Virus (or something) problem???

Question

Okay, so a few days ago, my computer picked up something; my best guess is that whatever it is, it came from one of many zip files I downloaded for work within the last week.
(If you want know, I have an eMachine T2891 running Windows XP Pro and 1.5GB memory).

I started getting annoying pop-ups, so I set my pop-up blocker and the Internet Options Security control to the highest levels, still no change.

Then I started getting the most screwed up thing; when I would have several explorer pages open, and then shut one off, the screen would “blink” and my Start and Taskbar would completely disappear! I can see the desktop pic under the still remaining page(s) that’s open. If I close the open pages, it only shows me my desktop picture, no icons of any sort. So then I have to do a hard shutdown and reboot the computer.

I’ve always been running Norton, but it say’s nothings wrong - Bleeping thing!

I perused Yahoo Answers and found some tips in old postings. So I downloaded AVG (free one) and also, Avast! 4.7

I ran both of them (yes, at different times) and they both found all types of crap and fixed/deleted the items, but nothing they’ve done has changed this particular problem.

*Also, on another note, related or not, but occurred in the same timeline, my Taskbar icons (when it’s visible) show one “empty space “ in-between the other icons, when I right click on it, it shows its Norton Antivirus, but I’ll be darned if I can get the icon to show.

I’m not sure if AVG or Avast! are just virus killers or do they stop Adware, or spy stuff too?
So, any ideas? Do I need to download some other type of additional “killer”?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Try http://www.stopannoyingpopup.com

Prevents from any unwanted popup ads immediately and automatically.

Block 100% unsolicited popups.

Run quietly in your system tray using very little resources.

Answer 2

To be honest, it may not be a virus, if all of those scanners didn't help the situation. One solution though, try downloading a Linux Live CD, from linux.org and starting your computer in Linux, and do a virus scan from there, where it is pretty near impossible for the virus to be active. If that doesn't work, you may want to consider reformatting and reinstalling Windows, as it seems you may have a set of eerie coinsidences. Finally, until you get your problem fixed, when all your icons disappear, and you lose your taskbar, etc, hit CTRL+ALT+DELETE, then at the top, hit the File menu, then click New Task. In the pop-up, type in "explorer", without the quotes. This might fix your disappearing Windows...



Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Looks like you already have some malware embedded in your system so doing all those may be too late. Antivirus are not very good at removing them.



Uninstall (Add/Remove Programs) any recently downloaded programs that are suspect (screensaver, p2p, donwload manager, cleaner, antivirus, etc)



Try using some of the free tools:



Microsoft Malware Removal Tools

http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx



Spybot

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html



Counterspy trial:

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy.cfm



Do these in Safe Mode. Temporarily disable your System Restore (so that Windows will not inadvertently restore infected files).



Reset your IE (Tools>Internet Options>Advanced)



Update your XP, Anitvirus.

Answer 4

Have you gone to the Norton website and looked around there to see if they have any answers to your problem? I used to run Norton also and found that it caused my computer to become quirky and run slow at times. I deleted the darn thing and downloaded Spybot Search and Destroy (which is free) and that has taken care of me since. I would also go and find a Registry Key scan. I use RegCure. You have to pay for it, not too much as I remember, and run that. When my computer starts to run quirky and do weird things, I run both of these scans and it takes care of my problems. Good luck.

Answer 5

same problem with bullguard - and that i attempted to reboot massive mistake - it won't reboot or provide me a restoration determination - anybody know the thank you to get the equipment to restoration to a prior think approximately time till now the replace on initiate up? it particularly is a hoax that merely forces the anti virus to quarantine quite plenty each and every record in case you bypass away the laptop working. despite you do no longer close down your laptop, I did and now it particularly is completey screwed except i'm able to restoration it to a prior think approximately time from this morning. won't have the capacity to belive bullguard and bitdefender are hit via this. Kapersky looks ok because it particularly is what's working on the lap suited i'm employing now. ok replace - I have been given decrease back in employing equipment restoration yet alot of the courses have issues - consisting of the reality that there's no sound. I particularly have asked bullguard to pay for an engineer back and variety my laptop out as i do no longer particularly desire to take a seat right here setting up and uninstalling courses. Their shopper help exchange into no longer efficient and looked grumpy as quickly as I instructed them what i assumed. i'm going to take it up with them interior the destiny.

Answer 6

wow, great information, and if you have 1.5gb of memory, maybe you should just get a new computer, maybe you mean RAM, or random access memory its a hacker doing it with a RAT or remote administration tool, that is what I would expect, I cannot be positive, because I don't know all of the details, but thats my best guess.

you need anti-spyware.

not malware or anti-virus

Answer 7

ok avg is just viruses it works really well against viruses try ad-aware se free for the spy ware i have that too its pretty good maybe your norton antivirus is infected by whatever it is hence the unseeable icon. and most viruses tent to attack big name antivirus software like norton. so try ad-aware se, i hope all turns out great!

Answer 8

sounds like adware. i had a problem with that once before. try downloading adaware:

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007-Free/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

see if that clears the problem up. if it doesn't try using system restore, (start>programs>accessories>system tools)because sometimes adware can be undone in this fashion. if that still doesn't work, buy Panda antivirus, or reinstall your operating system. norton wont help you with adware.

Answer 9

yes be carefull of zip files , i dont trust zip files most of them have malware , try a spyware scan get the free adaware

www.lavasoft.com

Answer 10

You got some things in there that you don't know about go to www.spywareterminator.com and download it and run it and see if that helps

Answer 11

If that was my computer, I would format the hard drive , clean it from virus, install windows.

Answer 12

Avast! are good AV programs but they do not do spyware since they are free, and i suggest these:





Spybot search and destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/



AVG anti-malware: http://www4.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-pr...



Windows Defender: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security...



Ad-aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_a...



AVG anti-spyware: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-fre...

Answer 13

Go to http://www.popup-remover.com

I use that program.It works very well.

Block pop-up ads and remove spyware .

Answer 14

yes, you'll also need good antispyware programs

two that i would recommend are ad-aware and spyware terminator



ad-aware: http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

spyware terminator: http://www.spywareterminator.com/download/download.aspx