I think I may have a virus but .....

[Guest jlnsmom]

I could really use some guidance. My son clicked on an auto update for

windows on Sunday, Oct 14. It appears that since that date, my computer has

lost its files on the operating system?. When "logging" on, my personal sign

ons have dissappeared and the only choice I have is "administrator". My

documents and settings are all at the default and none of my files, pictures,

music, or documents appear. I did check my hard drive at the c prompt and

the files are still there, they are just not in windows Xp. In addition,

everytime I boot up I get a spyware of some sort that tells me my Trend Micro

Antivirus has expired. I have never used that before. I have McAfee through

Comcast and it looks as if that is gone as well. So I tried to install it

and it gets to the end of the installation and it says it failed. I then

tried to us Microsofts website and run their Anti Virus scan and it does

process but after about 1/4 through it, my computer screen goes completely

white and freezes. That has happend about 4 times to me!! Then I went to

Kaspersky to run their free scan and the same thing happens, my screen goes

white! What can I do at this point?? Any suggestions?

 

--

jlnsmom

[Guest Malke]

jlnsmom wrote:

<span style="color:blue">

> I could really use some guidance. My son clicked on an auto update for

> windows on Sunday, Oct 14. It appears that since that date, my computer

> has

> lost its files on the operating system?. When "logging" on, my personal

> sign

> ons have dissappeared and the only choice I have is "administrator". My

> documents and settings are all at the default and none of my files,

> pictures,

> music, or documents appear. I did check my hard drive at the c prompt and

> the files are still there, they are just not in windows Xp. In addition,

> everytime I boot up I get a spyware of some sort that tells me my Trend

> Micro

> Antivirus has expired. I have never used that before. I have McAfee

> through

> Comcast and it looks as if that is gone as well. So I tried to install it

> and it gets to the end of the installation and it says it failed. I then

> tried to us Microsofts website and run their Anti Virus scan and it does

> process but after about 1/4 through it, my computer screen goes completely

> white and freezes. That has happend about 4 times to me!! Then I went to

> Kaspersky to run their free scan and the same thing happens, my screen

> goes

> white! What can I do at this point?? Any suggestions?

> </span>

 

It certainly sounds like your computer may be infected, but no Microsoft

update would have caused this. Your son clicked on something else.

 

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2....emoving_Malware

 

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do

all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using

Multi_AV in Vista.

 

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions

http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

 

You can also check to see if there are targeted removal steps for your

malware here:

Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

 

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums

listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT

POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

 

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself

(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the

machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent

of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops

are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be

so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have

all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Dell Techie]

Click start>click run type in msconfig and then press enter. Goto the start

up tab and uncheck everything except your anti virus.click ok and reboot.

When you come back to the desktop check the box 'do not show this message

again" and click ok .

 

Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com...alware-105.html

 

Run Superantispyware

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com...ition-free.html

 

Run a complete scan with free curing utility Dr.Web CureIt!

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com...web-cureit.html

 

Run an online scan

http://spywarefighter.blogspot.com/2008/09...nline-scan.html

http://spywarefighter.blogspot.com/2008/09...virus-scan.html

 

Install ThreatFire it makes your antivirus more powerful and block unknown

viruses and trojans.

http://www.threatfire.com/