Monday, July 14, 2008

Help...My Computer is Sick

It's Monday, and it sure feels like one!

One of my computers got a virus yesterday, and I've been working literally around the clock trying to fix it. I've managed to get most of it out...by scanning again and again with many security programs. The last little bit...is playing hard to get. I've been to chat rooms, etc, and nothing seems to work.

My problem is: getting rid of VISTA Antivirus 2008. This is a fake program that brings up security alerts, and so forth. (I don't even have vista.) Also...my tool bar shows Virus Alert! And the clock is reading military time.

If there is anyone out there that has a clue...please help. :) You can comment here, or just email me with suggestions.

Thanks.

15 comments:

Jay said...

How annoying!

Most spyware sites say to use Spy Hunter. But, I've never heard of that and you never really know about these sites.

You might be able to remove it manually through the add/remove options on your computer, but it will probably crop up again somewhere.

I've actually never heard of this one. Do you run a virus protect? How did it get past it? I would be emailing my virus protection software people if I were you.

Jessica said...

Hey Jay,
Thanks for your suggestions.

The computer, of course, that got infected had the virus protection uninstalled.

Norton was giving me lots of headaches, so there ya go. lol I just didn't get around to installing something else yet. :(

Reflections Magazine editor said...

So sorry to hear this. :(
When I have tech problems I usually head for the BC discussion board, Blogger's or Google's. There is usually someone on "all the time" and if you establish a rapport they will help you even if it takes days.

In appreciation I of course, stumble, techno, leave comments and do everything I can to say "thank you" hoping they will help the next poor person who comes along.

Since the virus is "a Vista matter" I would go to Microsoft help and work my way up. Don't know if this helps but I am sending good positive wishes your way..right now...

none said...

My son had the same problem.

Download and run this:

http://subs.geekstogo.com/ComboFix.exe

It will clean out the part that keeps reinatalling that screensaver and stupid red and blue warning.

Jessica said...

Fearless,
Thanks it does help! :)
Positiveness is always welcomed!

Hammer,
Awesome! Thanks. :D I'm excited...I'll try it now.

Lipstick Jungle said...

Jess hoping to hear it worked. I had a Norton Virus of all stupid things. It attached itself to my Norton 360. I had to wipe out my hard drive and start over. Oy.

Hope your computer feels better soon!

lo :)

Hemanth Potluri said...

hey i am angry now on these virus creators who attacked ur PC....

the best option is use spyware doctor and avg antivirus updated one..this ditects the vista virus...

this virus is very freaky norton was not able to detect it in the beginning...

hope these could fix it..

urs hemu...

PS: dont try to format check out with the company as the virus some times attacks on the boot sector and hard disk may crash off.

Arv said...

Hi Jessica... its a spyware program...

Antivirus apps wont fix it mostly...

try AVG 8 or AVG 7.5 anti-spyware...

Any latest anti-spyware should take care of it...

Will talk with you in your morning...

take care... Cheers...

bob_vinyl said...

Here's instructions for manual removal if the other suggestions don't work:

http://www.411-spyware.com/remove-vista-antivirus-2008

Jessica said...

Hammer,
Unfortunately…my computer must have more issues. *sigh* The spyware won’t really let me use a browser. So I copied your file to a flash drive, but it wouldn’t open on the infected computer. My guess is your file will work wonders once I get the other mess figured out. :)

Lori,
Thanks! :)
Yeah…I’m not thrilled with Norton…it seems to cause more problems than it’s worth. Ugh.

Hemanth,
I think this thing is pretty deep nothing seems to be getting at the last part of it. :(

Arv,
Thanks…I will try those when I get home! :)
I hope you are getting some good rest!

Bob,
Thanks! :) I’m thinking it may come down to that… it seems to be dodging everything that I throw at it.

A New Yorker said...

Sorry to know this. There are blogs I loved to go to but can't because they have virus's that make my browser open up a zillion windows without end. So if Julie is reading this please know that is why I stopped coming by and not for any other reason. I hope you get your computer fixed soon. I think you can do an autorecover. choose a date way before this crap hit your computer. Let me know if that works.

Bar L. said...

Did you get it fixed? If not let me know and I will give you annother suggestion. I got my time clock stuck on military time and have had to learn to live with it because I can't change it back....

Jessica said...

Lauren,
The problem is the computer's only point is after this thing happened, so that won't work. :( Thanks for the suggestion though.

Barbara,
Not yet...I was too tired yesterday to deal with it, but tonight I'm going to try some of these other things. I'll let you know. :) Thats weird about your computer's military time. :/

Dazd said...

If you cannot use a browser, its probaly a malware program. First hint is it gets progressively worse the more you mess with it.

Here is a link: www.superantispyware.com/

Whether you can get there or not is another story. but maybe you can save your other computers.

Jessica said...

Dazed,
Thanks for the link! :) As to your advice...I'm beginning to figure that out. LOL