Anti virus Question 10 pts?

Hi Scott...

If this is the same machine you told about earlier, then I would start looking at it in an entirely different way... I know you don't want to but you may need to say "should I try to clean it first before I reinstall Windows"?... It sounds like this is a really infected machine and it would most likely take a lot longer to try and clean it rather than to just go ahead and reinstall Windows and have a clean OS...

Sure, save any important documents, music, pictures, etc... you may need, just be sure the thumb-drive is large enough to hold everything (I've done it many times with a Flash drive) and go ahead and run the Avira Rescue Disk... Be sure to scan each of them before placing them back onto your computer...

If you try and save the Malwarebytes and SUPERantispyware, I think the only thing saved is just the installer. You'll need to let it go online to install the complete program...so, I would just wait until you have a half-way clean machine an just download and install it (RUN) right then...

YES, there is ALWAYS a chance that an important system32 file may be deleted by the program (or by you) because there will be many (maybe hundreds) of files that may be infected and you need to look at each one to decide if it is an important file, or not (it would be very hard for me)... That's why I say I would probably be a better choice to just go ahead and reformat and reinstall a clean copy of Windows... Believe me, it'll be a lot less headaches in the long run....

What ever you decide to do... GOOD LUCK !!!

P.S. My emails open for business again...

2

This is something for ALL .exe / applications, not just an anti virus issue.

SAVE The applications to your computer, the "run" option will just run the setup to install to your computer - not a scan to run.

I use Nod32, so as for Avira I can't exactly say much. However, I doubt it'd detect an actual windows system file unless it's a false positive. I'd recommend looking at the file patch of the virus and googling it, viruses hide themselves as fake windows files in SYSTEM32 and WINDOWS, etc.

If your REALLY paranoid on the issue, End all processes to the so called 'windows file' and see what happens, make it not load on next windows start up via MSCONFIG.

(XP) Start -> Run -> msconfig

(Vista) start -> Search box -> msconfig -> Allow/continue.

Go to start up & services, check "HIDE ALL MICROSOFT ITEMS" and uncheck certain things you don't need loading on boot.

Also, Load your computer in Safe Mode (Press F8 continuously on start up) and see if the 'so called' windows file loads or not, Safe mode ONLY loads what it needs to, to work. It doesn't load any other things or visual effects (hence why your desktop looks scary-ish).

Super AS & Malwarebytes are both strong programs. You could possibly download and try both.

If you need a more in-depth scan, scan in safe mode (Find the application shortcut on desktop or the path's .exe file and load the program then scan).

Edit.

As for that safety.live.com thingy scanner that microsoft has, it's crap. Doesn't do/find anything. And it's always better to have a scanner installed and not online, online doesn't find as much.

You want to save it to your hard drive, as running in online won't completely clean up the mess. You are still getting spyware while you are online. SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes are NOT antivirus products, they are spyware removers. And neither of them have anything to do with Avira. They can't remove an "important Windows file that will crash the computer.!" where do you get this type of garbled information from?

You choose Run if you want it to install completely. If you choose Save, you'll have to find the installer and install it yourself. I always save mine so i can customize the installation so it doesn't add anything to my computer that i don't need. As with any anti-malware/anti-virus, it's always good to check and see what you are deleting before you get rid of it. All of those programs will give you a warning before you delete. Just google something you may not be sure about.

And contrary to what lucee says, all of them can potentially remove a critical file.

you might want to try Safety.Live.com it is Microsoft's online virus scan and can safely remove the virus with out damage to your important files if you need a better security check out Comodo.com for a free security suite from the maker of comodo firewall pro or Avira.com for free antivirus/antispyware both work