BleepingComputer.com: Vista Virus Dilemma

Hi there, having problems with a virus (at least that is assumed that is what it is...) Posted on other forums...Go easy on me

When I start the computer, it goes into windows then freezes whilst loading. Alt, Ctrl, del wont help me here. Turning it off manually and starting in safe mode works fine. Can't see anything that LOOKS strange in the list of things that run upon booting (but I have limited knowledge of most things in that list). I disabled all non-essential things and tried to boot again, but still crashes.
Some suggestions I have recieved:

"You may not have a virus. What makes you think you have a virus? You could also have registry errors. If you can download a registry cleaner on another Computer and put it on a pen drive and transfer across to the other computer and run it. Glary Reg cleaner is good."

"Start safe mode with networking, download and install malwarebytes antimalware http://is.gd/13iYo, and run it."

"Ok,this is Extreme Solution#1 Hit F11 on boot
Its just like a reinstalllol;Caveat It formats C & wipes a lot of the programs,although you can regain everything,its shifted off C.Course if thats the only drive its a bit radical,they can end up anywhere.A search of 'everything' will recover them...."



So upon trying all of the above, and it failing, I was told to come to this forum...
Just checked system restore,
no restore point have ever been made. Even if that were the case, I don't even know what dodgy stuff to look for.
Additional: Something called msa.exe was found and I followed the intructions to remove it, and it does not come up anymore on scans...


Any advice would be highly appreciated, I want to avoid re-formatting but it is looking grim...Thanks.
















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This post has been edited by boopme: 16 June 2009 - 09:59 PM

Hello and welcome. You did and may still have more malware. Yiu may have damaged the registry with the cleaner. I am not vertain of the consequences of the F11 tactic. I think yoshould post in the HJT forum as the safest proceedure nw.

You need to run HJT/DDS.
Please follow this guide. go and do steps 6 and 7 ,, Preparation Guide For Use Before Using Hijackthis.

Then go here HijackThis Logs and Virus/Trojan/Spyware/Malware Removal ,click New Topic,give it a relevant

Title and post that complete log.

Let me know if it went OK.