Icons & Start Menu dont show up && Internet Explorer directs me to spam sites?

Download, Install & Run == All-Free

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SuperAntiSpyware

http://www.superantispyware.com/

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CCleaner

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Encountered exactly this problem 2 days ago.

Followed your tip to run Explorer. -- then AVG 8.5 threat detection pops up saying Trojan horse downlader generic.8.AGCR

Have disconnected the machine from network while I investigate further. Any further advice will be most welcome.

UPDATE: This was on someone elses computer who had asked me to look at. I found the file msas.exe and various files I could not delete. Fronm googling it is clear that msas is part of MS antispyware 2009, and this is a nasty which pretends to be from Microsoft and tries to spoof you into parting with money to fix the problem.

Well, deleting a few files did not work, so I thought I had better do a clean reinstall. I checked the external back up disc and found the owner had not backed up for a few months so I awaited the owners return to findout what files needed to be preserved before doing a reinstall.

The owner has returned and we are presently backing up my documents, but the the owner now reveals that he was taken in by the spoof messages that looked as if they were from microsoft and he paid $45 to the crooks. he has now cancelled the card and is trying to get the money back.....

Meanwhile I am going to have to reinstall his system.

Same thing occured to me when I attempted to execute a web-based app and immediately the SCAM "MS Antivirus 2009" box came up asking if I wanted to buy it... SURE!!!! - and a bridge to go with it!!!

I figured it was a spyware program but I shut down immediately and when I rebooted, a "Data Exection Prevention" ( Cabinet Maker) warning box came up - prevented loading my desktop.

Since I had scanned for viruses w/in about 4 hours I wasn't sure what to do.

I got access to my desktop through Task Manager and proceeded to rescan for viruses - nothing found ( McAfee)

I then did a spyware scan and sure enough - MS AntiVirus came up. So I cleaned that out.

Rebooted - still came up with the Date Exectution error.

Downloaded AVG v. 8.5 and an error message came up regarding the Trojan Downloader Generic8 AGCR. / infecting the file:

C:\WIndows|System32| userinit.exe

(plug - I have often found AVG a better anitvirus product than the big boys- although I still use McAfee)

Since I already scanned for a virus I performed my default procedure and renamed "userinit.exe" another name and moved it to a non-WIndows directory.

Then I copied a new "userinit.exe" in the System32 subdirectory.

Rebooted and voila! - no errors... loads fast and seamlessly...so far :-)

You may have some other issues as well but that's my experince

Similar incident here.

Tried msconfig restricting processes, etc.

Chkdsk found a few problems

Safe mode worked after a few tries

Offline scan found a few minor Trojans

Deleted Temps.

Tried System Restore to prior good day, no luck.

Will try XP Repair shortly.

Do you have a firewall? You should do a full virus scan. If you want, you can boost into safe-mode, but I don't recommend that. Make sure your anti-virus software is updated regularly.