How do you get rid of a virus when the virus won't let your antivirus scan?

Question

I'm sure I have a virus, everytime I run any antivirus software it locks and then locks up the computer. It also happens when I run spyware removers. Any Ideas?

ok i tried it in safemode and all that and it still locks up. It always stops on windows\winhlp32.exe

Once it locks up then i have to do a forced reboot.

I'm not sure how to do a scandisk in xp can someone tell me how?

Answer 1

Try using your scans in safe mode.

For Windows XP

If the computer is running it is best to shut down Windows and then turn off the power.

Begin by first clicking on the Start Button and then click on Turn Off Computer.

Now click on the Turn Off red colored icon to shut down your computer system.

It is best to wait between 15 to 30 seconds before you turn your system back on.

Turn on your computer and start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard.

Some Computers may display a keyboard error message if you begin tapping F8 too quickly.

Restart your computer again and begin tapping the F8 key a brief second or two later.

When the Windows Advanced Options Menu appears, Choose the Safe Mode option and hit Enter.

Windows will now boot your computer up in Safe Mode.

Answer 2

Download Stinger from the website below. Stinger is an anti-virus's anti-virus. It looks specifically for known viruses that attack Symantec and McAfee.

It's free, and it contains its own anti-virus definitions. Download it, then go into Safe Mode to run it. To get into Safe Mode:

1. Turn off System Restore. Bad stuff often hides there. You can turn it back on after the war's over.
2. Clean out your C:/temp folder and the C:/Documents and Settings/your name/temp folder.
3. Shut Windows down and reboot.
4. When the boot starts, press the F8 key. This will bring up a longish text menu. Select Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, only the most necessary parts of Windows are started up, keeping many bad things from getting the foothold they need to keep from being removed.
5. Run Stinger.
6. When it finishes, try to run your anti-virus and other defenses again. They may or not be runnable, depending on what the virus did to them. You may have to reinstall.

Good luck.

Answer 3

do a force reboot by holding down the power button on your tower, then when the systems booting up hit the f8 key and start in windows safe mode, from there its just a matter of scanning with the anti-virus and seeing what's up.

What I would do in your case is to boot up in safe mode, plug in my HDD via usb port and backup any files I dont want to lose. then I would remove the storage unit and format my pc and start fresh. Then when you have installed your OS and antivirus software, applied windows patches and gotten a good firewall you can reconnect the storage unit and Scan it for any virus/trojan/spyware

This is a good method because it allows you to gain control from the beginning, since your systems been compromised..any security you take after it wont be as good because you're not sure what its done.

Answer 4

Get another computer, preferably an expendable one, and merge you hard-drive with it as the slave drive - NOT the main drive, then use the other computer to initiate the scan.

You MAY have damage on the hard drive - it may not be a virus at all. If your data is vital, contact and expert, if it's not you may want to run scandisk - which will quarentine the bad sectors. However, if this is the case, you'll probably want a new computer anyway because who knows how it got that way.

Answer 5

2) Do an online virus scan to check and remove virus and spyware if you still have viruses on your computer. And let us know if the online virus scan still finds any virus or spyware .
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/online-virus-scan.html

3) Get another anti virus program if your present anti virus program is not protecting you any longer
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/list-of-free-anti-virus-software-free.html


If you still have question or problems let the experts take a look at whats happening on your computer.Visit the HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showforum=22

Answer 6

Try on-line scans.

Run both of these on-line scans and let them remove what they find. Both are free and excellent at detecting and removing malware free of charge.

1. Scan for virus, worms etc. and remove (free online scan, no download) with BitDefender.
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans and spyware and remove (free online scan, no download) with Ewido ( now known as AVG Anti-Spyware). This is NOT the same as AVG Anti-Virus.
http://www.ewido.net/en/

These scans will take quite a bit of time. The time is necessary to clean-up an infected computer.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Shut your computer off and restart it in safe mode. When your computer turns back on hit F8 to get to safe mode. Then run a scan and it should be able to get rid of it. Good Luck!

Answer 8

I had that 2 months interior the previous. you're able to be able to desire to obtain each and every little element under the moon, it may desire to not help. shop all your records on portable disks(music, records, %., and so on.) Now, you're waiting to be waiting to choose to reformat the disk. to try this, turn off computing device.turn lower back on, and then hit F10. bypass to stepped forward techniques, next, advantageous, advantageous. Your computing device is sturdy as new. do not ignore to maintain those records via fact they are going to be long previous as with out postpone as you reformat.

Answer 9

try booting up in safe mode and then run all your programs make sure you update them before you run them...to get to safe mode turn your computer off then back on and tap the F8 key while it is booting.. it will take you to a boot up menu click on safe mode then enter..

Answer 10

u need to use an online scanner ..http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner ... http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/ActiveScan.htm ...http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ ...try to log in in the safe mode with networking (if u can)...if u cant it will be the normal mode .. and get online n use these sites to scan ur PC thoroughly ....