No command prompt

[Shdef]

It just comes and goes 

Any advice?

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Can you clarify?  In everyday windows use you wouldn't need the command prompt, so I'm guessing you're talking about something else?

[Shdef]

I am trying to run a program called kanotix which is  a little like Knoppix to look from the outside why my computer is so infected and why no antivirus can fix the problems I have.

The Start-Run-CMD doesn't work, as the little window just flashes and then goes away. Every other way to open a command prompt also fails. Same with the Kano and Knoppix 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Have you tried running in safe mode?

Restart computer, after the memory test has run press F8 repeatedly until you get a menu option screen, enter safe-mode without networking and try from there.

[Shdef]

I tried that, too 

And in safe mode, I can't connect, even if I tell it to 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Is it possible to wipe your hard drive and just start again?  If you can backup all your important information then I would suggest that a hard drive format would be the way to go.

[Shdef]

Format C or reinstall XP?

Everything is backed up. I cannot delete anything, deinstall, burn, turn it on without problems... 

If I format C, I have to manually do the drivers (the computer is put together manually, not a ready bought one).

I have a like a bucket full of installation discs, wouldn't reinstalling windows mean that the hardware has to be reinstalled manually, too or there a way around that?

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Yes, format C: if that is your primary hard drive, and then re-install windows, provided you have all the necessary disks of course   Whilst running through the setup process windows should discover most of your hardware, and if it doesn't have generic drivers for them, then it should prompt you for your disks.  This is a very lengthy process that could take the best part of a day or more to get completed as once you've finished the installation you will then have to go through the process of updating your windows version.  This will take an age, as you may well have to download Service Pack 2 if your version of xp is an old one.

What is the exact nature of your problem, from the beginning?  Also, are you comfortable with making registry changes?  Because if you are infected and want to avoid a format then no doubt there will be some registry changes needed.

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Just wanted to add.....

You can run a program called HijackThis and then post the results on the relevant forum.  This program is excellent at discovering spyware infections and the forum members are very capable of helping you through it.  The program has recently been acquired by Trend Micro (a good and safe company) - Here's the link to their free programs website where you will find HijackThis:

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/home

[Shdef]

My problem from the beginning... I have two folders. One called C Programs, one C Programme. They replicate each other within seconds which makes it impossible to delete or deinstall. C is only 10 GB big, the other ones are 20GB and 150GB. Now there is only 200MB free on C as it is impossible to free space 

Whenever I deinstall in add/remove programs, the program is removed from there, however, it is going to be replicated within seconds and no space is freed.

I have hijackthis,  superantispyware, trend micro antivirus (the trial version, online scanner always crashes), even in IE) virtual box (to open another OS, didn't work), bit defender, jv16 power tools (to clean my registry), malwarebites. None did what they were supposed to do

I am just scared of the BIG step format C. I am pretty sure I will have to call someone to get it back one if I do that and we don't have the money. I am not even sure the drivers are complete or which ones I need 

Hardware has never been seen on its own, had to be done manually, too.

Tried running things with qemu. No avail It just flashes, then it's away.

Thanks for trying to help 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

When you run the anti-virus/spyware programs what do they report back?

[Shdef]

That all is well 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

There's a good chance that it is then.....in terms of an infection that is.  Do you suspect an infection based solely on the problems you are having?

[Shdef]

I am. Might be wrong? Don't tell me it's hardware 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

You could be wrong, if your anti-virus pattern files are up to date then they should discover any viruses.  It could also be a hardware problem.  Your hd could possibly be failing, or they may be some other conflict. 

How long have you had the problem?  If it hasn't been going on for long is they any way that windows system restore can recover your original settings prior to the issue?

[Shdef]

The problems are slowly getting worse.

Command prompt still worked a year ago, but won't now.

Burning doesn't work for three or four weeks, was fine before.

The space problem is very old, in 2003 I used mIRC without using a firewall and I still use ouka and mx  May have gotten something there, I dunno. I try and be careful, but Sam isn't, that's why I thought it was a very clever virus that is in my whole system.

The computer cannot be turned off as it won't turn on, only if you try like 2000 times and open a DC drive at the same time. It's not the power supply though... This is for maybe 6 months.

I am afraid, it's dying 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Is this in any way applicable?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/170669

It's really difficult for me to diagnose/repair advanced problems without having the computer on hand to work with, as I lack the ability to follow logic beyond 4 or 5 steps (no doubt related to being a left-hander)

Personally, by now I would have reformatted and taken my chances, but I understand your predicament.  It's difficult to recommend programs to you, because once you've installed them you can no longer uninstall them which compounds the problem.  One trick to try, is the next time you install a program, install using custom options, and change the install directory so that it installs just to your C:\ or other available drive, and not to C:\programs.

There is another piece of software you could try, that has some neat tools, and that's ccleaner.

[Shdef]

I checked the registry and couldn't find the entry they described. So I guess it's not there.

I don't get the error they described anyway. It does it all fine. Then never comes up in Add/Remove Programs again, but is still there and no space is freed. It is then in the other folder. If I delete the folder from there, it will be back in C Programs.

For instance Nero... I had a rubbish version, wanted to deinstall it. So I did, even deleted the ahead folder out of registry. Now it's all back, but won't come up in Add/Remove anymore 

I have some stuff running from the external, so if that would work, I am open to suggestions.

Got to finish my dissertation on this thing... hope it lives that long 

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

Steffi, I've been too busy to reply.

Have you had any luck with this yet?  Unfortunately I cannot come through with any other suggestions, though I have thought on it.

[Shdef]

It seems to be a different kind of problem than described there 

Do you use linux? Will I actually be able to see more when using it or is it just wishful thinking?

[Gareth - Harvey & Theo's Dad]

I have no idea Steffi, I haven't used Linux   If you have a full copy of linux burned to cd can you setup from a boot?  That way you wouldn't need a command prompt.