XP Boot Error - "Isass.exe - Bad Image"

[Zac3010]

While booting up Windows XP Pro SP1 on my Gateway Solo 5300 Laptop I received the following error message on a blank black screen:

" Isass.exe - Bad Image
The application or DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette.

OK"

After clicking "OK" the message recedes and only the blank screen remains. I have tried CTRL ALT DEL to bring up the Task Manager, as well as the Windows key to try to bring up the start menu. Neither work. When rebooting the computer I tried to open it in safe mode by pressing F8, but it just skips to the standard Windows startup. I then inserted my Windows XP CD and went into the recovery council. I have found out that this is some error with the Java VM client, and that the DLL file is associated with it. Although I know a bit about XP my knowledge is lacking in the kernel and I am therefore hesitant to delete the DLL file. Should I just delete the entire Java directory in the recovery council, or is there another form of action I should take? Thank you very much for your help.

[macko72]

Isass.exe is a file related to trojan. Notice the difference between Isass.exe and Lsass.exe. Isass.exe (in lower case, isass.exe) is related to trojan, while Lsass.exe (in lower case, lsass.exe), is a legitimate Windows file.

I would say that you shall try to bring up menu for safe mode again because looks to me that you missed point where to press F8 key and that's why skips to normal mode!!!
And if you can load recovery console type help it will list commands witch you can use in recovery console then you can try FIXBOOT, and or CHKDSK, but since looks like you are infected with spyware I would try find some on boot scan for viruses or try repair windows but it's risky 'cos it will remove your's windows updates including SP-acks but you will be able to save all your important data!!! (REPAIR may or not remove malicius program or file, but may help you to boot back in windows to do cleaning)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Zac3010]

The article you linked to stated that you should not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R" and instead I should go into the "To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER" menu. From there it states that you should select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. Would you sugest doing this instead of trying FIXBOOT in the Recovery Console?

[macko72]

Yes I would suggest that you try repair install but once again I'm telling you that with repair install you will loose all Windows updates including SP-acks but you will be able to save all yours important data.
(AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT REPAIR INSTALL WILL WORK IF YOU ARE INFECTED )