[champ]

so it says anyway, he really needs some files for tomorrow and last night the idiot downloaded a stupid file from a website coz he though it was a movie file even though it ended in '.exe', which was really stupid of him, but anyway he said he noticed once he downloaded and double clicked this that his 'my documents' 'my computer' etc was removed from the start list and then he turned it on the next day and a message came up saying 'system massage' (lol they cant even spell message) 'you system has been hacked' and instead of bringing up a normal xp list of login names now it just brings up a login box like you would get at a library or school and it lets him login but only to his background screen, now no icons or start button appears just nothin, i tired to get it in to safe mode but all it does is take you into safe mode but with the same problem like the login box and blank desktop although it will let me have a command prompt when in safe mode. by the way he's using windows xp.....any help would be greatly appreciated coz as i said he desperatley needs something for tomorrow.

[Brinson]

It sounds like explorer isn't loading.

ctrl + alt+ delete, file > new task > explorer.exe, click ok

If that doesn't bring back the start bar and icons just browse for the file he wants.

[champ]

the task manager has been locked out like when he press ctrl etc. it comes up but only gives him the option to log off shut down lock the computer and the task manager is un highlighted so you cant click it
a message come up when he turns the pc on saying your system has bee hacked.

[Brinson]

Well, we'd need to know how hey "hacked" it to fix it...

You can always put the hard drive in a new pc and rip off the files he needs, then format it.

[champ]

how you connect a hardrive to a another pc i aint that good with computers

[Brinson]

Need to put it inside...or have a IDE to USB cable.

[Brinson]

What is best would be to make a Hiren/UBCD/BARTPE live cd with a couple virus scan programs...but that requires a copy of windows xp sitting around...do you have one?

[champ]

^^^ thats another problem right there i think accidentally threw away his copy of xp along with the boxes it came with so thats why right now im trynna figure out anything that we can do without restarting anything.

[champ]

i tried to get into the registry but a message poped up and said your administartor has diabled the registry from being edited and my friend was the admin so now whoever or whatever has taken overis now the admin, even the computer domain name has changed it used to say somethin like home computer now its some code like C977896 somethin like that

[Brinson]

Find someone with an xp install disc. Make an Ultimate Boot CD with it...

That will fix ALOT of problems you can run across in windows.