Cant Access Icons or Programs, Limited use even in safe mode

I recently got a free gateway 300s system which I gave to a neighbor. It is only 1 month old, and recently when they attempted to log into the computer, their taskbar was unusable(cursor would turn to an hourglass) and all their desktop icons were gone. I booted into safe mode, same issue. I tried loading last known good and got same issue. I then reloaded Win XP doing the repair option, and now my icons are back, and my taskbar is fully functional, but when I click on any icon or program, I get an hour glass on my cursor for a moment and then nothing. It is almost like the computer is running in some sort of windows Demonstration mode (if there is such a beast). The system also runs SUPER slow, such that when I log out, rather than it quickly doing so, it shows you each device it is shutting down and making you acknowlege each one. Gateway's answer is of course that I have a virus and need to Fdisk the system. The person I gave the system too has not backup up anything, and this is not an option I truely want to consider. Any ideas? sound like a virus?

In reading the boards here, I think Possibly, I have the Yaya virus. Going to try the fix, and see what happens. It also is possible I have the same sypmtoms anyway, as this thread.

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...hreadid=127799

Gateway is right
You have a virus. Get Norton Antivirus and scan the system

Note: some of the new viruses will disable antivirus software. You cannot install it and you cannot run it

Wicked beasts!

Well, not the problem, Yaya that is. Did the fix, and it said it wasnt found. So back to square one, still unable to access any programs, System Restore hangs when attempted to run, even in Safe mode.

Can you download, unzip and run the StartupList application from this site:

http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/

Copy/paste the results here if you can. If not, try this: click start>run and enter msinfo32

Click Software Environment and Running Tasks. Then click Edit>Select All>Edit> copy and paste the copied text here.

Do the same for Startup Programs.

It may not be Yaya but you absolutely do have a virus. I have no doubt about it

Same issue in safe mode
System retore hangs
Black icons
Extremely slow system
Disappearing desktop icons

The system has a virus no doubt!
Which one? Your guess is as good as mine when you have 65,000 viruses to pick from

How do you know that the system came to you virus free?
You don't, and that is exactly my point

Viruses sometimes have trigger dates. How do you know that something just wasnt sitting there dormant till the trigger date and time? You dont

Fdisk it. Format it and reload it. that will take you less time in the long run if you know how to do so

Unless you want to run Norton Antivirus from the command line
You could reinstall the entire system in less time

Caveat: Make sure that all personal data is backed up! Fdisk and format at your own risk!!

Thanks for the info guys. I downloaded the lurkhere file on floppy, will try to run it later. Doubtful though, for will have to run it in safe mode to get any programs to work, but was able to run the norton YAYA fix in safe mode, so who knows, maby this one will run as well.

I fear you are correct though, it is a virus. Just dont want to Fdisk if avoidable, as my neighbor really has not backed anything up, and if I do so, I will end up having to hook up their old PC, add it to my network, get old files off, yadaydayda to get their system back in order will be a huge pain.

Word of advice, dont sell a system to a neighbor that knows nothing about operating a PC. You will be on their "I got this proplem" list for ever. hehe.

Will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again for the info.