Windows only fully loads when internet is running.

[raidersforever01]

I got cleaned out a computer with a nice little bunch of viruses and spyware. I rebooted a few times into safe made then when i was done i booted into windows normally and found explorer would not load as well as a few other startup items. Rebooted into safe mode it all worked fine. Booted back into windows normally and again nothing.Don't know why i decided to reconnect ethernet cable and rebooted, windows loaded fine. Rebooted again but no explorer, then i noticed ethernet was loose so i pushed it back in and rebooted and windows loaded up fine again. Now i am wondering what is causing to only load up correctly only when i got the ethernet going to the cable modem?

[Methious]

One of the spyware/virii/trojan might have rewritten some of the system initialization files to load before Explorer.

It's usually a Trojan that want's to load and contact the internet before Explorer loads. Loading first it's on top the stack or in control.

I used to see a lot of that when I was at University as the campus tech. It's particularly nasty because when you do the Windows fix from disk a lot of times (most times) it's picked up and carried on to the fix.

Sometimes their installed as root kits, AVG has a root kit tool for free.

It's been a very long time since then so things have changed a lot, but that sounds like exactly what happens when the students had an attack trojan trying to use their system as part of a "Bot Network."

That's a trojan that lets a remote user control it for things like "Denial of service" attacks on ISPs. They build a large network of Trojan controlled machines some times in the thousands of machines and use them to flood servers with requests so that legit users can't access the server.

Like I said though might be might not be.

[raidersforever01]

Might as well see if AVG's root kit tool does anything.

[Raptorfury]

a good fix is to low level format the hard drive . and re partition the drive reformat the drive and reinstall windows . problem fixed . and it will be back to the way it was . all them fixes and such unforunetly just fixes it temporarly .the best coarse of action is to reformat the drive completly , and every couple of years low level format the drive ( providing every six months you redoin windows like it is best to do ( not just reinstall i mean a reformat and then reinstall )

[coxmaster]

I personally do not consider a low level format the be a fix. Formatting is giving in to a beatable opponent. Using the right set of scanners, you can find every trace of all spyware on your computer.

Of course it can be very difficult to decipher.

[Nacelle]

Low level format is overkill. Just erase the partition and then do a quick format. Much faster.

[raidersforever01]

If it was my computer i would reinstall windows because it is actually faster i can get it up and running in half an hour to an hour to get everything installed and going again but when its someone elses computer i am the one that has to hear them complain how everything isn't the same anymore and files are missing and why youtube isnt working anymore. Even though i backed up everything they told me to they ask me about some pictures,music, or documents that is missing that i was never informed about. Which is why i am now in the habit of going the extra mile with everything so that they dont suddenly decide they need something after i formated and installed windows. And drive back because they don't know how to read the message youtube gives them to install flash player and hear them go oh my bad.

[Raptorfury]

if i get a compy that is that bad . i tell them i dont save squat , so before you bring it to me make sure you have things saved bc when i get it . it be just like a new compy . zero's written to the hard drive ( low level format , @ that point nothing is recoverable ) partition it , reformatted and fresh windows installed . 90% of the people whom i work on there compy's had it for bout 3 - 5 years allready . this way i know itwont come back . because on 1 or 2 instances ( with my compy ) i deleted the partition , redid the partition formatted ( long way ) and reinstalled windows only to have it come back on a fresh install nothing but os no drivers no nothing ....

[Methious]

Most of the time I reformat/reload when I get a computer with multiple Virii/Trojans.

In fact unless it's some thing really minor I reload almost every time. Saves me seeing them again in a week because they forgot to mention their Pogo doesn't work or something.

I do save their My Documents but scan it before putting them back. If they want more than that let them go pay 50-90 and hour at a shop downtown and get ripped off for 150 bucks for a bootleg copy of the OS. At least I use their own key.