Trouble installing SP 1 and was told I have a rootkit

[hlread]

Hi!

I have gone through someone at the Microsoft forum who gave me a link to this site. According to the person there, I probably have a rootkit or other infection, but I can't do a clean install of Windows because my disc player is broken and if I did a recovery I would lose my Word and printer software etc. and have no way to re-install it. So thats not an option.

Here's the conversation we had: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_update/i-cant-install-any-updates-service-packs-or-fix/de3a40f4-c4c1-46b1-a093-0b65ae29a198



And also what worked for me : renaming the Download folder - installed a lot of my updates -  but what does't work still: installing Service pack 1 and Windows Vista Update -

I guess what I want to know is - can I look for this rootkit myself and remove it without doing a clean install? And so with that can someone walk me through it?

I ran the McCafee removal tool. I have MSE installed and running. I ran Malwarebytes, but it didnt find anything in a full scan or quick scan. Also, I had to run Malwarebyte on Safe Mode since in normal mode it kept crashing.
When I restarted in normal mode - I did go in and disable most of my start up programs since it might be some sort of issue with them.

[1972vet]

Read This Pinned Topic thoroughly and do what it recommends. Someone will be along to assist you as time permits. Thanks!

[hlread]

Tried running DDS three times and it freezes.
I am not sure what Script Blocking to disable. I have turned off Defender and MSE. (I have Vista 32) What else is there?

Can I run it in Safe Mode?

[hlread]

It freezes in Safe mode, too. How do I disable all script blocking? Where do I find it? I googled but cant find anything about it for Vista.

I use Chrome.

[1972vet]

Script blocking refers to what some security tools do...so one need only concern themselves with disabling all their security tools on board while running the scans mentioned in the thread I linked for you.

[hlread]

So Ive tried doing the DDS every way I can think of and it doesn't work. Safe mode, normal mode, with all start up programs off, with some of them on, disconnected from the internet, all anti virus and firewalls shut down etc.
It freezes about a minute in and then the entire computer freezes and I have to shut it down.

Is there anything else I can do?

[1972vet]

Alright then, delete the dds on your desktop and try to download and run any of the other two listed there. Post back your findings.