Hi

I can boot my PC up and i can get to the desktop screen. However, after 5-10 seconds everything but the mouse freezes. This isn't temporary - it happens every time. Also, it isn't short-term, the PC screen is permanently frozen (but the mouse continues to work) - i've left it for 30 minutes or whatever and the PC screen remains locked.

I can't therefore access anything, even for a system restore.
The last thing i remember doing when my PC worked was stopping (via the mcafee prompt) a couple of programmes that were trying to access my system.
Maybe it's something wrong with the Mcafee security prompt - which asks me to log in when my PC desktop first boots up.

Is there anything i can maybe acces in those 5-10 seconds before it all locks to enable me to access soemthing?


Does anybody have any ideas or advice?
I'm thinking system restore may be the only option work but i can't access that! (or can i do that from the boot/BIOS menu?)

Help would be most appreciated and i thank you in advance!

I have a very simualr problem with my friends computer, i believe it is down to a new virus that antivirus companies havent picked up yet. I say that becuase i have done a thorough check of the system with a few different antivirus programs - all of which failed to pick up the problem but its blatantly maliceous piece of software as its resisting removal. My trouble also started when i removed a few startup items which were not part of any software installed, an unknown process monitors these as it reinserted the startup items back in the list (and thats in the safe mode). I tried using TeaTimer (? part of spybot) which notified me of changes to the registry but it fails to stop the changes.
I have tried everything, even scanning the entire hd with a live-cd antivirus on the most aggressive settings - nothing picked up! All thats left now is to reinstall windows or wait for the virus to be discovered by the antivirus providers.

sounds nasty...
i have managed to get my PC up and running but in safe mode/networking
how come the problem doesn't happen now i'm in this mode?
Do you advise that i run a virus check then?

try http://www.pchell.com/ and download Malwarebytes anti- malware.
up date it and run a scan.

Some very nasty virus around at moment, by some very clever ********. Can bury themselves for ages in your PC and dont even know you have them. Only way to get rid of them is to format hard drive and re install windows, IE is a nightmare for security, try Mozilla Firefox to browse net if not already.

try http://www.pchell.com/ and download Malwarebytes anti- malware.
up date it and run a scan.

+1
It works in safe mode as I believe safe mode will probably only startwindows with certain 'safe' programs and services running.

I'll try loading that then and running a scan - i ran a scan using my macafee but didn;t find any virus.

I can get my PC to work in safe mode/networking but every 3rd new page i try to load when browsing sends my browser straight to an 'adclick' page - this didn't happen before so this must be this new virus?
hopefully the Malwarebyte software will do it although this costs £20?
Also, when i went for the System Restore option my PC has no restore points at all - why is this!!!?? i've had the PC for hmm must be nearly 2 years, yet it hasn't automatically saved up any system restore points....

Your Drivers could be causing it to freeze. i had the same problem a while ago i removed the Graphics driver and booted up fine so i just downloaded the latest version

If you have had it 2 years i would format it and start again with a fresh install .

I'll try loading that then and running a scan - i ran a scan using my macafee but didn;t find any virus.

I can get my PC to work in safe mode/networking but every 3rd new page i try to load when browsing sends my browser straight to an 'adclick' page - this didn't happen before so this must be this new virus?
hopefully the Malwarebyte software will do it although this costs £20?
Also, when i went for the System Restore option my PC has no restore points at all - why is this!!!?? i've had the PC for hmm must be nearly 2 years, yet it hasn't automatically saved up any system restore points....

malware bytes is free, I'd run it in safe mode and do a full scan with malware bytes. I insist on running it on servers of businesses I visit and it always turns up something their £200 software missed.

If you're having difficulty finding the free version (I thought all versions were free - is there an imposter? or a confusing website about?) go to www.download.com and search for it there.

ah thanks for your comments guys! much appreciated i will try the malware and then the other options depending on whether the malware works...