So yesterday morning a program called Spyware Guard 2008 managed to get quietly downloaded onto my computer, along with probably whatever viruses that allowed it to happen. Did some research and found this is a feisty bit of malware. My Norton's caught and quarantined most of the virus files and I got rid of the rest (I think) by dumping my Temporary Internet Files.

I found several sites detailing how to get rid of Spyware Guard 2008. The concensus was to use Anti-Malware, a free program which I already had installed. I ran this, it got rid of most of the files but upon rebooting, the malware was still there functioned like it normally does. I ran Anti-Malware two more times and it claimed to have removed the same file each time, but Spyware Guard 2008 still wasn't going away, it seemed to be respawning on my hard drive. The other recommendation I found was to run something called SUPERantispyware, which I d/l'ed. I ran this program, it found quite a lot of bad files. After the cleanup process, it said a reboot was necessary.

And now, my computer won't even start.

Here's what happens: When I turn it on, the normal process runs until I get a screen indicating that my computer was powered down unexpectedly, and it asks if I would like to startup in Safe Mode or normally. The thing is, my keyboard (USB) doesn't appear to work on this screen, so I am unable to select Safe Mode or any of the other options given. After a 30 second timer counts down, the default choice of starting Windows up normally proceeds. The Windows loading screen runs like it normally does, and just when it gets to the point where the actual Windows program should appear, the computer reboots itself. Then the whole thing starts over. Thus my computer is stuck in this loop that I can only break by pulling the plug.

Any recommendations? How badly am I screwed?

Well, do you have a PS2 keyboard (the old school, not USB version?).

It seems like you need to do quite a bit of cleanup, and I'd be willing to help... but you have to get into Windows to do so. Safe Mode with Networking would be best (and then I can connect to you with GoToAssist), but... you need to have Windows running for me to connect.

Can you get a cheapo keyboard? I mean, you should be able to pick up a ps2 keyboard for like, 5 bucks, or a friend has one, or something.

If you live near Hilton Head, I can bring one and fix your PC... but I don't think you do.

does your keyboard work when you get to the boot screen where you can enter the BIOS setup screen?

if so, you should be able to F8 boot select and get into safe mode.

if so,
When you boot, after the bios screen option comes up and after the option to enter the bios has finished, start pressing F8. You should get a windows boot option loader type screen where you can select the windows safe mode (with networking).

after that, I'd try to hook up with Psi.

I managed to borrow a PS2 keyboard from a co-worker today, so we'll see if that works when I get home. The weird thing is, the keyboard works to load up to BIOS menu, but not for the Safe Mode selection that comes after it.

Mostly I was wondering also if anyone else had any experience with SUPERantispyware, since I think that's what erased something from my startup registry and caused this new problem.

Problem resolved. The PS2 keyboard worked and let me use the menu to boot up Windows using my last known settings that worked. When I got in, the system started detecting all my hardware as if it had been plugged in for the first time, so I'm thinking that SUPERantispyware program erased some hardware drivers that were necessary for operation.

Do you have a Windows CD?

Might want to boot to it and try the Repair option. From what it sounds like, you may end up needing to do something like that in the long run anyway. If you just repair the existent operating system, you shouldn't lose any personal data/software/etc.