Hi JonTom,

file extension box was already unticked.

renamed ComboFix,and it warned me about changing the file extension from .exe to .com (may make it unstable it said). followed instructions.

It ran until the bit before the dashes start coming across the screen below the writing about it scanning. The hard drive light stopped flashing, but then the screen went into screen saver (forgot to disable before hand) so I couldn't see what was happening, just that the hard drive light wasn't flashing. After 10 mins or so the laptop tried to standby, however it got stuck. The mouse arrow still moved but nothing happened. I shut it down with the power button.

thanks JonTom,

sarah