need help with computer/virus?/spyware? problem

Hi.

I'm new to this forum and am seeking some help. My mom has a fairly old computer running Windows 98. A few weeks ago, whenever she would start the computer it would continue to run *something* even after everything was loaded (the green light flashes and you can hear the computer whirring away, it never would stop). The computer was running really slowly and finally, normal mode stopped working all together. It would lock up and not do anything. My mom, who is completely non-computer savvy, to my surprise, figured out how to get the computer into selective mode. (She even defragged it!) There it ran just fine and she could check her email.
I came home from college and she asked me if I could take a look at it. I assumed that she had a ton of spyware on it (she did) and that removing it would fix the problem (it didn't).
I have run Ad-Aware SE, Spybot: Search and Destroy, AVG, McAfee AVERT Stinger, CCleaner, and Hijack This. I found approximately 2500 spyware/adware and five files with trojan horses. I removed all that mess. However, it still is running *something* in normal mode but it's no longer locking up. It not locking up is great, but whatever is running is causing the computer to go so slow. I actually managed to get the *something* to stop running in normal mode once by ending unnecessary processes. That trick didn't work a second time. In fact, there are a lot of processes running at startup that I don't remember this computer running before. It is running P2P Networking, Avgemc, Avgcc, Lexpps, Infotcp, Rnathchk, Loadqm, Mwsoemon, in addition to some other things that I recognize. I don't know very much about computers and I'm not sure what to do next. I looked up the entries for the Highjack This logfile and didn't find anything bad, except for "180 search assistant," which I deleted, but as I said, I don't really know what I'm doing. If anyone could suggest something else to do to solve this problem, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

 

Hi Digitalabyss,

Generally, it is a good idea to start with the Cleanup Tutorial HERE:
READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan and Virus Removal

I realize you have already done some of this, but if you humor us and run through the steps such as the Online Scans, it'll make things easier for us to fix you up in a timely manner

Please note the steps that you are able to complete and the ones that give you problems. Note that you need to be in Safe Mode with System Restore OFF and have the Viewing of Hidden Files ENABLED as per the instructions in the link. Make sure to do the Online Scans.

Post back and let us know how you fared. Also, send us a HijackThis Log. Make sure to follow the instructions below:

Note that your HijackThis should be up-to-date (v1.98.2) and MUST be extracted to its own safe folder - C:\Program Files\HijackThis!

If you need a Fresh Download of HJT, get it HERE: HijackThis 1.98.2

Also note that, before you scan, you MUST close all running programs including your web browser, e-mail and items in the system tray.

Please save your HJT Log and attach it via the "Manage Attachments" tool in the Additional Options section when you post.

Somebody will take a look when they get a chance. I will likely check back Monday Evening.

Best luck
PP