ok when i restart my computer...instead of seeing my desktop theme with the icons and background...a black box appears on the screen with C:/WINNT/system32/cmd.exe at the top of the box and inside it reads format volume [/fs:file-system] [/v:label] [/q] [/a:size] [/c] [/x]...its like in some mode where u would have to type commands...the only way i could get online is by using my task manager...could you please help me with this problem...thanks in advance

WOAH !! Looks like you've got a nasty virus or something there! For some reason, your PC is trying to format the hard disk as soon as Windows loads. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have been given the right parameters to do that.

Do you have an anti-virus program installed? Check that it is up-to-date by using the software's online update function. There run a full virus scan of the whole system.

Once that's done, let us know if it finds anything.

If it doesn't click Start Menu, Programs, Startup. Please let us know what you've got listed there.

Last of all, go to Start Menu, Run. Type regedit and click OK.

Browse through the tree on the left to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
RunOnce

Tell us if you've got anything listed in there. Then go down to RunOnceEx. Tell us if you've got anything listed in there. Then go down to RunServices. Tell us if you've got anything listed in there.

Then go up to the Run entry. When you click on that, you'll probably have a few things listed on the right. Do any of them include "format.com" anywhere in the third column? If so, what does the whole line say? (you might find it easier to take a screen grab and post it on the forum).

(Note that, like the BIOS, incorrect use of the Windows Registry may have adverse effects on your system).

I ran the norton scan and everything is back to normal...it appeared to have errors in the registry..thanks for all the advice man..it was appreciated

I ran the norton scan and everything is back to normal...it appeared to have errors in the registry..thanks for all the advice man..it was appreciated

Excellent - thanks for letting us know

hi ppl im having the same problem truth 84 did but on mines i cnt even see the start button also.The command thing pops up and i close it.Then i got a screen of my wallpaper and nothing else.I use some of things from task manager plz plz sumone help me.I have no norton scan programs i have an kerio firewall and an adware scan thats all basically thanks plz help some one

If you use a PC on the Internet, you MUST run an up-to-date anti-virus program. Ad-Aware will try to protect you from spyware security threats and a firewall will try to protect you from hackers .... but the firewall will let emails and web traffic straight through so you're leaving yourself wide open to this kind of problem.

I would advise either getting a copy of Norton Anti-Virus (which you can buy online at www.symantec.com or from most large PC shops) or a free un-restricted copy of AVG Anti-Virus 6.0 Free Edition (which you can get from the manufacturer's web site at www.grisoft.com).

Let us know how you get on

Thanks for the help u gt msn dj?
And my pc is still the same the one i downloaded on the net dnt work on my pc for sum reason if u can tell me on msn plz sum one what 2 do plz do so thanks

Hello! Thank you very much... I have the same window, so I cannot work on my desk neither the start menu. Scandisk does not work, (neither does Norton) and I cannot copy the directories from the command "copy" in DOS. How can I repare the error in the regestry? Thanks a lot!!!

To Boy87 and Sandra84,

Your problems will both have different solutions and they are both different from the solution given to ddatruth84, who started this message thread originally.

It will be very confusing to have 3 problems all on the same message thread so could you please start a new thread if your issue is not resolved and you still require assistance?

Thank you.

DJNafey,
D-A-L.com moderator.

The originator of this thread has confirmed that his / her problem is resolved. The thread is now locked to avoid "thread hijacking". If you have a similar problem, please post a new thread under the Security section or within the message board relevant to your version of Windows. Thank you.