hi there
a few weeks ago i did a virus check with avast and had some infected files in memory of windows.
i tried to quarentine them and it wouldn't let me so i deleted them.
ever since then windows won't boot properly.
i posted a hijack this log and after extensive searching my computer isn't infected & i was advised to post here

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic48504.html

i'm running windows xp. it gets to the logon screen fine and after i type in my password it either:
- screen stays on logging you in & i need to force shutdown
- music plays but screen stays blue & need to force shutdown
- windows loads but there are no icons on my desktop & i can't do anything
but force shutdown
- windows loads but not all the start up programs do and when i try to click
on a program or the start menu the screen freezes.
- and then sometimes it just loads normally (maybe 1 in 7 times its okay)

when i start it in safe mode its fine.
in the past, if i tried to do a system restore to an earlier point it wouldn't let me,
i was advised to turn that function on, then off, then back on - no difference.

i have used zone alarm in the past and it was suggested that wasn't uninstalled properly
so i installed it and uninstalled it again - no difference.

i have used sfc /scannow using the run command & it didn't prompt me to do anything and didn't say it detected errors.
i have also used the error checking function from the properties tab on C drive - no difference.

any advice or assistance would be great!
i am going overseas in 10 days and need to get it sorted by then.
i'm happy to try and figure this out, do you think if it can't figure here ,it could be as easy as reloading windows or should i be thinking of taking it into a specialist?

thanks again for ya help!!

All they would do is reload windows. Backup your data and go for it. I have found that a clean install of windows is the best route after a virus. I have fought them for weeks, and it is safer and faster to install again. I don't have much luck repairing windows either.

hey... i've never reinstalled windows so when i'm backing up my data do i
do it on a zip drive or is it fine to use windows back up wizard and store it
on the drive itself & make the separate recovery disk.
thanks!

You need to back up your computer on a different media than the hard drive because re-installing will wipe everything, unless you do a repair install, in which case your data should be OK but many of your programs would have to be re-installed.

You'll need your 25-digit Windows license key. (If whoever installed it did it right, it should be on the side or back of your computer on a sticker, or on the bottom of a laptop.) If you want to save your activation so that you do not have to reactivate, check here.

I don't recommend a repair install in your case because whatever is causing your problems may remain.

Regular install.