Combofix's log says that you did run it twice, or it was run twice on that pc.

Try the sfc /scannow as posted above.

To be honest, it sounds like so many misguided attempts at self-fixing that may well be better to back-up files (to a location isolated from any valuable files till can be safely scanned) and starting over.


You could use the Windows Repair method, but with XP, each service pack broke a number of software apps, and restoring say an XP SP2-3, back to an earlier state can stuff-up some software installations. In all honesty, sometimes a "repair" can be more work than a fresh install.

Yeah, I did screw up. I'll try the sfc / scannow fix first and see if that has a decent outcome. If nothing good comes of it, I'll backup my important files then reformat....

I'm starting to think that reformatting is the way to go now...

Do you think it would be ok to TRY this before reformatting? In other words, do you think it would be possible for me to try this as a last resort?

I'd be at least backing-up ALL important files (again, to isolated location), before attempting a Repair. Reason being that if too much damage has been done with all these repair attempts, of if reverting Windows itself to original install state (ie, leaving applications in their current, patched/updated for service-pack state) causes a major crash, at least you are sitting pretty in that all that important data is safe and sound.

In the end, you have to evaluate what is more time consuming. Even in my own case, having been around computers for a 1/4 of a century, if my own machines are seriously hit, or a driver failure causes instability issues (happened a couple of months back with a failure of the TurboCache drivers), the first thing I always consider is what is going to cost me more time - fixing or re-installing? Whatever is more time efficient is the one that wins out every time.

There is the problem to begin with...once it was used LAST year then it should have been Uninstalled and not left on the machine. As I stated earlier, this should be considered a "last ditch" program for use really when other steps either do not work at all or one where normal clean up doesn't do it completely, and not one to use for "ordinary" clean up of infections. With what it appears you had on the computer the standard running of MBA-M in normal mode, one or two online scans and then HJT probably would have done it, along with a final clean up of unnecessary starts. Added to the "mix" is your use of the Registry Mechanic program which likely has caused additional problems.
Do the repair using your XP disk as Crunchie has given directions for, at least this is the way I would begin, rather than a full reformat. That should leave most of your personal items intact. You probably will have to run Windows updates again to bring the computer back up to date. Try all that and let us know how it goes. If it doesn't go well you do have the option of the full reformat.

I am backing up just now. Been 8 hours already and not even half of my 300 GB of Documents have been fully backed up. The PC is unbelievably slow just now, so will do a full reformat and let you know.

For the reformat, I have the original XP disc, Samsung PC studio and a graphics driver.

Are there any other drivers that seem to be missing?

Take a look on both the XP disk and that Samsung disk, it is possible they contain drivers.

Get yourself another hard drive to store your documents on for next time.

Bit of an update:

Backed up my important files and have done a complete reformat.

PC is back to normal, EXCEPT I get the following msg when I start up now:

Pri Master hard disk: S.M.A.R.T Status BAD,Backup and Replace

Obviously something went badly wrong with the PC and this is the first and hopefully last Hard Drive I have had fail on me. I guess, even though the PC is only 13 months, the two viruses really took their toll...

I know now that the Drive could die at any time, so will just buy a new one asap to save further stress.

It was a 500 GB Sata II drive. Would any other Sata II drive suffice? Was thinking of upgrading to 1.5 TB...I know this is more of a hardware question, but was wondering whether anyone could share that info...

Thanks for assisting me in this thread. I really appreciate the efforts...