Picked up a Virus

[pengyman89]

Hey all, I've picked up a virus. It seems to be up and down, at times my computer can't really do anything and at other times the computer is working normally so i'm not sure how severe it is. Just trying to decide what to do about it.
I'm using AVG antivirus. I need a way to get the virus and infected files off my computer. Is there a freeware program that could clean it all up? Should I consider taking my computer into a shop, I do have a good one that I use consistently (although i am not computer illiterate)? or should I perform a destructive recovery and reset everything to the off-the-shelf point.

I have two hard drives and most of my music and other media is on the second drive, I don't think there is any infection on it so I can unplug it when i do the recovery to save all the files I want saved.

Any and all help is appreciated, Thanks!

[HarvesteR]

There are ways to check if you've got UpadDown / Conficker on your computer...

one of the symptoms is that it blocks access to some web security sites..

try accessing http://www.grisoft.com or http://www.f-secure.com ...if you can't, it's Conficker alright  ;)

but there are simple ways to remove it, just google Conficker and you should find a procedure pretty quickly

Hope this helps

Cheers

[Domj122]

run an AVG scan and deleted the virus etc if that doesnt work try out Spybot Search & Destroy, handy little freeware program

[pengyman89]

I guess a little closure would be good. Apparently I understated the matter a little when I said I had a virus. What would the plural of Virus be? Virii?

I couldn't visit any sites even remotely involved with virus removal. getting malwarebytes and the microsoft MSRT was a chore. eventually got them both on there and scanned with both of them and AVG but they just couldn't keep up, and were not able to clean it up. I chose to bring the pc into a shop, the owner of which we are on a first name basis with. They eventually cleaned up the machine but some of the files were still damaged by the bug.

So I'll be upgrading from Windows XP" Media Center Edition to Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Fortunately our guy is only going to charge me for the installation of the OS (he already has the machine, may as well get it done right), and is negating the cost of the virus removal. Gotta love the few people nowadays that really have a passion for their trade  :D

[Groundbound1]

Xp to Vista huh? Good luck. :-?

[Fozzer]

Xp to Vista huh? Good luck. :-?

..Tee-hee..... ...!

...you beat me to it!... ....!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...Win XP Pro SP2... [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]...!

I have so many programs, (recent, and very old), from the past, that run successfully under Win XP, that I am very reluctant to change to Windows Vista, and upset the Apple Cart... .... ...!

I moved from Win '98 directly to Win XP Pro, followed by Win XP Pro SP2 update.

[pengyman89]

i'm a little skeptical myself as xp has performed well enough over the last little while. But most of the bugs have been worked out so i'm willing to give it a try.

edit: I also have very few to no old programs, nothing so old that it wouldn't work under vista

[Fozzer]

i'm a little skeptical myself as xp has performed well enough over the last little while. But most of the bugs have been worked out (in Vista) so i'm willing to give it a try.

edit: I also have very few to no old programs, nothing so old that it wouldn't work under vista

When you've got the rest sorted out give Uncle Bill a call, I think he needs your help......!

Paul.... ... ... ...!

[HarvesteR]

sorry I just had to

Cheers

[charlesed]

apparently I'm the only person here to actually defend vista...

[Groundbound1]

I've always been a big believer in the idea "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so I never saw the need for Vista. To me, it would be like having a car that is in great shape, running fine and getting great milage, but still going out to buy a new one to replace it just because it's the new one is "prettier".

I could understand if the performance hit that comes with Vista was offset by something useful, like added stability, compatability, or usefullness, but, well you'll see....

[pengyman89]

unfortunately my computer was very broke, lol, and needed something. It would be like if you had a car in great shape...and then the engine blew

Its a little confusing right now as the set up is so different. also while the files on my second hard drive were untouched, my C drive seems to have changed around quite a bit. finding my files has been interesting as well as getting all my regular websites set up, installing whatever i lost, etc.

The nice thing though is that my computer does seem to be running faster than it was with XP Media Center. It is using more ram while idling, but over all it is much snappier, which I am not complaining about.

[Fozzer]

[quote]apparently I'm the only person here to actually defend vista...

[charlesed]

unfortunately my computer was very broke, lol, and needed something. It would be like if you had a car in great shape...and then the engine blew

The nice thing though is that my computer does seem to be running faster than it was with XP Media Center. It is using more ram while idling, but over all it is much snappier, which I am not complaining about.

Same situation I was in when I switched from XP to Vista, my computer broke and I had to switch.

Good to see I'm not the only person who noticed a faster computer.

[quote][quote]apparently I'm the only person here to actually defend vista...