Can't get passed the Welcome Screen

Hey Guys,

I have a rather urgent problem with my Vista x64 machine.

Yesterday, after switching off my machine, I turned it back on and it failed to get passed the 'Welcome' screen. The screen went either black or blue and one of the internal fans started to whir really quickly and noisily.

To try and remedy this problem I inserted my Vista DVD and booted from it. System Repair found no problems. System Restore from several points didn't solve the problem, either (note: this has been a godsend on a few occassions).

What's different now? I recently got a broadband connection (I've been a dial-up user for far too long).

During my adventures with a high-speed connection, I downloaded and installed the latest AVG (version 10, I think).

I really don't know what's happening. I am currently in Safe Mode with Networking.

I suspect there is either a conflict (software) or some piece of 'malware' doing weird stuff.

Any ideas?

Oskari

Hi there,
I think as you are in safe mode you should:-
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7
Clean Boot in safe mode.
If that does not work:-
If possible:-
First, to assist in the elimination of possible virus and/or malware.
I would ask you to please use your Anti-virus full scan program facilities, making sure, you have updated the software first. Please advise us of the results.

If you do not have any anti-virus loaded please go to this link and download Microsoft Security Essentials :- Microsoft Security Essentials | Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malware

Secondly, please download:- malwarebytes Malwarebytes a Malware searching program, again, an updated full scan. Notify results please. Both these programs are Freeware

Thanks kesume. It seems I currently don't have AVG on my system, even though I Restored it to a point after installing the latest version with the latest update. Should I re-visit AVG and get it back? Or would t be wiser to grab Microsoft's version (as you mention)?

After reading the clean boot instructions I'll give that a go, because if all else fails I know I can get back to this SAFE MODE with Networking.

I will notify you in a little while. Thanks for your help thus far!

I just ran Malwarebytes' and the Quick Scan results revealed this (the keygen is something I have not used and I suspect my cousin had it on one of his USB sticks and somehow it ended up in my Recycle bin):

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
Malwarebytes

Database version: 6337

Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 (Safe Mode)
Internet Explorer 7.0.6001.18000

12/04/2011 9:26:16 AM
mbam-log-2011-04-12 (09-26-16).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 160950
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 48 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
c:\$Recycle.Bin\s-1-5-21-1917536714-17487637-1917077668-1000\$RQD5Z6J\adobe-master-cs5-keygen.exe (RiskWare.Tool.CK) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

-------

Also, I found my download of AVG 10 in the downloads folder. I can re-install it without having to get it again.

It seems I can't install AVG in Safe Mode. It asks me to restart the system, but that's no good (I suspect) because of my start up problem.

I followed the first part of the Clean Boot procedure and it didn't seem to help. Going back to Msconfig.exe reveals that all the check boxes were restored to how they were before.

I'll keep trying...

Hi,Please DO NOT do anything else yet to the computer.
I will refer this to one of our forum security experts first to have a look at before we proceed OK?
I will try & contact them now.
Please keep in mind they are busy people, therefore not always readily available.
So please be patient.
Do not download AVG!
You found these doing a Quick Scan only!
You may be asked to do full scan, please await further.
Thank you for your patience.

Kesume, with the Quick Scan the only problem was the KeyGen that was sitting in my Recycle Bin. As I mentioned, it is something I would not use and I recall that it originally was in a folder copy & pasted from my cousins USB stick and immediately deleted. I can't see how this would be the problem.

Thanks for your help so far. I'll wait.

And, BTW, Microsoft Security Essentials cannot be installed while I'm in Safe Mode.

So we are slowly decreasing our options.?
If you will be patient & please wait for one of our experts it would be good.

Weird thing is how when I get back to Safe Mode (such as now), msconfig.exe has all the check boxes ticked again. This includes Normal Start Up, not Selective Start Up. Is this normal?

I will be patient.

But I'm getting to the point that my only solution may be to wipe my computer (format C) and start again. But this time getting rid of Vista and buying Windows 7. Obviously I don't want the expense of that, but ...

Things are happening in a manner perhaps they should not.
You try as people do restore points, no success.
If you computer turns out to have virus, then using restore will take the virus back with it.
One minute you have a series of availabilities, next, change for no apparent reason.
So I think there may be virus, I may be wrong, but O would like another persons opinion on what the next step should be.
This of course is just a suggestion.

What's the worst case scenario? Reformat drive? Upgrade to Win 7? No anti-virus program wants to install when I'm stuck in safe mode. I tried BitDefender's Online scan, but it came up clean. Hmmmm ....

Well at this moment I am unsure what that could be, given the unsure circumstances.
I have tried to contact one of the forum security team, but was unable to gain direct contact.
Perhaps other members may have other opinions/suggestions as to what the way forward should be.

In the meantime, I've decided to download and run a few portable anti-virus/malware/spy software ... because the problem has to be one of these. Thanks for your help so far.

So far, SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition has found three (3) instances of an Adware Tracking Cookie. Somehow I don't think this is my problem ... but I could be wrong. The complete scan has not finished as I type this and I hope it finds something more malicious.

Perhaps another important note, which I forget to mention was that when I first went high-speed Internet I installed Avast! (hybrid x64). This, I think, caused Vista to go into a Tamper State. I fixed this by restoring to a point before I downloaded Avast!

From everything I had heard about Avast! I thought it was the prefered free anti-virus. I uninstalled AVG 9 (initially without their removal tool) but I noticed that ccleaner kept revealing that there were a couple of 'orphan' AVG9 files, which ccleaner could not remove.

Anyway, once I ditched Avast! and downloaded AVG10 (point something - it was the latest version from a couple of days ago). AVG 10 ran beautifully and a scan revealed no problems, except that (I think) there were ROOT(?) issues which AVG could only deal with a couple of them. The others could only be removed with their full version.

I hope this helps.

Hello sorry to hear you are having system problems, maybe these can help you.

First safe mode:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/123496-safe-mode.html

Diagnostic tools to use in safe mode

Check these out and let me know if you have a problem with them but it should help you while your in safe mode.

Security issues can be very bad and I also will send a note to the forum expert on this issue for you...

Black screen of death is just one. But this might help..

Mysterious Vista KSOD (blacK Screen Of Death) ~ Security Garden

http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-debugging/282419-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

Hang on ... SUPERAntiSpyware has just detected another issue, something called: Trojan.Vundo-Variant/F

Any ideas anyone???

Hello

If you look through here you will find a link for CCleaner download it and let it delete all the cookies and the junk however do not use the registry cleaner part of the program.

http://www.vistax64.com/software/115872-free-software-list-vista.html

Thanks Americancritic for your response. Please keep in mind that my 'black screen' problem completely freezes my system, i.e. no mouse cursor, no ctrl-alt-del function - just a hard reset will get it to re-boot. Also, as I said, one of the internal fans starts to whir really fast and noisy.

Ok let the software do the deleting for you, when it asks you just click the delete button and it will erase it for you, plus DO NOT use any of your restore points as you will reinfect your computer, you need to delete all of yur restore points and start new one after we get your computer back and running the way it should...