Just to start off, I'll say that I am using a different PC right now than the one that I'm having problems with. I'll also say thanks to anyone who decides to read this fairly long message in the hopes of helping me out with this.

Anyway, I think the problem is related to spyware, and I did use many anti-spyware/virus programs to try to fix it while I could still access the desktop, such as Spybot, AdAware, and AVG anti-virus. Unfortunately, they didn't do much good, since the real problem now is just being able to access the desktop.

I believe the spyware program that's responsible was a .dll file with the term “dxclib” in it, made by DeluxeCommunications. But I couldn't delete it with any anti-spyware/virus programs while I still had access to the desktop, since they said the program was still in use(I've since learned though, that deleting it from Safe Mode would've been possible), so they'd try again upon start-up which still did no good even after multiple tries. And the spyware seemed to have somehow stopped the Internet connection from working, so I couldn't check online to see more specifics on fixing the problem.

But the PC was last used by my brother before the desktop became inaccessible, and here is what he says were the last things he did before the desktop problem happened:
“- Used Comcast Doctor (I believe that's what it's called) program to fix Internet connection.
- It told me to unplug the cable box, wait 30 seconds, then plug back in.
- I did so, and it then said that it needed to alter the Internet connection settings.
- After doing this, it said that the Internet connection was fixed, and that I needed to restart the computer for full changes to take effect.
- I did such, and the computer seemingly started up normally.
- I tested the connection using Internet Explorer, and it seemingly was working fine.
- However, within thirty seconds, several pop-ups began appearing on screen (I suppose it's important to note that I was on Google when this happened, a site which I've never seen use pop-ups for advertising purposes).
- After, perhaps, fifteen more seconds, the computer froze, and I restarted again.
- However, now the OS refuses to open, instead giving me a Blue Screen before restarting again.”

So like he says, now the PC won't go to the desktop. Instead, just before it would usually show the screen for logging into the PC with your username, it switches to a blue screen with a message on it which only stays on screen for a split second before the PC automatically restarts. I recently got a digital camera though, and plan to soon use it capture what the message says before the PC restarts.

I have also attempted every other start up option I know of, including “Last Known Good Configuration,” which does no good, and “Safe Mode,” which just brings me to a black screen that begins to flood with many lines of text that start out like this:
“Multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\”
The lines stay on screen for a few seconds before the PC automatically restarts.

The OS the PC uses is MicroSoft Windows XP Professional, but I'm not certain about many of the other particulars about it. And just to note, one other possible solution I've learned of that may allow me to access the desktop is what's called a Repair Install, but I'd rather only have to do that as a last resort. The reasons why are that it would require a Windows XP CD, which we didn't receive when we bought the PC used, and because a Repair Install may erase certain files from the PC.

Any and all help or suggestions are appreciated.

Sounds complicated…

You will get more help if you posted a message at http://www.pcmech.com/ They are very good in replying quite fast.

There are two possible things that might've happened (from off the top of my head):

1) There was something left over from the previous owner, which for whatever reason got activated then.

2) The request to reconfigure your Internet was not an official request and may have been in fact something like a redialer…as you're likely aware redialers hijack the connection and connect to premium rate lines.


I can't really offer any advice other then possibly consult a computer technition… but it looks like the problem started with that net connection prompt.



The moral? Don't let your brother chose options withouth notifying you first.


getting a shot of that message may help in unlocking the issue of the problem.

If it is a re-dialler of a virus/internet hi-jack, then try removing the modem cable. It will undoubtedly bring up an error message asking you to reconnect. At this point, use your Task Manager to shut down any named software in the error message and any suspicious software that appears to be running. No re-use AVG and AdAware or whatever you've got.

If you don't get any error message and it repeatedly tries to reboot, you may have accidently deleted a system file. Try running in safe mode and look out for error messages. Copy over any required files for a healthy pc.

Well, here's the screen capture of the error message that comes up. Wasn't easy to catch either, since I had to time it just right and use the camera's burst shot option, which still took a few tries. Like I mentioned in the OP, the message only stays onscreen for a split second before the PC restarts.



And thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think any of them are the solution, unfortunately. I doubt the problem is related to the Internet connection, since the same problem occurs even when all the connection wires are unplugged. And I still am not able to access Safe Mode, due to the reasons listed in the OP. But I will make sure to see if anyone on pcmech.com might be able to help as well.

Unfortunately that message puts it way out of my range of expertese… as long as there's nothing you're worried about a techie seeing, it might be worth taking it to your local computer engineer to get their feedback on the matter.

Kingpin
Unfortunately that message puts it way out of my range of expertese… as long as there's nothing you're worried about a techie seeing, it might be worth taking it to your local computer engineer to get their feedback on the matter.

Well, I have gotten some feedback from PCMech.com about what the solution possibly is. It might just be a problematic Windows Update that caused it. When the spyware problems were occurring, Windows Updates were automatically being downloaded to the PC and automatically restarting the PC with little notices that it had to do so to complete its updates. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to completely stop the updates from occurring. And this all makes me just a little PO'd at Microsoft, since they forced faulty updates onto my PC, and now what might perhaps be the only way to fix it is to buy a $100+ Windows XP CD to do the repair install. Though, like you suggested, it might also be a good idea to seek help from a techie, just to see if they could do anything about it.

Well, it depends what you were told but from reading what you wrote… it doesn't prove Windows was immediately responsible for the problem… could have been the updates clashing with the spayware that did it… so the updates might have been fine on their own… but caused problems when reacting with the rogue software. Still, it'd be worth getting a techie to look at it.