Virus, or a very annoying system error?

[Chu]

Okay, so my computer has been behaving...strangely.

Things have been crashing. Not even things that I use often-- stuff that I didn't even know were on my computer. The first few times it crashed explorer, but after turning off Dr. Watson (it was opening at least thirty processes at a time and freezing up my computer) it's been pretty smooth, aside from my computer hating on certain programs.

Thing is, I have three antivirus programs that I update and scan with regularly, plus a firewall. So what. The hell.

I even started it in safe mode and used an external antivirus just in case somehow, something got missed. I cleaned up a few harmless violations (mostly things like cookies and one or two ad-wares, nothing serious) but it's still going on. Frustratingly enough, I don't restart often, so I can't pinpoint where or how I could've gotten a virus (if that's what it is) or damaged a system file.

And none of my antivirus programs have found anything.

I have the option of performing a system restore if needed, but again, I don't know when the problems started (it happened after a reboot, because I'd just installed a camera). So I have no leading line, just symptoms.

[Mark]

Holy ****, why three? I installed SpywareBlaster and keep it updated (modifies FF&IE's blacklists), installed Spybot S&D and keep it updated (spyware cleaner, no background processes), installed AVG and it keeps itself updated (antivirus, two background processes), and let Windows Vista do the firewall crap (and my router a little, I guess, though my PC is in its DMZ so I don't know if it actually blocks anything). Haven't had a virus in two years using Vista and XP with the exact same crap installed.

Btw, what's Dr. Watson? I remember something like that from Windows 95. It was a M$ tool, or something. Why do you have it running in XP/Vista?

What drivers are you using? It's probably drivers, not viruses, though it would help your performance if you didn't have a zillion thingies running at all times. Unless you look at pr0n all the time, or don't recognize spam for what it is, you really shouldn't get a virus in this day and age. Whut are you downloadin'?

[skimike]

Download memtest86+ from Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool, burn it to CD, boot it and let it run for a few hours. If you get any errors, you have bad memory.

Download prime95 or orthos (you can google them, I can't remember the sites off the top of my head) and run an instance of prime95 per core (2 if you have dual-core, 4 if you have quad) or use orthos to load both your cores and let it bake your CPU for a couple hours. If you get errors, you could have one or several issues such as under-voltage, overheating, bad CPU, bad motherboard, bad power supply, etc.

I use NOD32 as my anti-virus solution for my "browsing" PC and it works pretty well but there was a recent article on DailyTech or Slashdot that said that the heuristics for detecting viruses and maleware decreased in effectiveness from ~50% to ~30% this past year.

The best thing you can do is to get a program like Acronis TrueImage (I use it extensively) from Backup software for data backup and disaster recovery in Windows and Linux - Acronis and make backups of your system that way. I don't trust MS's backup program or their System Restore software. Acronis creates an actual image of your hard drive via a bootable CDROM that is really Linux behind the scenes. Acronis has a backup utility from within Windows but, knowing how Windows likes to lock files, you'll always get a better true copy if you boot something external that's not running off the hard drive.

Do your system logs show anything? Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer

[Chu]

Originally Posted by skimike

Download memtest86+ from Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool, burn it to CD, boot it and let it run for a few hours. If you get any errors, you have bad memory.

Download prime95 or orthos (you can google them, I can't remember the sites off the top of my head) and run an instance of prime95 per core (2 if you have dual-core, 4 if you have quad) or use orthos to load both your cores and let it bake your CPU for a couple hours. If you get errors, you could have one or several issues such as under-voltage, overheating, bad CPU, bad motherboard, bad power supply, etc.

I use NOD32 as my anti-virus solution for my "browsing" PC and it works pretty well but there was a recent article on DailyTech or Slashdot that said that the heuristics for detecting viruses and maleware decreased in effectiveness from ~50% to ~30% this past year.

The best thing you can do is to get a program like Acronis TrueImage (I use it extensively) from Backup software for data backup and disaster recovery in Windows and Linux - Acronis and make backups of your system that way. I don't trust MS's backup program or their System Restore software. Acronis creates an actual image of your hard drive via a bootable CDROM that is really Linux behind the scenes. Acronis has a backup utility from within Windows but, knowing how Windows likes to lock files, you'll always get a better true copy if you boot something external that's not running off the hard drive.

Do your system logs show anything? Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer

Tons of application errors. Something seems to be just freezing up/crashing my programs. Again, I doubt it's actually a virus, seeing as none of my programs find anything.

