My comp has a spyware/adware infection and now its all screwy.?

Question

The computer screen recently turned from blue to black with a large message telling me I have a spyware/adware infection. Now the internet browser rarely opens correctly for me (it keeps saying cannot find server) and not even my microsoft word works properly. Having the comp set to its last known good configuration doesn't work, and since I can't get onto sites really, it seems unlikely to download anything to help. We do have a spyware program already installed, but it seems to freeze at a certain point. Please! Help me!

Ah, thanks everyone for all your help! I really appreciated it. Tinkering around with it, (and with the help of all the woderful advice) the comp somehow managed to speed up a little bit and I was able to use the antispy. Geez. 100 and something counts of malware, adware and the likes. How in the world did I even get all that. LOL. Well, thanks again!

Ok, so perhaps I spoke too soon. The screen is now back to its usual blue color. But now things just don't seem to want to work. I need to reinstall microsoft word, I can't download runescape (yea, not the biggest of issues), and I keep getting this message little black box whenever i start the computer that says "C:\WNNT\system32\svchost.exu, and im constantly getting a message that says something about "memory not reading" that eventually makes the whole screen go blank. Oh yea, and often when I try to go online I can't get past the yahoo homepage.

This comp is really old and unfortunately, the people who let me use this don't update it too much. I have a 2002 nortonanti-virus installed on here, but it won't let me live update it, I checked and I had tons of things labeled "bloodhound" A lot of people have said that norton names any potential virus bloodhound, so I'm not even sure of what I have. I deleted them, but I'm still having issues.

(continued)

I'll try toe foxfire thig, but honestly I'm not sure if it will let me. Aside from that/In addition to that, is there anything else I should do. I'm limited in funds and don't want to mess with it too much since it doens't belong to me. Help please and thanks!

Answer 1

Perhaps your web browser has been hijacked Try to install Firefox and see if it makes any difference, go here
http://www.sleekbytes.com/search_the_web_with_google.htm
no need to disinstall your existing browser
if it helps please remember me cheers

Answer 2

It kinda sounds like a virus infection to me. But anyway the best bet is for you to try and boot into safe mode usually by pressing f8 as soon as your PC is restarting. this will only load up the essential driers and files that is needed by windows. I would then try to get a free anti virus programme say avg, http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1. Maybe borrow your friends computer to get this and then do a scan of the system, this should find any nasties on there. You may also want to try windows defender as this is also very good at detecting spyware.Although this is only a beta so its still in testing but still worth a look. You could also try the usual things such as spybot search and destroy this is also a god programme. by trying all this you should easily be able to combat your problem

Answer 3

you should ask this question when there are more people on if you don't get a lot of answers, but here is my set up.

AVG free for antivirus
Adaware for anti adware
spybot for antispyware
spyware blaster to prevent spyware

ccleaner to clean up unused files (only use for files, and not registry)

Key tips once you get your computer running. Don't use p2p, bittorent programs. You will likely download infections that mess up your computer.

always use firefox or opera browser. by using IE, you are prone to security issues.
download all your programs from www.majorgeeks.com since they scan their programs for spyware and stuff.

good luck in fixing your computer.

Answer 4

press ctrl+alt+delete in same time... go to process try to remove everything from there ....system stuff not going to be remove & don't remove svghost or ctfmon.
if they won't remove all
go to start menu then run then write
msconfig
go to start up
On there Uncheck All except the Anti Virus & anything have Location C:\Windows ..... That'll not move the Programs but it'll not make all the programs start with windows & u can use the program U want in the time U want not loading even if U not using it
then remove ur temp. that's all

Answer 5

download spyware doctor from www.download.com and scan for spies then press fix checked then the pc will restart automaticlyy and when it opens it will will scan again cancel it if u like and then the windows will be normal again and its better that u scan every week

Answer 6

have a look in shops for computer magazines with free cover discs see if any has spybot or adaware se on them install and run any of them or better still both of them.
but try opening these links first ..
if you can get into them download and run both programs

http://www.safer-networking.org/

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

hope this fixes your comp

Answer 7

Use system restore to restore your computer to an earlier date when your computer was working just fine.

You will find this option by clicking
>Start> All programs>Accessories>System tools> System Restore.

Here you can choose to restore your system to and earlier time.

Regards
Vipul