[subvertc]

Im at my wits end. I have lost complete administrative control of my PC (im running windows 2000 pro) I cannot access my control panel whatsoever. I cannot edit my display properties, change my bkgr or screensaver. I cannot use certain programs( the message says it cannot find path), and cannot use my defragmenter at all....

I thankfully still have access to the Net, but whenever i download a program, only about one in five will actually install on my PC. And i cannot install any software that deals with pc security i.e antivirus, antispyware, registry cleaner, etc...


I know excatly what happened. It was a really really stupid mistake on my part, firsrt, and , last time im going to make the mistake. I had downloaded an AVG version 7.6 keygen, and the minute i double-clicked on it my pc has been in the ruts.


please help.

cheers

[TechyGuy]

It sounds like you have a virus of some sort on your PC. You should run a virus-scan(if possible) and check for a virus(es). If any turn up, then you should delete the infected file(s) and run a virus-cleaning program if you can. If all else fails, then you might consider transferring your crucial files to an external hard-drive, then wiping the internal drive.

[Adama]

Hi, subvertc and welcome to PC World. A couple of days ago there was another person with a problem similar to yours, lost Control Panel.


Here's the link to that discussion forums.pcworld.com/thread/24746|t-24746 Perhaps this will give some ideas as to what steps to follow next in providing us with more detailed information, etc. Then we can proceed to better help you.

[FenderGuy2112]

Hi subvertc,


Sounds like you have some crazy virus... do you still have your orignal Win 2000 pro disc? If so, reformat everything on your current HDD and reinstall your OS from the start. It might help to google around for some solutions, something tells me that people have mastered everything under the "XP era".
Good Luck,
FenderGuy2112

[mphenterprises]

Hi SubvertC and welcome to PCWorld. :-)





First, I have retitled this Discussion to give everyone a better understanding of your issue.


As the other members have stated, this is at least partly due to a viral infection. Now, as you mentioned, you tried to circumvent purchasing AVG by downloading a keygen. However, according to this link, AVG doesn't even offer a version 7.6 so that should have been a major red flag right there.

Anyway, hindsight being as it is, let's try to correct this situation. The Discussion that Adama linked will provide you an excellent reference to try and correct your situation. Additionally, if you have access to another computer, I would advise you to legally download several free security applications. Since you have Windows 2000, I am not sure which applications are compatible with this Operating System. However, we can cross that bridge once we successfully get Administrative Control back for you.

[SpiritWind]

Hi all :

I am a "2nd Vote" for reformat and reinstall the Operating System ( & I rarely recommend that ) . This
is a very serious situation; who knows what sort of Malware that keygen put on his computer !? To
discover that would require a Malware-fighting Expert using highly specialized "Tools" which may NOT
even function correctly, if at all, on his computer .
Having lost complete administrative control is NOT like the situation in TJS's thread ( "Lost Control
Panel" ) that has been mentioned. In subvertc's situation, it is a liability that he can access the net
because who knows what information the malware is sending FROM his computer !?

After reinstalling OS; I highly recommend he change ALL his Passwords .

[piyushsingh]

Hi subvertc!
My first advice would be that never download untrusted exe files from the net (patches, keygens) , they will make ur PC crawl.
Now apart from what all others have advised, do u have access to ur registry and task manager, if so plz post a screenshot of ur task manager processes so that any suspicious process can be spotted.