The problem was when logging into windows, it immediately logged off automatically. This was the same for each user account and even attempting to log in using Safe Mode.

This turned out to be due to userinit.exe not running correctly. A virus had hijacked the log in process, running its own executable instead of userinit.exe. A registry key referencing userinit.exe had been altered.

The solution is as follows:

The obvious difficulty is that I could not log on to the PC to access and edit the registry. To get around this a bootable CD such as Hiren Boot CD or BartPE is required.

To edit the registry of the PC  Boot int Windows PE or Minid XP on the device.
Once in Windows go to the command prompt and  type regedit.
Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
On the File menu, choose Load Hive.

A series of message boxes might appear that stating that the folder cannot be found and that the location is unavailable. Ignore any such messages and click OK when they appear.

The Load Hive dialog box will appear.
In the Files of type box, select All Files.
Navigate to the registry location on the local PC. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS\system32\config.

In this config folder, select the hive SOFTWARE and then click OK.
Back in the Load Hive dialog box type a Key Name, e.g., TEST_ITEM.

Choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and then choose the new reg key .

Browse to:
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST_ITEM\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon”

Look for a a key named “OldUserinit”, delete the “Userinit” key and rename the “OldUserinit” key to “Userinit”.

The “Userinit” key should be “C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe”.

Usually the problem is that this key is referencing an alternative exe which is causing this automatic log off.

Now clicke HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, go to the File menu, and then choose Unload Hive.

Reboot the PC. The log on process should work correctly. However a virus scan needs be run immediately. This is because the problem may reoccur at the next logon (This happened to me)

A scanner such as Combofix, Smitfruadfix and/or Malwarebytes should be used. Each of these can be found from a Google search.

After rebooting it is recommended to run an additional scan, perhaps with the installed Anti-Virus program.

I hope you too have Found a Fix!

1. Try Combofix. Disable whatever anti-virus you are currently running first and download here.
2. Visit http://safety.live.com and click on “Full Service Scan”. Follow the steps for a complete scan.
3. After this has completed, go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and Click on “Scan Now. It’s Free”. Again, follow the steps for complete scan and removal of threats.
4. From the control panel, Go to Add/Remove programs and remove any unnecessary programs. Look out for browser add-ins, search programs, free or demo software, shopping , advertising, toolbar extra’s, and so on. At the very least, this is good pc maintenance. If you have more than 1 ant-virus software, then remove at least one of them.
5. Download and run RogueRemover.
6. Download and Run SmitfraudFix
7. Download, Install and run CCleaner – This is a free tool for removing temporary files, cookies, history, and cleaning up registry problems. Run the Cleaner and then the registry fix.
8. Download, install and run Spybot – Search & Destroy –  Homepage is http://www.spybot.info
9. To analyse and remove items from your startup list,  download HijackThis to a temporary directory. This tool is a great way to see what programs are starting up when you pc logs in to windows. My advice here is to remove obvious entries but consult Google for a second opinion. Be careful with this tool as you can adversely affect genuine programs such as your ant-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the startup manager in CCleaner to simply disable the startup items.
10. If you do not have any anti-virus software, download AVG Free .

I hope you have Found A Fix!

After installing Kaspersky Anti-Virus, my windows vista computer would blue screen. I was getting the stop error 0×00000024 and I could only manage to access windows via safe mode.

The solution and description to this error is set out below; 

After several hours trawling the Internet, I found that there were several suggestions offered. Some included modifying the registry (see below) but I Found that using the Kaspersky Removal Tool was the only option for me. This removed all registry entries to Kaspersky and my pc boot up with no problems whatsoever.

Download

You can download the removal tool from here

I would like to acknowledge the assistance and thank Kaspersky for their solution.

I hope you too have Found A Fix!!

All emails coming into through my email client were flagged and certified by my AVG Anti-Virus Software with the following text.

To remove this certification process by AVG simply follow the following steps.Open AVG by clicking on the shortcut from your desktop

The AVG Test Center will open

From the control center, click on E-mail Scanner and choose properties.

On the next screen, choose the appropriate plugin (usually default) and select configure.

Uncheck ‘Certify Email’ for both incoming and outgoing mail.

Finally, click OK Twice and then close AVG. That’s it!

I hope you too have Found A Fix!

I could not access online banking or specific website links that “opened in a new window”. They might open but the new window would remain blank

The solution and description to this error is set out below;

Okay, I actually had this problem on two occasions. The first time was spyware and the second was a microsoft problem. If you just want an emergency woraround, i’d suggest you use FireFox Instead. you can download that here;  To resolve the problem I’d suggest you try them in this order.

Microsoft 

To resolve this problem in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

1.            Quit all programs that are running.
2.            Click Start, and then click Run.
3.            Type regsvr32 urlmon.dll, and then click OK.
4.            When you receive the “DllRegisterServer in urlmon.dll succeeded” message, click OK.

If this does not resolve the problem, repeat steps 2 through 4 for each of the following files (in step 3, replace Urlmon.dll with each of the file names below):

• Shdocvw.dll
• Actxprxy.dll
• Oleaut32.dll
• Mshtml.dll
• Browseui.dll
• Shell32.dll

Restart the computer to enable the changes to take effect. If the problem is still not resolved, reinstall Internet Explorer. If you are using the version of Internet Explorer that is included with your operating system, reinstall or repair your operating system.

Malware/Spyware

1. Download Killbox and Hijack This

Run Killbox and paste The FIRST ONE of these lines into the box, select delete on reboot then press the red X button, say yes to the prompt but NO to reboot now. Then, continue to paste the lines in turn and follow the above procedure every time.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\req.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\req.exe
C:\WINDOWS\oqtpvlx.exe
C:\Program Files\ISTsvc\istsvc.exe

Then on killbox top bar press tools and then empty temp files and follow those prompts and say yes to everything . Next, reboot. After it reboots.

Run hijackthis, put a tick in the box beside these entries listed below and ONLY these entries, double check to make sure, then make sure all browser & email windows are closed and press fix checked

O2 – BHO: (no name) – {1C044AAD-7955-4cbd-8175-501A165C4E5D} – C:\WINDOWS\system32\req.dll

O20 – Winlogon Notify: req – C:\WINDOWS\system32\req.dll

I would like to acknowledge the assistance and thank both Microsoft and GeekstoGo.com for their assistance.

I hope you too have Found A Fix!

Everytime i open Microsoft Outlook i receive the error “The add-in C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfeeVirusScan\scanemal.dll could not be found”The solution and description to this error is set out below;

There are two easy solutions to this. 

1.   

In Outlook [2003], click Options on the Tools menu. Click the Other tab, click Advanced Options, and then click Add-In Manager. Next, click to clear the Exchange Scan check box, click OK, and then click OK.  Close and reopen Outlook

In Outlook [2007], click Tools, Trust Center, add ins. Located in the bottom right corner is the option Manage. Using the drop-down option, select Exchange Client Extension and click Go. In the Add In Manager window deselect Exchange Scan and click OK. Close and reopen OutlookClick OK.

Or

 

2. You find the file extend.dat and delete it. (usually found in C:\Documents and Settings\%Username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook – This file\folder is hidden by default – Click here on how to unhide)

Note: You will have to do this for all users if you have a shared pc with multiple profiles

I would like to acknowledge the assistance and thank Microsoft and McAfee for their solution which can also be found here and here respectively.

I hope you too have Found A Fix!