(Mark, I use three because I r pirate and I like to scan things thoroughly after downloading them XD)

It's no longer the crashing monster it was earlier, but things are still spontaneously erroring. I can try the memtest and orthos, but that's on the assumption that it'll actually run long enough for the system to perform a check.

Edit:
HijackThis log

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.0 (BETA)
Scan saved at 9:01:20 AM, on 12/22/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
D:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
D:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
D:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
D:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
d:\program files\common files\logishrd\lvmvfm\LVPrcSrv.exe
D:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
D:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
D:\Program Files\Lexmark X74-X75\lxbbbmgr.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
D:\Program Files\FlashGet\flashget.exe
D:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe
D:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
D:\Program Files\PowerISO\PWRISOVM.EXE
D:\Program Files\Lexmark X74-X75\lxbbbmon.exe
D:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe
D:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
D:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe
D:\Program Files\Logitech\QuickCam10\QuickCam10.exe
D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
D:\Program Files\AIM6\aim6.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
D:\Downloads\Yod'm 3D\yodm3D\Yodm3D.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe
D:\Program Files\AIM6\aolsoftware.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\LVComSX.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\LQCVFX\COCIManager.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
D:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
D:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\DeviceService\DevSvc.exe
D:\Program Files\Nero\Nero8\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
D:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe
D:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin\nSvcAppFlt.ex e
D:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin\nSvcIp.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
D:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexStoreSvr.exe
D:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
D:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\VeohClient.exe
D:\PROGRA~1\FIREFOX.EXE
D:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe
D:\DOCUME~1\Chu\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX02.047\HiJackT his_v2.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - D:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {1CB20BF0-BBAE-40A7-93F4-6435FF3D0411} - D:\PROGRA~1\Inbox\ctbr.dll
O2 - BHO: flashget urlcatch - {2F364306-AA45-47B5-9F9D-39A8B94E7EF7} - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\jccatch.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - D:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: FlashGet GetFlash Class - {F156768E-81EF-470C-9057-481BA8380DBA} - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\getflash.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Inbox.com Toolbar - {4B3803EA-5230-4DC3-A7FC-33638F3D3542} - D:\PROGRA~1\Inbox\ctbr.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Proxy - {98A7C97A-4FFF-4f6e-A313-D21BC759DD99} - D:\WINDOWS\tproxy.dll (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "D:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE" /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] D:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] D:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE D:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SkyTel] SkyTel.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark X74-X75] "D:\Program Files\Lexmark X74-X75\lxbbbmgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE D:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Flashget] D:\Program Files\FlashGet\flashget.exe /min
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools-1033] "D:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] D:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PWRISOVM.EXE] D:\Program Files\PowerISO\PWRISOVM.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "D:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NBKeyScan] "D:\Program Files\Nero\Nero8\Nero BackItUp\NBKeyScan.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UVS11 Preload] D:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio 11\uvPL.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVP] "D:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "D:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "D:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechCommunicationsManager] "D:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechQuickCamRibbon] "D:\Program Files\Logitech\QuickCam10\QuickCam10.exe" /hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Aim6] "D:\Program Files\AIM6\aim6.exe" /d locale=en-US ee://aol/imApp
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] D:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] D:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yodm3D] D:\Downloads\Yod'm 3D\yodm3D\Yodm3D.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BgMonitor_{79662E04-7C6C-4d9f-84C7-88D8A56B10AA}] "D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Veoh] "D:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\VeohClient.exe" /VeohHide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [LogitechSetup] E:\Setup\Setup.exe /start /restart /l:enu
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = D:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Download All with FlashGet - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_all.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Download with FlashGet - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_link.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Inbox Search - tbr:iemenu
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - D:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - D:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Web Anti-Virus statistics - {1F460357-8A94-4D71-9CA3-AA4ACF32ED8E} - D:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\SCIEPlgn.dll
O9 - Extra button: FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\FlashGet.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - D:\Program Files\FlashGet\FlashGet.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {37A273C2-5129-11D5-BF37-00A0CCE8754B} (TTestGenXInstallObject) - http://asp.mathxl.com/wizmodules/tes...enXInstall.cab
O16 - DPF: {69EF49E5-FE46-4B92-B5FA-2193AB7A6B8A} (GameLauncher Control) - http://www.acclaim.com/cabs/acclaim_v5.cab
O16 - DPF: {95D88B35-A521-472B-A182-BB1A98356421} (Pearson Installation Assistant 2) - http://asp.mathxl.com/books/_Players...stallAsst2.cab
O16 - DPF: {AA07EBD2-EBDD-4BD6-9F8F-114BD513492C} (NeffyLauncherCtl Class) - http://dist.cdnetworks.co.kr/cdndist...fyLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {BA83FD38-CE14-4DA3-BEF5-96050D55F78A} - http://www.flipviewer.com/exe/fvoem1.cab
O16 - DPF: {C8F5F737-2683-40B8-BFB6-47B15AC20A79} (Game Starter Control) - https://gash.gamania.co.jp/acxauth/c...8/lcjggame.cab
O16 - DPF: {E6D23284-0E9B-417D-A782-03E4487FC947} (Pearson MathXL Player) - http://asp.mathxl.com/books/_Players/MathPlayer.cab
O18 - Protocol: tbr - {4D25FB7A-8902-4291-960E-9ADA051CFBBF} - D:\PROGRA~1\Inbox\ctbr.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - D:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - D:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - D:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 (AVP) - Kaspersky Lab - D:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762# # (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - D:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Capture Device Service - InterVideo Inc. - D:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\DeviceService\DevSvc.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - D:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM) - Unknown owner - D:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin\nSvcAppFlt.ex e
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - D:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LexBce Server (LexBceS) - Lexmark International, Inc. - D:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
O23 - Service: Process Monitor (LVPrcSrv) - Logitech Inc. - d:\program files\common files\logishrd\lvmvfm\LVPrcSrv.exe
O23 - Service: LVSrvLauncher - Logitech Inc. - D:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\SrvLnch\SrvLnch.exe
O23 - Service: Nero BackItUp Scheduler 3 - Nero AG - D:\Program Files\Nero\Nero8\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - D:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: ForceWare IP service (nSvcIp) - NVIDIA Corporation - D:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin\nSvcIp.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - D:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: StyleXPService - Unknown owner - D:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
O23 - Service: Ulead Burning Helper (UleadBurningHelper) - Ulead Systems, Inc. - D:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
O23 - Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - D:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe

