Most thorough virus removal/detection tool you know of

[pitbull30]

Im running a windows 7 ultimate machine that I built a couple years ago. Its running an AMD Quad Core Black Edition CPU. My kid primarily uses this thing for games and surfing the web. (Mainly minecraft and youtube).

Recently it has been lagging hard when you run the internet. Worse than dial up speed. I run Core Temp on the machine and it shows all 4 CPU loads at 90-100% with not even the internet launched.

Ive tried Kaspersky scan, malwarebytes, super anti-spyware, and also an old Avast BART CD I had. Every time I run malwarebytes and super-anti spyware it picks up something. I remove them and the same result continues.

Ive tried digging through the programs list, task manager, processes, and also start up programs. I cant find this thing. I could always reinstall windows but im afraid I'll back up the infected file.

Linux it is for now.

[billofrights]

If that's all he uses it for, how much do you really need to back up? Most people think they have a lot more worthwile files than they actually do.

I vote wipe the machine. Also make sure he's not using an administrator account for anything other than installing games, users should ALWAYS be using a limited account to cut down on auto-install junk. Then install Virtualbox and do all the web surfing on a virtual machine.

[pitbull30]

Everyone in the house has their own limited account. I only mentioned my kid because she is the only one who really uses it. Half the time I'm on on my phone or Ipad.

We have alot more on there than just games. Mainly pictures, alittle audio, and docs. Id like to try and clean it before sorting through and wiping.

[stilly]

HAH!

I bet "combofix" fixes it...

I dunno if it works on 7 but it works for vista.

[FresnoRob]

Did you run Malwarebytes in safe mode? When the spyware is really tough I run it in safe mode. Before I reboot I do the following:
look at where it found the files it removed. Most of the time it will be in some folder with a random name in c:\users\"username"\appdata\local or roaming. I delete the entire random name folder. I also delete all the browser temporary files and reset the browser.

[wjc]

MalwareBytes
Spybot Search & Destroy
...follow that up with Spyhunter 4

http://spyhunter4.net/

[brianinca]

stilly is correct, combofix from bleepingcomputer is the next step.

[Montu]

Wipe it and be done...scan any backed up files before re copying them to the system.

Not worth your time trying to save an install that is going to look like swiss cheese when your done (and probably infested with root kits)

[71MUSTY]

I use EbolabGone

[amd64]

Routine image backups of the OS and apps drive. Make sure the system is "clean" when you do the image backup. Keep several generations of image backups to fall back to in case anything gets into a newer image that wasn't detected. I don't even waste time trying to clean a possible breach. I just wipe out the drive and restore to the last known clean image.

[Satex]

No single antivirus software is most thorough. Each one does shine in a different respect and they are all on par from general protection perspectives.
Computers do suffer from bit-rot, so periodic rebuilds are the best way to keep the wheels spinning effectively.

[rockblaster]

Hitman Pro (32 bit or 64 depending on OS), adware cleaner, junkware removal tool, Malwarebytes anti-rootkit, Combofix as last resort other than the ones you have already tried.

[Secret]

Avast free for me. I havent had a virus or detection, whatever in 2 years using it.

[rockblaster]

Secret, You are correct about Avast. In my experience it is the most powerful anti-virus suite on the market and it is free. The ability to do boot scans alone just makes it a great product. I build about 40 computers a year and this is what I install. It catches what Norton and the others snore through. 80% of my business is cleaning infected PCs and this is a great tool.

[AgentX]

Another vote for wiping the machine. If he's just using it for games there shouldn't be too many important files (family photos, work files, etc) so just give him a heads up and spend an afternoon formatting to Linux.