I think SideFind has totally destroyed my OS!

Yesterday, while browsing, i picked up a few nasties (SideFind and Optimize to name a couple.) (And, yes, i know i should be using a firewall, but it bogs my computer down so much when i do...that i tend to not use it as often as i should.)

So this morning, i used AdAware to clean things up a bit, but i still saw them in my Task Manager. I used Add/Remove Programs to remove SideFind, and i noticed that it seemed to be "working" for several seconds (i could hear it for about 20 seconds.) Then, all my desktop icons changed to the little white icon (the one that Windows uses as default when the icon is missing), and nothing would work. Like the GENIUS i am...i rebooted...and then the REAL trouble began.

The computer acted as if i had just installed Windows, and wanted the serial number...so i played along and put in the one from the Win98SE book. but then, when the computer went on to boot up...Explorer doesn't work...so i can't get ANYTHING up.

So now, all i've got is DOS. (I'm having to use another computer to go online.)

Can my computer be saved?

(And i do realize this goes a little beyond the normal spyware issue.)

 

i finally resolved the issue myself. ...i have no idea how, but when i used add/remove programs to dump SideFind, it damaged my system files. once i figured out how to change my computer to start up from the cd rom, i was able to re-install windows, and get everything working again.

unfortunately, i lost about 1/2 of my programs, and about 3/4 of my settings. i lost all my Windows Updates, driver updates, and the majority of my IE settings. most interesting though, is that i lost all the programs in my add/remove programs list, so now if i need to remove anything, it will have to be done manually.

*sigh*

...another lesson in "use a firewall and a virus scanner!"

 

You should see this article on How to Protect yourself from malware!