Whenever I try to open my desktop PC, a box comes up inviting me to login to XP Pro. I don't even have XP Pro. Whatever I do, reboot, etc. (there is no X), I can't get rid of this box. My desktop is unusable.

Hellllp!

Catty,
If you dont have XP Pro, what version of Windows do you have?

chris

Exactly what does this box say? Have you tried Googling the message?

Are you being asked for a password?

Can you boot into Safe Mode and run your anti-virus?

Van and Gar, I have XP Home.

The message says:

Log on to Windows
Windows XP Pro
Username: Winuser
Password: _______________

OK (Cancel - greyed out) Shut Down Options

Clicking on options removes the Cancel button and that's all.

I'm not sure how to google it when I can't access google (at least on the desktop), nor am I offered any option to start in safe mode. Windows loads and then this message comes up.

Does that help at all?

Catty thanks you for responding.

This is almost certainly a virus. I forget the name of it, but I had the same thing, or something very similar, about 6 months ago. Windows suddenly wanted a password and I didn't have one! I took the computer to a shop and they were unable to get in either, so I reinstalled windows.

That's when I decided to quit using free anti-virus programs.

Gar?
Was the Terms "Root Virus" or Rootkit Used? if so as you say its very difficult to get rid of and A format May be the only way out

Very long wiki article here on the Subject
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit
To get confirmation of it this Program may show it up
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897445.aspx

Needs somebody like Dwight to Interpret the result
I would say a HiJackthis Scan may be Needed but It may not spot a rootkit Program .Dwight may know what to look for and,There is a 50/50 chance a Format may not be needed Just Cut the file out and repair.

Catty. Your files will have to be saved to another drive have you got access to a 2nd Hard drive(even on a loan?) One of the Portable USB Hardrives(Not the sticks) will be invaluable you can drag and drop your files between drives and Its a No Brainer once you do it a few Times In fact You'll only take a short while.

Slowest way is to Upload it to a filestore site then download it later Ok if you have a handful of file , in your case it will be seversl foldera and Several hundred Kilobytes of data.

No it wasn't a rootkit - I had a different message at startup that I googled and found that it's a nasty virus that passwords Windows.

I got lists of generic XP passwords using another computer, tried them all, hundreds, to no avail.

The guy at the shop said he might be able to get in "through the back door" but had no luck.

Needs a HJT log to determine whats in there?

Probably, but how can I access the Log, when I can't access the desktop?

Sounds like you are in a right 2&8! (2 &8=State = Rhyming Slang)
Catty
Time to Phone one of the Guys up that advertise in the local paper that Say they can get rid of Viruses There are some that say if they cant do it there is no charge and often they will come out to your House,they often connect Broadband up too in your Home
Ask about their charges before they do anything Do they have a fixed charge or Charge by the Hour?

Oh, wow, bedstor, this PC is as expensive to keep as a prime racehorse! I have one of those "local guys," very nice, very knowledgeable - guess I'll call him (again). Thanks, all of you, for trying to help.

Catty?
If it was possible to Transport People like data on the Internet. The Guys here would fix it for nothing Doubt If We could improve things via the Remote desktop facility on XP

I understand. Thank you, bedstor. There will always be questions that can't be answered.

catty, have you tried to boot into Safe Mode? When the computer is first starting up, repeatedly tap the F8 key until you get a menu that will let you boot into Safe mode, and see if you can get past that login window.

chris

Thank you, Chris! That is the info I was looking for. Now, we'll see if it works.

Sorry, Chris, that didn't do anything.

Other than booting into a Windows XP CD or a Operating System Restore CD or bootable DVD, I don't know of any other way around this problem. It may be a virus, I don't know.

Dwight

catty,
When its first booting, do you ever see an option to go into recovery? Usually it says something like "Push F11 to start recovery". If so, you may be able to do a system recovery and save your data, if it gives you that option.

chris

No, Chris, I don't see anything like that. The firsts and only thing I see is the Pro login box.

Not even any Black XP startup Pic and Music Catty?
It just jumps to this Message?
Another Noise when you start up. Does it do a single short Beep when you turn the Computer on?
Reason I ask this it tells me if there is trouble on the Mainboard(such as something being altered)
Anything wrong here and It starts playing "tunes" (well its a sort of "morse code")