freezing, not responding, fakealert.mhg???

longhorn1998 · Nov 17, 2008

My computer keeps locking up (not responding) and will not even shut down or contol/alt/delete. I have tried running spybot but it keeps getting hung up on something called "fakealert.mhg".

I am having a difficult time figuring out how to fix the problem because my computer freezes after a few minutes or after a couple different windows have been opened. At that point I have to turn it off using the power button and it takes awhile for it to restart after the incorrect shutdown.

Any ideas? I have gone through the add/remove program list and nothing was suspect. other virus scans (macafee or something called "windows defender" get hung up and can not complete a scan) I also tried AVG free 8.0.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

-Joe

chaslang · Nov 18, 2008

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please follow the below to the best of your ability even if you have to run in safe boot mode. Note, if you still have McAfee and AVG installed, you MUST uninstall one of the immediately before continuing.

Please follow the instructions in the below link and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode. You can run steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools on another PC and burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

longhorn1998 · Nov 18, 2008

READ ME failed. all virus scans stall. can't get logs

I don't know what to do now. Now outlook won't open and I am getting a notice that there is an error and I must run scanpst.exe to diagnose the problem. I dont know what this is.

The appearance of windows has slightly changed in color and the borders around each window have a grey/silver outline.

I can't get any of the virus scans to work. They all scan for a few minutes and then stop. At that point I can't get the computer to shut down so I have to turn it off with the power button. I have tried all the steps and scans listed in READ ME. Before it starts back up it says there is some problem and must perform a scan. This scan can take as long as 2 hours before the computer will start up again.

I don't know what to do.

chaslang · Nov 18, 2008

Re: READ ME failed. all virus scans stall. can't get logs

I merged your second thread back together with your first. Please remain in one thread for you current problem.

longhorn1998 said: ↑

Now outlook won't open and I am getting a notice that there is an error and I must run scanpst.exe to diagnose the problem. I dont know what this is.
Click to expand...

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272227

longhorn1998 said: ↑

I don't know what to do.
Click to expand...

You need to try doing what I mentioned in msg # 2

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freezing, not responding, fakealert.mhg???

longhorn1998 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

longhorn1998 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member