--
End of file - 10750 bytes


Edit: Huh. I took some things out of my startup process and so far, so good. No errors, even when I open the programs that seemed to trigger it before.

Aha. (Sorry about the double post, just thought I'd bring this to light). I've pinpointed the source of the problem: Internet explorer.

Everything went fine until I opened up IE (to play a game) then the errors started hitting me again. Now I just need to find out what I need to do to fix it...unfortunately I still need IE (even though I use firefox for browsing).

[skimike]

Which version of IE are you running? Microsoft has acknowledged errors for users running IE6 as of the last security update that require a registry edit.

Btw, memtest86+ is a bootable that does not require Windows.

[Chu]

It is indeed IE6.

Pretty sure that must be it, considering the errors stopped as soon as I removed it from my startup process. As long as I don't open it, my computer runs just like it did before, too.

Stupid IE. Knew there was a reason why I hated it.

My computer's long overdue for an overall cleanup anyway...it should run faster than it does (don't get me wrong, it's still pretty damn fast) but I've got so many programs on it now that everything's gummed up a little.

[Mark]

I thought I uninstalled IE for you before I shipped it, lulz.

[Chu]

Originally Posted by Mark

I thought I uninstalled IE for you before I shipped it, lulz.

I had to reinstall it because of some retarded games I occasionally play that don't support IE (browser launcher ftl).

I updated IE to 7.0 but that didn't seem to help. Rawr.

Edit: Okay, so it's not isolated to just IE. Crap, this is just *irritating*! Every postmortem error I've looked up is different. So far nothing really fits exactly what's going on with mine.

[Birdman]

Mark built your comp?

[Chu]

Originally Posted by birdman

Mark built your comp?

To be honest, I built my comp, then Mark built my comp, then I finished building my comp. XD There was some issues at first because the processor kept overheating...so I sent it to him (I was NOT about to mess with compound on such an expensive processor) and he reassembled it for me. Then he sent it back and I added some stuff to it (harddrives, network cards, etc). So it was kind of a joint effort? XD;;

[Arrancar]

i hate IE, i use mozilla fire fox and haven't had any problems where IE is necessary.
And when in doubt, system restore, saved me from a skyware worm virus <3

[Chu]

I use firefox, IE is just around to pick up the slack in compatibility.

Still no fix on the error ;.; Nothing's wrong with my memory, no viruses, so what the hell.

My restore isn't worth two craps either. It says "it cannot restore" so blah.

Edit: LOL I LOVE COMPUTERS.

Okay, let me tell you of my journey the past two days.

