cleaning your hard drive?

Question

i think i have some viruses on my computer. is there way to clean it without getting a technician. should i clean my hard drive or something? if so how. i keep getting pop ups for ''windows antivirus. and pop ups in general. helpp pleasseee

Answer 1

You do want to disable your Windows System Restore before cleaning, otherwise the virus can resurface thru the restore files. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405

if you do a search for the name of the malware there will sometimes be a tool available to clean the specific malware. you also should do general cleaning.

all of these are free:

Run CCleaner first (just run it with the default settings). You'll get a better idea what infections you have when running anti-spyware scans. http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

Spybot: http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html
set it up as shown here: http://www.phpbbserver.com/stevie19605/viewtopic.php?t=92&mforum=stevie19605

Also scan with Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

AVG Anit-spyware: http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5

Someone else here recommends this app instead of Spybot and Ad-aware, you might want to give it a try: http://www.superantispyware.com/

Also, Javacool Software's SpywareBlaster for resident protection: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

You can get BitDefender as an on-demand virus scanner:
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-Free-Edition.html

You don't want to run two resident anti-virus programs but using one as an on-demand scanner is fine.

Avast! http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
AVG Anti-Virus: http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2

Kaspersky online scan:
http://usa.kaspersky.com/products_services/free-virus-scanner.php

also see:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#online
http://www.spywareinfo.com/

more extensive general malware removal instructions:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407
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Answer 2

I think you should use Kasperskey antivirus if you have windows wista on your pc or quickheal if you have other.Quick heal allows you to make emergency cd .You boot from that cd .It will remove almost all viruses from your pc than normal scan.You take latest version of antivirus or keep your antivirus up to date.Usually use original virus programs.Trial versions are not recomended if problem is severe.Before scanning you turn off system restore so that they should not come up from restored files on your computer after.
You use some spyware doctor ,malicious software removal tools,some adware tools in order to remove unwanted programs.After this run disc cleanup utility to remove unwanted old ,temporary ,log ,offline internet files so that disc space can be saved.

Answer 3

Scan your computer with a good antispyware/antivirus combination. This will identify the program that are causing the most difficulty in your system. Then you can repair them. The page below offers free scans from top software. Hope this helps!
http://www.delete-computer-history.com/very-slow-computer-shutdown.html

Answer 4

You did not say, "I ran a scan of my antivirus software".

If you have some update it and run it.

If not, try Avira, it's free.

http://www.free-av.com

You may also find the following two antispyware programs useful:

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

Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoft.com

Answer 5

first determine what kind of virus you have to know how to get rid of it, if you don't have a virus scan you need to get one and that would tell you, if its to bad you might just have to reformat and start all over, if you have to save what you can if its clean so you don't put it back on if you reformat.

Answer 6

Has your control panel disappeared as well? If so, you may have the trojan winavxx. Download combofix, this will clear it up for you.

Answer 7

Deban is only for linux and it tells you so....I got it and tried it.

Answer 8

yes its called dariks boot and nuke http://dban.sourceforge.net/