HELP computer has gone completely mad!!!

Midget_Karen

This might be quite a long story...

Basically, my computer has been running slowly for a couple of weeks, getting slower and slower each day. I put this down to writing a large dissertation in Word, and it getting confused. I've done all the normal things like defragmenting the hard drive.
I have 80Gb of hard drive split into two ~40Gb sections, one for programs etc, one for data. Neither of them is more than 1/2 full. It's running on Windows XP

Around 5 days ago the computer refused to turn off using "Start, log off" etc, so i had to turn it off using the button on the front (it would log off user, but would not restart or turn off). I know this is bad for it, so today decided to get it sorted. Using the system restore point function, i tried to restore the system to its state about a week ago. it went through the process, and i could turn it off (hooray). However, when i turned it on, the task bar and desktop items were not there, and i could only run a program using Control+Alt+Delete then browse, so i reestarted the system and this time the task bar etc appeared. Bingo.

But, according to "Windows security" there is now no virus checker. This is odd, because i've had mcaffee installed (and regularly updated) since October. Using the start menu i just get "file could not be found, may be missing a .dll file" or something similar. Where has my virus check gone??! I'm reluctant to reinstall it from disc as i'm pretty sure the disc the uni gave us with McAffee on has some viruses itself.

Also, the internet connection is now incredibly slow. Because I have a network connection into my room in uni halls there is no way to tell if the data is being transferred at all (i'm now in a computer room).

I did try to install some virus finding software including a-squared (which i never got to work) and one or two others a few days ago hoping to find viruses which may have been slowing the computer down. I do'nt konw whether these made it worse or what.

I'm not sure if there is any more information I need to give, but if anyone has any idea how to start putting this right i'd be very grateful. (I am prepared to wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything if required). I'm reluctant to ask anyone here as we have exams next week and for (myself and) many friends they are finals.

Thank you very much.

culpepper

well there are some free virus checkers out there, AVG springs to mind or I think there is an online one run by Trend Micro.The slowing down could have been adware,have you got spybot search and destroy or and spyware blaster? They are free and help keep things clear.

Browntoa

download and run this

http://www.ccleaner.com/

which will clean out all the temporary files etc that are clogging up you pc

then download and run

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en&Hash=LBCVL37

which will clean any spyware etc you have on the Pc (you may need to run this in "safe Mode" if it won't clean it the first time)

Browntoa

if that does not work then look here in the faq's for links to other replies etc

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=3356

and here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=25780

Midget_Karen

Thanks, but I don't think I can connect with that computer to the internet to download anything that might help......
Is there anything I can do to the system to help first?

Eliza252

hi, I had a similar problem with my computor and I was told to re-run all of the windows start up CDs - you WILL lose everything that is saved on the hard drive though so pleeease make sure you remove all of your dissertation first! I actually had lost my original CDs so I had to nab a copy of the new windows from a friend (I'm a bad person I know) anyway, it worked, so worth a try.

Rex_Mundi

If you have access to another computer. Could you not download the spyware checkers on the other machine and write it to a disc? Install them from a CD. This does sound very much like a virus or spyware, so this is really where you should be starting from to fix the problem.

Try for a start.
Adaware
Spybot
CWShredder

Some viruses try to disable security software. This is maybe why you have problems with your Mcaffee.

When you look at your task list. Is there anything running that is new or something you don't recognise? If it is some form of malware, it could show up here as a running process.

Browntoa

go to control panel, then internet options and hit the button in the middle that says "Delete Files" under temporary internet files which will remove any nasty stored programs etc that are there, then click on the Advanced tab on the top right , scroll down to security and tick the box that says empty temporary internet files folder whn browser is closed (you can leave it like that !!) to make sure it stays clean

next go to the start button and hit "run" then type Msconfig in the box that comes up which will open a new program. Click on the "startup" tab and you will see a list of programs that start with the PC....look for any that may look odd or google ALL the exe files to see what they are and untick any that indicate on google that they are virus or Spyware related, then restart the PC

it you can get to a state where you can connect and download then take mine and Rex mundi's suggestions

Midget_Karen

Hello,
Firstly thanks for your help.
I am now back online on my own computer. I now also have CCleaner, Adaware and microsoft antispyware in addition to SpyBot that I already have. Will also download AVG this eve, but really should try to get some work done!
I have also got McAfee to "restore itself", which is great, but it has reset to its original "knowledge" of viruses etc. When i try to update i get
"error occurred while downloading from SiteStat.xml" for ePO_WOLSEY and ePO_WOLSEY_FTP. i can update from catalogue.z though, and the rest seems to run through ok.
Are these Wolseys important, and what do i do about them please?

alanrowell

Midget_Karen wrote:

Thanks, but I don't think I can connect with that computer to the internet to download anything that might help......
Is there anything I can do to the system to help first?

Try buying a few computer magazines with the DVDs on the front, at least one of them will have spyware / antivirus software on them for you to install.

alternatively get a mate with a computer to download them & cut you a CD

Cortes

Hey Midget_Karen

Hope the disser is going well and if it's finished...congrats!

Dunno for sure but have heard some things about the new AVG conflicting with McAffe, sounds like you have enough on without that happening so I (in my opinion) would remove McAfee (as you blagged it from Uni anyways, heh heh) then install Anti-Vir (go here http://www.download.com/AntiVir-Personal-Edition/3000-2239_4-10322934.html?tag=lst-0-1) this is free and has done the business for me for a while now, but remember to keep it updated (which is the secret to all the freeware). It has a guard which runs whilst yer online as well as a virus checker. Run this with Zone Alarm's free firewall (go here http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm/3000-10435_4-10388719.html?tag=lst-0-6) .

Maybe's download Lavasoft's Ad-Aware when you have some spare time (go here http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10319876.html?tag=lst-0-2) and with Spybot, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware you should be safe as houses!

If you get stuck and think you still have a virus then go and do an online scan here http://www.ravantivirus.com/

Don't stress and good luck with yer finals!