Windows Vista Problem - Think It's a Virus

WildBlue47 · Apr 6, 2010

Hi, I am having a problem with Windows Vista Home edition and I think it's a virus. The problem started a few weeks ago - everything was running sort of slow and random programs would shut down. Also, this website would pop up in Explorer saying my computer was infected with a trojan. I ran virus programs, it'd find a few infected items and remove them and then things would be fine for a days.

So, yesterday, everything got really slow & started shutting down again. I ran the virus program and it said nothing was infected. I restarted my computer and when it came back up, nothing. Just a black screen (though sometimes it'll show my cursor).

So, I played around with it last night and finally tried to go to the last known good configuration. It took FOREVER to sign in, but it finally took me to my desktop. But the whole time I was there, it wouldn't let me open any programs and when it did, they'd freeze up or not respond. Also, I kept getting alerts about security threats. I left it on overnight but it went to my sign-in screen and it wouldn't let me sign in. I restarted and I'm back to the black screen.

Is this a virus? How can I get rid of it? Do I need to reinstall Vista? I am prepared to do that if necessary (I'll be losing some things, but I've gotten over it) but just wanted to make sure that will help. Thanks!

dr.moriarty · Apr 7, 2010

Welcome to Majorgeeks!

WildBlue47 said:

Is this a virus? How can I get rid of it? Do I need to reinstall Vista?
Click to expand...

Probably - by running the below instructions - unknown without providing me with the requested logs.

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Please follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

**** 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. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

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 the 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 and Malwarebytes ( 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 additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised 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.

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Windows Vista Problem - Think It's a Virus

WildBlue47 Private E-2

dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member