PC will not shut down or system restore

[kfreejr40]

I downloaded a flashplayer program for DirecTv two days ago and since then my computer will not shut down without doing a hard restart. I can not do a system restore either. I will get to the part where the pc should shut down but it will not shut down so will not complete the restore. My outlook email will not send or receive any emails and my browsers either will not start or will eventually crash after they have been running for a while. I have tried running all the virus scans, malware scans, errorfix program, registry fixers.....you name I have done it. Thanks for your help.

Keith

[stroyal]

Welcome to TechIMO!

So many questions to ask.

What OS?
Which System Restore? Microsoft, or the computer manufactures?
What Scanners, and did you run them in safe mode?
Is this a store bought brand?
Dose it have a restore partition?
What was the flash player version.
Did you look in add and remove programs, for that program?
Do you have OS disks?

[kfreejr40]

I have a Dell XPS 400 running Windows XP. I am trying to use the computer system restore located in the control panel but the problem seems to be that the computer can not shut down to complete the restore. When I shut it down manually and then restart it the restore windows pops up saying it was unsuccessful because it was shut down improperly. I have run super anti spyware, error fix, century links f-secure virus scan, malware bytes anti malware, I have run registry cleaners and fixers etc. Some would not run properly until I ran them in safe mode but I have done most of them in both normal and in safe mode. In safe mode I can not find the system restore function or I would of tried that in safe mode as well. Earlier today when running a virus scan through Century links F-secure security it did come up with 1 problem which was titled "W32/Malware!Gemini" I got rid of it and ran multiple other scans with all the above mentioned programs and it did not show up again however computer still runs the same.

The flashplayer error message I was receiving stated "the following plugin is unresponsive: shockwave flash" but the one I was downloading from Directv I believe was Adobe Flash. When I went into add/remove programs after encountering this problem the only file I found was a system file that said directv player which I deleted as well along with all my flash player and have now put them all back on but still the pc is not working properly.

Not sure about the restore partition I want to say there is or that I came across something like that while doing a F12 or a F2 on restart. I have Adobe Flashplayer 11 plugin, Adobe Shockwave Player 11.6

And no I do not have OS disks.

I am presently about an hour a half into a system restore and I am able to go to websites and answer the post on this thread and the computer is still not shutting down.

Thanks so much for your quick reply and any help you are able to give.

Keith

[stroyal]

Their are 2 kinds of restore, the restore in Windows, that doesn't usually work when you need it, and only restores to a previous time.

The one that is on a separate partition, restores to a factory fresh state, and should be independent of Windows.

This kind, sometimes can start from within windows, but they can also be started from boot.
F12 sounds about right, so try it that way if you can find it again.
No virus or malware should be able to interfere, with it then.

Some of these programs, let you save your data, but I would backup, and do a factory fresh install

[stroyal]

I see Ctrl F11, a lot while Googling the subject.
ie.
How can i restore factory setting with my dell - FixYa

[JEROY]

I suggest using the plugins checker from inside FireFox Mozilla .. He will give you a list of the outdated or "should be upgraded " plugins like Flash Player and many other stuff ...
He will next redirect you to the corresponding download sites ....

I do it each week or so ....

[kfreejr40]

Thank you everyone for your help. I believe what had happened was I contracted some sort of Virus or Malware which I was able to get rid of it with my spyware and virus scans however whatever the virus did to my computer was irreversible.....so I thought. I finally figured out how to go into safe mode F8 and go to "Run Command" and then type in the code which took me to the "system restore" the virus was not allowing me to do a system restore or a proper windows shut down and in safe mode I could not find the the system restore function on my computer but with the command promt I was able to do a successful system restore back to a point when my computer was running fine and everything worked. The pc shut down properly and then restarted, my emails came back into outlook, programs worked fine, my browsers worked properly once again and the computer actually shuts down when I tell it to. Thanks again.

Keith

[stroyal]

Glad to hear it.