I'm not sure if this is related to a virus or whatnot, but some of my applications just wont load or atleast completely

symptoms are similar to what happened to this person: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread16359.html

Painkiller multiplayer demo and Project Entropia will not load.

When double-clicked, Painkiller gets an hourglass but it goes away and nothing is loaded.

For Project-Entropia, the load sequence gets past a EULA for patching, then trys to load the game to no avail, and in the same way as Painkiller.

I have run windows update and have tryd uninstalling and re-installing on both programs aswell as re-downloading and installing each of them to ensure the installs were not corrupt.

Can anyone help me? Where should i start? Anthing would be much appreciated.

Here is my HijackThis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 10:50:37 PM, on 11/24/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\mcvsshld.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\oasclnt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\Program Files\YourWare Solutions\FreeRAM XP Pro\FreeRAM XP Pro.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\Apache Group\Apache2\bin\apache.exe
c:\program files\mcafee.com\agent\mcdetect.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mctskshd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcIp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcLog.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcAppFlt.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\Apache Group\Apache2\bin\apache.exe
C:\Program Files\SpeedFan\speedfan.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
c:\program files\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\GameComm\GameComm.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: IeHelper Class - {A491D208-B353-490F-B81A-A8A3DC97042D} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\smiehlp.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CE57DA55-F491-45C6-B3DB-6C98E4B17CDC} - C:\Program Files\Secretmaker\secretmakerie.dll
O3 - Toolbar: SECRETMAKER - {7435856C-6CA1-45CF-A00D-82178387F223} - C:\Program Files\Secretmaker\secretmakerie.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\VSO\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\mcvsshld.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OASClnt] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\oasclnt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\McUpdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\McAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [FreeRAM XP] "C:\Program Files\YourWare Solutions\FreeRAM XP Pro\FreeRAM XP Pro.exe" -win
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvappfilter.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} (McAfee.com Operating System Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/sh...1/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1131915403921
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} (DwnldGroupMgr Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/sh...26/mcgdmgr.cab
O23 - Service: app_filter - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcAppFlt.exe
O23 - Service: Forceware Web Interface (ForcewareWebInterface) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\Apache Group\Apache2\bin\apache.exe" -k runservice (file missing)
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee WSC Integration (McDetect.exe) - McAfee, Inc - c:\program files\mcafee.com\agent\mcdetect.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - McAfee Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Task Scheduler (McTskshd.exe) - McAfee, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mctskshd.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SecurityCenter Update Manager (mcupdmgr.exe) - McAfee, Inc - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: ForceWare IP service (nSvcIp) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcIp.exe
O23 - Service: ForceWare user log service (nSvcLog) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\NVIDIA~1\NETWOR~1\bin\nSvcLog.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: StarWind iSCSI Service (StarWindService) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe

Unlike the log in the other thread you referenced, there are no indications of malicious infections in your log.

Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administrative Tools folder and look through the System and Application log files for entries labelled "Error" or "Warning". If you find such entries, double-click on them to view their details; if any seem related to the program crashes, post the full and exact contents of the details window(s) here.

Only ones in there of importance~

Faulting application doom 3.exe, version 1.0.0.1, faulting module doom 3.exe, version 1.0.0.1, fault address 0x000baea9.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 64 6f 6f ure doo
0018: 6d 20 33 2e 65 78 65 20 m 3.exe
0020: 31 2e 30 2e 30 2e 31 20 1.0.0.1
0028: 69 6e 20 64 6f 6f 6d 20 in doom
0030: 33 2e 65 78 65 20 31 2e 3.exe 1.
0038: 30 2e 30 2e 31 20 61 74 0.0.1 at
0040: 20 6f 66 66 73 65 74 20 offset
0048: 30 30 30 62 61 65 61 39 000baea9
0050: 0d 0a ..

Faulting application quake4.exe, version 1.0.0.0, faulting module quake4.exe, version 1.0.0.0, fault address 0x00223678.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 71 75 61 ure qua
0018: 6b 65 34 2e 65 78 65 20 ke4.exe
0020: 31 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 1.0.0.0
0028: 69 6e 20 71 75 61 6b 65 in quake
0030: 34 2e 65 78 65 20 31 2e 4.exe 1.
0038: 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 61 74 0.0.0 at
0040: 20 6f 66 66 73 65 74 20 offset
0048: 30 30 32 32 33 36 37 38 00223678
0050: 0d 0a ..

The following information should appear at the top of the details windows; please give us that info as well:

Event Type
Event Source
Event Category
Event ID
User

Both are...

Type: Error
ID: 1000
Catagory: None
Source: Application Error

OK- not too much info to go on there, unfortunately. The cryptic hexadecimal numbers in the errors you posted can be decoded, but that's not something I'm going to dig in to right at this moment (which happens to be the moment of 12:35 AM for me).

Faulting games are often a function of video or sound card issues (drivers, etc.); have you looked into that possibility yet?