I have Windows ME operating on an HP Pavilion machine
(7845).

My desktop is gone--looks like it reverted to a brand new
machine. A MS Works welcome message appears along with a
message saying that security won't allow me to load
active X (something like that--I'm writing from work not
home). The active x message pops up everytime I try to
open something. Also, a message saying that Norton Anti-
Virus can't check my email. Start menue doesn't work
either.

I can see all of my files when I run a search by right
clicking on My Computer, but can't open anything.


What happened prior to this:
I have internet content set with password to block out
porn and violence, but repeatedly get bombarded with ads
that can only be eliminated by shutting down the computer.
So, this happened Tuesday night and I hit control-alt-
delete, then shut down. Next day my desktop was gone as
described above.

Internet options recognizes my password, so I know all of
my info is still "in there" somewhere. How do I get it
all back.

I'm prepared to buy a new system, hardware, OS, et al.,
but desperately want to save my doc files and powerpoint
presentations. Most are backed-up, but not the most
recent items.

Please Help.

All my best,

Pam

pam,

Boot to Safe Mode if possible ... when the system is booting but BEFORE
Windows loads, repeatedly tap the F8 key. If you don't do this before
Windows starts to load then you will back in the same "brand new
machine" desktop and have to reboot again.
Once in Safe Mode use System Restore to roll the system back to just
before Tuesday night's bad shutdown.

The popups that you're getting are most likely the result of a
"parasite" infestation. Scan for parasites here :

Do you Have Parasites?
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.htm

Anti-Parasite Quick-Fix
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.php#quickfix

For more info on parasites, how to remove them, and prevent their
reoccurence :

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Darnit-Spyware
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#Spyware


MowGreen [MVP]
*-343-* Never Forgotten


pam wrote: