No text/cannot launch windows

Colinh0611 · 16 Sep 2012

Hi there
I regularly use my acer aspire 5552 ati 4250. I have norton antivirus installed but somehow more over I have a virus. It takes approximately 45 minutes for the laptop to go to the start up page, but there is no text. When it loads up to a stage I can put on the Internet I can input text into google but again, this takes a long period of time. When I press (e.g.) ALT + F the tiniest of drop down bar appears and I cannot access anything on there, this happens with anything related to right clicking to using shortcuts as things are not viewable.

Furthermore, the laptop is in safe mode at the moment and I cannot access windows or due to the fact I cannot access drop down menus or control panels as there is no text, I feel I cannot do a thing to help it, can you give me assistance?

Cheers

oxymoron02 · 16 Sep 2012

If you are able to, download and run Malwarebytes. If unable to do this in normal Windows, use safe mode without networking. If necessary, download Malwarebytes onto another computer and transfer it via USB stick or CD-R.

When/if this works, uninstall Norton and use any one of the following:
Microsoft Security Essentials | Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malware
Avira Free Antivirus 2012 | Download Best Free Antivirus Software
AVG Free | AntiVirus | Free Virus Protection

Or if you absolutely must use a paid antivirus:
Antivirus Software - ESET NOD32 Antivirus 5

Let me know if Malwarebytes works for you, or if it doesn't.

Bumpkin · 16 Sep 2012

If I was in your shoes, I would run Windows Defender Offline as your computer is not responding well enough to your inputs to fix anything. You will boot the computer with Windows Defender Offline so any virus on your system can't run.

Read this tutorial about using this program. Windows Defender Offline

karlsnooks · 16 Sep 2012

Colin,
Please follow the advice from Bumpkin and run WDO.

Besides the excellent tutorial, here is a write-up on using WDO.

HOW TO USE MICROSOFT'S OFFLINE MALWARE REMOVER
Windows Defender Offline
· performs an offline scan of an infected PC to remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware.
· is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.

Download Windows Defender Offline (about 785 kB)
You will have the choice of downloading the 32bit version (x86) or the 64 bit version (x64).
The link will help you determine whether you are running a 32 bit version or 64 bit version of Windows

NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 32 bit version using a 64 bit version of Windows
NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 64 bit version using a 32bit version of Windows.

You run the 32 bit version on a 32 bit version of Windows.
You run the 64 bit version on a 64 bit version of Windows.

The 32 bit download file name is: mssstool32.exe
The 64 bit download file name is: mssstool64.exe

For the curious, this program was originally name Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

INSTALLATION:
· Requires an Internet Connection.
· Insert 512 mB or larger USB stick into a usb port.
· Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
· NEXT button
· Choose the option On a USB flash drive that is not password protected
· NEXT button
· NEXT button
.
The install program will:
· format the usb stick using the NTFS format.
· download less than 230 mB.
· name the USB stick WDO_Media32 or WDO_Media64
· use less than 300 mB.

How to UPDATE the Windows Defender Offline USB stick:
· reinsert the usb stick
· run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.
· the update will download less than 65 mB.

Since the malware database is sometimes updated several times in a day, always update before running.

PERFORM AN OFFLINE SCAN
Bootup your computer from the USB stick
Windows Defender Offline will automatically perform a quick scan.
After the quick scan finishes, Choose Full Scan
Select all of your drives

The initial, full scan can easily take several hours, but
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.
===========================================
===========================================

Let us know when WDO is complete.