Problem with home PC

wannabe_a_mum

I'm hoping there is someone on this board who is an IT whizz and can help with a problem with my home PC.

Usually it's just me and hubby who use the PC and we have had no problems/issues in the 3 years since we have had this one.
Recently though, my SIL and her son have been using the PC when they come round whilst we are at work as their PC has died (with the same problem I am going to describe below!)...and now our PC doesn't work.

I am gutted as there's a lot on there that I just can't lose!

The problem is this:

The PC is slow to open the first internet browser and then when you do manage to open a website and try to navigate to another website, nothing happens but multiple web browsers start opening - many with totally inappropriate content.

I have done a full Virus scan (McAfee) and there was nothing found
A dialogue box opens saying it's a Windows Security alert, lists 3 different virus' and shows threat status - one is critical and 2 are high.
I don't know if this is a legitimate security alert as when I click remove it asks me to download something.

What could this be?
Please can anyone help!

I am so angry!
I was thinking of putting a Password on the log on, but knowing them, they will try various different passwords and lock the system!

I wish I could do a screen print to explain the problem - but I can't even get the PC to function for that!

HELP!

[Deleted User]

You need to follow the information guides in this thread from the stickied threads at the top of the forum.

charmed-imsure

I would get a Adware program. I use a free one called AdAware by lavasoft. Sounds like you've got some ad/spyware. It's a brilliant free program anyway & I use it regularly, it's a bit slow though coz it scans all files so it's like doing a virus scan... I highly recommend you try this. I have problems once the DSD has been here so she's banned off the PC now!

wannabe_a_mum

Thanks

I did look through that first - But I can't open an Internet browser to be able to access these websites to do the scan!

I even contemplated claiming through the Home Contents insurance - I don't know if it's covered.....but there was nothing wrong with the PC before and we are now totally reliant on this.

There's a lot of work documents as well as photo's etc....

I want to cry!

wannabe_a_mum

charmed-imsure wrote: »

I would get a Adware program. I use a free one called AdAware by lavasoft. Sounds like you've got some ad/spyware. It's a brilliant free program anyway & I use it regularly, it's a bit slow though coz it scans all files so it's like doing a virus scan... I highly recommend you try this. I have problems once the DSD has been here so she's banned off the PC now!

I guess I will have to try and open an Internet browser somehow and do this.

It's so unfair as I wouldn't dream of using someone's PC and leaving it open to this kind of thing. Unfortunately, Nephew will just google stuff - usually free games (he's 8) and open lots of different sites. SIL is the same with opening emails etc. Whereas hubby and I just won't open any emails that w aren't sure about etc.....

Hubby is all for putting the PC out with the rubbish tomorrow (although I think he just said that so that MIL would relay to SIL!!)

msmicawber

Do you have access to anyone else's PC? If so, download spybot or one of the other free malware removal tools onto it, then copy it to a USB pen drive and load it onto your PC then give it a thorough scan.

If you can't do that, why not just reinstall Windows which will remove everything?

Titch89

What happens if you were to install/use another internet program?

wannabe_a_mum

To reinstall windows - will I lose everything that's saved on the PC?

iviv

You have internet access now, yes? I'm assuming you're at work?

If you have a USB flash memory drive, or see if someone at work has one you can borrow. Or if the computer you use has a CD-R drive then burn the following programs to a CD:

Adaware
Spybot Search and Destroy (Also, download the latest detection updates in case you can't update it)
Nod32 Antivirus free trial.

(Google them all for download links)
Run adaware and spybot first, hopefully they should catch whatever you have. Also, if you have an Antivirus program, you should do a scan of your computer.
Then, depending on which AV program you have, I would advise uninstalling it and installing the NOD32 trial (I believe it to be the best AV out there). This combo should catch whatever is infecting your system. Then when its clean you can either uninstall NOD and put whatever you used to use back, or you can use it for 30 days then buy the sub, its cheap.

msmicawber

wannabe_a_mum wrote: »

To reinstall windows - will I lose everything that's saved on the PC?

Not ususally, since you're reinstalling over the top, but I'd always recommend backing up anything you don't want to lose whether you know you have a problem or not.

[Deleted User]

msmicawber wrote: »

Not ususally, since you're reinstalling over the top, but I'd always recommend backing up anything you don't want to lose whether you know you have a problem or not.

Just reinstalling Windows over the top won't do anything about the malware that has manifested itself on her machine..