Ready to throw my laptop out the window!

[Doodle]

Ok, here's my problem guys.

My boyfriend downloaded a codec to watch a video on my laptop and when he did this, it downloaded spyware and malware with it. I am so mad. I have a spyware scanner and used it to remove the viruses, but it did not remove it. I have had some malware on my computer before and the program I have takes it right off everytime and it was freeware I downloaded off of CNet. So, anyway, I have done everything in my power to try to erase this curse on my laptop, but to no avail. And I am pretty good with computers. I had my first computer at the age of 5. I downloaded 2 other spyware removers and they did not take it off either. They were called Counterspy and Lavasoft. (I thought Lavasoft was a really good one too.)

So, please somebody out there help me figure out what to do. I'm going crazy here. :panic And please don't tell me I'm going to have to crash my computer and reload everything. :ohno I really don't want to have to do that because of all of the programs and files I have on my hard drive. Even though I should be backing them up on disks anyway, but you know, I'm kinda lazy sometimes. :lol2 I'll do it eventually. (Famous words of a true procrastinator. :lol2 )

Thanks in advance for your answers!!!!

[wife]

ok


1) Get rid of the boyfriend:shocked

2) I have no idea... can you start backing up now or will it not allow you to do anything?

[Doodle]

ok


1) Get rid of the boyfriend:shocked

2) I have no idea... can you start backing up now or will it not allow you to do anything?

1) What? :spew :lol2 He is really sorry about it. He's not very computer savvy and doesn't really know much about the possible harms of downloading things.

2) I'm still able to use my computer, it just has those pop up balloons in the toolbar and every once in awhile I'll get a pop up saying I need to buy this certain virus software to remove the malware. Hmmmm. I wonder who put this malware on my computer? Could it be the same people that are telling me to buy this certain software to remove it? :hehee lol But anyway, I'm really just being lazy. I'm hoping someone can tell me how I can maybe find it on my hard drive to quarantine and delete it or maybe tell me how I can possibly set my computer back to before the codec was downloaded?

Can't you do that in Windows? If you happen to download something or mess something up on your computer, can't you reset your computer to how it was before you did that? Kind of like how you undo something like in Word? You just click on edit and undo? Maybe it won't work for something like this though. Just a thought.

[wife]

1) What? :spew :lol2 He is really sorry about it. He's not very computer savvy and doesn't really know much about the possible harms of downloading things.

2) I'm still able to use my computer, it just has those pop up balloons in the toolbar and every once in awhile I'll get a pop up saying I need to buy this certain virus software to remove the malware. Hmmmm. I wonder who put this malware on my computer? Could it be the same people that are telling me to buy this certain software to remove it? :hehee lol But anyway, I'm really just being lazy. I'm hoping someone can tell me how I can maybe find it on my hard drive to quarantine and delete it or maybe tell me how I can possibly set my computer back to before the codec was downloaded?

Can't you do that in Windows? If you happen to download something or mess something up on your computer, can't you reset your computer to how it was before you did that? Kind of like how you undo something like in Word? You just click on edit and undo? Maybe it won't work for something like this though. Just a thought.

you can go back to a 'safe" time... sorry I cannot remember the name of it... I just know how to do it on the computer.

I have a mac now and the hubby and kids use the pc...

Oh and you can keep the bf.......

[Doodle]

you can go back to a 'safe" time... sorry I cannot remember the name of it... I just know how to do it on the computer.

I have a mac now and the hubby and kids use the pc...

Oh and you can keep the bf.......


Does somebody know how to do this? I'm thinking that it might work. Never done it before, but I thought it was possible.

And yeah, I think I will keep him. :lol2

[Buzzardhut]

First download Hijackthis (http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/hijackthis.php?page=download) and run it
Then AVG Antivirus (http://dw.com.com/redir?edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3000-2239_4-10741647&ontId=2239_4&lop=link&tag=tdw_dltext&ltype=dl_dlnow&pid=10741647&mfgId=6270610&merId=6270610&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.download.com%2F3001-2239_4-10741647.html)
Then AVG Antispyware (http://free.grisoft.com/filedir/inst/avgas-setup-7.5.1.43.exe)

Pest Patrol (http://consumerdownloads.ca.com/pub/myeTrust/apps/pptrialr8.exe) & Spybot (http://fileforum.betanews.com/download/Spybot_Search_and_Destroy/1043809773/1) is also good.

[flicka]

What Buzz said.

Also, some spyware will not go away unless you run those programs in safe mode. To get into safe mode, fyi, just keep hitting F8 when you reboot and it will bring up a menu full of choices.

[Patti311]

I'm not at all a computer whiz...but my Dell with Windows XP has what is called a "system restore" function. I've used it once before when my puter seemed to almost melt down. Is this an option for you? DO NOT do anything if this is available to you before you try it without checking with someone who knows about it first....I wouldn't want it to totally destroy things :idunno

[Big Daddy]

There are certain malware that load themselves onto your machine, and startup with the OS. In this case windows. They look like just one of the many DLL's or files that windows would load at bootup to help it run.

The issue is that windows will not let you stop, delete, or "touch" these files while they are running. Windows thinks they are essential and needed.

The key is to keep these from loading when windows boots, so they can be deleted. Also they peeps that make these will install other files that will reload them when they have been deleted. (scoundrels)

Good to go to a pre-infected state via a restored backup, or to know the name of the offending file that was d/l'd and installed, so you can google it and find out the specific process to clean your system.

Spy-Bot Search and Destroy is good as the others suggested.

HiJackthis, as Buzz suggested is good, but will only list all the stuff that is running on your PC. You will more than likely have to upload the log file to their website and let other more knowledgable peeps point out what is offending, and how to get rid of it.

Let us know what is up with this.

[wife]

I'm not at all a computer whiz...but my Dell with Windows XP has what is called a "system restore" function. I've used it once before when my puter seemed to almost melt down. Is this an option for you? DO NOT do anything if this is available to you before you try it without checking with someone who knows about it first....I wouldn't want it to totally destroy things :idunno

Patti-- this is what I was thinking of......

My brain was on 4th grade language arts at the time (really why do we need to know what an adjective is...)