Computer/Virus Help :(

[snatchel]

Hey guys, I was looking at the thread on wanting fellow CHL'ers to do business with, but I didn't find anyone who specified computer help as far as virus/spyware and that kinda thing. I let my younger brother (highschool) borrow my computer, and apparently it contracted some rather pesky viruses and whatnot. I have no idea what they are, or what they do, or anything like that. I assumed they came from visiting --whats the word-- dirty websites, and asked him. He owned up to it and said that he may have visited a few. Anyway, I need these things gone before my computer crashes and I lose pictures/school work, that kind of thing. I went to best buy, and they charge TWO HUNDRED BUCKS to fix this. I'm a broke college student and basically am unable to foot a bill like that. I would happily pay for shipping and that kinda thing if any of y'all are willing to help a fellow forum member out and remove these. I can throw in maybe 25 bucks to fix it, but thats about it.

[Teamless]

If you get no takers to help from the forum, and if you are in the Clear Lake Area, call EPO Computers (Hwy 3 and Medical center)
I would guess they would charge about what it would cost you to ship it back and forth and the $25 you offered to fix it.

[Pawpaw]

This is completely free and does a good job:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[RoyGBiv]

You might want to let us know where you are...
If somebody is close by, you can save some shipping.

Also.... If you know what virus you have, you can always search for a way to kill it...
Usually involves downloading some antivirus, rebooting your computer into safe mode and running the antivirus..

Sometimes it gets more complicated, but, instructions are usually available on the web, especially if you are already using a good antivirus and it's given you a warning about the virus you have...

Best (IMO) FREE antivirus is avast... http://www.avast.com/download-software" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you already have the virus, you might need to get rid of it before you can install any antivirus. Many virus's are smart enough to block antivirus installs after infection... Depends on the virus..

[Keith B]

Where are you located??

And, there are a couple of things you can try. If your System Restore has not been disabled, you may be able to go back to a previous restore point before your brother showed up and that may eliminate the virus. The only thing you would lose is programs installed or updated after that date, but all documents, spreadsheets, picture files would still be there.

Also, if you can get to http://www.trendmicro.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.bitdefender.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; try and use their online virus scan software. Also, try http://www.malwarebytes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and run that. It will sometimes get rid of the malware type of intrusions.

If nothing else, PM me and i can send you my phone number and see what we can figure out over the phone.

[RoyGBiv]

If your System Restore has not been disabled, you may be able to go back to a previous restore point before your brother showed up and that may eliminate the virus.

Good idea.... Easy and quick usually..

After yo uget it cleaned, make sure you are running a good antivirus software and keep it updated every day...

FYI... Norton stinks... So does Mcaffee...

[RPB]

Most of the previously [posted links are what I was going to post

after you do 1) housecall/trendmicro/bitdefender, free etc online

and yeah, Avast is better than AVG/Mcafee/Norton etc imho for a permanently installed one; and get avast free, but you need to re-register yearly/free

2) get Spybot search and destroy, free and update it, immunize , select "all checks" and run it

can't hurt to also get spywareblaster (prevents some instead of cleans later)

of course 3) then get install and run ccleaner to clean each time before/after browsing and before each restart/reboot
(for trojans executing/installing/renaming themselves on a restart)
ccleaner also has a simple way to monitor startups ... and other features .... also it's free
You'll notice that housecall/trendmicro and bitdefender might run a resident program all the time even though you aren't running them later .... so you can use ccleaner to either disable or delete that startup ... I do that with tkbell(realscheduler) from realplayer and qttask for quicktime because I don't need them checking for updates every hour when I may use them once a year.

if a virus/trojan existed on a prior restore point, you'd be reinstalling that restore point with system restore... so if you do restore, then re-run all the cleaners scanners etc again anyway.

none of the above can "hurt" and they can only be good ... but whatsit doin? and where-yat? might be an easy fix

[snatchel]

I'm In San Angelo, Tx. I am going to see if I can figure some of these suggestions out, and will let y'all know what happens. To say i'm computer illiterate is an understatement. LoL. But THANK YOU SO MUCH for the reply's I've gotten in the last hour. Jeez, y'all are fast.

[snatchel]

can you give any specifics of what it's doing? not doing? are you getting a pop up telling you that your computer is infected? or are you getting a popup that tells you that 40% of your hard drive is not usable? ..

Yes, I'm getting that one. Something about my hard disk having no memory, and also some Windows 7 popup saying something crazy, I dont remember exactly what it says. I try X it out, and it just keeps popping up. Tried system restore, it woudn't let me. When I called best buy a week or so ago, I had the popup fresh in my mind, and told the guy who answered the phone what it said--he said it's been super common lately, and it was definately a virus. I tried going to a few of the websites, but they wanted me to pay.

[Bulldog1911]

+1 for avast.

most "viruses" are actually malicious programs that burry themselves in your startup library. So, when you boot up it "actives" the program and prevents you from preforming certian activities (i.e. virus scan). Most can be disabled and then removed fairly easily.
FYI: I would back up important files before preforming any type of removal, cause...you never know.
1. Boot in safe mode (tap F8 at start up)
2. go to start > run > type in "msconfig" without the quotes
3. Disable all startup items.
4. Reboot

now the "viurs" should be disabled, but is still present in your regestry. To remove from your registry. You can remove regestry items as follows, but strong word of caution here as if you delete the wrong values, you can destroy you're operating system.

1. Start > run > type in "regedit.exe" without the quotes.
2. Navigate to :HKEY LOCAL MACHINE > Microsoft > Windows> Current Version > Run
Right click on the items on the right side of the window and you can delete all of them except the default
and:HKEY LOCAL MACHINE > Microsoft > Windows> Current Version > Run Once
Same as above
3. Once this is done, go to add/remove programs and remove anything that you dont use or recognize.
4. Reboot and pray :D

[Bulldog1911]

Another option is to back up all your files, and do a fresh install. Most computers now-a-days have a Boot partition that will restore your drive to factory settings. Just google "my-computer-model boot partition key". i.e. toshiba a505 boot partition key or toshiba a505 recovery partition key

You should find what key to press at startup in order to preform the recovery. FYI, this will erase everything on the drive, so be sure you have backed up your files first. Once it's finished go here http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Ant ... tag=button" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SQLGeek]

A lot of great advice here and what I would do if I were to work on somebody's computer. If you were in the Houston area, I'd take care of you. Hope you can get it resolved fast. I'd be leery of having Best Buy do it, especially at that price.

[SQLGeek]

I prefer Geek but I'll reluctantly claim nerd. ;)