Computer Virus help

[deruitem]

I have had great luck with all my other questions here so I thought I would give it a shot. A few weeks ago I did a google search or discounttire and clicked on the first link. It was not the right site and I got a virus warning from my AVG. Then my machine rebooted. I made a bootable virus protection disc from AVG and it removed everything. However the only thing that works is my IE in 64 bit. All other programs dont open. I think I need to fix a registry error but I have no idea where to start. Regedit does open. Help!!!!

[Drybonz]

Insert Windows disc... reboot to disc... format... reinstall. :(

[Wullie]

XP had a 'repair' option with the CD that would basically re-install the OS and leave everything else untouched. YOu had to do ALL the updates immediately after the repair. No idea about the 'new stuff'.

[the gato]

If you can recall the name of what you were infected with you can google "bleepingcomputer malware name".

bleepingcomputer being a site with many tutorials on how to properly get rid of many different infections.

Most of those malware infections from websites that download and execute without your consent do what you describe. Blocking most programs from opening, but open a fake virus scanner that tries to get you to buy it.

[gobeavs]

Insert Windows disc... reboot to disc... format... reinstall. :(

Yep.

[Mako72]

If IE works, go to here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=5201 and download Microsoft Security Essentials.

It should install ok and does a pretty good job, plus its free. I used it on a friends computer after he was infected, though it did take several scans and restarts. Its all I use now.



Jay

[rearviewmirror]

MSE is the way to go. That and Malware AntiBytes are what I use. Between the 2, they fix 99% of the problems I come across.

[Vickers]

Ubuntu.

Two years, no problems.

[dymaxion]

Ubuntu.

Two years, no problems.

Ubuntu 6 years no problems.

In all seriousness if all you use your PC for is surfing and are not a heavy user of Microsoft products Linux
will serve you well. Plus you won't have to buy a new machine every time a new version is put out.

[Haggises]

If IE works, go to here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=5201 and download Microsoft Security Essentials.

It should install ok and does a pretty good job, plus its free. I used it on a friends computer after he was infected, though it did take several scans and restarts. Its all I use now.
Jay

+1. Me too.

MSE is the way to go. That and Malware AntiBytes are what I use. Between the 2, they fix 99% of the problems I come across.

+1. Me too, again!

Insert Windows disc... reboot to disc... format... reinstall. :(

only as a last resort!

[ScottJH]

If no application works except IE, the .exe association is broken. This site has a registry entry file that should fix this. The .exe entry is the only one you need to download and run.

This only fixes the .exe issue. If the virus is still on your PC, you will need to use Malwarebytes/MSE as others have suggested.

[maxman]

You could always try combofix.
I don't know exactly what it does, but it works most of the time.
I've used it to resurrect computers that would have needed to be formatted.

Of course you are keeping up to date backups right?

[smalltank]

I would get spybot search & destroy..its free from download.com..searches for malware/spyware on your pc
Advanced System Care Free is also from download.com..free as well..cleans your pc very well..I have it on my work machines as well as my own

[Oscroft]

Ubuntu 6 years no problems

Mac, 21 years...

[Slim1023]

Mac, 21 years...

Windows, 28 years

[Oscroft]

Windows, 28 years

With never an infection? That's good going.

[BallisticBurrito]

I use avast! (yes the exclamation is part of the name), Malwarebytes and FireFox with ad-blocker plus and no-script addons.
All are free..and never even had a THREAT of a virus in the years I've been using all of these together.

[deruitem]

The issue is since more programs wont run I can not install anything. I made a AVG boot disc with another machine, that found trojans and removed them. Another scan showed nothing

[CrotalusHH]

Bleeping Computer has malwarebytes.exe. D/L it and run it. Many viruses have protection in them that won't let you d/l malwarebytes though, so you may have to load it on a thumbdrive and run it from there. You may have to run it more than once to clean your computer.

Once malware gives you a clean bill of health, run combofix.

