Please advise before I throw my PC out the window!?

Question

Dear Computer Geniuses (or would it be "genii"?),

I don't know any or much Latin, but what I do know is that I'm at wit's end. I have reinstalled my OS twice because of hardware problems (but also because of seemingly irreparable infestations with Trojans, viruses and what have you), yet my PC (OS is Windows XP Professional 2002 SP2) takes around 11 minutes to load the icons on the desktop and the taskbar, before which I cannot open any applications. Also, the browser would sometimes close without warning or my whole entire PC (except the mouse) would completely freeze.

I have performed countless scans with Ad-Aware 6.0 (I tried 7.0 but there was talk of an "unhandled exception" whatever the hell that is), AVG Anti-Spyware and Bitdefender 8.0, and I also have the ZoneAlarm firewall. I've also performed a scan via Microsoft's own inbuilt software which managed only to find a I believe well-known Trojan named "Win32", but nothing else. >To be continued<

After having constantly received an error message upon each reboot stating an inability to load a file named "rundll32" (path: C:\PROGRA~1\3721\helper.dll), I've also deleted that file from the registry (for it to be replaced with a fresh one) which put an end to the error messages.

However, neither that nor any of the other measures that I've taken have improved the speed and stability of my PC. In a final attempt to solve the conundrum, I have downloaded a whole batch of different PC-Check software programs which have detected anything from 300 to over 1,400 errors and inconsistencies on my PC. However, all these programs do (unless you cough up a bunch of money) is scan, but they don't actually fix the errors.

"So, what the hell is this guy's question?" you may be asking. Well, I'm hoping you might be able to tell me what the hell is going on with my PC. Is it a problem with my registry, is it another Trojan or viral infestation or is it likely something else? Another question I'd like to ask is if there is any FREE software out there with which I can scan AND FIX corrupt or faulty files on my PC.

If you need any additional details, please state this and I will gladly provide them within the space of a few minutes. You can also refer to another question that I have recently posted. Please, however, avoid tech-talk, as I'm not particularly savvy in this regard. Thanks for your efforts!

Answer to Answerer 1: I have already reformatted the drives, but it's done no good.

Answer 1

With all the effort and frustration that you have had your best bet is to just do a complete clean install and start from scratch

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using Windows XP CD
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Since now you know all of the maintenance tips and what it takes to keep a computer running smoothly you will able to keep a fresh system up and running

Once you have achieved that these links may also help you

Streamline your startups
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html
http://www.greatis.com/appdata/

How to Speed Up Windows Boot Time
http://www.pchell.com/support/how_to_speed_up_windows_boot_time.shtml
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1786122,00.asp
http://www.pcguide.com/opt/opt/bootSpeed-c.html
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=235571

Basic Computer Maintenance
http://uk.geocities.com/personel44/maintenance.html

Free Registry Cleaners
http://www.ccleaner.com/
http://www.regsofts.com/
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm

Answer 2

There are two kinds of computer users. The first one are those who would simply take the machines to the computer repair shop upon their first encounter with a problem. The second one are people like us, who would try to solve the problems ourselves before finally reformatting the whole thing if our earlier solutions dont work. Thanks to Yahoo! Answers people like us have an avenue to ask fellow users on what to do in such cases.

So, that's how exactly I'm gonna try to help to answer your question. I hope it will work and you dont have to throw your PC out of the window. but if you still want to, do tell me when you want to do it exactly so i can salvage whatever is left of it.
I would recommend this very useful and handy tip. All you have to do is type 'IOLOS TECHNOLOGIES' in your search box. From there, once the web page is opened, look for 'System Mechanic 7'. You have an option to upgrade to the more complete package called the 'System Mechanic 7 Pro' version that includes an antivirus software. If you wish to purchase the basic package costs $49.95 and the pro package is $69.95. But if you wish to save, you can try the software for one month. After the trial, you'll be given an offer to buy the licenc at a discounted price of $39.95.

so what so great about this software? It does what the other trial version softwares dont. It scans, and fix all the problems it can find. You install the package and after completing, click on start evaluation>analyze. The program will analyze your pc and then tell you all your problems. after that all you have to do is click the 'fix' button and wait for it to do all the work.while you can sit back and sip your coffee.

Good luck.

Ps. AVG is one of the most ineffective antivirus softwares around. You cant blame its developer, they cant afford to make it more effective because of their charitable nature of letting people use their software for free for eternity. You might want to try Kaspersky Labs or even WinAntiVirus Pro07.

Answer 3

I can understand your feelings. Please calm down.
Do you know OS and computer Restore/Recover are two different things. Just re-installation of Office is not enough.
Back up anything if you want or get ready to make your pc as brand new.
Do you have Recovery CD/DVD to Recover your computer?
If you have you must also have a Manual for that. Usually when we want computer to Re-format and Recover we do as follows:
PC and elctric cable should be connected nothing else, such as external drive, usb cord etc.

Turn on pc, keep clicking F11 key unless you see computer maker logo which appear whenever you turn on pc. When you see logo stop clicking.
(some time you will have to move by cursor and choose then click next)
setup screen will be shown Press Enter Key
When Preparation will appear Press Enter Key
Before Setup will appear choose and Press Enter Key
Choose Kind of Setup C drive, there are three options choose as you like.
Press Enter Key
C Drive setup will appear choose start and press Enter Key
Enter C Drive Size, if you got 100 GB you can divide 50 GB C and 50 GB D drive.
Press Enter Key
Confirmation message will appear
Press F8 and setup will start(if you have more than one Recovery CD/DVD you will have insert till the end of setup
Press Enter Key
Welcome to Windows will appear from here you follow the screen guidance.

I am sure by doing this pc will be back to brand new postion but you will have re-install everything. I have done recently.

[e-mail]

Answer 4

You say that you formatted your drives and that didn't help - this implies that you have install CDs, correct? If you really want to get serious, pull out your hard drive and see who manufactured it. Go to the manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic suite. most hard drive manufacturers have these available. You can burn it to a CD or put it on floppy. Boot off of that and do a low-level format. This should scrub the drive completely and take care of practically anything, including boot sector viruses. If you want to be extra paranoid, boot off the XP install CD, go into the repair console and rewrite the master boot record. Then reinstall the OS.

Also, these symptoms are consistent with a hardware problem. Before formatting, run diagnostics on your drive to make sure a bad hard drive isn't contributing to your problems. You can also download a program called memtest to check your RAM. These may help to eliminate other potential sources of your problems.

Answer 5

I can't be sure but it sounds like you have a rootkit or virus installed on your computer... A rootkit is basically a virus that runs before your OS starts up.

You say you've tried AVG anti-spyware.... also download and run the antivirus and antirootkit packages from avg.

Also I wouldn't reccommend deleting files and removing things by hand from the registry unless you seriously know what you're doing.

Answer 6

Sounds like you got too much crap loading, call me at 501-565-7208 now and I will tell you how to correct, too long to type. but you have way too much stuff loading with windows which is causing your system to crash. Just for one thing tell me when you call how many icons are down by your clock. Try this from your start menu click on run then type in msconfig in the upper right hand corner you will see start click on that then at the botton you will see disable all click that. then go to the check boxes and check only your antivirus and anti spyware, then close. Choose the restart option. Then call me or email me at [e-mail]

Answer 7

You reinstalled incorrectly. Don't reinstall the operating system, completely reformat the drive, THEN reinstall the operating system.

On the XP install screen, delete the partition, then create a new partition and install there.

Answer 8

Try Spybot:Search and Destroy. You can get it free from versiontracker.com.
Also look for Panda. They used to have a free scan at their website, but I haven't needed it for so long I don't know if it is still there.