In case it helps, if you get the shutdown timer on XP, I am told you can go to “Run…” in the start menu and run “shutdown /a” (without the quotes) to abort the shutdown and keep downloading the files you need.
Alternately, you can go to the Services management console and change the “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” service’s properties so that on failures, it is set to “take no action” instead of “reboot the computer”. (This should probably be set back once the patch is installed)
also, just to be clear, a pretty fool-proof procedure for getting rid of this thing is:
Many thanks, Super Gnat.
Anybody who is interested can use my method for removing the worm. As I mentioned I had a scewed up copy of it (The freaking worm didn’t install itself correctly if you can believe that.)
Prestep one. Download and run every possible fix program and watch them not find anything. 2 hours, at two minutes log in at a time
Search directories for related files and delete them. 30 Min
Search registry for related files and delete them. 30 min
Download microsoft and install microsoft patch 15 minutes.
Decide to do a full update on windows XP. 10 seconds.
Begin update of XP. 60 minutes.
Watch upgrade process blow up(might be my registry playing but I doubt it). 30 minutes
Attempt to log into computer to fix it. 45 minutes.
Finally get into windows and let it start a scandisk. 1 minute.
Watch scan disk attempt to fix broken FAT links. 2 hours.
Watch scandisk run out of room to copy and fix stuff in the middle of the system file. 20 minutes.
Attempt anyway possible to log into system. in vain . 2 hours.
12 Phyisically remove system hard drive. 1 second.
14 Realize that system can be installed on secondary hard drive if bios is changed to boot from it, and changing bios. 1 minute.
15 Installing XP on second drive. 90 minutes
16 Reconnecting first hard drive. 2 minutes
17 Booting off second drive to access first drive to manually restructure first hard drive so it’s usable. 1 hour
18 Running XP system repair on first hard drive, watching it try to do a complete install again. 90 minutes.
19 Change bios back to first hard drive and reboot. 5 minutes.
20 Wonder why there are no users anymore (no administrator even) in XP system on first hard drive. 15 minutes
Change bios to second hard drive reboot, and examine first hard drive, in an attempt to create a administrator profile on first hard drive manually , in vain. 2 hours (as part of step repeat 19-21 several times)
Give up and start configuring second drive operating system to be main OS. 1 hour
23 Realize with much humor that the only thing all this work has managed is to fix worm so it is now working correctly as programmed and causing computer restart again ,and start banging head into wall. 5 minutes
25 Notice with much happiness that worm is finally gone for good.
26 Download patch from microsoft to fix hole on brand new shiny XP OS on second drive.
By following this simple 26 step process you too can waste a day to remove some dickless rectal wart’s worm and end up with a system that has none of the carefully configured and crafted functionality that you spent the last two years creating.
Well, I got it at home, and I can’t get anyone to explain to me in fucking English how to get rid of it!!!
Is there a CD I can jam into a techie’s mouth to get them to stop spouting computerese gibberish and speak like a normal goddam person?!
Whoa, calm down.
There are user friendly tech supp people. But it’s doubtful you’ll find one on the internet.
Any pals you can go to?
Well, thanks to the folks over at the thread in General Questions, I think we’ve got it under control. I downloaded both the patch and the worm-remover, and Mr. Pug tried all the recommended combinations of running them. It seems to be working this morning.
::crossing fingers::
But still, fuck it. What a pain. Good luck, Eve, in getting yours fixed, and in translating techie talk into English.
I’m here, Eve, and just check in your thread, and I’ll walk you through everything. Kay?
My husband’s motherboard got fried, and he had a hard time getting through to Dell…their message reported that they were being slammed with calls about the virus.
You could also try this LJ post for help:
I have Windows 98, so this doesn’t really affect me. But, I feel for those that are. 
A dumb. dumb, dumb question, doesn’t anybody have virus protection, with live or auto update? I’ve seen my computer update twice in the last 24 hours. It is about $30.00 per year.
Here is what Norton recommends for removal (scroll about half way down)
Let expect Saturday to be a very slow day.
I think this latest virus is all my fault.
You see, my subscription to Norton AV expired in July – and I didn’t want to spend $30 on renewing it just then. So I just kept hitting ‘renew later’ each time NAV nagged at me about being expired.
Well, obviously they realized they were going to get their money from me unless they scared me into submission…and a new virus is unleashed.
Sorry everyone!