Member Avatar for ljmora501

Hi all,

I just performed a clean install of windows xp, and immediately after the install I recieved multiple error messages. The error messages go something like this: "Your registry may be corrupted with spyware", "Corrupted windows registry". Obviously there is an issue somewhere within the registry, but can someone explain why and how it is possible to recieve these types of error messages after a clean install? Also, if someone knows of a solution to fix this problem, please get back to me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

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Dani AI

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Short answer: those messages are almost never genuine Windows dialogs — they read like scareware/rogue "antispyware" trying to frighten you into running or buying its product. A freshly installed Windows XP does not ship with popups that say "Your registry may be corrupted with spyware." See the general pattern described in the Scareware writeup.

Immediate, practical steps

  1. Disconnect the PC from the network right away to stop further downloads.
  2. Boot to Safe Mode (F8) and run up-to-date offline scanners such as Malwarebytes and the Microsoft Safety Scanner.
  3. Check and clean startup items with Autoruns and then run sfc /scannow to validate core system files (documentation: ).
  4. If scanners remove items, reboot and rescan until clean. Do not follow any "repair" or "buy now" links in the popups.

Notes about causes and recovery

  • If you installed from a downloaded or burned ISO, the installer itself can be compromised. If the machine went online before updates were applied, drive‑by exploits could install scareware almost immediately.
  • System Restore (as suggested by ) can sometimes help but may also preserve malicious files; use it only after the system has been scanned and cleaned.
  • If removal fails or you suspect the installer was compromised, back up essential data (scan backups with a clean machine), then reinstall from verified, trusted media and apply updates before connecting to the Internet.

Context for followups

The behavior described by matches common rogue-security infections; ’s links point to similar threads for removal experiences. If the PC must stay in service, consider migrating off unsupported Windows XP to a supported OS — running an unpatched XP on the Internet greatly increases the infection risk.

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Member Avatar for dlh6213

Did this problem start after you went online with the 'new' computer?

If so, this may help explain what might have happened:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread16365.html

Try using System Restore to set your system back to a point before you started having trouble.

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