"You are about to be logged off" + automatic shutdown

Hello,

I an running an Acer Aspire 5810T laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium installed, and, starting friday, I have been plagued with a randomly-occurring message stating "You are about to be logged off. Windows has encountered a critical error and will restart automatically in one minute. Please save your work". Following this, the computer proceeds to restart. I believe it is due to a virus that came with some software I downloaded, but I am keeping an open mind.

I had Norton partially installed, and after running several custom scans, at least 30 viruses have been quarantined (although, I do not know how many of those were there prior to this attack); however the problem still occurs. My system is running slower than normal, and my programmes are more prone to stop responding. I have tried a system restore; however, I have error 1x8007001f and the failure to delete a certain file, and the restore fails. When I try to delete said file manually, I am told that the computer cannot read the file from the source/disc.

During the shutdown, I have tried the "shutdown -a" method; however, that fails too.

A new problem also surfaced today: my desktop wallpaper and image thumbnails will no longer show. I have tried to edit my wallpaper using "Personalise," but it will neither show my image thumbnails or allow me to select a piture or even a folder.

My laptop is about a year and a half old, with Windows 7 successfully running on it for just over 10 months. Any help whatsoever would be GREATLY appreciated, as I am really at the end of my tether over this. Also, I think it's safe for me to say that I am useless at computers, so it would be helpful if any advice could be phrased in the simplest way possible.

Thank you 8D

Hello,

Please follow the instructions in ==>This Guide<==. If you cannot complete a step, skip it and continue.

Once the proper logs are created, then make a NEW TOPIC and post it ==>HERE<== Please include a description of your computer issues and what you have done to resolve them.

If you can produce at least some of the logs, then please create the new topic and explain what happens when you try to create the log(s) that you couldn't get. If you cannot produce any of the logs, then still post the topic and explain that you followed the Prep. Guide, were unable to create the logs, and describe what happens when you try to create the logs.

Orange Blossom