Well, looks like I downloaded me one o' them there virus-corrupted files. I guess that'll teach me to trade copyrighted material on Limewire! Currently, everytime my computer is turned on, I am inundated nonstop by popup Firefox windows AND tabs. Same with Internet Explorer. This is the same whether I am using the internet or not. Also, unwanted icons pop up routinely on my desktop. It's driving me insane and making my laptop virtually unusable. Can someone please recommend to me FREE software that will help me eliminate this problem? Any tips on how to clean up my machine and avoid such pitfalls in the future?
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html ad aware might work unless you wanna purchase spy sweeper. that worked great for me. i got it for $10 at best buy....could be more or less now. i dont know
go into safe mode and run ad aware, if that doesnt work go into safe mode then run a system restore to before all the fun began. this is assuming you have windows xp ( i dont know if it makes a difference or not) but to get into safe mode, restart and tap either F8 or F10 while the bios is loading and you will see a menu that let's you choose to go into safe mode
download adaware and spybot search and destroy and run them in safe mode. Also, run whatever anti-virus program you have in safe mode.
Holding ESC while exiting the spam can stop any further pop-ups while you look for the program to shut down with the task manager. You might not know what you're looking for, so just look at the processes that are running. Then run msconfig, and select the startup tab. Use that to turn off any odd looking programs that stick out and that might be the adware (that might've been seen running in the running tasks). Reboot. If you guessed correctly, then run a adware scanner posters have mentioned above. Else, try again. As for corrupted files, never run .exe, .shs or huge word documents with clickable pictures inside them. Some virus spreaders are tricky by renaming it with long spaces (Jesica Alba newd.jpg ________________________ .exe)
This thing is pretty cool. Been using it on my computer for a bit, but the trial period is almost up http://www.download.com/Prevx-Home/3000-8022_4-10311213.html
Do a system restore from a time before you noticed the problem. The computer will still have the ad-ware software but it won't know to run it. You can clean it off if you need the space or have the time.
Quit using Limewire for file sharing and go with torrents only. It'll save a lot of future headaches.
They weed out two different things. Norton doesn't scan for spyware and spysweeper doesn't scan for viruses. That being said, I prefer the adaware/spybot search and destroy combo over spysweeper.
Okay, I installed and ran Ad-Aware SE Personal and it didn't fix the problem. I also uninstalled LimeWire. Right now, the system restore seems like the best option, but I can't get my computer into safe mode or whatever you have to do to get a restore done! When I turn my computer on (it's a Toshiba laptop), first comes a black Toshiba screen. That goes straight into a black Windows XP screen with the blue "Knight Rider" status bar. That goes directly to the blue "Welcome" screen which goes directly to the desktop (and the never-ending pop-up onslaught.) I've frantically pressed F8 and F10 during every step in this process. Is there some way I can get into safe mode from the "normal" desktop? Thanks for the help, guys!
You need to open your control panel, and I think its on the left side of the window, its something like administrative tools or something similar. I'm trying to remember from my toshiba laptop at home. Once you open that up, you should be able to navigate the new window until you find the restore option. If the computer I am on had XP I could tell you exactly what to do...
Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore Then pick a bolded date just before the adware installed. I know it basically just replaces the current registry with an older version, but that simple little thing is Microsoft's best idea yet. Well besides the idea to "reverse engineer" someone else's DOS.
A trick for getting to safe mode is when you see the Windows screen (on xp it has the small blue icon moving at the bottom of the monitor) just reset your computer at this point and power up again. When it comes back it should automatically give you the option of running in safe mode.
