How to fix a computer which I suspect has a virus, but doesn't have virus protection or allow download of any?

Question

I'm trying to fix up an old desktop computer so I can give it to a young cousin to play around on. I turned it on today, however, and have found that it apparently has a virus. The reason I have come to this conclusion is as follows:
-Windows Firewall is turned OFF and prohibits me from turning it on again (Yes, I am the admin)
-The virus protection that used to be on the computer stopped working and was removed
-The computer will not let any other virus protection I download run or scan (I tried AVG and Windows Security Essentials)
-The computer will not let me use an anti-malware program (I tried to use malwarebytes)
-Every time I go on the internet to browse through google, it takes me to a non-google search result and the url consists of numbers that look similar to an ip address.

What can I do to fix this issue? Is completely restoring the computer from factory settings the only way? Or is there any program at all that I can download that can get past all of this?

Thanks

Answer 1

i might verify for it interior the device commence-up strategies. Press abode windows+R. A container will pop up, form " msconfig " into it. click the " ok " container. detect a container/tab that pronounces " Startup " and click. click the " Disable all " container. Press the " prepare " container. once you go out the window it extremely is going to ask you to restart, say specific. this might turn off different courses. you are able to opposite this by utilising doing each thing returned and clicking enable all (not disable all.) that's the only straight forward restoration i will think of of in case you won't be ready to get carry of any anti- virus/secret agent ware/malware utility.

Answer 2

this youtube video shows you how to remove it with out any kind of protection. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsuTOMpD-6A

Answer 3

Below is a link to removal guides for Trojan viruses. Follow the instructions in the Automated Removal section carefully. The most common tools used are FixNCR which repairs damage to the registry, RKill which stops the virus processes and Malwarebytes which can remove the virus.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/



Guides to remove a redirect virus.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-tdss-tdl3-alureon-rootkit-using-tdsskiller

http://deletemalware.blogspot.com/2010/02/remove-google-redirect-virus.html

http://www.google-redirect-virus-removal.info/

Answer 4

Start the computer and go into "Safe Mode" by tapping the F8 key when the computer begins to start. When you get to the Safe Mode, choose "Safe Mode with networking" , this allows access to the internet for downloading any anti virus protection you may need. Everything will look different in Safe Mode ( very large! ). You should be able to run already installed virus protections in safe mode, or download and install any further virus protections needed. It's also wise to shut off the System Restore when you do this. That way if any viruses are present, they won't be in a future "restore point". Good luck.

Answer 5

Do you know how to go to CMOS and boot from another drive, download AV software and scan the first (infected) drive? I would tell you how but on each system it is different so look close when you boot up. F12 for set up options or other messages

Answer 6

The easiest way is to just restore the pc to factory . Some virus's by default disable all security options and virus scanners from running. The other way is to find out what virus it has and look through the registry and delete all entrys made by it. this is very time consuming and hard to explain. You could also go with a linux live boot cd to scan for the virus outside of the windows platform. Here is a site that may help http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14434/scan-a-windows-pc-for-viruses-from-a-ubuntu-live-cd/

Answer 7

You'll spend 5x longer trying to fix it and still won't know if the virus is gone. Fine for you but I wouldn't give one away like that. Do everyone a favor and just reinstall.

Answer 8

Given your description, I'd do a clean install. The virus sounds pretty nasty and probably has way too many hooks in the OS for it to be trusted. Besides, a clean install means fewer bugs in general.