is there a vius that stops antivirus scans from running and how can it be found and removed ?

Favorite Answer

First try to use System restore to restore your system to a time when it worked properly
here's how to do it in xp
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial56.html#restore
Here’s hot to do it in Vista
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial143.html#restore

Download and Run Advanced Windows Care Personal
http://www.download.com/Advanced-WindowsCare-Personal/3000-2086_4-10407614.html?tag=lst-1, this will tune up your system and show you what starts at bootup, and allow you to edit this.
(uncheck the Registry tab, but check the Spyware, Security and startup tabs and see what is starting up and disable harmful items. Sometimes you can run this in safe mode, which would enable you to disable harmful programs before they start in normal mode. Run this program in safe mode if possible and necessary. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#03

Malwarebytes will help you get rid of this junk
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10867990

Download install and then boot into safe mode with Networking
and do a scan using Malwarebytes

how to boot into safe mode with networking
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#03

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Then you must install CLAMWIN

ClamWin is a Free Antivirus for Microsoft Windows
that uses the GNU General Public License by the Free Software
Foundation and is free (as in freedom) software.

There is a portable version of ClamWin where it can be install into an USB thumb drive.
You can install in a USB drive as small as 128 MB.

First use another PC to download Clamwin portable anti-virus
and install Clamwin portable on a USB thumb drive.

http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portable

How to configure ClamWin
http://support.real-time.com/open-source/clamwin/index.html

Update the latest anti-virus definition files.

Set the preferences to delete or move virus to a quarantine folder.

Boot up the infected PC in safe mode [press F8].

Use the USB drive with Clamwin Anti-virus installed to scan the infected PC.

Scan all hard drives for viruses....Show more

Try what eric said. I also suggest trying ClamWin, and maybe a few spyware scanners, like Ad-Aware and Spybot....Show more

yeah....try AVG or HAZARD SHIELD.....i use both alternatly...both work great and are free...one of them may halp better than avast...good luck...Show more