Danna
Can you save the Avast report as a text file(notepad)and post it that way,if not here are instructions for uploading screenshots:
In Windows a screenshot of the entire monitor, complete with taskbar, can be copied to the system clipboard by pressing the Print screen key (normally located in the top row on the right-hand side of the keyboard)..
You can then paste the clipboard into a program like MS Paint to save it as an image file or paste it directly into a document.
* Press the Print screen key
* Click the "Start" button (normally located in the bottom left of your screen).
* Click "Run" & type "mspaint" (without quotes) & click the "OK" button.
* Wait while the application "Paint" opens. Once it is open, proceed to the next step.
* Click the "Edit" menu and select "Paste".
* Click the "File" menu and select "Save As...". A dialog box will appear.
* In the "File name" field, enter a name of your choice.
* Click the "Save as type" drop-down and select "JPEG (*.JPG;*.JPEG;*.JPE*;.JFIF)".
* Click the "Save" button and save it to your desktop.
Attach the image to your reply by using the Manage Attachments button
* Click the[Manage Attachments] button under Additional Options > Attach Files on the post composition page.
* Browse to the image you created--it will be on your desktop.
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As for the firewall,you really need a firewall that offers inbound and outbound protection.There are infections that try to steal your private data and send it back to there servers,as you have no outbound protection(windows xp firewall only offers inbound)you would not be aware of this.
The only "VERY user-friendly",firewalls i can think of are Norton and Mcafee.Of course these security suite are somewhat bloated and can slow your system down.
Read this article:
Understanding and Using Firewalls
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Open HijackThis and click on 'Do a System Scan Only'. Check the following entries
(If they still exist, make sure you do not miss any)
O20 - AppInit_DLLs:
Please remember to close all other windows, including browsers then click Fix checked.
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Then click on Main Menu and click on 'Do a System Scan and save a Logfile'. Save the log file and post it here.
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Log Required
Hijackthis log