I forgot to mention:
Hard drives can be partitioned and set up with a multiboot configuration.
If you get a large (300 or more GB), then you might partion it to have a
total of three primary partitions and one extended partition. The
multibooting software/mechanism controls which primary partition you boot
from. I prefer to do this manually. I create and format the primary
partitions and the extended partition, then hide all primary partitions
except the one I want to use now. I install the OS on all the primary
partitions one at a time, with the others hidden. I have a bootable
thumbdrive that holds the software for hiding/unhiding, and making one
partition the active (bootable) partition. I create little batch files with
names like Act-P1.bat and Act-P2.bat which do the hiding/unhiding and making
the right partition active, so I don't have to type in the arcane commands
to switch partitions. Then a reboot without the thumbdrive boots you into
that partition.

This kind of setup makes it relatively easy to switch to a 'clean' partition
when you get in a situation like you are now in, in order to verify that
with a clean system your computer runs as it should. This gives you the
flexibility of having more than one 'installed spare clean system'. Of
course, you will have to install your necessary applications on each of
these partitions, which can take a lot of space. You might have a different
mix of applications on the various primary bootable partitions. I use the
extended partition to create a drive that can be shared, no matter which
primary partition is booted from.

Note that your computer may already have a second primary partition that
contains recovery info that can be used to wipe out your current system and
recreate it like new -- all your data gone. This will limit you to having
only one spare bootable partition. Some computers come with a set of CDs or
a DVD that provides the same functionality of this recovery partition, in
which case you may choose to do it your way and have two customizable spare
bootable partitions. Other computers allow you to make your own set of
recovery CD/DVDs, but only one set, and have instructions in 'help &
support'. With your current system running so poorly, you probably can't do
that. Your computer manufacturer may sell recovery CD/DVDs specific to your
particular laptop model, but they typically require the laptop's serial
number or other info on a label on the computer.

I would also recommend getting a bootable BartPE or other windows Preinstall
Environment CD set up to allow poking around in a screwed up system using
the clean system on the CD. The CD should be non-rewritable which
guarantees that it cannot be contaminated with a virus after the CD is
created.

-Paul Randall


"Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:epkK$3k%23JHA.1380@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> As has been said in another branch to this thread, trying to fix a problem
> like this can be very frustrating and time consuming and it is often
> doomed to failure.
>
> If you have the money resources, I would suggest that you buy a
> replacement hard drive and clean install your system on it. It is seldom
> necessary to get the same brand as the original drive; just make sure it
> has the same interface (Sata vs IDE), and equal or more storage space than
> the original. In recent years, some computer manufacturers have designed
> their notebooks to allow very simple and easy access to replacing hard
> drives and memory sticks, and have a downloadable manual with
> illustrations to do the replacement, as well as specifications for
> replacement drives/memory. On this clean install, make sure your
> AV/malware suite is up to date, and install the minimum set of software
> to get your necessary work done. Work the system a while to veryify that
> it is stable. Purchase a USB case to hold the original hard drive; this
> will give you access to all your data on this old drive. Scan it with
> your AV/malware software. Over time, install the rest of the things you
> want on the new drive.
>
> The nice thing about this plan is that if you find that you have forgotten
> to get some key piece of information that can only be obtained while
> running from the original drive, you can switch back to get that info,
> saving it to a thumbdrive, then switch back to the new drive and use the
> info on the thumbdrive.
>
> If you are uncomfortable with doing this yourself, your computer repair
> place should be able to do it for you. Just make sure they know to keep
> the old hard drive and not attempt to 'clean it up' or format it, and to
> install it in a USB case and verify that its data is accessible.
>
> -Paul Randall
>
> "popular" <brenden.cline******.com> wrote in message
> news:042dcd15fd9fe8756a02a8d72172bc82@nntp-gateway.com...[color=green]
>>
>> Thanks for the input everyone, one thing I didn't mention is that before
>> I moved into my homestay, I was quarantined (swine flu and all) at a
>> hotel for a week. I used my laptop with no problem there with a voltage
>> converter (so that's no issue) and wireless internet, which makes me
>> skeptical of if it could be really be a virus/hacker. Three questions
>> (basically):
>>
>> 1) Is there a way to stop or disable the startup programs from loading,
>> besides msconfig? I can't really run an antivirus scan or anything else
>> since it's so slow and becomes unresponsive before it can do much.
>>
>> 2) What makes it seem like a virus? I have Norton Endpoint (from my
>> school) and Windows Firewall turned on, for what it's worth :/
>>
>> 3) And how can I salvage my computer without reinstalling
>> Windows/reformatting? I can get to a computer repair place here, but if
>> I go in without knowing what's wrong/what needs to be done I'm afraid
>> they'll just wipe the harddrive which wouldn't be good...[/color]
>
>
>[/color]