Does my computer have a virus? How do I get rid of it?

Question

I recently downloaded a movie on my computer and it was only 0:05 long i knew that wasn't right, so I opened it and it said I needed to install 'media rights' or something (in Windows Media Player) and I click download because I really wanted to watch the movie and then my computer restarted and when I turn it on it says computer can't start up. I'm on windows 7 and when I press f8 for safe mode, it doesnt work...

Answer 1

Yes, this happened with me also,

I don't remember the Name of the Movie but I've downloaded it by Torrent.

It was 21 Seconds long but 780MB! in size.



But I immediately got that this is fake, and I didn't opened the link.



So Problem to your solution is to run "chkdsk /f" command on your every drive, do by some dos bootable CD or by attaching our HDD on other PC.



OR repair your Windows 7 by Windows 7 Bootable disk.



Unluckily if this doesn't work then try Formatting.

Answer 2

You can run antivirus and antispyware programs, but the sad fact is if you have found one virus on your computer, you probably have several. Cleaning the computer now requires you to follow these steps, because modern viruses and spyware entrench themselves in files that your computer needs in order to run:



1. Virus-check your data files (not application files-- you have installer CDs for those).

2. Back up the data files, getting them off your hard drive.

3. Get your original operating system CDs that came with your computer.

4. Boot your computer from the operating system CD.

5. Select the option that erases your hard drive and then reinstall your system software.

6. Turn on your software firewall that came with your operating system.

7. Reconnect to the internet, and download *all* Windows updates, no matter how long it takes.

8. Reinstall your application software, and update the applications as much as you can.

9. Reinstall your data files.

10. Create a limited user account on your system that does *not* have administrator access, and web surf only from this account.



Yes, this is a pain in the butt. No, there is no other way. No, antivirus and antispyware programs cannot fix this problem on its own.



So, what do you do in the future?



1. Never click on links you find in an e-mail.

2. Never open an e-mail attachment, ever.

3. Only download files from a reputable website that you know is on the up-and-up.

4. Never use bit-torrent and other file-sharing programs.

5. Never use an unsolicited drive-checking site.

6. Turn off all java and java scripting by default, and only enable java and java scripting for sites that you know you can trust.

7. Never read an unsolicited e-mail, and delete spam immediately. It is possible to be hacked by reading an e-mail alone.



Please adhere to the 'dont's' I provided above, because you will have to repeat the cleaning steps that I listed first *every time you get infected.* Anti-spyware and anti-virus programs are good to have, but they are a second line of defense. The best way to protect your system is you, and changing your behavior.



Good luck!

Answer 3

How are you going to view these answers with a broken computer? Firstly, never download stuff just because you want to watch a movie (netflix or youporn should suit your needs just fine). Secondly, if you can't even access your computer you need to search for threads online specific to your computer model and ways to get into it. I had to go through a series of steps when my computer crashed and eventually I had to do a hard reset on the entire computer (Thanks, Dell). When the computer first begins to turn on, as soon as you see the Windows icon, press ctrl+alt+del and it will (hopefully) open up your task manager. Then end any process that looks suspicious. Make sure your internet is off. Once that's done, scan your computer with something like Malwarebytes and it will hopefully quarantine the virus messing up your computer...if you're lucky enough for this to work, lay off the downloads.

Answer 4

Consider this an excellent time to recognize that your operating system is defective. I recommend replacing it with one of:



http://fedora.redhat.com

http://www.centos.org

http://www.opensuse.org

http://www.debian.org

http://www.ubuntu.org

http://www.slackware.org

http://www.mintlinux.com

http://www.freebsd.org

http://www.opensolaris.org



Any of these will be more reliable, less susceptible to viri, uses your hardware more efficiently, and they're all free.



If you have the money up front, I'd recommend buying a Mac. The total cost of ownership is less than that of Windows, (initially it costs more, but reliability, security and viri issues inevitably make Windows cost more). The level of frustration is always lower than with Windows.



If you must run a Windows app, then you install Vmware or any of the other PC emulators and run Windows in a virtual machine (this can be done on most of the above OSs and certainly on the Macs). You ONLY run that app on that virtual machine. You browse and do everything network related on the host Mac to keep secure and virus free.



Its true, I spend more time on Windows than Macs but that's simply because my job is to fix computer problems, and, frankly, that difference in cost of ownership PAYS MY SALARY. Perhaps I should be advertising Windows just to keep myself in business.



I suggest the various free-wares because, well, they're free and although they are harder to learn than the Mac, they certainly are more reliable than Windows.

Answer 5

Sounds like a virus.



On an separate computer download Ubuntu 10.04, make a bootable USB of it (you can google how to do this).



Run ubuntu on the affected computer as a live version (try ubuntu without installing). Download ClamAV and run a scan on your windows partition. it should find any malware and remove it.



You can also get linux versions that boot for the sole purpose of scanning drives

Answer 6

I think u have to give startup repair to your PC

To know how to do that visit.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ss/windows-7-startup-repair.htm



After that download or buy any Good Antivirus , i prefer free version of Avast6.0 , to give a scan to ur computer.

method 2: if u able to login through safe mode , do "system restore"..

another the thing that u can do is to make new login(with administrator privilege) via old one then delete old login account and use new login account to run computer..

Answer 7

I think its a virus, try getting onto the compter in normal or safe mode and then run a antivirus scan and remove it in the antivirus program

Answer 8

I think you should scan your system.



and



Start your computer Press F8 and select "last unknown Configuration setting" and enter.

Answer 9

You could download Kaspersky's Bootable CD and boot from that to check for viruses.



Download it here http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk

Answer 10

press f8 nd try to restore ur computer...

Answer 11

only one way to find out is by scanning your pc with anti virus