Screen Text All Garbaged - Help!

I've searched this forum for the problem I describe below - but didn't find anything - so here goes...

My brother called me with a problem on his computer that I could not answer... All of the type on the desktop and type under folders is in strange characters - just garbage. Anyone have any idea why?

If he clicks on his icon to get on line (because he can recognize the look of the icon - not read the type under it!), the web pages are readable. If he can find a document file, he can open it and it is readable. However, nothing Windows XP puts on the screen is. He can't use the help file - it's all garbage.

I thought it sounded like a virus - but he has scanned and all is ok. He has tried to restore to a couple of different restore points, it worked the first time - but he turned off the computer and then it was all garbaged when he turned the computer back on. The second time he restored to a previous date... it didn't work.

Could this have something to do with a font or a program he installed?

We are really stumped and don't know what to try next. I appreciate all of your help.

Thanks,
krec

 

I would run a virus check again & deal with system restore as per below .

Online Virus check ( free )
http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx
http://housecall.antivirus.com/
http://www.coledata.com/virusalert.htm
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/misc/av.php
http://www.pandasoftware.es/activescan/activescan-com.asp
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/
http://www.bitdefender.com/

System Restore option in Windows Me/XP
http://www.augustana.ab.ca/other/cns/virus/
http://www.adamtj.org/repository/howto/W32.Blaster.Worm/
Users of Windows Me and Windows XP should temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file onto your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:
How to disable or enable Windows ME System Restore
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...2001012513122239?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam
How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...2001111912274039?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam

 

Thanks

Thanks, from what my brother has told me, a virus was the culprit! Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

krec