Strange messages started apearing - please help

angus1 · 3 February 2006 at 12:07PM

I've started getting strange boxes appearing when starting up the machine. The computer is just a few months old and I'm not very technical at all so haven't a clue what's wrong - really hope someone can help.

A computer message in a box comes up saying 'windows cannot find c:\windows\nail.exe make sure you typed the name correctly then try again'. This is before I'ved touch a key and I have to click on the cross to get rid of it.

Then a folder called 'System 32' comes up containing lots of files and I have to cross on that to get rid of it.

Then a Hdreg file not found box comes up and I have to cross on that.

It's really annoying but I'm worried something is wrong with it. I'm sure I have all the anti-spyware and protection that I'm supposed to.

Hope to hear from someone ...

fazz · 3 February 2006 at 12:20PM

Type nail.exe into google, it's spyware....

espresso · 3 February 2006 at 12:23PM

If you have not got Spybot Search & Destroy installed on your system, download it from here and run it, after first clciking the Search for Updates button to get the latest detection files.

nail.exe is a hijacker process but the fact that the message says that it cannot find the file, probably means that it has been removed but not fully for your system.

angus1 · 3 February 2006 at 12:34PM

thanks fazz and espresso - I will have a go at that. At least I know what's wrong now - had a quick look at a couple of the sites that google brought up and I realise now that this Aurora best offers thing that keeps popping up all over the place is spyware too so hopefully I can try and get rid of the lot.

I just thought because I had the up-to-date aol anti-spyware that this would do the job.

I'll try the spy bot thing but if that doesn't work any ideas on which of the sites that google brought up will be most effective and easiest. Some of it seems very complicated. thanks again

espresso · 3 February 2006 at 12:44PM

See how you get on with Spybot, which you should really use every week or so to check your system. There is a Tutorial on the link page that I provided which goes through download, installation and running the program etc.

There are various other programs that you could also use and there is a Sypware/Malware removal sticky that you could read as well.

Wombat · 3 February 2006 at 2:18PM

Angus, if you want to learn more about how to protect your PC in future, there are 2 sticky posts at the top of this forum you might want to look at:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=133269

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=36497

Some good advice and opinions in their regarding PC security.

L400ras · 3 February 2006 at 2:43PM

i have found the AOL spyware thing pretty useless, i use a combination of spybot (as mentioned earlier), ad-aware by lavasoft and microsoft antispyware. scan every week with these 3 and keep your computer spyware free - note- these are not antivirus software - you need one of them too.

ukbandit · 3 February 2006 at 3:55PM

essential (free) software if your dont have them already:

adaware -stops spyware etc
zonealarm - Frewall, stops hacking attempts
avast antivirus - free antivirus
Firefox -browser, built in popup stopper, can install noscipt extension stopping some of these dodgey sites.

the only other app you need is some netnanny software, to stop people going to sites you dont want them to

angus1 · 3 February 2006 at 5:15PM

Am a bit confused. I went in to spybotsearch and destroy and downloaded it but it took me to spyware doctor which did a scan, found 620 things wrong but I had to pay to fix it. I didn't do this, but if I did it was in dollars anyway.

Is this right - I thought it was free to download spybot?

Thanks

Lady_K · 3 February 2006 at 5:20PM

Do they have a us spybot aswell?

To be sure you have the right one go to download.com and get it from there it should be free

John_Gray · 3 February 2006 at 5:28PM

There are a number of sites which use the name Spybot in them which are just come!ons to get you to go to the wrong site and pay money for dangerous and probably useless rubbish.

The real Spybot Search and Destroy is available from a number of "proper" websites, such as Safer Networking.

You should also download, install, update and run the "free" version, Ad!Adaware Personal SE v1.06, from a website such as Lavasoft USA. Beware of other similarly!named websites...

Also consider Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta1.

John

PS I have no idea why my hyphens are being changed to exclamation marks!

Strange messages started apearing - please help

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