Pc wont do anything

It might be a false positive, however; this is a recommended read.

Please Read These Important Notes for the Malware Removal Guide

What version of Windows is it?

Win XP: Windows XP Malware Removal/Cleaning Procedure

Later versions: Vista & Windows 7 Malware Removal/Cleaning Procedure


Only have one AV application running in the back ground. I use Malwarebytes and Search and Destroy only on demand.

Thanks frehley and rusty.have saved the links and will try both.

I am running on xp proffessional.

I was thinking of getting windows seven so if I format my disc and put that on that will sort the problem...yes???

Ha ha..you can tell I know lot.I can format and install though.,

No. Win 7 is better than Win Xp (on most things like security), but it won't stop what happened to you. Try web browsing with Sandboxie, or similar.

For Win 7, make sure you have at least 2GB of RAM.

Taking the pc to son in laws next time I am down there so he can see if he can find the sneaky trojan hiding in my registry.

I have windows 7 on laptop and quite like it.

I dare not use the pc Rusty as the windows security centre thing has popped up again telling me I have no firewall switched on,This is what happened when I got the virus in the first place.

Why don't you switch the firewall on? Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall, select 'On'.

Whether you have a firewall on or not (and you should always have a firewall on), you will still get this type of malware. The firewall will not stop it. You need intrusion protect to help stop it, and that is not necessarily what the firewall will do.

Although what you are doing is sensible, it is possible that the warning is a false positive.

Sandboxing your web browsing will protect you because it isolates the session from your system. You can simply delete the whole session when you finish browsing.


Would you please list all installed Malware products you have installed?

Thanks Rusty.Have switched the windows firewall on..although I never switched it off in the first place.

I have avast antivirus. spybot search and destroy and malwarebytes.

Have run them all this morning and they all say clean.

I also have free registry cleaner which I downloaded yesterday.It got rid of the virus hiding in registry..so it said,

I think to be safe I will format and install another operating system

Am a bit wary of the sandbox thing but only because I have no idea how to use things.Will take a look at it though.

I have delete browsing on exit on permanently.

That is a very sensible approach. Don't do things unless you know what it is about. Careful with registry cleaners, they can be bad as well as good, but you seem OK.


For a while, and before you start using your PC, check the firewall is on.


Sandboxie is easy to use. You install it and it gives you a little yellow icon in the system tray and a shortcut on the desktop. Open the icon in the system tray, then drag your browser's shortcut into the open program; your browser should then open (note the # in the title bar).

When you are done, just right click on the item that says 'Sandbox DefaultBox' and select 'Delete Contents'.

You can use it more imaginatively than that but this is an easy start version.

There are other versions of the same thing, but this is the most popular, this will also stop you getting infested.


What version of Windows 7 do you have?

Thanks Rusty,will give that a try.

Um version of windows 7.. no idea son in law gave me laptop.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...em-am-i-running

I am on xp on pc.

ran scans in safemode and virus was found in processes.
Said it deleted it but its still there on some scans.

I think its in the registry somewhere but am loathe to mess with that.

Could be a false positive like you said Rusty but to be sure I think I will get a new windows...bloody expensive they are.

Do some research regard Hijackthis with view to using it. Changing Windows won't stop this specific thing happening again.

What do you use the computer to do?

Have run hijack this and it was still there when I ran the safemode scan.

I use pc for all important stuff..banking ect and for forums.

Not now with banking ect..no way.Just using minimum to get on forums.

A new windows will get rid of this virus though wont it.?

To use it properly, you have to run Hijackthis and post the log on a forum, then experts will tell you what the problem is. Or that is the theory anyway.

If it were me, I'd consider getting another hard drive and re-installing the current Windows, putting the original away somewhere for safety. Hard drives, are about £40.00.

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/catego...68|&Sort=1

Win 7 is better than XP, but it won't protect you against this happening again.

How do you think you got the fake anti virus?

If I format the hard drive wont that clear everything then I can install a new windows.

I opened an email from facebook..not on facebook..it was in my hotmail.Its the only thing I can think of as the computer played up right after that.

I only go on the same sites all the time.

Am going to run another few scans in the morning to see if they all say its gone.

Hijackthis shows way too much good stuff along with the bad so cant mess with that. Not keen on joining yet another forum.

In the vast majority of cases, yes. You might need all the reinstall disks and keys.

Do you have any data that you need to keep from the current installation?

When you do what every you eventually do, it'd be worth subscribing (it is free) to OpenDNS. It will help mitigate rogue addresses and dodgy sites.

I'd seriously consider changing e-mail host (you can still keep Hotmail). Who is your ISP?

Looks like I have got rid of the virus...well its not showing now on any scans and I have done many.

I am with tesco for the net.

There is nothing on my pc I would need to keep as all my pictures and videos are converted to disc as soon as they go on.

Hi LM,

The probable reason your firewall was turned off, is that the firewall it is referring to is the windows firewall. That is turned of by any subsequent firewall you install as you should not run two, they conflict with each other. That is the one you turn off and on in the control panel. So if you have installed any antivirus chances are it came with it's own firewall and turned off the windows one. Spybot reports that it has been turned off just in case you rely on the windows firewall

As regards a clean install, that will rid you of any nasties on your machine, and your pc should run faster, getting rid of all the garbage you have accumalated over the years. Word off warning make sure you have got a back up of anything you want. Check and check again, once you formatted it will not be accessible.

Hello ganda. The virus turned off the automatic updates ect.

Thanks,will not need anything from the computer if I format.I dont keep much on them really.

Cant do it yet as new windows are really expensive.

I am hopeful I have got rid of the nasty.