Task Manager to close it and get to desktop.
- Even though all AVs have been uninstalled and not appearing on the Add and Remove or the REVO Uninstall list, Im still getting the message from Windows Security that my computer is protected.
- The Help and Support as well as the System Restore files have disappeared. The link in Startup still shows but when I click it nothing happens. The System Restore file on the Programs list is empty.
- When I click the Search link, I get the animated dog icon but nothing else
- Also, when I boot, Windows will process normally but often will not display the desktop. All I get is a blank desktop background screen.
Ive downloaded and applied too many registry and repair apps to list (unless you neede them to provide a solution).
I believe that the BIG problem occurred with Avast 8.0 malfunctioning. But I have no idea what the Redirect Virus may have done to my XP system.
Questions:
1. What the heck is going on??!! Virus? Registry crash?... OS? AV and/or firewall utilities?
1. Is there is a fix to these problems without a major reinstall of Windows XP (and the loss of a lot of data)? Please advise me!
Much Thanks for any feedback.
adf
Everything worked fine for years until my son downloaded some apps for his cell phone in Nov 2012.
After that the PC was infected with the Google Redirect virus. I couldnt get rid of it so I switched to DuckDuckGo and SpeedBit for my browsing (there were no problems).
In Jan 2013 my Avira Free AV froze, so I switched to Avast 8.0 Free AV. It seemed to work well with my Zone Alarm Free Firewall.
In Feb 2013 all hell broke loose. Avast froze and would not update or uninstall. I finally uninstalled it by downloading the uninstall app from my other PC.
After that I tried to install the free Zone Alarm AV unsuccessfully.
Since then Ive experienced the following problems:
- The Zone Alarm download ALWAYS appears at boot up. I have to access Task Manager to close it and get to desktop.
- Even though all AVs have been uninstalled and not appearing on the Add and Remove or the REVO Uninstall list, Im still getting the message from Windows Security that my computer is protected.
- The Help and Support as well as the System Restore files have disappeared. The link in Startup still shows but when I click it nothing happens. The System Restore file on the Programs list is empty.
- When I click the Search link, I get the animated dog icon but nothing else
- Also, when I boot, Windows will process normally but often will not display the desktop. All I get is a blank desktop background screen.
Ive downloaded and applied too many registry and repair apps to list (unless you neede them to provide a solution).
I believe that the BIG problem occurred with Avast 8.0 malfunctioning. But I have no idea what the Redirect Virus may have done to my XP system.
Questions:
1. What the heck is going on??!! Virus? Registry crash?... OS? AV and/or firewall utilities?
1. Is there is a fix to these problems without a major reinstall of Windows XP (and the loss of a lot of data)? Please advise me!
Much Thanks for any feedback.
adf