Can anyone tell me what would do this?

[Fusion]

Well, This isn't the first time this has happened. I go onto the computer (Windows XP) and it says something like: there was an error reading your profile and it gives me the okay option, then it takes me 5 minutes to get onto a desktop with only Mozilla Firefox. All my files have gone into a TEMP file, and no one else's profile (two others) is affected. I'm in the middle of restoring everything, but I would just like to know what causes this, it's really annoying

[guru]

Im going to say a trojan is most likely to blame. Also make sure you have system restore turned off, even a browser trojan can wipe your pc if you have that on.

[Fusion]

Thanks guru. I'm running a McAfee viruscan, if anything shows up, i'll edit my post. I disabled the system restore myself when we got the computer, so I don't have to worry about that. A little later i'll also run AVG, just in case

[yodasoda]

make sure you have adequate disk space and if you installed anything recently uninstall it

[Fusion]

Oh yeah, it was a trojan, two trojans to be precise. The first one was there since May 21st, the first time this happened, second one was dated today. Guess I need a third Firewall program now, huh

Mods can close this now.

[Leviathan]

Off-topic : The reported problem being henceforth worked out, I am actually wondering whether you are indeed that willing to keep more than one Firewall Solution installed onto your current Personal Computer, since proceeding comparably may cause Issues being at least as much critical and hazardous as the one you have described earlier, and that's why I would never recommend to deploy such a Security Strategy to around GameToast members, no matter whether these same persons have progressively become at the very least experienced. Hopefully, you should not forget this Statement so soon while ordering and using brand-new Microsoft® Windows-based Platforms within the Months to come...