CPU usage 100%, Pop-ups, & poss Virus...PLEASE HELP!!

intel

Sorry to but in but,,,

May I suggest a Defrag...

Start,All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,Disk Defragmentation.

Also is C:\ NTFS or FAT32?

jordan_matthews

intel wrote:

Sorry to but in but,,,

May I suggest a Defrag...

Start,All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,Disk Defragmentation.

Also is C:\ NTFS or FAT32?

Hi intel,

Feel free to comment-thanks!

I did a defrag a few days ago. What is :C:\ NTFS or FAT32???

Could you explain?

intel

Well,,

FAT32
The FAT32 file system, originally introduced in Windows 95 Service Pack 2, is really just an extension of the original FAT16 file system that provides for a much larger number of clusters per partition. As such, it greatly improves the overall disk utilization when compared to a FAT16 file system. However, FAT32 shares all of the other limitations of FAT16, and adds an important additional limitation—many operating systems that can recognize FAT16 will not work with FAT32—most notably Windows NT, but also Linux and UNIX as well. Now this isn't a problem if you're running FAT32 on a Windows XP computer and sharing your drive out to other computers on your network—they don't need to know (and generally don't really care) what your underlying file system is.

The NTFS file system, introduced with first version of Windows NT, is a completely different file system from FAT. It provides for greatly increased security, file–by–file compression, quotas, and even encryption. It is the default file system for new installations of Windows XP, and if you're doing an upgrade from a previous version of Windows, you'll be asked if you want to convert your existing file systems to NTFS. Don't worry. If you've already upgraded to Windows XP and didn't do the conversion then, it's not a problem. You can convert FAT16 or FAT32 volumes to NTFS at any point. Just remember that you can't easily go back to FAT or FAT32 (without reformatting the drive or partition), not that I think you'll want to.

The NTFS file system is generally not compatible with other operating systems installed on the same computer, nor is it available when you've booted a computer from a floppy disk. For this reason, many system administrators, myself included, used to recommend that users format at least a small partition at the beginning of their main hard disk as FAT. This partition provided a place to store emergency recovery tools or special drivers needed for reinstallation, and was a mechanism for digging yourself out of the hole you'd just dug into. But with the enhanced recovery abilities built into Windows XP (more on that in a future column), I don't think it's necessary or desirable to create that initial FAT partition.

pchelpman

Morning all

Intel ... thanks for the advice. Please do jump in. Your comments are always welcome. In fact your further advice would be good on those last couple of issues if you think of anything else.

Jordan ... That new log looks OK. Nothing I would worry too much about. All the obvious baddies now seem to have gone. You've worked hard and well done.

As to Zone Alarm causing trouble you my have a corrupted setup file after all that malware on your PC. Try going to the official ZA downlaod site. They will scan your computer first then you should then download the latetst .exe setup file. That may fix whatever is wrong with your current installation.

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For SP2 go to the MS windows Update site here (IE browser only, of course)....

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

...Choose express install and let it scan/install updates. Hopefully SP2 will be amongst them.

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If you can get online safely with firewall move on to what I say next.

One word here on HJT. It's good but it doesn't catch everything. By any means. I would advise you spend a little more time on some other free scanners.

Go to My Computer >Tools >Folder Options >View tab and make sure that Show hidden files and folders is enabled. Also make sure that the System Files and Folders are showing / visible. Uncheck the Hide protected operating system files option.

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You have Ewido so I would recommend you update to the lastest definitions and scan/fix anything with it if you haven't done so already.

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Download CleanUp! here….. http://www.cleanup.stevengould.org/ .......

*WARNING* Cleanup deletes EVERYTHING out of temp/temporary folders and does not make backups. If you have a 64 bit Operating System do NOT run Cleanup and let me know as we will use another utility

Run CleanUp! and click on CleanUp! button. When it asks you if you want to logoff, click on Yes.

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Reboot your System in normal mode.

If you have a fast internet connection (Broadband) run online scans here….

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

…and here…..

http://housecall.trendmicro.com.

When running the Panda Activescan make sure you click the Free Online Virus Scan in the upper right hand corner of the page under the Free use Activescan header. You do NOT want the default spyXposer scan.

Run ALL the free scans offered by Housecall.

Make sure they both perform full system scans.

If either/both scans find something they cannot fix - perhaps because the infected files are "in use" - please make a note of the file(s) concerned and post the details back to this thread.

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Download Ad-aware SE here…

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Install it if you don't have it already. Make sure it's the newest version and check for any updates before running it.

……. & VX2 Cleaner…….

Go here… http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

..to get the plug-in for fixing VX2 variants. To run this tool choose Software > Add-ons (left navigation bar) then select VX2 Cleaner.
Follow the instructions to run it. If your system is clean it will say “Status System Clean”. Otherwise, you will have to click on the Clean button to remove the VX2 infection.

Also make sure to customize the settings in Ad-aware for better scan results by reading the article here…

http://www.greyknight17.com/spyware.htm#adware

Run the scan and fix everything that it finds.

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That will help to "deep clean" a little further.

Please let us know how things go.

EDIT: ... As your PC is (relatively) back to normal operation I recommend you protect yourself by purging/deleting all previous "system restore points". To do this (if you don't know how) right click My Computer > left click Properties > System Restore. You can tick the box to turn off system restore then go through this again to remove the tick and create a new system restore point. This is so that, if anything else goes awry, you will have somnething to fall back on.

intel

If you have problems with Getting Zonealarm try http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm This is quite a nice ease of use firewall.. I would remove any firewall you have offline and then remove any entries to Zonealarm manually by going into Windows Explorer and expanding Program Files and deleting the Zonealrm folder.

Then restart Your PC (still being offline) form the net (just unplug net connection) then install Kerio from the link I provided then restart machine and whilst just starting to boot up re-establish net connection then agree to what kerio wants to get connection to.. If you dont like Kerio there is always Syagate I use this and I reckon its the best, only problem is its now discontinued so no new versions.

Its at the top of this list http://www.intels.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Morning all :wave: :rolleyes: