My laptop won't load

[pastyboy]

Hello. Well, last night my laptop was fine, but when i go to turn it on today it freezes on the start-up.

I am able to put my password in and see the desktop and all the shortcuts but then the start-up freezes.

Please help!

[gunslinger]

XP or Vista?

[pastyboy]

XP

Acer TravelMate 4152LCi

[gunslinger]

Try booting into safe mode and running a virus scan. Also while in safe mode go to run and type msconfig, go to the start tab and see whats starting up with windows and disable anything you know you don't need starting up with the OS. Things like adobe, quicktime, and any kind of messenger services. Reboot and see if that helps.

[pastyboy]

Thanks for your reply gunslinger. This is an update cut and paste from another forum.

My laptop has been infected with a virus that i have got from a site called Win24.

I had no idea it had been infected (virus protection did not stop it) until i turned my laptop on yesterday. I was able to put my password in and see my desktop, but as it loaded up it froze. I was unable to do anythiny with it other than switching the power off.

Anyway, i started the laptop in safemode and was able to run a virus scan which picked up an infected file from Win24 (i think). After playing around and following some instructions from windows help i am now able to use my laptop. However, the performance is slower and i'm sure it is still infected. Evertime i load it up and run a virus scan it picks up the same virus and deletes it, but then then next time i re-start the laptop and scan the virus is there again. Also, a "thing" keeps trying to add itself to the start up programme: c:\windows\system32\drivers\ctfmun.exe which of course i block.

Anymore advise would be appreciated.

[gunslinger]

Two things, first disable system restore, next try a different virus scanner. Your program might not be getting it all, or it could be using system restore to come back. If things get too bad just back up all important files to another HDD or disks and use the restore partition.

[carl97]

It does sound like a Virus to me.
Eitherway you will have to format and re install Windows
as the damage will already have been done.
What i would do is take this drive out and insert a clean drive in its place,
Format and install XP fresh, get it all upto date and install a decent Antivirus and Firewall, i use Mcaffe 2008. Make sure these are upto date
before you do anything other than updates. Then scan the old drive fully for viri. Hopefully the old drive will be clean of viri. Then simply build up your new Installation using info from the old one as needed.
I usually USB connect the old drive when needed. after a month or so when you know that nothing is missing you could delete the old drive and prep it with a clean XP ready for next time lol.
Hope this helps