messenger service Pop-up

[Thudpucker]

I'm getting a Pop-up from "Messenger Service" saying my 'Regristry' is corrupted.

Then it wants me to go to various URL's to fix it.
regisfixes.com
winregitrycleaner.com
regfixit.com
regisrycleanerxps.com
dlpatch.com
registrycleanergold.com

This all looks bogus to me. Is it?
How do I get rid of it if it is bogus?

The problem I notice is in transmitting. My PC locks up.

WXT, 12G disk(new to me, PC)

[GaryRouth]

If you can, boot the computer in Safe Mode (tap the F8 key during system startup - and logon as an Administrator) & go into the Control Panel - find the Administrative tools, and then the tool "Services" - and disable the Messenger service. If you'd like a guide to Windows Services (XP & 2000), you can visit the Elder Geek's guide http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

Then run malware scans on as thorough settings as possible. It's fairly likely you've an infection or two. Make sure your firewall and antivirus are active before you reconnect to the Internet. Aften scanning in Safe Mode, scan again in after booting normally, and also try some online scans (at sites like Panda, Ewido, HouseCall, or Symantec).

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[bozo]

This all looks bogus to me. Is it?

YES...malware...my mothers computer was riddled with the same thing.

[Thudpucker]

OK, thanks.
I also have a note from Belarc that I need a multitude of downloads from MSN for my XP software.

PS: I get lost when I go to MSN. Is there something for the vocabulary challenged at the MSM site?
I'd like to see something simple as in: "Click here for XP downloads"

I really feel the kids who write this incredibly effective software, need some adult supervision. The Kid's should be made to watch thier Grandparents sit down and work with thier 'new creations' and the kid's should be happy to watch. The kids would see first hand, the hard spots in that 'creation' that need a little fixing. Simpeler "operator lead through" is the by word here.

Can anybody help me with that?

[Panama Red]

Disregard the Belarc notices. Just visit Windows Update (you'll need to use Internet Explorer) and it will scan your system for needed XP updates. Quick way to get there is click Start>All Programs>Windows Update should be at the top of the Programs list. If not there, open IE>Tools at the top>Windows Update.

[Thudpucker]

I went to MS site and found some of the downloads.
The probelm is worsend by the PC (I'm using a friends pc now)
My PC will only work for a few minutes. Then it Locks up. The Pointer blinks, and will move, but Clicking does nothing.

I have to restart it.

Then sometimes I get an error saying my software has had an error and will shut down in 55 seconds.

I cant stay online for very long at all.

Frustrated in BAMA land.

One more thing to muck up the works, we've had to go to louisiana for a week or so. I wont be near a PC for that length of time.
See you when I get back.

[GaryRouth]

Thudpucker - try the antivirus and antispyware scans from Safe Mode as soon as you can when you get back. That message comes from a virus/worm infection.

If you have a friend with an external USB 2.0 hard drive enclosure, you could put your drive in it & scan it from another computer. It's possible, if you have one of the nastier worms, that your system won't run long enough for you to scan - no matter what mode (that's when you'll want to try the external enclosure trick). [You can also slave the infected drive inside another computer, attaching it to an IDE cable - let us know if you need the necessary jumpers & cable settings info for that].

Once the drive is clean, and back in it's original case, make sure not to connect to the Internet without firewall, antivirus, and antispyware programs installed & running. The infection likely arrived from the Internet.

There are free versions of these antimalware tools: the ZoneAlarm firewall, AVG or Avast! antivirus, Microsoft's "Windows Defender" and/or SpyBot's "Search & Destroy" and/or Lavasoft's "AdAware" antispyware.

. . . Gary

PS . . . If you have good backups, and the PC came with a Recovery Disk set = these can often completely erase your hard drive (and any viruses on it) and repartition, reformat, and reinstall the software exactly as it was when it first arrived home from the store.

[Thudpucker]

Gary I still appreciate your help with my other PC way back when.
I'm in MS tonite, and LA tomorrow.
I'll have to continue this when I get back.

I was never able to 'scan' in safe mode. I just couldn't find any options that led to 'Scan' of any kind. I'll have to get a Book on XT and read till my eyes hurt.