so, this lock screen seems to come up almost immediately, no matter what i do at this point, and i haven't the slightest understanding as to why. that makes no sense to me. i didn't change anything.

i'm going to have to see if i can figure out which files are altering by opening up the broken install and sorting through it.

this is different than before. before, it was obvious that i was being hacked in real time. now, the machine isn't even connected to the internet. there's not even a network card in it.

i'm really completely at a loss. i don't have the slightest idea...

...but, i'm going to have to figure it out, because it's the only computer i can access my email on, and the only computer with microsoft word on it.