Computer help? I'm so clueless!!

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okay, My computer is so hugely messed up with spyware/adware (because when we first got DSL Mom thought it would be a great idea to download everything she saw an ad for anywhere She knows better now) I can hardly keep it running for an hour at a time, and when I'm online(I do use firefox) the browser switches from the page I'm on to an ad every 10 min or so. There's lots of other stuff caused by the nasty programs, but you probably get the gist? Anyways, I'm trying to find a way to remove them/tell which programs are bad or good, etc. I tried Ad-Aware SE, but it always freezes up after running a bit. I also tried something from Microsoft, which wouldn't downlad 'cause I have Windows '98. Anyone have some advice for me? I really have no clue. And, hey, if someone wants to just come and fix it themselves I wouldn't complain

Hmm... run over it with a car.

j/k

I don't have any contructive advice, sorry

hasn't firefox got some sort of spyware? sounds as though you need to do one of the following things:

1. kick it (microelectronics at its best - my personal favourite).

2. save everything you need, wipe the hard drive and start again (laborious, but worth it, i've found - did it twice on my old pooter).

3. do a disk clean up and defrag, and kick out all the applications you don't need - this site will tell you what you need and what you don't:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist ... sklist.htm

and then try anti-viral and ad-aware again.

4. defenestrate the bugger - perfect for those hormonal moments...

ooooh - hark at me giving computer advice! ask dunc or ghotistix (examples off the top of my head) - they'll know proper things to suggest.

Try a program called Spybot Search and Destroy:

You can download it here:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-D ... ag=lst-0-1

Next you're gonna need anti virri software:
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus- ... ag=lst-0-2

and last but not least a firewall:

http://www.download.com/Kerio-Personal- ... ag=lst-0-1


It's always good to have these utilities installed when running a firewall, if you have anymore questions or need any other kind of assistance let me know.

Get spybot search and destroy. that should sort it out, and de-gunk it sufficiently to get AdAware to scan. Also, if you dont already have one, get a firewall - ZoneAlarm is effective and free.

Links: Spybot ZoneAlarm

Good luck... if all else fails, reinstalling Windows and then using a firewall (to stop the buggers 'phoning home' and installing new malware without your knowledge) and spyware removers regularly is your best option.

Go here:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?

Get help from people with lots and lots of experiance.

The same thing happened to me when I tried to run spyaware on my computer, the key I found was to run it little by little (every time it finds a few (100) bugs stop it and quarentine those then run it again.)

Another thing that I suggest that you do is run an MSCONFIG on your system and go through your Startup Items.

To do this click on START, to pull you windows menu and then goto RUN and double click on it. You will see this this popup:



When you have the Run Dialogue box up, type in MSCONFIG as shown and click on OK. After you do that, you will see a Palette box appear with a bunch of tabs on it. Click on the tab to the far right that says "Startup" and you will see this appear:


What you will need to pay attention to are the little checkboxes immediately to the left of the Startup items. DO NOT decide to take a shortcut and click the button that says "Disable All"! !! ! If you do so, YOU MAY DO HARM TO YOUR WINDOWS INSTALL!! !! !

Now then, if you are able to surf the internet, go here:
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Starting from the topmost item type the startup item EXACTLY as it appears next to the checkbox into the searchbox at the top of this site, click the "Search" button, and look for the item in the Tables that will load with the search results. --You may also have to look at you startup items again to see if the command and the Location correspond with those listed on the webpage.

Look at the top of the page, and you will see a a bunch of bulleted items under "Keys" that will correspond with the Status which is displayed immediately to the right of the Name or Startup Item. Follow the directions according to the key at the top of the Page. and go back to the System configuration utility window. Uncheck the item if the webpage says to uncheck it, and leave it checked if it is a Required startup item.

Repeat this process until you have worked your way through the list of startup items, and then hit the OK button on the system Configuration utility. You will then get a palette that gives you the option to restart your computer, or to exit without restarting. Click on restart, and your computer will then reboot you computer to enable the changes that you have made running MSCONFIG. When your desktop reloads, a dialogue box will pop up on informing you that you have just run the system configuration utility, and give you the option of undoing the changes that you have just made.

You do not want to undo the changes, but you do want to click the Checkbox next to "Do not show this Dialogue again" and close the box.

You are now done with this, and should now run Spybot to fully remove offending items.

Hope this helps.[/i]

Run "AdAware" if you haven't already. Very useful little program

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Thank you all so much for your help everyone!! I am going to try everything and *pray* that it works

A question for you, fogman, if a program isn't listed on that site, is it safe to disable it? Thanks

Yes, I'd disable it just to be on the safe side. If you see anything that looks like a blank entry in the startup items disable it and run the AV program of your choice. It's one of two worms. --Make sure the definitions of your AV software are up to date.