ARGH!! Computer virus problems... can someone help me out here?

[Melissa]

I have Windows XP on my computer and everything is up-to-date, so it's very unusual for it to start acting up. But a couple days ago, webpages suddenly became very slow to load, programs started glitching out and crashing, and everything in general just started going haywire.

See how the windows lag when I move them, and how the desktop icons are all highlighted?


I ran a full scan with Kaspersky Pure, and it unearthed six threats it deemed "high risk," including a couple of Trojans:




Only problem is, it's not telling me just what it's done with these threats. I right-click on them and every option is greyed out, and so is the "Disinfect all" link. I go to view the quarantined and neutralized threats, and there's nothing to see. My computer's still performing poorly, so it's pretty clear that Kaspersky hasn't gotten rid of them. But there doesn't seem to be any way to do that. Even my dad, who can take apart a computer and put it back together, can't figure out what's going on.

Help is much appreciated! Please use plain English, since I really don't know much about computers.

-Melissa

[billofrights]

Download and install Microsoft's Security Essentials and Spybot Search & Destroy. Run both just to update them and make sure definitions are current. Then restart into Safe Mode (press F8 on the keyboard when it's coming back on). Do a full scan with both and delete anything they tell you to. That *should* fix it unless it's a bad one.

[ElDub1950]

I don't run Kaspersky but doesn't the "Quarantine" button in the lower left take care of blocking these?

I also go along with the suggestion to download and install the Microsoft Security Essentials . It's free and works very well.

[Brianguy]

malwarebytes anti-malware (free version) and if you want a different and free AV I recommend avast!

but run this rescue disc first

http://www.avg.com/ww-en/avg-rescue-cd

[spetsnaz]

1. install avast
2. run boot-time-scan

[winnre]

iobit.com

[Melissa]

Thanks for your help, guys. I'll try installing Spybot, since I remember having it a while back, and as I recall it worked pretty well.

ElDub1950- "Quarantine" takes you to a My Docs search.

I'm just completely astounded... I mean, a $70 antivirus program that DOESN'T REMOVE VIRUSES. I know I'm not just being stupid here, missing a feature that's right under my nose, because I've looked around elsewhere and people have exactly the same complaint.

Argh... I think I need to go launch some lead downrange... then everything... will be... okay. OHHHMMMMMM...

[stphnman20]

Get a MacBook.

[Mottmcfly]

There's no single fix for this. As everyone else seems to have addressed the usual cocktail I highly recommend ComboFix.

[ShooterDK]

OP have you tried restoring your computer to an earlier date?

[RookieShooter]

From my past experience in dealing with virus, I find it less time consuming and less pain in the rear by using the recovery disks and reinstall the OS, drivers and programs to factory defaults.

[savannah]

Make sure you are in safe mode when you run all of these anti- virus. Make sure they are all up to date and then turn your computer off, restart hitting F8 to go into safe mode. Restoring your computer to an earlier date won't help and may hurt.

[ocabj]

From my past experience in dealing with virus, I find it less time consuming and less pain in the rear by using the recovery disks and reinstall the OS, drivers and programs to factory defaults.

My parent's computer is a Windows box. When I built the thing and set it all up, I imaged the drive. So when it picks up serious malware (about once a year), I just restore that thing from image.

I really should just get them an iMac.

[gwanghoops]

From my past experience in dealing with virus, I find it less time consuming and less pain in the rear by using the recovery disks and reinstall the OS, drivers and programs to factory defaults.

+1

do this and be 100% sure that the viruses are handled. maybe your PC will function better than pre-infection or better yet, move up to Win7 as XP is not really supported by Microsoft anymore.

[paul0660]

From my past experience in dealing with virus, I find it less time consuming and less pain in the rear by using the recovery disks and reinstall the OS, drivers and programs to factory defaults.

In 15 years I have had to do this once. And there is not a link I won't click on, using Norton via Comcast, which used to be a major drag on the system and is no longer. I do periodically make workable images.

I think the early advice to the OP is a good one.

better yet, move up to Win7

There are cheap installs of W7 available and eventually that will be the way to go.