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HELP....my PC is infected with virus and I am unable to do anything.?
Here is my sad story. I have an old PC with P-III and WIN-98 SE. Yesterday half of my fonts suddenly disapeared. I had Norton AntiVir-2005 installed but it is not updated. So I tried installing new AntiVir from Cd and also from Net. But I am unable to install any AntiVir and even no Online Scanner is working. Just one online scanner Trend Micro HouseCall scanned files and showed infection in about 50 Windows files, but it could not clean them. I cannot pay for an AntiVir right now. I have tried installing Kaspersky, Quickheal, but failed. I tried online scanning with Bitfinder, Panda etc but the scan simply didn't start. I did all this after removing my Norton AntiVir-2005. I wonder if some of Windows files have got deleted & so no scanner is running properly. What do you think ? Should I reinstall Windows again & then try running AntiVirus ? I am loosing patience. Please Help.
19 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Reformat and do a fresh install instead of trying to deal with a damaged OS? It will probably be faster and get a new OS to play with (~8
Info's
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I would just nuke the installation.
Backup your important documents, scan them to make sure you're not carrying the virus with you. Make sure you have installation dics, or at least links to sites for the apps you use.
Grab your emergency restore disc (which hopefully you have) and just do a full system restore on it to factory status. You'll have to start from square one just like the day you bought it, but that's also a plus. Not only will the viruses be likely gone, it'll be faster without all that cruft built up in your registry over time.
Personally I'd recommend Avast! Antivirus. I've been using it for years and i've never had an infection. There is a free home version, and it only requires "registration" once a year, which just means giving them your email address. They rarely if ever email you, just to send registration keys to you so you don't need to worry about spam.
A not updated antivirus scanner is useless, so make sure you are having it automatically update on a daily basis, and schedule nightly scans automatically while you're asleep.
- 1 decade ago
You most likely have a trojan . Trojans typically disable run command and system restore , they also block any program resembling antivirus malware or spyware removal from either opening and/or being downloaded and setup anywho heres some steps i used on a friends computer to bring the sytem back .
First see if you are able to download and setup Avast Home Edition (freeware) , which is highly unlikely .
Next Try to download Malwarebytes save it to desktop try and run the setup if it does nothing or just flashes setup then dissapears try right clicking it then click open if this also doesnt work rename the setup file to xxx.exe in an attempt to trick the damn trojan ... and sorry this is alot of trial and error and alot of rambling on my part...
Next try SpywareDoctor , (i will provide all links for said programs )do the same as before except for the renaming as it will currupt the setup file and render it useless .
Now if you cant get it this way compile these programs on a data cd from another pc and attempt to load in normal mode and in safemode with networking , while your in safemode attempt to run any antivirus or scanner as an attempt to remove the smaller buggers helpin the big man LOL .
Next thing to do would be to remove your infected harddrive and connect it as a slave drive to another pc (POWER OFF!) power up the comp and open antivirus (I highly recommend Avast hasn't let me down yet , frequently updates its virus database to protect from up and coming threats , also has a scanner which runs in the backround on your task bar which allows it to immediatley intercept any threats to your system)....open antivirus make sure you unselect the local drive C: and select the new drive you have as a slave should be G: or H: select fullscan and DELETE anything found . Disconnect and put drive back into its tower and then once again install and scan with SpywareDoctor then complete scan with antivirus , restart computer return to safemode with networking full scan while there (this is where you get the little bastard that caused this trouble ) Delete anything found and you should be good to go , you can also use registry mechanic to clean up files that were either misplaced or broken by the trojan and its partners , and if none of this works wipe out your drive and reinstall everything Best of Luck ...
Source(s): Avast- http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2... MalwareBytes- http://www.malwarebytes.org/ SpywareDoctor- http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/31565803/spywar... RegistryMechanic- http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/31593840/regist... - LindsLv 71 decade ago
Your biggest problem is an outdated virus protection, because it is outdate your missin gout on 4 years worth of protection against virus/spyware. You second biggest problem it your using windows 98 which is no longer supported and can make it very difficult to find software to download to protect against it.
So sadly yes, you should reinstall windows again and start over. And make sure to get an update virus' s protecion. The norton 2005 is way out of date. It doesn;t matter if you download a free protection, such as AVG. Hopefully it still supports windows 98.
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- FreebirdgonewildLv 41 decade ago
First of all, you will have these kinds of issues with any system running Windows 98 that is online. The support to protect systems like this is no longer a priority to anyone, and writing a virus for a system like that can now be done by elementary school kids.
But, to answer your question, yes you should reformat and then immediately install Antivirus.
- ?Lv 41 decade ago
first of all old pcs are hard to save from anything now that theres a virus you got big trouble try removing the virus manually if you know the name go into the task manger then go to processes find the name end it... then go to the c drive show hidden folders then delete it again then delete it from the bin then go on www.malwarebyes.com download the trial get the scan you should be running like new... sorta
- hero no .1Lv 51 decade ago
Download malwarebytes anti-malware from http://www.malwarebytes.org/
Update and run a full system scan ,
Get a powerful antivirus ,,
Avira
OR
Avast
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-%E2%80%A6
will do
Geta good firewall
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
comodo free
These are a few apps that protect ur pc in combination or together
They provide the same protection as that of a paid internet security suite . After all it will be ur decision
Good Luck
- debbs_lfcLv 61 decade ago
As you have mentioned that you are unable to install any other security software I would suggest reinstalling as you cannot be 100% sure that the infection is removed or wont cause more problems, and will save you anymore hassle.
Once you have clean install use free avg, make sure to update and use zonealarm as firewall along with lavasoft adaware/spyware remover ( update this too )
- 1 decade ago
you ave to update your antivirus every day or week, otherwise your not protected even if you have a virus scanner. norton antivirus 2005 probably wont update after a year is up.
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2...
download (save the file, you can delete it later) that and install it. if you cant install it start in safe mode. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180902
once in safe mode, try to install it again and do a scan.
http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy...
download that aswell and scan your computer with it.
Remove any other antivirus program you have on your computer.
- ' slimRazor 'Lv 61 decade ago
Download installation file of Malwarebytes Anti-malware (mbam-setup.exe) to another computer.
Transfer the file to infected computer using pendrive (USB flash drive),.Try renaming the mbam-setup.exe if installation fails.
Try renaming the mbam.exe if the program installs, but doesn’t run.(Then run a full scan and delete what ever it finds.,)
Source(s): eXperience