I've never had a desktop hijack, but I could help a bit when it comes to cleaning it out.
Ew, Norton? Fucking seriously? I'm actually not trying to focus on "omfg get a better anti-virus system" because you're probably sick of hearing that. BUT I'd recommend Avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)for this situation, because it has the option to do a bootup scan- useful for adware and viruses that can't be dealt with when you're running Windows. Switch to Avast! for awhile; you could always switch back.
Uh. I'll look into some alternatives in case uninstalling Norton isn't an option. XD
Tonikaku, be sure to Turn off System Restore before you run any anti-virus scans; System Restore can make copies of viruses and adware in the _restore folder. You can scan in that folder, but the computer won't let you do anything about it ("write protected" or some shit GRR).
Also, obtain Spybot! Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and have it scan. Teatimer also comes with it (you do have the option to install or not), which keeps track of major system changes (i.e.: it'll notify when your wallpaper has changed, or something is added to the Startup Menu). You can, in theory, halt hijacks with TeaTimer.
In the event that you need to delete disruptive files that are "in use," Unlocker is a nifty program that'll solve that issue. http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
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Ew, Norton? Fucking seriously? I'm actually not trying to focus on "omfg get a better anti-virus system" because you're probably sick of hearing that. BUT I'd recommend Avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)for this situation, because it has the option to do a bootup scan- useful for adware and viruses that can't be dealt with when you're running Windows. Switch to Avast! for awhile; you could always switch back.
Uh. I'll look into some alternatives in case uninstalling Norton isn't an option. XD
Tonikaku, be sure to Turn off System Restore before you run any anti-virus scans; System Restore can make copies of viruses and adware in the _restore folder. You can scan in that folder, but the computer won't let you do anything about it ("write protected" or some shit GRR).
Also, obtain Spybot! Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and have it scan. Teatimer also comes with it (you do have the option to install or not), which keeps track of major system changes (i.e.: it'll notify when your wallpaper has changed, or something is added to the Startup Menu). You can, in theory, halt hijacks with TeaTimer.
As for not getting into Task Manager etc., look into XP Emergency Utility ( http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emerutils.htm ) and Process Explorer ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx ), a replacement of the devault Task Manager.
In the event that you need to delete disruptive files that are "in use," Unlocker is a nifty program that'll solve that issue.
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Uh... that's all I can think of. Good Luck.