HELP! My computer is infected and I can't access anything. A box pops up saying winlogon.exe error..?

Question

The computer then shuts down and reboots again, only to again bring up the box with the error. Is there anything I can do? I was told that I have lost everything. Please someone tell me this isn't true!

I am on a different computer in my home

I hit the f8 key and still nothing

Answer 1

Hi there,

Winlogon.exe is part of the Trojan SystemPoser infection:
http://spywarefiles.prevx.com/RRHDIG2178/winlogon%252Eexe.html

This can be removed by running the free trial of Prevx1 which will scan your PC and remove this and any other infections free of charge.
http://www.prevx.com

However, the problem is how you get this on your infected computer if it keeps rebooting. Hopefully you will be able to download and save this to a CD, and then try and install this on your infected computer before it reboots.

However, there is a way to stop your computer from automatically rebooting:

Click Start and Run and type cmd.
You can then abort a shutdown with this command: shutdown -a.
 

Answer 2

There're a few solutions.

In my experience I've found that when computers are this far along, the only recourse is to format and reinstall your OS, probably windows in your case.

Finding and fixing a virus at this stage will not restore winlogon.exe to it's correct status. That's a critical system file, as I'm sure you've found out.

My advice:

Get a windows installation disk. Put it in your cd drive, and restart your computer. After the computer startup screen, the screen should go black and have a blinking cursor at the top left of the screen. It will tell you to type any key to boot from the CD. Hit any key at that point.

The screen will eventually go blue, and you'll be prompted with a few options. One of these is a REPAIR INSTALLATION. This is what you want to do. It will reinstall windows and all it's components over your existing installation. The benefit of this is that it does NOT whipe out all your files like doing a full installation will, so you have an opportunity to backup whatever you may need. However, repair installations are rarely a lasting solution. I recommend doing the repair installation, backup all your files, and then do a full reinstallation, in which you format all partitions of your hard drive.

Make sure your copy of windows is Service Pack 2 before you do any of this.

When you finally get all this done, download AVG Free edition virus scan. It's free, and it's effective. I would also recommend Windows Defender (against Spyware), and ZoneAlarm, the free version. ZoneAlarm is a very good, user friendly firewall program, far superior to the default Windows Firewall. You might also download CCleaner, also free. It detects and deletes temporary internet and installation files that accumulate very quickly. I deleted 2 gigabytes of these types of files yesterday off my own computer after letting it go for two weeks.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Answer 3

How have you posted this then?

But anyway.

Boot up, keep hitting F8, select safe mode.

Use whichever computer you are using now to search the net for a virus that fits with your symptoms.

Find the cure.

Use cure on you computer in SAFE MODE.

Reboot to normal mode

If you can't find anything then roll back to a restore point when you knew it worked

DO NOT SIMPLY REFORMAT YOUR DRIVE AS SUGGESTED ABOVE

Answer 4

Try hitting the F10 THE F8 is for safe mode F10 will do a system application recovery.It will be like it was the day you bought it and yes you will loose yahoo,msn stuff you have downloaded your self but it will remove this bug. And you can always re install your stuff Good Luck. If you need more help hit me at yahoo

Answer 5

nicely now that I even have the prospect i might like share this sparkling joke as an beginning off An previous guy went to the medical expert complaining that his spouse ought to somewhat hear. The medical expert stated a attempt to be sure the quantity of the problem. “Stand some distance at the back of her and ask her a query, and then slowly circulate up and notice how some distance away you're while she first responds.” The previous guy excited to finally be engaged on a answer for the problem, runs abode and sees his spouse making waiting supper. ” Honey” the guy asks status around 20 feet away “what's for supper?” After receiving no reaction he tried it returned 15 feet away, and returned no reaction. nonetheless at 10 feet away and returned no reaction. finally he replaced into 5 feet away “honey what's for supper?” She replies “For the fourth time it’s lasagna!”

Answer 6

Did you have a virus protection program? If so, you can usually boot from the disk provided with the software and run a scan. You MAY have lost everything, but don't give up hope. See if you have a Windows XP disk. Run the Recovery Console after booting up with the disk in the drive. If worst comes to worst, take it in to a professional.

Answer 7

I think that someone who has tell you you has lost everything is quite true.
But there are still ways to retrieve your data from that hard disk.

The error there is because you have a window component file being deleted then it has the logon error.

Few options.
1.Format the hard disk and reinstall windows.
- Will lose your previous data on your hard disk!
2.Get another hard disk and plug it into your mother board and install another copy of windows.
- May be able to log on to windows with the new hard disk. But may /may not access the previous failed hard disk but should be able to retrieve your data and transfer to a new one before re-formatting again.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Spyware is a common problem and will affect all computers if your computer is not protected.

Read this forum which details how to use various anti spyware tools, instructions on how to set them up and even provides support if you have anymore questions.

General Spyware advice:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=8.0

Spybot:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21.0
Windows Defender:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=78.0
HijackThis!:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=57.0

Answer 9

I found this list to have good free spyware/virus removers, good luck
http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html

Answer 10

you will have to re-boot with a systems disc and format your drive, but make sure that you have all your discs readdy and you know what you are doing.