major computer problem - please please can you help?

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Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

I should start by saying we are not very IT literate - Ok when its going fine but problems cause us major headaches!

Bought my partner a wireless laptop in March 2008
Laptop has windows vista and internet is AOL ( Iknow!!!) every time we use computer loads of pop ups come up saying we have major security issues - like 8 different trojans etc. However the pop ups are from sites we dont know such as registry doctor, pc health and they have installed as programmes ( since removed by me) that he didnt intentionally install.

therefore tried to install mcafee, or norton or AVG but nothing but nothing will install - keeps saying there was an error - cant recall exact message.

Then tried to run aol computer check but says the system on the laptop doesnt meet minimum system requirements,also windows defender says its out of date but then cant update due to an error

Originally I installed avg free version and he runs this thinking hes OK except I discovered it has never updated since the original date of installation and when I try it just freezes

so in summary I have a big problemn but no idea what - PLEASE CAN YOU HELP - I AM ON THE VERGE OF TRASHING THE LAPTOP

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:40 pm

maggie, can you uninstall the avg?

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Corona

Thanks for reply - yes I can do that and had thought about it but then if I cant install anything in its place decided to leave it - even though not updated. If you think I should uninstall I will but what would you then do

Maggie

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

have you been getting these pop ups since you very first used the computer out of the box? They may well be bloatware (crapware), all laptops have stuff loaded on to them by people who pay the laptop manufacturer to add them.

If that is the case, run the decrapifier, it will remove a lot of stuff and at the same time speed your computer up:

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com

Even if that's not the problem, run it anyway, there will be stuff preinstalled using up your resources, read the FAQ on that site first, the program is perfectly safe.

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:02 pm

You might be looking at reinstalling the OS.

Try clearing the cache and cookies. It sounds like the trouble runs much deeper though.

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Scampatroller and Windypops

Thank you both so much

SP will run what you suggest and thanks again

Windypops - I thought the same but bought laptop diect from Toshiba with all software pre installed so dont have a clue how to re install as no idsks provided re windows vista - ANY IDEAS

btw just had a pop up whilst writing this saying windows is unable to update - oh help - what is wrong?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:26 pm

If it's got an image pre installed it's usually a matter of holding an "F" key on boot. Then you'll be given a list of options.

I'm not familiar with Toshiba, but check for a button that accesses some system tools. You might be able to do it from there.

Manual?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:29 pm

Update Windows manually.
Turn off Automatic Updates in Control Panel and go to the Windows Site and do it from there.

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Slightly

Thats a really good idea - will do. Scampatrollers idea seems to have helped too as AVG is currently updating for the first time in months - big thank you to everyone - I was so at a loss but at least now seem to be making some progress

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:43 pm

I'd also get some anti-malware programs such as AdAware and SpyBot Search and Destroy. Might cure everything and they are free.

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:43 pm

maggie, we won't tell them how much we love and need them. Wink

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:57 pm

Never tried this on Vista yet, so the gang here will have to confirm if.......

Start--run--MSconfig--- enter
Startup files Should give you some insight in what all gets started when the computer boots up, you will only need a few things and the rest is ballast, if you can list what you have there, the gang here can tell you what to drop.
Same goes for System files.
Once again I don't know if Vista will work the same as XP

If Vista can start in safe mode with network then a Windows update could be a possibility.

And as said above a good scan might clean it up too. If you have the time, try http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym it needs Explorer and java enabled.

Good Luck, feel for you, if my laptop could talk I would have to kill it Laughing

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

A Skinner - thank you so much - -only 1699 threats found by skybot!!! and dealt with

However windows is still not updating so need probably to reinstall -

I have to say you guys are the best - I was literally pulling my hair out - THANK YOU for all the excellent help so far xx

Corona sadly I do love and need them Laughing

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:41 pm

Did it do it out of the box,or did it crop up after you had used it for a while?My computer at work,recently became infested with a real nasty malware program called Antivirusxp2008.There are other derivations of the name.I wound up having to manually remove it.The symptoms sound very familiar.If it wasn't that way out of the box,but happened later,you may have something similar going on.

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Hi Doc Holiday

It was fine when it came out the box but my partner visited some dodgy sites and thats when I think probs happened -he has been well and truly beaten verbally for this mess
Evil or Very Mad

Thank god for 419 eater members -as ever you restore my faith !!

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:52 am

maggiemay wrote:

However windows is still not updating so need probably to reinstall -

Maybe not, that's a pretty drastic step. Try what Slightly recommended, update it manually. Sorry I dont' have time to hunt down the details for you, but that's probably a better approach...at least initially.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:23 am

Doc

its really easy to remove antivirusxp2008 jsuk

just malwarebytes antimalware

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

A huge thank you to everyone who so kindly helped

I have now cleared out hte worst of it but windows wont update whatever I try - it was last updated 18 mths ago so called Toshiba and they said probably a virus thats preventing it doing so - anyway the upshot is I do need to reinstall OS and disc is on its way to me

Thanks again I wouldnt have got this far without your help

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:03 pm

Hi maggie

As an M$ IT tech I can tell you that updates in Vista are having problems not just because of viruses.

If you want to make doubly sure (and it wouldn't do any harm if your loved one has been straying, electronically) there are a number of free on-line scanners, such as (in order of preference):
http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

If that doesn't let Vista update, try uninstalling the update KB929777 and then try.

Or download SP1 from HERE

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:10 pm

Be very wary of vista service packs. It's impossible for MS to test them on every PC configuration to ensure they don't break your PC. I had one that almost killed my home built pc around June. After the latest SP 3 it wouldn't boot right, and if it did, it ran horribly slow (as in 10 minute boot too). I tested every component before finally removing the SP 3 when it was finally working fine again.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:31 pm

^^Yes it would certainly be prudent to make a restore point prior to putting it on.

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

^^^ Thank you both very much for advice - Gordon I am currently downloading SP1 as you suggest - nothing I have tried so far has successfully downloaded but this is looking hopeful Smile

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:41 pm

Make sure you run one of the on-line scans first.

To be completely anal about it, run a scan first and if you find a virus, personally I would switch System Restore and run the scan again. If you do find a virus, it may be in the SR folder waiting to jump out and bite you. Plus there's no point in restoring back to a point you know is infected.

Then switch SR back on and make a restore point. Then try SP1. Enjoy.

(Oh, and then install ESET Smart Security; AVG just doesn't cut it these days)

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:52 pm

Are you using IE? My sister had many of the same problems you are describing and I switched her to Firefox, cleaned everything using many of the tools listed in the previous posts here, and told her NEVER to use IE again. She has not had a problem since.

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Thank you to all of you - you are so helpful..unfortunately its one step forward and two back.

Heres where I am....tried eset as Gordon suggested but it wouldnt admit i was the administrator so then tried next on his list which was kaspensky - that found 4 trojans but only identified not destroyed..so ran SP1 as suggested - took over an hour but uploaded OK but STILL cant update windows nor AVG so re ran antispybot which did update and destroyed a few odds. The upshot I think at this point is that I need to await toshiba disk and reinstall OS as this just wont update no matter what I do. Alternatively I might well take a hammer to the laptop, my office however is now redecorated so will no longer need partners laptop after tomorrow and can revert tlo my trusty and lovely computer that is free of these issues Very Happy

The fact I have today become Adamus soulmate was the only thing that I found funny in an otherwise frustrating day Laughing

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