Computer has gone mad!

andygb

Someone please help.
Despite having Avast loaded, and doing a daily Malwarebytes scan, the missus informed me this morning, that whilst watching a Youtube video, the screen came up with some kind of warning (do not ask me what it was, she cannot remember), and the internet connection went down, and she then shutdown the PC.
I then started it up, and all seemed well, until I tried to access Firefox. I double clicked as always, and a box appeared asking me what I wanted to use to open the programme????
It did the same with all the other icons on the desktop - Excel, Word, Picture Motion Browser, IE, everything came up with the same box.
I went to control panel, and tried clicking on Internet options, and a box with an error message came up.
The only reason that I am linked to the internet now, is because I went into Control Panel, and accessed the net via Windows Anytime Upgrades.
I think this is a serious problem which I have, and I would be obliged if anyone could help me out.

Thanks,

Andy

aliEnRIK

Whaty happens if you try from SAFE MODE?

andygb

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Whaty happens if you try from SAFE MODE?

Thanks be that you are online Rik.
I have never tried starting this PC in safe mode, so I am not sure what the key is and when I should press it - F10 or F12 maybe?

Andy

andygb

What do I do, if I manage to get it into safe mode?

DAVAL

I am in similar situation. Watched Youtube video - somehow got a problem with XP Antispyware 2011 which is a fake program but somehow got onto my desktop.
Ran Malwarebytes quickscan and removed two entries and restarted PC. Then my desktop would not open applications - asked what I wanted to use to open it with!)
Now running malwarebytes full scan using the wife's desktop.

Should I have done a full restart?

Help please!!

GunJack

most pc will need F8 to get the safe mode option screen. Choose safe mode with networking and go from there, with a full Malwarebytes scan, updated first obviously Fix everything and post the log up here

andygb

GunJack wrote: »

most pc will need F8 to get the safe mode option screen. Choose safe mode with networking and go from there, with a full Malwarebytes scan, updated first obviously Fix everything and post the log up here

Tried a few restarts, using the F8, and F10 keys, but no joy. The F12 key does a boot.
I have been trying to trick the thing into letting me run MB but no joy.
Is there any other way to get into safe mode?

Andy

andygb

DAVAL wrote: »

I am in similar situation. Watched Youtube video - somehow got a problem with XP Antispyware 2011 which is a fake program but somehow got onto my desktop.
Ran Malwarebytes quickscan and removed two entries and restarted PC. Then my desktop would not open applications - asked what I wanted to use to open it with!)
Now running malwarebytes full scan using the wife's desktop.

Should I have done a full restart?

Help please!!

Exactly the same for me. Some programmes such as Excel and Word, come up with a little box saying - "application does not exist" yet I can open Word documents????

GunJack

could try F5 or F2, seen that in some obscure cases.....even if F2 is sometimes used to get into BIOS

spannerzone

Make sure there's no CD in the PC when booting and pressing F8 key, this can cause it to not work (just happened on my mums Dell with this same infection!)

Also keep tapping F8 straight after powering on and you should hopefully get a menu for safe mode etc.

I got rid of the problem by going into SafeMode, install and running updated Malwarebytes, antivirus (Avast althoug it found nothing) CCleaner to remove all cached internet files etc and then turning System Restore off then ON again to remove the backed up infection in the _restore folder (but don't do this last bit unless you're very sure you've removed all problems otherwise you'll have no way to go back with System Restore should you need it.


If you can get into safe mode but cannot access Malwarebytes online to download it or update it, use another computer, download Malwarebytes <here> and download the latest infection definitions for it <here> - copy both files onto a USB stick or CD and then install and run on the infected PC.

DAVAL

tHANKS SPANNERZONE.

My desktop is the one mucked up - Zone Alarm is not running at boot and I cannot run a lot of programs which have been mucked up.
So, I can run Malwarebytes Ccleaner and Avira under my wife's desktop which is where Malwarebytes found two problems and they were removed.
But my desktop is still not working properly - can get online though!

What do I do if nothing shows on running the above programs and my desktop is still wrong? Am I misunderstanding the value of running in safemode?

Many thanks for now - start again tomorrow