Is reformatting my computer the only way to heal the Trojan horse virus?

Question

It can't possibly be the only way...

I'm using AVG 7.5 and it said I had trojan horse viruses, but it wasn't healed. Is there another way to heal it without having to reformat? Are there any step-by-step guides or something? I'm using Vista if that helps..

please help!!

Answer 1

You usually do not need to reformat your machine to remove a virus. Reformatting will also delete all of your data, music, email software etc. from the machine, and is a last resort. Always make a complete backup of your data before you consider reformatting.



First download the following (if the virus is blocking your internet, you may have to download these on another machine and burn to CD or copy to a USB memory stick)



Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php



Superantispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html



CCleaner (cleans out caches) http://www.ccleaner.com



Avast! 4 Home: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html



Now, start the machine in Safe Mode (hit the F8 function key as the machine boots up, and choose Safe mode)



Turn off System Restore on your machine, but only until you get this fixed - many of these trojans get copied into the System Restore files, which anti-virus programs aren't allowed to touch and the viruse could reinstall themselves from there. My Computer > Properties > System Restore.



Then run Malwarebytes, and clean everything it says



Then run Superantispyware



Then run Avast - If a virus infection is persistent, use Avast to do a boot-scan - click on "schedule boot-scan" and restart the computer



Then run CCleaner



Then turn System Restore back on.



Now install the antivirus program and antispyware program of your choice to do continuous scanning, and make sure you keep it up to date.

Answer 2

What steps have you done, other then scanning with AVG? You don't say.

HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS HELPFUL........



Have you tried scanning with Trend Micro

http://housecall.trendmicro.com



Have you tried scanning with Malware bytes

http://www.malwarebytes.org/.

FREE



What did Spybot SD Discover????????



Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.5.2

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-De...

FREE



Links Below are Programs that WILL Help. They are FREE.





Download Spybot , download Defender, restart computer, then run Spybot. Windows Defender and Spybot are 2 really good Spyware Programs. FREE



GOOD INFO TO REMEMBER!!!

Virus Protection-- 2 programs of virus protection will conflict with each other and will actually cancel out the protection. .



Running Spybot and Defender, with EITHER Avast or Avg (great Free virus protection programs ) will keep a computer in good working condition.

FREE



I have Both AVG and Spybot on my computer.



AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5.519

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-F...

FREE



Avast

http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registrati...

FREE



Ccleaner

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4.html?q...

FREE



There are alot of $ anti-virus and Internet security programs out there,

ie: Norton, McAfee, Panda, Bitdefender. If you would like to pay $

then get PC SECURITY.. I feel that is the best for your money.



http://www.pcsecurityshield.com



Sometime you have no other choice then to REFORMAT

If your files are corrupted and your OS Windows, is not working properly, then no choice, do a REFORMAT. You will need your restore cds that came with computer.



When you do a Reformat, you will loose everything ! Documents, music, and pictures. If you don't know how to retrieve your importants documents, then I suggest to take your hard drives to a professional. They can save this for you for a nominal fee.



GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

Check AVG's discussion forum for the exact TH you have on your system. Also, get lavasoft adaware and run that as well, it is usually great for finding and getting rid of some things that AVG can't. Always use them in combination with each other.



Worst case scenario is a format, but you can also try restoring a restore point from before you think you got the virus, sometimes helps, but not always.



Don't give up :) Google is your best friend in this to help walk you through getting rid of these stupid things.

Answer 4

never heard the Team to "heal" anything with a computer. to start of i would try everything stp by step on this website http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=139681 . And if that does not work then yeah reformatting will defiantly get rid of your trojan and every thing else on your computer. also don't go out and buy something like Norton they are useless.

Answer 5

Download Malwarebytes in safe mode with networking and then run a scan while still in safe mode - Your AVG should be updated every second at least to make sure it is current -

Answer 6

Please be more specific - i mean i want the name of trojan horse virus , what you can do is download and install ad-aware se from lava soft and run it. It is a free spyware tool.





else

if it is not detected , then install xoftspy spyware removing tool and run it, it will show you the path where the virus is, go there and delete it manually. beware when you are deleting files.



take care kid

Answer 7

Download, install and run CCleaner to clean up old temp files.

http://www.ccleaner.com [Free]



Restart your PC in safe mode with networking

http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml



Download, install and run a full scan with Malwarebytes

http://www.malwarebytes.org



Run a full scan with Micro Trend House Call

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/



After the scans, restart the PC and download SuperAntiSpyware and run a full scan

http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html [Free home edition]



Then update your anti-virus, remember to only have one anti-virus installed on your PC

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html [Free and able to get rid trojans]

Answer 8

i may have already done damage to your computer even though you got rid of it. is there a place you can take your comp to to get fixed by professionals and i don't mean chain stores because they never work

Answer 9

reformat as last resort. could search for one free at http://www.spywaretrojanremover.com/compare



will save all your data.

Answer 10

No! Go to http://geekpolice.net and ask for help there, those very helpful people will help you with very easy steps to remove it for you.