Ok Gar - please take this the way it is given - to help you resolve the issues on your system.
Your system is obviously compromised. How or why is not as important as resolving the issue.
The most assured way is a Clean install - that of course has it's consequences (need to reinstall drivers and beloved programs, bring Windows up-to-date, configuring your apps...). This approach has many advantages as well if the tutorial is followed step by step.
- Your system is clean - no rootkits, no viruses, no corruption, good disks, etc
- Your system is up-to-date, hardware drivers, applications, games, whatever you like to have on your system
- The Registry is optimized since you haven't installed/uninstalled/updated a lot of things (other than Windows Update)
- Most times a fresh install provides a performance boost.
The cautions are:
- make a backup of your important data
- have your network drivers on external media (I download all drivers from the mfgr support site before a re-install, just so I have them accessible)
- Find any install disks for applications you paid for, most apps I use are free or open source, but I'm not a gamer.
- -> they're probably outdated, but you'll need the license to update.
- DO NOT install any crap - no tweakers, no registry optimizers. Get a base system and add what you need when you need it. If you rarely play a game or use an application, then leave it off.
I only advocate a re-install if I sense the user has difficulty following technical instructions or if the issue doesn't seem to be corrected using time tested methods. This isn't a knock to your abilities, it's just that some of this is part tech knowledge, part voodoo.
People are great here and they will spend their time if you follow their advice - to the letter. Wandering off into other forums, trying things that were not suggested here, or not providing feedback is a sure way to not get continued help from a member. Please try to focus on one post at a time, post the results and any other information requested - that will simplify your task and it makes it much easier to troubleshoot.
Now that I'm off my soapbox.......
Decide if you want to spend more time on the issue or if you accept that a clean install will fix all of the issues on your machine. As I read through this thread, I see that you have a few questions that divert attention from the issue. You might want to post new threads for those questions and keep dogging this issue here on this thread.
From your last screen shot (Win7 install disk - Repair) - did that fix the issue in this thread
"Strange startup problem"
Good luck,
Bill
EDIT: Never mind, I see Greg and you are working through the steps again.
