totally ot. XP

Totally off topic but here goes...I have Windows XP (home) on my pc but its
doing strange things. It will work fine most times then suddenly the mouse
might freeze or it will start opening programs I'm not using, and if I have
explorer or outlook open the page will 'jump up' then after 30secs or so it
will be all normal again.
I have run Norton internet security and spybot search and destroy but they
dont pick anything up.
Is it safe to reinstall xp over whats there now without losing everything or
has anyone got any ideas?
Thanks
Richard

Richard vaguely muttered something like ...
> Totally off topic but here goes...I have Windows XP (home) on my pc but
> its doing strange things. It will work fine most times then suddenly the
> mouse might freeze or it will start opening programs I'm not using, and
> if I have explorer or outlook open the page will 'jump up' then after
> 30secs or so it will be all normal again.
> I have run Norton internet security and spybot search and destroy but they
> dont pick anything up.
> Is it safe to reinstall xp over whats there now without losing everything
> or has anyone got any ideas?

Yup, sounds like a Trojan or Virus ..

Re-installing XP is easy.

Insert XP or Recovery CD, at the prompt don't select 'repair', select the
'clean install'. This will preserve all documents etc, but it might be
necessary to re-install all applications. Obviously it re-writes the
Registry, so apps need to 're-register' .. This is the only drawback that I
can find.


--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!

On or around Mon, 13 Dec 2004 16:53:44 GMT, "Richard" <richardsemail
[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I have run Norton internet security and spybot search and destroy but they
>dont pick anything up.
>Is it safe to reinstall xp over whats there now without losing everything or
>has anyone got any ideas?
>Thanks
>Richard

the only install I've seen of XP home was utter crap. XP pro SP1 here by
contrast is quite reliable, considering its origins.

the word is that XP pro or 2000 are the windows-to-have ATM.

so if I were you I'd get a copy of XP pro from somewhere.

On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 16:53:44 GMT, "Richard" <richardsemail
[email protected]> wrote:

>Totally off topic but here goes...I have Windows XP (home) on my pc but its
>doing strange things. It will work fine most times then suddenly the mouse
>might freeze or it will start opening programs I'm not using, and if I have
>explorer or outlook open the page will 'jump up' then after 30secs or so it
>will be all normal again.
>I have run Norton internet security and spybot search and destroy but they
>dont pick anything up.
>Is it safe to reinstall xp over whats there now without losing everything or
>has anyone got any ideas?
>Thanks
>Richard
>

Problem with a reinstall is that all your original files are still
there... If you want to be really sure you get rid of a virus you
need to reformat the disk.

If Norton is up to date and not finding it, I'd try another virus
checker. You can get a free copy of Grisoft wotsit and try that.

Have you tried a new mouse? I've got a slghtly defective one which
does odd stuff on certain surfaces. Also my XP (Pro) has issues when
the folders are not set to Classic view - it seems to work so hard
making previews of the files in there that it can't be arsed to move
the mouse properly. Symptoms are not much different to what you
describe.

FWIW I don't think you will actually turn out to have a virus...


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

Have a try with this:

Disable System Restore (right-click My Computer - System Restore tab).
Do a Disk Cleanup (Accessories - System Tools).
Go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com , set to automatically fix errors and
run the check.

I would consider a re-installation as the last option, as it messes up your
old settings, etc.

Good luck,
Uli

www.grisoft.com

snip>>
> If Norton is up to date and not finding it, I'd try another virus
> checker. You can get a free copy of Grisoft wotsit and try that.
>
>
> Tim Hobbs
>
> '58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
> '77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
> '03 Volvo V70
>
> My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
> Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
> Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

almost forgot:

once you have run the anti-virus test, re-enable the system restore mode and
restart your system.