after login nothing on screen but pointer

hey guys me again with a vista problem.
i loaned my laptop out to someone for a few weeks and they brought it back with a problem (lesson learned).
when i started it up it lets me login and after it does the start up instead of the wallpaper and icons there is just a black screen with the pointer that works. i did a restore and thought all was well until i did the update and shut down computer option. back to just a pointer. did another restore and everything is back to good but if i do the install updates and shut down computer with the power button icon it goes back to just the pointer only.
any ideas of what could have been messed with. if i don't do the update the computer works good. i'm using it now to post this.

 

Doug,
If you do the System Restore can you tell us what the update numbers are that come up to be done? The best advice I can give you now would be to right click the potential updates and choose "hide" on all the new ones until we find out which one is causing this.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-or-hide-optional-updates-on-windows-vista/

 

i'm not sure it's because of the update. i don't know what he was doing with the computer. i found cyberghost on there when i did the restore. i called him to find out what the hell he was doing. funny thing is i didn't think he had half a brain enough to do anything that needed a vpn.
the numbers next to the up date that if i install mess up the laptop are microsoft security essentials -4.9.218.0(KB3140527)

 

I'm so freaking mad at him. what a moron. i have half a mind to charge him to get it fixed. i just did that update and it does as i said in the first post. he said he tried to use hot spot shield but uninstalled it. i think i'm going to keep a stronger eye on this guy. this crap seems kinda shady to me and doing it with my computer make me even angrier.
i restored it and did the hide update until you guys think of something that might help.

 

Well if you are using MSE it is possible MSE is looking for something at startup it cannot find. You could test that by uninstalling MSE and maybe running Avast AV just as a trial. Other than that what I would do next is post the logs in our Malware Forum that are asked for in the sticky inside that forum and let one of our pro Security Mods see if there is anything wrong there because it could be Malware that MSE recognizes but cannot handle as a result of the update.

 

Hi Doug.
I think the something that might help is not loaning your PC's to anybody, ever.

EDIT. We both posted at the same time, Rich.
I agree this is a job for our Malware Specialist.Good Call.

 

lesson learned on lending things out even to those who once were thought as trustworthy. i have avast installed and running a full scan.
since i am a super noob at everything you guys know of a link to learn how to get the logs so i can be more helpful when they ask for it instead of me asking how to the whole time?

 

I use Event Viewer for my information, Doug.
Click the Start button > click Control Panel, Click System and Security, Click Administrative Tools, and then double-Click Event Viewer.
Presume this would be the path in Vista.

 

great thanks for all your help again guys.

 

I use it all the time it's a nice way to find out what is going on. If you think you will use it often you can create a shortcut for it and place it on your desktop.

Right Click with the mouse on your Desktop
Select >New > Shortcut
In the Type the location of the item, type: C\Windows\System32\eventvwr.exe
Click on Next
Give a name to the shortcut
Validate with OK

 

That is an excellent Tip for everyone (System Shortcuts) Ice Man.
Makes System Navigation lightning fast.
I have five on my desktop.

 

Thanks for the tip. that's why i like this place willing to help the little guy.
last night i did a full scan with avast and found 4 infected files. avast kicked them out and ask to scan while it rebooted the system. it took a while so when i woke up today the computer was waiting for me to log in. i did and all seems well. so here i a little bit i'm going to try the update and see what happens. fingers crossed here we go.
just want to ask first should i record the event viewer before and after or just after the update?

 

having issues with the update now. i restored hidden updates a few days ago and every time i do the update it fails. kinds seems odd to me. im not sure whats going on with the update.

 

Since there was infection why not start a new thread under http://computerhelpforums.com/threa...-help-winxp-vista-win7-win8-and-win8-1.41927/

That way they can give the system a clean bill of health.

 

sure will thanks.

 

Just an update. i found the install disks and i'll see if using them will help clear up any issues before i post in the forum section Rustys linked to.

 

They will likely wipe all files and data so make sure you backup whatever you need before using them.

 

Just a thought! IMHO you won't need to start a thread in the malware section if you restore your PC back to factory with the disks.
You should be clear of malware. @Rustys suggestion was good, but I think he will agree, you won't need the malware section after clean install.

 

What exactly do the disk say on them?

Before you use them like Rich-M stated you will have to make backup of any files that you do not want to loose on an EXTERNAL DEVICE. Other wise it is gone.

Have to agree with Donetao that is you restore to factory then you are wiping all the data off the drive and placing new data onto the drive. There would be no need to post in the Malware section since it will be like a new system.

Now after the install is done you get to have the pleasure of sitting through all the Microsoft updates, and patches for software.

 

If it were me, I would create a back up image of the OS with a 3rd party program like Macrium Reflect before going back to factory. As Rustys mentions, you will have a ton of MS up dates. It's always nice to have a fresh start, but the up dates and installs programs will take awhile. That's why I always have a back up image, ready to install when issues like you're having popup.
Good luck doug!
PS W10 has a great feature that lets you restore to factory and keep all your programs, but you still have the MS up dates to deal with. With Vista, you will have a PC that looks just like the day you took it out of the box.