Virus? Unable to boot MS Anti spyware, error message, etc...

by miss206baby Feb 27, 2006 1:01AM PST

Running Microsoft Home XP

Recently, I have been unable to boot Microsoft Anti Spyware and some other programs. As soon as I go to Program Files and click on the MS Anti spyware folder, the window will automatically disappear and the screen goes blank with nothing but the background picture remaining for a few seconds. Then my desktop reappears.

I have tried to uninstall and reinstall the program with no luck, as soon as I download it, it disappears and will not let me install it. Unable to download Microsoft Malware removal either.

Also, a friend in MSN messenger told me I had a virus because I kept typing to him : Is this you? ''http://blah blah blah'' Which of course I didn't.

I have downloaded: Spybot Search & Destroy, Windows Defender, AVG Anti Virus and been unable to fix the problem. The other week, Spybot did find that I had ''fakeMSNbeta'' spyware which I have deleted but it keeps coming back. AVG did find a ''JAVA virus?'', which I believe I have ''fixed'', however it has not fixed the problem.

I have also experienced some RUNTIME errors (but this has only happened after I downloaded the anti spyware programs) but I will need to update on that (with a screenshot or more specific message) as I am not at home at the moment. These errors happen as soon as I boot up windows. I have read some of the other posts and have tried various things.

Last thing, I called PCSaftey and spent 2 hours with them in Safe mode in the Registy Editor and ended up deleting something called CSRSS from a folder called RUN. Then I had to tell them to call me back because my Internet was only downloading AVG at 3 kbps, which took more than 2 hours to download. (Mind you this was at 10 pm already.) Have not been able to call them back yet.

If I have not been clear enough/you guys need more info let me know. I will update later. Thank you very much.

Discussion is locked

Personally, I'd run the full gamut of free scans. Download each of the following on another computer, save them to a CD/DVD or flash drive, and install/run them as instructed.

* Boot into Safe Mode (F8 during boot).

* Disable System Restore by right-clicking My Computer, selecting properties, clicking on the System Restore tab, and check ''turn off system restore on all drives.'' This will erase all system restore points, which are a breeding ground for backup copies of malware. (AV scanners cannot natively touch system restore files, so viri and other malware hide out there.)

* Run CWShredder and Stinger.

* Install Avast Antivirus. I chose Avast over AVG because of its boot-time scanner. During the installation proces it'll prompt you if you want to perform a scan on the next reboot...say yes, proceed with the installation, and restart your computer. A boot-time scan is the best way of sweeping for pests.

* After that completes, run Rootkit Revealer, SpyBot, Windows defender, and AdAware one by one.

* When all of the scans complete and remove what's found (you may want to make a note of what they find), restart your computer normally, then re-enable System Restore.

* Download HiJackThis and post the log in a specialized forum (click here for instructions) to make sure no other pests are found.

* If you continue to have internet connection problems, download/run WinsockXPFix and try reinstalling your Verizon DSL software, if applicable.

* From now on be more careful about what you download/install, verify that your firewall is working properly (ZoneAlarm is a good free one), and make sure you perform weekly scans with your AV and anti-malware software.

Hope this helps,
John

Virus? Unable to boot MS Anti spyware, error message, etc...

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