My ISP is even getting concerned

troutsniffer · Dec 30, 2009

I've been having trouble with my netbook lately, enough to have my ISP send me a message saying that if it isn't fixed in a timely manner they will shut off my internet connection. My computer's in a pathetic state, redirecting links, annoying "congratulations" pop-ups, fake anti-spyware programs, my desktop background goes green with a "warning" image, and sometimes Malwarebytes gets deleted from my system.

While trying to follow the guidelines for malware removal, by the time I get to Combofix the program insists that I have "Norton Internet Security 2010" running. I thought the program was uninstalled, I've restarted the system several times, but every single time Combofix picks it up as a running process. It's nowhere to be found in my program files. I'm at a loss. How can I terminate the process?

Also, I was wondering if I just bust out the OS disc and start from scratch would this be an effective method of ridding myself of malware? Or is it not that simple?

chaslang · Jan 2, 2010

Welcome to Major Geeks!

troutsniffer said: ↑

While trying to follow the guidelines for malware removal, by the time I get to Combofix the program insists that I have "Norton Internet Security 2010" running.
Click to expand...

Just continue on anyway. It should still run. Finish all steps as requested and attach the 5 logs or logs from whichever programs run.

troutsniffer said: ↑

Also, I was wondering if I just bust out the OS disc and start from scratch would this be an effective method of ridding myself of malware? Or is it not that simple?
Click to expand...

Yes you could do a total clean reinstall if you wish and you know how. But you have to consider things like the below and whether you have the knowledge and hardware to do this. This is not something we have time to help you with in this forum since our focus is malware removal not backups and reinstalls.

you have to backup all you own data, settings, configurations etc and first you have to know what/where all of these are. And you have to have the medium (burnable media, second hard drive, tape drive [yuck] )

then you must make sure you have the necessary disks to reinstall not just your OS but all other software you use especially protection before going online

then delete your partitions, recreate partitions, format, reinstall the OS

now reinstall all your software especially protection

get online (requires some setup and config that novices have problems with)

download updates for OS

download updates for protection software

download updates for all other software

tweak all software back the way you like it. Including Desktop settings, icons etc.

create all the folders that you use for everything in your normally routines

re-load from your backups to get data back, to get settings, Favorites,.....etc back

now over the next two weeks you will realize that you forgot to backup some stuff and also you will keep finding something else that you need to reinstall.

troutsniffer · Jan 2, 2010

About halfway through the guideline my computer wouldn't load the desktop entirely. It would try logging on, and the background was able to load but beyond that-- nothing. Then it would automatically log off. After several attempts to boot it up completely through safe mode, the last restore point... it would always fail. Now when it turn it on it's just a blank, black screen.

I think I'm just going to have to get a new computer. It seems unsalvagable at this point.

Thanks for trying, though! I really appreciate it.

chaslang · Jan 2, 2010

You're welcome.

If you cannot boot the PC in any boot mode ( safe mode, safe mode with command prompt, last known good, normal) then there is not much we can recommend but the below. The first process fromt the Recovery Console has a very good success rate but you will need your Windows Boot CD or will have to borrow one to get to the Recovery Console unless you already installed the Recovery Console on your PC.

Try restoring to an older registry hive using the Recovery Console as per the below. This assumes you have Win XP since you did not even tell us what version of Windows was in use.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545&sd=tech

Take the hard disk out and scan it in another well protected PC

Use another PC to make a special CD which you can boot from to try and run virus and spyware scans or to at least backup data. CDs like the below:

http://www.free-av.com/en/tools/12/avira_antivir_rescue_system.html

UBCD4Win

http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?wpid=1&front_id=12

reinstall

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My ISP is even getting concerned

troutsniffer Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

troutsniffer Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member