Cannot retain icons or taskbar in any mode

Trying to work on a friend of mine's comp (Toshiba Satellite A-105-Pent M Processor-XP). Booting into either safe mode, normal boot, VGA, or last know good configuration, the screen comes up stating windows and the screen with the icons comes up fine. After five to ten seconds they all disappear and after another five to ten seconds they come back. This repeats over and over. Can't log on to internet or do any spyware tests at all. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Please note that all instructions given are customised for this computer only, the tools used may cause damage if used on a computer with different infections.

If you think you have similar problems, please post a log in the HJT forum and wait for help.

Hello and welcome to the forums

My name is Katana and I will be helping you to remove any infection(s) that you may have.

Please observe these rules while we work:

1. Please Read All Instructions Carefully
2. If you don't understand something, stop and ask! Don't keep going on.
3. Please do not run any other tools or scans whilst I am helping you
4. Please continue to respond until I give you the "All Clear"
   (Just because you can't see a problem doesn't mean it isn't there)

If you can do those few things, everything should go smoothly

Please Note, your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use.
Be assured, any links I give are safe
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What happens when you try to use Task Manager to start programs ?
Do you have access to a USB/Flash drive to transfer files over to the infected machine ?

Thank you for your reply katana. I have tried to use a USB stick to transfer malware .exe program to the comp but it won't read the stick. Can't open My Computer, or any other icon on the desktop with mouse or with TaskManager. I tried to run my live cd of Linux (Ubuntu 8.10) but even that would not run properly (ten minutes for desktop to come up and no navigation ability at all. I am beginning to suspect bad ram (the live cd runs only on ram) or maybe failing hard drive.

If the Linux CD didn't run properly, then it is very unlikely to be malware related.
I believe you are correct to suspect the Ram.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot I can do about a hardware problem
(my screwdriver won't fit down the phone cable )

As it appears this issue does not involve malware and therefore falls outside the scope of this forum, this topic is now closed.

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