last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing new 1

recently my HD died, so i had to get a new one and reinstall everything. i had been using norton internet security for all my protection and was fairly happy with it, but decided to look into other options upon re reinstallation. although, after choosing a AVG product my computer started up with a black screen and only showing my cursor. i was able to get into safemode with networking, but searching through that only told me of other "suites" that had probably deleted system files. so i had to reinstall again and haven't installed any protection yet.

i was just wondering if there were recommendations on programs or things to look out/specify on these things to try and help this from happening again.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

If you are running Windows (XP, Vista, 7 or 8) Microsoft Security Essentials is probably your best bet. Free, works great, I have it on all 7 of our computers.

Sam

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I've been using avast! free antivirus for about 2 years on my Win 7/Vista/XP computers and have been very pleased with it. The free version, of course, is for personal use.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

DavidGP's advice on too many security apps is great.

My recommendation would be:

1. Use the free Microsoft Security Essentials
2. Use the free built in Windows Firewall
3. Get ONE paid for anti-malware app (Malwarebytes is my choice)

The paid for anti-malware app will provide real-time protection, the free versions are passive, that is good for scans, but do nothing as things come to the front door...

Uninstall Java (not Javascript) if you're not using it, and chances are you're not. If you must have Java, get the latest version and remove the older ones.

Become religious in your patching and updating habits, the OS and your apps.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Yea i think i am going to try the windows program, and i think my past experience was slightly problematic due to some windows updates on top of the av deleting files. sadly windows definitely tried to troll me even this reinstall, since i tried to always reinstall after any update but there were still updates that popped up randomly.

i suppose if a windows av program deleted any of its important files, that i guess i will just throw the computer out the nearest window.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Real time protection.
I notice Defender or MSE which is about the same have a choice to enable real time protection[enabled by default]. Are you suggesting we disable this to pay for MBAM and enable real time protection on that.
This is based on the rule that one should not run 2 real time protections.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Hi Plodr
Yes, I had MSE on Win 7 and have Defender(same)on Win 8.
I use MBAM for malware not a/v but both have real-time protection if you pay for MBAM as was suggested.
Are you running two real time protections programs enabled?
I have read that you should only use one real time protector.
I am not as skilled as you so do not take this as a personal correction.
I could very well be wrong but I thought one should only, in theory, use one real time protection enabled.
I do not know the answer so maybe someone will jump in with the alleged rule.
I have the real time protection enabled in Defender but not in MBAM.
It could be used the other way around but using both enabled is the question.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I've read that MSE takes care of AV and Malware.
I trust MSE for AV work.
I trust MalwareBytes for malware.
I run MSE and paid Malwarebytes anyway, no performance degradation.

This is on Win 7...

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Yes i am at least for the moment just using the MSE, and although i have in the past been told that windows firewall was fairly bad... i am just staying with just this for now. As i am all too inclined to overdo it, since i have in the past.

thanks to all and the recommendations, was just worried over something like AVG deleting system files (and hearing that it was common for "suites" to do that).

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I am running Win 8 x 64 and use Defender(same as MSE Win 7) and the native firewall with MBAM. I am also behind a router.

I think the question was whether one should use two real time protections.
I was taught not to do so but would entertain any corrections.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Although I will use the real time protection with Defender for now, if there is more evidence that two are functional with Win 8, I will look to buying MBAM and using both.
I don't think much has been done with Win 8.
It is very good to hear both RTP's work with Win 7 as that would hopefully increase protection before not after the fact.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Well i guess it serves me right for looking for a firewall after all this. As i installed ZoneAlarm firewall, and it wasnt that great... support was absolute crap...and worst of all, when i uninstalled it...it is still running, with no signs of the install. I have all the best of luck with everything computers.

