How do I completely remove a virus from my computer?

Question

OK, I have run Symantec Antivirus and found over 1,000 threats. I have removed them, but there are still the balloons (mispelled when they popup, leading me to believe they are part of the virus) at the bottom right on my toolbar, AND I still get popups when I'm not even surfing the net. So really what I am asking is, How in the heck do I totally get rid of the virus OR How do I completely wipe the hard drive and restore it back to when I first purchased it? Any help would be great!

Answer 1

Try some of these:

Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Keyloggers, Popups:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3003-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=tab_rev
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022-10247782.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/
http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE
Online Scanners:
http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/freescan.html?
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Keyloggers, Popups Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/104
http://www.download.com/Adware-Spyware-Removal/3150-8022_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/setarea
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/AntiSpyware/3-9-0-0.html
Antivirus:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
Antivirus Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/1
http://www.download.com/Antivirus/3150-2239_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads29.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/antivirus/
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/Antivirus/3-1-0-0.html
Firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=staticcomp_za
Firewall Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/97
http://www.download.com/Firewalls/3150-10435_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads34.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/firewalls/
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/Firewalls/3-5-0-0.html
IP Blocker:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/peerguardian/pg2-050918-nt.exe?download
Browser:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Email, News, RSS:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
System Cleaner:
http://www.ccleaner.com/
System Cleaning List:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/98
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads12.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/cleaning/
System Info:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/92
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads9.html
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/System_Utilities/System_Tools/3-50-0-0.html

Answer 2

You first try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus or any problems. It may be a few weeks or months back. You have to decide the date. Detailed instructions are given at http://fixit.in/systemrestore.html The problem will be solved. Then,You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html
After running the virus scan delete all temprory internet files including off line content and also unwanted files and temp. files. Finally, carryout a defragmentation . Your system will be back to the normal...!

Answer 3

Restart The computer holding down the f8 key and decide what you want to do if you want to completely restore and wipe out the whole system starting it over from factory settings?
Or what you could try is http://www.windowsupdate.com and look maybe there is a patch never know.
Maybe you just need yahoo pop up blocker sounds like you have some options.

Answer 4

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WIPE OUT YOUR HARD DRIVE!! Assuming you have Windows XP Service Pack 2. First thing you do is disable system restore by right-clicking on my computer, properties, system restore tab, and turning it off. I do this because the system restore function can actually re-infect your computer with archived virus files! Then make sure that your anti-virus is completely up-to-date. Install Ad-aware SE personal and Spybot Search and Destroy. Update both applications and run scans to find spyware! Then reboot, go into safe mode and run virus scan spyware scans again! Look in add/remove programs and un-install anything that looks conspicuous. Now reboot and make sure you have firewall installed and activated. Not sure if your Norton came with one or not. If not, make sure the Windows firewall is turned on(start, programs, accessories, system tools, security center). If only Windows firewall on computer, might consider getting Norton firewall or other product. FIREWALL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Number of threats detected on your system screams no firewall present! Once firewall installed and running, guess what? Run your scans again to be safe. Now turn on pop-up blocker in windows(tools, pop-up blocker, turn on). Now go to internet options(tools, internet options), delete cookies, delete temp files(offline as well assuming you don't have music files stored), clear history. Go to advanced tab, uncheck install on demand options(both of them) and uncheck the install third-party browser extensions as well. Now, go to windows update site and grab all the high-priority updates. Once done with that, four more things to do. Go to my computer, right-click on drive, and do disk cleanup. Then click on tools tab(from same area) and run scan disk for errors(make sure to check both options and confirm for reboot, then reboot). Once that's done go back and run defragmenter (same area as before). Finally, go back and turn on system restore function if you like. Personally, I don't use it, but to each their own. After all of that, you should be at peace. If not, either use online virus scans to make sure your anti-virus got them all, or consider wiping out drive at that point. Good luck!

Answer 5

Hey to restore it back when you first purchased it? I believed it would be to go into (all programs) scroll up to (Accessories) then on the side of (Accessories) scroll down to (System Tools) then on the side of that scroll down to (System restore) click it and follow the instructions.

Answer 6

The best option for this is to
Re-Partation your Hard Disk, Format it & install All softwares.

I have tryed it. It really works.

[e-mail]

Answer 7

Try
http://viruscleaner.blogspot.com/2006/12/smitfraudfix.html
or else
http://yanswers.blogspot.com/2006/10/windows-reinstallation.html