What the crap is wrong with my computer???

Question

My wife and I are just puzzled, and neither of us are computer gurus, so we have no idea how to fix it. A few days ago, random popup crap just started showing up. And it takes forever to get the popped up page to go away! It's stalling the computer like crazy! And when you don't close the popped up page, it's like it automatically refreshes itself and throws you back over to it.

Now suddenly, this new window has popped up four times in the last minute that says, "C:\Docume~1\Owner\Locals~1\Temp\Xpre.exe" and, "Windows cannot access the specified drive, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the file." Huh??

I ran AVG virus scan and the online Trendmicro-Housecall scan a couple of days ago, but apparently it did no good because it's still happening.

Help! Please!

Answer 1

Try these

Do this first - XCleaner http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
Use this second - Ccleaner http://www.ccleaner.com/download/
Third -Reg Seeker http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
Optional - SUPERANTISpyware http://downloads2.superantispyware.com/downloads/SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
Install after everything is cleaned - AVAST HERE http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
Install after everything is cleaned - Spyware Blaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Answer 2

try this man, 1. Restart your computer, and then press and hold F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in safe mode with a Command prompt. 2. Use the arrow keys to select the Safe mode with a Command prompt option. 3. If you are prompted to select an operating system, use the arrow keys to select the appropriate operating system for your computer, and then press ENTER. 4. Log on as an administrator or with an account that has administrator credentials. 5. At the command prompt, type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe... and then press ENTER. 6. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to a functional state.

Answer 3

It sounds like you have pop up problems coupled with hijacking problems.

Fixing these can be difficult. First go to the Microsoft site and get all the software upgrades they have for your unit and install them. Second get a popup blocker (either from Google or from Yahoo - their tool bar will do this nicely) installed.

If none of these steps help, you may need to reformat the hard drive and start with a fresh system. Write in a new discussion question before you start that step and tell us what you did and if you saw any changes..

Answer 4

Your pop up blocker is not on. Check here first and make sure it is on.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_popupblocker.mspx

If it seems like it is on, then make sure you have Internet Explorer 7.0. That should automatically fix everything, and it is a vast improvement from any previous versions, if your comp has been compromised.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx

Then, I would suspect, you have more than one Anti-Virus besides AVG. Conflicting.

Don't play with the Registry, if you can't solve that problem. Addressed to any Registry Cleaner advice. See Below.

Answer 5

when you get that pop up, there should be a way to view more details, then view technical information about the error. that will help me diagnose. could be anything from a possible spyware infection, to an updated driver via windows update that isn't working properly. if you could also right click on "My Computer" click on MANAGE, click event viewer, then click on system, you should be able to view the tech info there. This can also help me out. more. Gotta work, but if you send me this info privately i'll get back to you asap.

Answer 6

A few things to try-

Clean out your registry
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Download and run these programs, I also have the links to instructions on use
HijackThis 1.99.1
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
HijackThis Tutorial - How to use HijackThis
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial42.html

SmitFraudFix
http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php
How to use SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-use-SmitFraudFix-t109268.html

*SmitFraudFix is a tool that S!Ri created to remove rogue anti-spyware applications that utilize Trojans to issue fake
taskbar security alerts or that change your background in order to scare you into purchasing the full commercial version of their software..

These infections are difficult to remove and are usually bundled with so much other malware,
that traditional antispyware or antivirus programs have difficult completely cleaning these infections.
Due to this a specialized tool was created in order to help a user clean their system of these infections.


Malware Removal Guide
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Malware Removal - Downloads Page
http://www.malwareremoval.com/downloads.html

How to Protect yourself from malware!
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525

Answer 7

you have major spyware.download Ad-Aware free from here...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/
Also download CCleaner from the same site...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
These should go a long way to help but may not solve all your problems.And please dont clik on any web ad that the word free in it.thats one way to get infected.run both these regularly along with disk clean up and be sure to defrag your hard drive at least once a month.

Answer 8

well i not one computer genus either but it sound like to me it is spywear on this computer so u can try this www.spywear terminator.com it wont hurt to find out you know and about the "C:\Docume~1\Owner\Locals~ stuff well i got the same thing happen to me on a opera program and i still dont know how to fix it or delete it

Answer 9

try to scan your computer for free with these scanners, it worked to remove a trojan i had that consistently rebooted my computer

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/safetyscanner.mspx

mcafee also has one

http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp

Answer 10

run search and destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

and adaware
http://www.download.com/3000-8022_4-10719977.html