Windows 7: Desktop running on speed!

Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but please direct me to the right place if not.

My desktop appears to be runing on speed!

I switched it on, and that startup screen with the four coloured windows logo, is flashing like mad. The next screen I get is the password screen. On here, the cursor is spinning like mad. When I try to enter the password, pressing the first letter fills the input box with characters. I don't know whether this is the character I have just entered, although I guess it is. If I try to delete the characters, pressing backspace deletes all characters in the input box. Pressing the first character goes through it all agaiin.

I now have a desktop that I can't get into because of this. Nothing new has been added...software or hardware. Everything has functioned as normal prior to this.

Anyone help?

Duncs

Hi Duncs welcome to SF

Please unplug keyboard and mouse,connect any other keyboard and mouse.

Start the pc in safe mode with networking enable.

Download,install,update and scan with superantispyware free edition.
SUPERAntiSpyware.com - Downloading File

Restart in normal mode.

Post back if the above steps help.

Many thanks for your reply.

I've managed to get logged into the desktop now. I held down right shift, purely by accident, and turned on "Filter Keys". However, things are still running wild!

I changed the keyboard, but couldn't get the file downloaded due to the speed issues. So, I downloaded it on my laptop and copied it to a memory stick. It's currently running a simple scan. The simple scan has revealed 36 threats, all of which are "Adware.Tracking cookie" files.

I've also noticed, that the time is going crazy. It's currently showing 13:11 BST, and is incrementing by a minute approximately every 3 seconds. To give you an idea, in the time it's taken me to type this text, it's now showing 12:50! The time seems to get to one minute before the real time, and then revert back to the real time. So, at the moment it's at 13:01 but it will speed on until it gets to 13:29 and then change back to 12:30.

I've now kicked off a complete scan, and I'll post back with the results.

Cheers again for your help.

Do you have the same issue also in safe mode?

Just completed a complete scan, and the only threats were the tracking cookies.

Any ideas?

Duncs

These results are with the PC running in safe mode

This is mostly a mobo issue. Try a shutdown of the system, take out your powercable and if you have a powerswitch on your PSU, switch that off for at least 30 seconds. Keep the power cable off, turn the PSU switch on for 10 seconds or so. This leaks all residue out of cap's etc.

Turn off psu powerswitch again, plug in cable and restart. You have a 1 in 5 chance it'll be ok. If this does fix it... and it comes back in the coming days... get your mobo fixed.

MvdB...

Well, blow me!

That's worked. The PC now boots normally.

I'll certainly keep an eye it over the next few days and see what happens. One thing I have noticed recently is, when I'm shutting it down, it hangs at the "Shutting Down" screen. It just displays the text with the rotating cursor, and does nothing. There doesn't seem to be any disk activity, but still it shows this message. Could this be related and how do I stop the shut-down issue?

Duncs

Happy it worked.. Actually, I don't believe the shutdown issue has anything to do with it directly, in the sense of causing it. But, though electronics is in my ancient history somewhere, and the solution I gave is a well known one.. I have seen little in terms of an explanation of what is really wrong in the board. My personal opinion is one you can check easily for yourself... What the solution trick does is force the mobo electronics to see that (simply put) 0 volts is really 0 volts. All residue is emptied. I don't have enough test examples to prove my theory but I think it has something to do with your external power connection. For example, I have never seen this on a Laptop... only DT's. That leads me to think that the power "Ground" cable you have.. might not be a real ground, or worse, you might have connected your PC power cable into an outlet or extension that does not support Ground at all. And, again, with old and rusty electronic knowledge.. it could be that a badly designed PSU/Mobo use a simple method of making Ground the reference for 0 volts (DC). But... again I might have this all wrong, just guessing based on a lot of experience .

For most people wouldn't be able tofix this themselves anyway, which is why I advice to make sure that you always plug powercables that have Ground into outlets that do too. If the problem still returns, have mobo/PSU checked in a shop.

Hth,
Mark

Cheers Mark. Your infomration has been great, and something that I'll certainky keep in case it happens again.

As regards the shutdown issue, I'll need to look elsewhere.

Once again, many thanks

Duncs