Any idea what's wrong with my computer (and how I should fix it?)

[Sampiro]

For the past two days I haven’t been able to use my home computer for more than a few minutes and I haven’t been able to get onto the I’net through it at all. When I log-on (to the PC, not the I’net) I get the following message:

*Register Class Objects failed: hRes= 0x800706BA

The RPC server is unavailable. Maximum retry attempts exceeded.*

After being on a few minutes I usually get the following message (even if I haven’t tried to use the I’net):

The system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log off. Any unsaved work will be lost.
The shutdown was initiated by NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

I am assuming I’ve picked up a virus of some sort. I do not currently have Norton. Has anybody else encountered this, and are there any products on the market which may help remedy it?

Thanks for any info.

[Q.E.D]

That sounds like the old Blaster Worm. First, go here for a removal tool and instructions. Then go get the free Zonealarm firewall, to prevent reinfection.

[Rico]

Look here.

It’s a virus. You can boot into Safe Mode then restore to a good restore point, apparently. If not, you’ll have to use your Windoze CD to restore the Registry.

[Musicat]

Did someone steal our sticky? The one appropriately named:

Have a computer question? Read this first.

Nope. It’s still there. Complete with copius quantities of useful information. Go nuts, Sampiro.