I am in desperate need of help. Although I can occasionally reach my desktop (WinXP Pro SP3) -- most of the time, the computer shows a perpetual hour glass before I reach the desktop. Even when I do reach the desktop, I can do nothing from there. The machine simply shows a perpetual hour glass no matter what I try to do.
I am occasionally able to boot up in Safe Mode and have run scans with Avira AntiVir (freeware) and SpyBot, finding Trojans and other nasties, which I have quarantined. Nonetheless, the machine has gotten worse in how quickly it becomes useless.
I thought I might try SuperAntiSpyware which John recommends in this Security thread, but John seems to say that it must be installed on the machine to be scanned (I cannot run it from a CD). I am dubious of my chances of installing it on my infected machine. Is this something I might be able to do in Safe Mode?
If I MUST reformat my hard drive, there are some files I would like to save first (assuming I can then get them back onto the reformatted computer. Where is the 'favorites' info (showing favorite web sites) stored (what is the file name)? I run Outlook 2000 which I use for e-mail. Where are the address book and previously received (not archived) e-mail messages stored? Can I simply copy those files onto a disk from Safe Mode and then copy them back onto the computer after I have done a clean install of WinXP? Will I be able to run Roxio in Safe Mode so as to burn a CD with these files, or must I run out and get a flash drive (with its very limited capacity)?
I confess my ignorance. Like certain famous literary figures, I must "rely upon the kindness of strangers." Your help will be greatly appreciated!
I am occasionally able to boot up in Safe Mode and have run scans with Avira AntiVir (freeware) and SpyBot, finding Trojans and other nasties, which I have quarantined. Nonetheless, the machine has gotten worse in how quickly it becomes useless.
I thought I might try SuperAntiSpyware which John recommends in this Security thread, but John seems to say that it must be installed on the machine to be scanned (I cannot run it from a CD). I am dubious of my chances of installing it on my infected machine. Is this something I might be able to do in Safe Mode?
If I MUST reformat my hard drive, there are some files I would like to save first (assuming I can then get them back onto the reformatted computer. Where is the 'favorites' info (showing favorite web sites) stored (what is the file name)? I run Outlook 2000 which I use for e-mail. Where are the address book and previously received (not archived) e-mail messages stored? Can I simply copy those files onto a disk from Safe Mode and then copy them back onto the computer after I have done a clean install of WinXP? Will I be able to run Roxio in Safe Mode so as to burn a CD with these files, or must I run out and get a flash drive (with its very limited capacity)?
I confess my ignorance. Like certain famous literary figures, I must "rely upon the kindness of strangers." Your help will be greatly appreciated!