I don't know if my computer is infected

bethanykay · May 13, 2009

I had success in using your help in the past, so I have been encountering a problem recently and I am finally fed up with it enough to ask for some help.

Whenever I turn on or restart my computer, I get an ongoing popup warning from Internet Explorer saying "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." Funny thing is, I don't use Internet Explorer, I use Firefox. It shouldn't be open and need to close at all.

So in my usual way I probably make the problem bigger when I try to fix it, I downloaded the new version of Internet Explorer hoping whatever was wrong with it would be fixed by the new update, however then the internet would not connect and all and the computer froze up. So my friend (whom I share a computer with) and I did a 'system restore' to before the download and now the internet works but I get the popup warning over and over and over. I do not know what program is using Internet Explorer, since I am not using it, and I think maybe it might be a bug. It doesn't look like I can remove Internet Explorer from the add/remove programs, and I don't know if that would get rid of whatever is using the program.

Another thing (that may not be malware related) when I close itunes after loading music on my ipod shuffle I have to restart the computer or else the internet connection goes down. It only seems to happen after I have loaded music. I had a Last.fm scrobbler and got rid of it with 'add/remove programs' (as well as a bunch of other programs I do not use) but perhaps there is something still lingering... or perhaps it is related to whatever is using the Internet Explorer.

My friend thinks the best thing to do when something is wrong with the computer is 'system restore' it, so we have done alot of that. I have run Spybot and it doesn't seem to find anything wrong.

I have a Dell laptop and am running Windows XP on it.

What information do you need from me, to help figure out what may be attacking my computer, or what I can do if it is not infected?
Help.

thanks,
~Bethany

Kestrel13! · May 16, 2009

To me this does not sound like a malware problem.

What information do you need from me, to help figure out what may be attacking my computer, or what I can do if it is not infected?
Help....
Click to expand...

In order to rule out malware you would need to follow the below:

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please follow the instructions in the READ & RUN ME FIRST link given futher down and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

If you have problems where no tools seem to run, please try following the steps given in the below and then continue on no matter what you find. You only need to try the TDSSserv steps if having problems getting scans in the Read & Run Me First.

TDSSserv Non-Plug & Play Driver Disable

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.

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

Helpful 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 and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then 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.

If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.

To avoid addtional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advise that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!. Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

...then attach the 4 requested logs.

After seeing your logs I can give you a fix if any malware is present, but if not it would be time to hit the software forum. (Which I believe will be the case for you)

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I don't know if my computer is infected

bethanykay Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member