help from computer ppl

[TurboKA37]

alright my computer is getting pretty slow and infected with a bunch of junk. anyway lately when i start the comp up before windows even starts to load the computer gives me a message saying that i should back up some files and something might be wrong. and just last night my computer just started DLing some XXX program without me dling anything like that and i try to delete it and somehow it get redownloaded on its own. windows has trouble loading when starting the comp and its been slow lately. anyway i have norton anti-virus and a couple spyware protection programs but i have a feeling they arent working much. anybody that is experianced with computers/virus protect what should i do?

[Chingon]

try to download adaware and do a full hard drive sweep. After that, i'd increase security settings in iexplorer (tools>options). then a full defrag of the hard drive would be ok... start>all progs>accesories>system tools>disk defrag.

[TurboKA37]

and web pages seem to pop up randomly. im trying to search for a program that may cause this but i cant find anything.Chingon: thanks for the help

[TurboKA37]

i also actually read the message when starting the computer and it says that Drive 0 is operating outside of the primary settings and that the harddrive is recommended to be replaced.

[HongKongChick]

download spyware detector programs such as this onehttp://download.com.com/3000-8022-10293213.html

or this onehttp://download.com.com/3000-8...t-0-3

use firewall such as this one for freehttp://download.com.com/3000-2...t-0-8

definitely defrag ur hard drive, try to have at least two hard drives so u can store all ur documents or pics or videos in one and operate windows with the other.

use anti virus to search for viruses..

[240Knightrider]

hey the best in the worldhttp://security.kolla.dehttp://www.adaware.com-might have to search for that one check Iwon and searce for adaware. Both of these will find what the other didnt and both will get all off it off.

[BadMojo]

try to download adaware and do a full hard drive sweep. After that, i'd increase security settings in iexplorer (tools>options). then a full defrag of the hard drive would be ok... start>all progs>accesories>system tools>disk defrag.

Yeah, I've had good luck with AdAware.

Also, have you updated your virus defintions lately?

If your subscription has run out, you can always scan online at Symantec http://securityresponse.symantec.com/ or try a free anti-virus program like AVG from Grisoft. http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

[GEO]

COMPUTER FORUM

[Q-less]

I once had a problem when everytime I rebooted after deleting the program it recreated itself. It recreats as a startup program, I HATE spyware. They love to hide in your application data file. Go to 'my computer', then to documents and settings, next go to all users first. Open the application data file and look in all the folders for what you KNOW you didn't install. If you see something suspiscious go ahead and delete it. Go back under seperate user accounts and their application data files and repeat. THis should put an end to it. Go ahead and get an ad blocker or trojan blocker. Get the yahoo toolbar, I've had it for some time now and have NEVER received a pop-up. Then go to google and find the SpyBot-S&D program -- its freaking awesome. Later

[240Knightrider]

yeah I had the same problem with a program like that. It was my fault though. I found a list with all the names it created for itself and I deleted that with it and it kept coming back. I just redid the whole computer. Which I do that once a year anyways.

[IvoryJ30t]

what happens is the spyware programs store the installation file in the windows folder. since the windows folder is the root of the system, most people dont delete things from there.

the startup references are in [registry]HKLM/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/runHKCU/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/run

also, some browser hijackers use IE extensions. you have to dig through the registry to find the CLSID and typelib of the *.dll's that the toolbar/hijacker has installed. then you have to dig up the dll in %systemroot%/system32.

its not fun. a large percent of my business is removing spyware/adware or correcting problems caused by people trying to remove it themselves.

[Kaioshin1982]

ROFL GEO!

[[Zero-S]]

I'm with him, I know I could help considering its my major;)

[IvoryJ30t]

well, you have an NT/2K/XP/Cisco tech/admin right here.plenty of others here with advanced knowledge.

i say TECH FORUM!!

edit- cant forget the A+

[C-Kwik]

I'm not sure what program I am using to detect and block ad/spyware, but I'll post it later. In any case, it found 85 items and has since also blocked a lot of sypware. Most were transparent, but once in particular called NCase was rather intrusive, popping up ads in new windows constantly. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the one that you are seeing. It made IE run extremely slow.

[IvoryJ30t]

[under xp] if you use a user account for normal usage, and use the admin account for configuration only, you will not become infected with spyware. standard users are prevented from making systemwide changes. any spyware that does get installed, will be local to the account that initiated the infection.

save files, delete account, create new account, move files back, problem solved.