I ran a boot time scan, which found and removed several hundred affected files (mostly brontok), and now my system is locked in endless reboots.
I have tried every option in Safe mode startup, but none of them will get me past where Windows jut starts to load. At that point, it shuts down and starts again.
I have some recently created and very hard to replace files on that machine - would prefer not having to rebuild it from scratch, losing everything.
Any ideas?
You could try downloading a Linux LiveCD on another computer and using it to access the HD and save the files you want to a USB drive.
Maybe overinstallation can solve the problem and you won’t lose your programs, settings, data, files, etc.
Just choose ‘Repair’ installation of Windows and install ‘over’ the old installation.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314058
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
At this time, I really suggest you install Windows over your ‘old’ installation.
You won’t lose your programs and settings neither your data.
Hope that Windows 2k works the same as the XP links posted above.