My SYSTEM CRASHES were caused by my CAMERA DRIVERS. After some research I found that either the Logitech QuickCam application or Kaspersky (one of my antiviruses) could be the cause of the errors. I decided to try uninstalling them one by one and restarting to see if they were the cause.

I uninstalled Kaspersky first. Whoaaa big mistake.

As Kaspersky had created registry entries for several proxy servers in my device manager, I had now lost my internet connection.

Let me repeat. My camera was causing NOTEPAD and TASK MANAGER to crash. My antivirus made me lose INTERNET CONNECTION. When I still got the errors on startup I uninstalled my camera drivers and reinstalled Kaspersky.

Unfortunately still no internet connection, but there were no more errors.

After performing a repair install on Kaspersky I am now connected to the internet and my errors have ceased.

Thank you, PC. For being the most random mofo in the world.

[Aeterna]

Originally Posted by Chu

<Story>
Thank you, PC. For being the most random mofo in the world.

haha. About IE: I've recently made the switch to Maxthon, and it's a really good browser. Based on IE with ALOT of added features. It's a godsend.

Let me tell you about my last couple of days.

I rarely boot aswell, just like you, and alot of other people.
When I actually turned my comp off and turned on the power and it was starting Vista(yes,, i know) it gave me a 0x000007A bsod, which means there's a problem with my harddisk. Well, then i booting again and it worked.
Well, i then downloaded Seatools(Seagate's harddisk check tool) and let it scan. Nothing found; all sectors were working just fine.

I then tried to restart again to see if it'd boot up. It didn't. It told me that it was missing the Bootmgr (Vista's Ntldr). So... I grabbed my vista dvd and tried to let it repair it and put the bootmgr back. The dvd didn't see any problem with the OS. So I grabbed an XP hd from my other comp and booted up XP. My "vista hd" worked fine aslong as it didn't have to boot up an OS. Just the MBR that's gotten an error I thought. So I transferred my data from that disk so I'd just reinstall Vista and everything'd be fine again.

After I transferred my data i booted up the vista dvd again and told it to format the hd and install vista on 1 of the partitions. After running for ~20min it'd get to "Installing Features" and it'd bsod on me again, and yes, it was 0x000007A. Same problem as before.

I then burned Seatools on a cd and let it run then. Several hours later, nothing found. Not a single bad sector. So I got curious and booted up in XP again and googled around for this problem. Meanwhile I noticed that nothing had been formatted on my harddisk. Vista was still there along with all the other data.

I read somewhere that it could be a Vista problem, I burned my XP iso from my laptop (hooray for college-licenced OS's that you keep for vmware, etc.) and I tried to format and install XP on the harddisk. After running for awhile it again bsod'.

So I decided to let Seatools format the hd and then try a new installation when i atleast know the data is gone. Several hours later again I booted my vista dvd and tried to install it; bsod'. Again. On an empty drive without bad sectors. So I didn't really know what to do about that and grabbed my XP disc. Guess what? It installed without a problem.

After installing XP and rebooting to install drivers Explorer once hang halfway during login. But after resetting from that it has been running just fine for half a day now.

[Birdman]

Originally Posted by Chu

I use firefox, IE is just around to pick up the slack in compatibility.

Still no fix on the error ;.; Nothing's wrong with my memory, no viruses, so what the hell.

My restore isn't worth two craps either. It says "it cannot restore" so blah.

Edit: LOL I LOVE COMPUTERS.

Okay, let me tell you of my journey the past two days.

My SYSTEM CRASHES were caused by my CAMERA DRIVERS. After some research I found that either the Logitech QuickCam application or Kaspersky (one of my antiviruses) could be the cause of the errors. I decided to try uninstalling them one by one and restarting to see if they were the cause.

I uninstalled Kaspersky first. Whoaaa big mistake.

As Kaspersky had created registry entries for several proxy servers in my device manager, I had now lost my internet connection.

Let me repeat. My camera was causing NOTEPAD and TASK MANAGER to crash. My antivirus made me lose INTERNET CONNECTION. When I still got the errors on startup I uninstalled my camera drivers and reinstalled Kaspersky.

Unfortunately still no internet connection, but there were no more errors.

After performing a repair install on Kaspersky I am now connected to the internet and my errors have ceased.

Thank you, PC. For being the most random mofo in the world.

Same camera you were in awe of in the real life pic thread?

[Chu]

Originally Posted by birdman

Same camera you were in awe of in the real life pic thread?

Nope, this one I just bought a few days ago.

@Aeterna: LOL.