<p>I’m running Windows XP (version 2002, service pack 3) on a Dell E520, for a number of years, and have had no issues. This morning when I booted, I got multiple error messages (all were runtime error 21@00FE49D2). When I closed these message boxes, what was on the screen (was in desktop, with taskbar, program icons, background wall paper) disappeared, all that was left was wallpaper. Mouse went dead. </p>
<p>I shut down, rebooted (three times) with similar results. I finally ignored the runtime error message box, and opened IE, hence I’m here.</p>
<p>I have no real expertise in this area, and I’ve managed in the past to muddle through various past issues with a combination of internet and tech phone contact. No formal training, just a layman’s knowledge of pc’s.</p>
<p>Any techies have any thoughts, advice on how to diagnose this runtime error, where to start to get this thing booting normally again? No new programs, hardware (that I’m aware of) added that might have caused this.</p>
<p>I did a little looking around and found this article which indicates a fairly new virus. I’m not sure whether or not this is your problem but the thread starts in August and seems about right for your timeframe. Out of curiousity do you use Internet Explorer or Firefox?</p>
<p>AV programs can’t catch zero-day viruses. I’ve seen a flurry of pushed updates on several of my Windows systems (the kind that updates your computer and then gives you four minutes before auto-rebooting) so my guess is that Microsoft has patched a bunch of high-priority problems lately.</p>
<p>The page that I referred you to has some diagnostic information on this particular virus which you could try to determine if you have the same problem. It has instructions for repair too but the whole process is somewhat technical. You might try booting in safe mode. If you can boot to safe mode, then you can follow the rest of the procedure in the article.</p>
<p>Assuming your computer has a virus, you can download ‘Stinger’ for free from McAfee and run it to see if it can correct or at least detect the problem. </p>
<p>If that doesn’t work, try BCEagle’s suggestion. I’ve had to use HijackThis before to fix some nasty viruses but it’s designed more for ‘computer people’ than others. </p>
<p>Don’t do anything rash like reload the OS without carefully retrieving any data that’s not backed up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I ran a virus scan, and Norton detected one Trojan, and supposedly fixed the problem. Yet, the runtime error boxes still appear at startup. I looked at BCEagle’s link and it’s probably beyond my ability. I’m going to do some checking on the Norton site later, and may well try Stinger.</p>
<p>I’m not a techie, and know just enough to be “dangerous”. S has a friend who is a comp troubleshooter, and he owes me a few favors. Also D’s current squeeze builds systems, so they know their way around the code far better than I. Unfortunately, neither is available for the weekend. </p>
<p>Suggest you ditch the Norton and download AVG , which is a free antivirus program used and recommended by senior Dell techs. In addition, download and run Spybot which is a free spyware program, and set it to download updates and run daily. Both can be found through the Cnet Downloads site. this is after you get your computer up and running again.</p>
<p>I have never been impressed with Norton - always found things when running Spybot while on Norton. For my new laptop, I use Avast - free - and the best I have used. I have not found any infection since running it and it is so easy to run. I have read good things about AVG too, but chose Avast based on my research. I also have fewer problems when I use Mozilla rather than IE.</p>
<p>My uber-geek husband swears by the free AVG anti-virus package, in combination with AdBlock plugin for FireFox browser. He also strongly recommends a hardware, not software, firewall.</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad,not yet. I planned to try tomorrow, when I’m fresh and alert and there’s no on else in the house.</p>
<p>My methodolgy is to print the instructions, walk myself through the steps onscreen without doing anything just so I see the flow (usually 2 or 3 times before I’m comfortable. </p>
<p>Then, I take a deep breath, sacrifice an available small rodent to appease the gods, and start clicking away. :D</p>
<p>So far, I’ve been lucky. </p>
<p>From what I’ve read so far tonight on a couple of different forums, it appears it was an infection attempt that doesn’t always work, and may have screwed up something in the registry, hence the runtime errors. Son’s techie friend is away for a week, and d’s bf is unavailable till Monday. If I feel I can’t deal with it, I’ll have one of them take a peek. Mechanical, repair issues never phase me, but to me this is brain surgery.</p>
<p>I think that the registry can be backed up though I’ve never done it myself. It’s amazing that this stuff can spread through social networking sites like Facebook. I know the new CTO there and he’s a fabulous engineering manager but it looks like he has his work cut out for him.</p>
<p>I told the kids to use their Macs on the Mac OSX partition if they’re going to visit social networking sites. They’ve never expressed an interest in them in the past but they might in the future.</p>