XP Logoff Hangup

Do you still have any restore points from before your virus problems? If so, try them (you won't lose any data).

Ooops, nope! First time I have had to deal with virus in several years.

Did not think to do this. ss

My only advice in these cases using windows is:

1. Backup documents, photos, etc.

2. FORMAT disc and reinstall. DO NOT install over, as some key files may remain.

Its a painfull process, but still better than dealing several days with that stuff...

Use XP disc or download a recovery disc from manufacturers site.

Boot then log on admin acct, go to start, accessories, command prompt, type: sfc /scannow (notice a space between sfc & /) and press enter, follow directions as XP rebuilds the registry, this may take some time and it will turn itself off so be patient.

Write back...

If the system had been updated as usual every day you get a new fix, it may be possible that some new files will be marked as "Not correctVersion" erreo.

If the registry is rebuilt, what wil that do with current operations??

I'm a little afraid of working/changing the registry.

Yes of course is a complicated job should only be done by professionals, it is a time consuming unless you use a professional program.

The I suggest fresh install after format of Active drive.

The described registry fix is a windows O/S function; no worries.

One thing I have seen that causes it to hang on shutdown: There is a little wav file that plays the tone on shutdown and if it was damaged (possibly by the virus) windows won't shut down. I think you can go into the control panel (sounds) and change what it plays when shutting down.

before doing a whole reformat and reinstall: there will probably be restore points available to you even if you haven't purposely created them. it happens all the time. so check and you will probably find one you can use. supposing that does not work, plan b:

you can probably track down what has happened by using computer management error log. (i'm doing it now in windows 7 but it is mostly the same in xp.) go to start, and, on "computer" or "my computer" do a right click and select "manage." You will get a big dialog box and under system tools you will see something to the effect "event viewer" (that's what it is in win7). when you start it, after a while it will give you a list of things that have happened in the past hour, past day, etc., and where you want to look is "errors". if it happened in the last hour (try to make it do so just to make it easier to find) then look through those that happened in the last hour. When you find a likely suspect, you can click on it to get more details. Somewhere in that you will probably detect what the problem was or what it involved. it's not always crystal clear but it can lead you to the right path. it will for instance reference some process that was involved and caused a conflict, etc. Last time i had a problem that was recondite i discovered that some "software" that was supposed to make my dvd burner work great, do everthing but wash the dishes, was getting in the way.

believe me, if you can avoid a reinstall of the os, you want to.

jwatersphd

I have noticed that in most of the cases the rstore folder had been corrupted in spite of an AV in use. I now have the practice to remove old restore & make a new one daily.

And create just before shutting down [Not online at the time as I have a dialup]

I've suggested using the built-in windows registry fix as a stepping stone though it may fix it.

If not there are several other steps to take an none require a re-format; for instance you may disable the windows auto restart function but try the registry fix first see post #4

When you restart the machine, can any other family members login, logout, and shutdown nice and clean? If so, you have a corrupted user account, but theirs is OK: Please (logging in as an administrator) check the disks with scandskw.exe and then see if you can update to the latest Microsoft service packs and security updates. If that works, you are unlike to have a bad infection, and can create a new account.

If not, try downloading Avg free free.avg.com/ww-en/download?prd=afg,
download Avira AntiVir free download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html?tag=mncol,
download Kaspersky free trial usa.kaspersky.com/trials/home-users/internet-security/, in that order.

If you cannot reach the Kaspersky website and/or download, you have an insidious infection.