Strange Window on Boot

Dave McKeen · 18 Feb 2017

Hello, I fired up my computer (see config in my profile) this morning and had my back turned while it was booting. When I turned around I saw a screen I didn’t recognize. I have my interface set to “Classic” theme so maybe this was a Windows 7 default theme. I looked at it only very briefly before shutting it down. However I remember there was a message saying it didn’t recognize my login. And there was a text balloon pointing to the system tray saying if I shut down my computer I will lose all my files. I shut it down.

I booted with an old AVG rescue CD which updated and ran a complete scan. No threats found. I did a restart on exit from the rescue screen and although I tried to F9 into the Windows boot screen Windows started normally.

I have the paid basic AVG AV on my system and ran a scan with it. I ran the free MalwareBytes which updated and same results. I made a new AVG rescue CD on a different PC and ran it on my main PC. No threats found.

I’ve restarted the PC once more and it started normally. There’s nothing suspicious in the tray except Action Center / Solve PC Issues: 1) Troubleshoot a problem with your computer’s hard disk and 2) Check for solutions to unreported problems. I have not checked these out.

I’ve read some of the forum threads. Do you recommend I take any action- like scanning with PCHF System Scans? I’ll appreciate your suggestions.

- Dave

torchwood · 19 Feb 2017

Hi Dave,
I would check those comments via the action centre, if its a major disk related problem it could quite easily reject your login, and report that your files could be lost'

Make an image back-up IMMEDIATELY, most here use Macrium free.

Please run these progs
sfc /scannow
chkdsk /f /r

they will report system/discs problems.

Roy

ThrashZone · 19 Feb 2017

Hi,
Actually Adwcleaner would be a good thing to scan with
Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here post #7,
Ignore the title of the thread,
Instant Savings App

DonnaB · 20 Feb 2017

Hi Dave,

Do you recommend I take any action- like scanning with PCHF System Scans? I’ll appreciate your suggestions.

No sense in downloading and running all those scans. A couple are not relevant to your problem and a couple just duplicate what the other does.

Please follow torchwood's instructions to check out those comments via the action centre then run the following programs.:

This one will create a backup of the registry, so run it first:

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

Disable your AV protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
Run the tool by double-clicking on XP. Or right click and select Run as Administrator Vista/Win7 and above.
The tool will open and start scanning your system.
Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

Next:

Then run this one that ThrashZone linked you to:

Please download AdwCleaner onto your Desktop.

Close all open programs and internet browsers.
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
Click the Scan button and wait for the process to complete.
Click the logfile button and the log will open in Notepad.
Click on the Clean button follow the prompts.
A log file will automatically open after the scan has finished and the PC has rebooted.
Please post the content of that log file with your next answer.
The report will be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.

Please post both logs in your next reply.

It wouldn't hurt to run chkdsk /r either just to see if the hard drive has issues.

Click on Start then click on Computer
Right click on the C: drive, scroll down and click on Properties
Click on the Tools tab
Click on the Check Now... button
In the dialog box that opens, place a checkmark in the 2 boxes and click on Start
The next dialog box will now show a similar message as below:
- Windows can't check the disk while it's in use.
  Do you want to check for hard disk errors the next time you
  start your computer ? <Schedule disk check/Cancel>
- Click on Schedule disk check and reboot the computer if it does not reboot on it's own.
Checkdisk will start once the computer reboots. It can take up to an hour or more to complete as it goes through the stages. Allow it to run uninterrupted till complete.

To find the log that is produced, please do the following:

Please download ListChkdskResult by SleepyDude to the desktop.

Double click on the icon and click Run
The log will appear on your desktop as a .txt file and the notepad will open.

Please copy and paste the results in your next reply.

Thank you,

Donna :)

Dave McKeen · 20 Feb 2017

Thanks very much everybody! One clarification/correction of my OP. When I first viewed my screen it was already logged in. I studied it for only a few seconds and shut down the PC.

Action Center:
1) Troubleshoot a problem with your computer’s hard disk
It was a program (ACDSee 15) that stopped working on 5/23/2015
2) Check for solutions to unreported problems
No new solutions found
The Action Center is now clear.

Ran JRT. Report attached.

Ran AdwCleaner. Report attached.

Ran chkdsk. Report attached.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Thanks again,

- Dave

ThrashZone · 20 Feb 2017

Hi,
A few items look through your uninstall a program list for odd listings
Post a screen shot for review
Go there and on the top right next to the question mark symbol and switch the page view to List
You should be able to get all of the listings in one screen shot
Use the Go Advanced button to see the paperclip symbol in the reply editor so you can browse and upload screen shots here.

Dave McKeen · 21 Feb 2017

Hi- the screenshot is attached. There are a few in the list I need to do some research on to see why they are there. But I use most of them- some rarely. Let me know if anything jumps out at you.

Thanks, - Dave

torchwood · 21 Feb 2017

Hi Dave,
quick look over, I see

Acdsee15 installed, but from Action centre its having problems, i would remove it.
Windows Essentials 2012 is NO longer supported by MS therefor a security risk, remove it and replace its components with current available options
Internet Explorer with DEP, i see Firefox if you dont use IE remove that program,
then in Features(top left of uninstall progs), uncheck IE.
Winrar - you allready have a zip feature in W7 duplicate.

On a final note i would remove any Adobe progs you dont use.

Roy

why 2 x firefox

ThrashZone · 21 Feb 2017

Hi,
Depending on where you download stuff the issue could of came from your last round of downloads
List view doesn't show when they were installed so you'd have to switch to details to get dates which might give you a idea of what is causing the issue if you remember when the issue started that is :)

Dave McKeen · 24 Feb 2017

Thank you very much everybody! I sincerely appreciate the help. Looks like I have some house cleaning to do. I'll get busy right away. Will check back here if anything unusual pops up. - Dave