Startup is also going a bit slow, at least when it is showing the bios/motherboard startup part. so when i ran a malwarbytes scan while watching a youtube video...computer froze. sigh... erratic failure is the best kind.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

You may consider using Revo or IOBIT to uninstall the program(s) you don't want and use the Windows native firewall.
If you have played with it and are not sure, set it to 'default'.
With a router, MSE or Defender and that firewall, you should be fine. MBAM is a good program to use with this combination and has been mentioned you could look into real time protection. I use the one in Defender for Win 8 or MSE for Win 7 but not real time protection with MBAM. I don't think it is available with the free program.
Others in this forum can give you professional advice as I am an average user.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Sadly, revo uninstaller was the firs thing that i used... which is why i was astounded when it ended up still running. when i looked up such an issue, apparently it has happened before. so the program is typically horrid, and it is maybe worse to uninstall than the worst stories of a norton or itunes product.

some instructions say to show hidden files, search out some things, delete temp files, and use regedit all in safe more. i got rid of all i think, without safemode. yet the registry entries may have to be gotten rid of in safemode as it wouldn't let me in normal mode.
hopefully i can just be rid of this program soon, and see if i have any further issue with freezes or slow startups...

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I believe i was able to get rid of all traces of the zonealarm firewall now, or at least it is not running anymore.
however i am still encountering a slow start up and some lag starting up the desktop and such. the motherboards screen at the begging usually sits there for at least 32 seconds which i never had in the past, and booting to the desktop doesn't exactly go much faster loading everything.
especially with me mentioning the slow boot off from the bios screen, i am not sure if my issue is something to continue here or possibly bring up in a new thread in hardware or something. but thank you everyone for all of the replies.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Apparently as some googled threads told me, it was something that i unplugged as far as usb items. although i cannot say which, but there was still a long(possibly longer) windows startup. as well it always seems to threaten to freeze, mostly during playing videos or scanning with things like malwarebytes.
the plot thickens, i guess i might have to keep some detached and see what is the one that makes the bios screen slow, unless a temporary unplugging of them somehow works magic.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

>>How did you get rid of it? Have you tried too refresh your pc? setttings, change pc settings, general......

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

All files i could locate are gone, however msconfig showed a startup for it. i had to go into safemode to get rid of the registry parts, but there was at least that thing in msconfig. but it isnt running that i can see, and isnt in tray.

i am just worried about windows speeds and freezes, if they continue. as well as finding out what was causing the slow bios at startup, although the unplugging of most of the usb did make it quicker. the windows part just wasnt still. so i need to look into that more.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I asked before if you refreshed your pc.
Go to settings[lower right] general and see refresh.
After, run sfc /scannow with a space after sfc.
Then click on computer and right click the icon. Select properties, tools and error checking. Try it to see if it wants you to run it.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I cannot say i have ever heard of "refreshing" ones pc, and i don't know from what menu or whatever i would be looking in the lower right for it. however using "run" and then " sfc /scannow" brought up a command window that immediately went away. i will update later with what if anything the scheduled scan of my computer( through the properties) might yield after restarting.

However, it seems as though things are fixed with the bios/ it was an external hard drive that was slowing it. windows also starts up a bit faster, loading the desktop and everything on it is just a bit slow.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I'm sorry I never asked what os system you have. I was referring to Win 8 about refreshing.
Sfc /scannow will run if you click start and right click 'command prompt' to run as administrator.
That and chk dsc or error checking are simply 2 tools to see how things are running. if you are all set, I am glad for you.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Thanks again, but yes i am running windows 7 at the moment. the "sfc /scannow" apparently found nothing, but the scan disk did at some point at least show it was changing things, sectors etc. i cannot say that that would mean that it fixed everything. since some times the windows boot up is at least between 32 seconds to around a minuet, not even including a possibly slower load of my desktop. So i cannot say that i am exactly all set, but i am also not exactly aware of what i might be doing next. by this point i may have just reinstalled windows if i didn't want to deal with updating several games/programs, let alone windows again.

perhaps there is a utility or other program that could be causing this, as i don't know if something like this could be something that all these checks would not notice or be unable to deal with. perhaps something like advanced system care, although i have used it for quite some time in the past.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

Locate this>"Microsoft Fix it solution Center trouble shooting software issues."
See if it will help.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

I think the problems there were ones that were far more general or simple. as their idea of helping a slow startup was making sure you could disable some programs from starting when windows did. there wasn't much more sadly.
ill see if anything changes, but for now still slow startup on at least the desktop load portion.

 

Re: last anti virus deleted windows files, looking for recomendations/help choosing n

>>Do you know how to stop entries from loading at startup?
Are you Win 7 or 8?