[Slash McCoy]

First of all, it is a good idea to partition your hard drive. Keep the operating system and program files on your C:\ partition. Use the other partition for all your personal files. Your documents, music, videos, projects, etc. Also, backups of your software installation sets, so you don't need setup disks or an internet connection to reinstall something. I like to keep installation CDs and DVDs backed up on my documents partition in .ISO format, and the first thing I reinstall is a program like MagicIso or similar so I can mount the ISO image as a drive and install the contained software. This also saves wear and tear on the original disks. Make sure that your library links point to your personal partition, too. You want programs that create or save files to save them to that partition, not to C:\.

Second, keep a COPY of your original setup disks with you, and not the originals. CloneCD and DVDClone are good tools for backing this up. Also back these up to your second partition. If you have to restore the operating system from an unauthorized copy of windows or a purchased copy, you may still want the original drivers for your hardware, particularly for a laptop. BTW windows can run without authorizing for up to a year. You will start to get warnings and then after 30 days of that, it stops working. Regard such use as temporary only.

BE READY for major problems, and they won't be so major.

MSE is an excellent package, and is free. Like most security bundles and AV software, it often takes a too-heavy hand at protecting you from stuff you are used to using. Not that you would do this, but installing pirate-ware can prove impossible, without tweaking your antivirus protection. This is because many keygens and most patches register as virii and your AV deletes or quarantines them before they get a chance to run, so your software is useless or is only in trial mode. So, anything of that nature should be backed up to DVD or CD so you don't lose it.

BTW I will point out that pirateware is a major vehicle for malware. If you download something of that nature just to try the program, you should run it in a sandbox. If you use it, be a good sport and buy the program.

Watch what you click. That goes for software setup programs as well as websites. Often you will download a freeware or shareware program and the setup program will sneak in some other stuff in the default setup, or flash you to a screen with an "INSTALL NOW" button that actually refers to some widget or toolbar or spam medium. Think before you click!

Email is another vehicle for malware. I keep my email client (Forte Agent) configured to NOT render html or launch ANYTHING without my permission.

By default, recent editions of windows hides filename extensions. This is BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD. Correct this first thing. You might get a file named "Pic_of_Halle_Berry_Nude.exe" or even "FunnyPic.jpg.exe" and not see the .exe part. Or it could be a *.scr or *.bat or *.com or *.reg or whatever. These can, of course, have unintended consequences when you click them. So you don't get to see Halle in the buff. Or maybe you do, but meanwhile while you are being tittilated, your computer is being diddilated. SEE what you are opening. Set explorer to SHOW ALL FILENAME EXTENSIONS!

Windows firewall sucks in that it only blocks incoming traffic. I like ZoneAlarm. It also blocks outgoing traffic. ZoneAlarm's AV is pretty good, too. But you can run ZoneAlarm firewall, and still use MS everything else, just turn OFF windows firewall while ZA firewall is running.

NOW... the problem at hand.

I am a big fan of the clean sweep solution. First of all, try booting in safe mode, or with a boot disk, to access your personal files so you can back them up. You do have a boot disk, right? Hmmm....

Anyway, by hook or by crook, back up any personal files that you have not already backed up. Which reminds me, you need a comprehensive backup plan before you even bother to re-do your puter.

Re-install your OS. You should get a dialog early on in the process asking you what drive to install windows to. At this point you will have an option to partition your hard drive if you just look for it. I recommend at least 40GB for your C:\ partition, and whatever is left, use it for your personal files partition. If you have more than 500GB HD, then probably you should figure at least 10% of the disk should be C:\ and the rest D:\. If you install a lot of big softwares like Visual Studio, etc, you will want a bit more space, but I can't see most users needing more than 50GB for the OS and program files. Remember, you will be keeping projects on your D:\ partition. That way, after a comlete re-install, your work is not lost.

After installing windows, you should tweak your folder options and a few other things. You want filename extensions to always be visible, remember? You also want "My Documents", "My Music", etc, to point to D:\. Make sure your OS is ready to rock before anything else.

Install your security tools. Do this before connecting to a network or internet connection, if possible.

Install your other programs.

Enjoy your computer. But be safer this time. If you have to do another OS reinstall, don't worry about your personal partition. Windows will only format your C:\ partition and will leave D:\ alone. But even though your files are safe, they should STILL BE BACKED UP EXTERNALLY.