PC in crisis...help!!!!

Simran wrote:

I would really appreciate some helpful hints, my PC is in crisis!!

I have had a dell PC (XP version) for the past few years, but over the past year, performance has worsened big-time - within minutes of starting up, the ram seems to become overloaded with programmes running (the task manager list is very long), and it takes a lifetime for even the most minor thing to run. I have to restart numerous times.

Secondly, I am with AOL but have recently changed to broadband, the PC shows that the connection is there but all I get is a "this page cannot be displayed" message on explorer. I have also installed Mozilla but cannot access any web pages there either. I have tried to delete internet explorer and reinstall but it doesnt even appear under "control panel - add/remove programmes"!!

I tried to run AVG virus checker (installed from someone else's PC as I cant access the internet) but ever since running it, performance has worsened even more (although it indicated it found 50 viruses on the PC but then had a permanent window on my PC open which said it couldnt erase a virus...I eventually had to try erase AVG from the PC!!)

I have also installed AD-Aware, it came up with hundreds of spywares which I deleted (but I cant update ad-aware coz I cant access the internet).

I have loads of files on the PC and although I suspect that formatting the whole disk will be the only solution, I would like to avoid this if at all possible...are there any other courses of action (and does anyone know how I can uninstall Internet explorer from my PC??)

To save time and hassle I would advise a complete format and reinstall myself and ensure that an antivirus package is installed, updating and running as soon as its rebuilt. However in the meantime if you have data on it and you need to get it off, its best to put the drive in another machine have have its virus scanner remove anything causing problems before copying any data off. Hopefully you might know of someone who can do this for you?
Cheers
Rob

You could try starting your machine in SAFE MODE [do a restart and as soon as your screen goes black - start tapping F8, then choose safe mode.]

This is intended to start only the basic windows programs that should be running and not start any "other" programs such as your viruses.

Then use the anti virus software programs you have.

If you can then get your internet explorer to start properly [once you've started the internet connection software] you could then follow the advice that follows which is a regular post from a microsoft support group. If you can't do this, then really your only recourse is, as advised above, do a format, re-install, and make sure you get your protective software working very quickly.

The advice...



Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

If you’re still having problems after running these then run HijackThis
and post the log to one of the specialty forums, _NOT_ this one.

HijackThis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Forums to Interpret HijackThis Logs:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
https://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

For viruses, run at least two of these online scans in addition to your
regular up to date AV program:

Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml



Online Virus Scans:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Also Run your updated AV Program

Follow through with preventative measures
Helpful Links:

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/index.htm
http://aumha.org/secure.htm

You can remove IE6 using add/remove progs. Think its called windows components or something. It removes all the shortcuts to IE, but still allows Windows Update to use IE.

I remove IE using this method and install firefox. I then change the firefox icon to the IE icon so anyone using my p.c just thinks its IE.

Simple but puts my mind at rest when my girly uses the p.c

Simran wrote:

thanks ever so much everyone for the great advice, I'll try the suggestions out this evening, in a nutshell I suspect that the way to go is to back up needed files, format the whole drive and re-install everything, followed by installing the various suggested firewalls, anti-spyware etc.

You should be OK, but just be careful that you don't restore any nasties from the backup! In particular, be wary of all attachments in email - DO NOT, NEVER, open an attachment unless you know exactly who it was from and why they sent it to you. Beware friends who send you a "look at this" or "this is interesting" attachment. It could be that a virus (trojan) has compromised their system and is spoofing their address.

Normal Word, Excel, Acrobat files should be OK, unless they contain VB script. Once you've restored stuff, run all the virus etc scans before you open anything.

And - just to repeat - DO NOT go on the internet without installing & configuring your firewall. Just don't be tempted