need computer help please

[summitbasher]

I am trying to fix my in laws computer which has been attacked by a bunch of spyware or adware and stuff. It will not let me run any of the antivirus programs or install any new ones that i have on a disc. I have also tried in safe mode but it still wont let me run any programs any help would be appreciated

[ReaperGN]

I would try these two programs first. Both are free and run from a flash drive so hopefully they will work. Just make sure you set the install destination to a flash drive.

http://portableapps.com/apps/security/clamwin_portable

http://portableapps.com/apps/security/spybot_portable

If these wont work then you may need to start windows in safe mode and try again. If safe mode doesn't work then the easiest thing to do is back up important things up on another drive and reinstall windows.

[TraxxasTuesdays]

My grandparents always have the same problem and I've given up. They believe anything they see so they click on all the "1000000th visitor" "you've won", and all the other crap. They just get cheap computers and get a new one every couple of years when they become unbearably slow.

[BadMilkMan]

Download hijack this!, malwarebytes and spybot search and destroy. Those should help get rid of those virus. When your done, install avg anti virus free, and download web of trust add on for their internet browser. It's a very simple add on that helps. It will put a circle next to every link you click, with different colors. Green is good, yellow is suspicious, and red means virus/fraud. Let me know, I'll pm you links

[summitbasher]

i have tried the malwarebytes and spybot and avg i've tried from the hard drive from a disc and in safe mode and it still wouldn't allow me to run any spyware programs so ended up wiping the hard drive and reinstalling windows. Everything works again but now have to put the pictures and music back on the computer. Thanks for all the help.

[BadMilkMan]

No problem. I'm sorry you had to wipe your computer... That can be a pain sometimes. What operating system is this?

[deerhurst]

No problem. I'm sorry you had to wipe your computer... That can be a pain sometimes. What operating system is this?

Reinstall IMHO is the esasiest way to go sometimes. I deal with these issues every day at the computer shop.

For future, i like to use malwarebytes, microsoft security essentials, kespersky root kit tool, and combofix if things are really bad.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

[summitbasher]

It is windows 7. we have put a few more antivirus programs on it like malwarebytes and am trying to convince them to run the programs a little more frequently then they have been

[BadMilkMan]

With avg, just go to settings and enable the scheduled scans and program updates to a time their not on the computer, and check the option to shutdown the computer when it's finished. I used avg on a friends computer and it removed 763 viruses because of the pop up ad thing. Great program

[brushlessbandit]

Download hijack this!, malwarebytes and spybot search and destroy. Those should help get rid of those virus. When your done, install avg anti virus free, and download web of trust add on for their internet browser. It's a very simple add on that helps. It will put a circle next to every link you click, with different colors. Green is good, yellow is suspicious, and red means virus/fraud. Let me know, I'll pm you links Web of Trust is pretty much the same thing as McAfee Site Adviser, which I use and recommend. Saved me a couple of times. I also use avast antivirus, its good but I think it costs money so I don't suggest it to everyone.

[summitbasher]

their computer has the avg antivirus but i dont think it is setup to automatically scan but i will check next time i am over there.

I have the avast antivirus on my computer and really like it and while it can cost money they also have a free version of the program which is what i got.

[BadMilkMan]

IMO Avg rocks. Did you make sure that all of their drivers are installed in device manager?

I don't care for mcafee because their stuff tends to slow the computer alot. I tried it at it kept bugging and up starting and requesting restarts.... It's a pain

[summitbasher]

No i didn't even think about checking the drivers but the computer was just so loaded with spyware that it wasn't letting any programs operate like they should

[BadMilkMan]

Be careful when downloading drivers. After you download them, scan the actually files you got to make sure it's not more virus. :)

[Nitronaught]

i have tried the malwarebytes and spybot and avg i've tried from the hard drive from a disc and in safe mode and it still wouldn't allow me to run any spyware programs so ended up wiping the hard drive and reinstalling windows. Everything works again but now have to put the pictures and music back on the computer. Thanks for all the help.

You had a trojan that disabled any .exe's or it took ownership permissions of your windows files so that you are unable to install or execute probably most programs not just antivirus or anti malware....

You did the best thing.... I find many cases even when you CAN get these beasts under control that their are still tail ends of the stuff that doesn't seem to affect much but does harm performance......

Easiest thing, backup your data, re-install. Don't just sit there and watch it though.... I get it going and go onto other things.... But yeah you did everything you could it seems....

Me, well I am dealing with this stuff all the time... My stuff is backed up and I can restore on the fly using a program called Acronis. But it's expensive if you don't do this stuff for a living.....

I hate issues with virus's and malware... But I have to say it, it keeps me employed and busy..... Fighting these things on a business network is a constant job making sure everything is locked down, backed up and preventing users from shooting themselves in the foot. It's a job I guess... :cool: I bet your glad to return their computer...... I always am...

[summitbasher]

I was glad to get the computer back to them and now just get them to run the programs that are on it a little more often and hopefully stop the next one before I have to do this again

[BadMilkMan]

I'm sure the computer is much faster! Oh and nitronaught, glad to here there's another one of us out there!