Computer help needed!

[FastCarFan]

I am having a problem with my home computer. The Pelican braintrust helped with a previous computer problem, so I thought I should ask for help again....

Yesterday the wallpaper photo on our home computer went away & was replaced by the following message:

"YOUR SYSTEM IS INFECTED

System has been stopped due to a serious malfuntion. Spyware activity has been detected.

It is recommended to use spyware removal tool to prevent data loss. Do not use the computer before all spyware removed."

The text appears in a black rectangle. The 1st line is in red & the other text is in white. Note the poor grammar in the message (foreign-source virus?). There are no logos or anything to suggest that the warning is from my computer manufacturer (Dell) or our Norton antivirus software.

I have attempted to restart the computer several times. Usually it seems to be trying to start Windows & then stops. Occasionally I do get to the desktop with all of my icons (but no wallpaper photo) & the message above. I cannot seem to open any application, including Norton.

Suggestions? What should I do? Should I take it to a Geek Squad type of place? Should I buy some spyware prevention software? And if I do buy software, will I even be able to load it?

Thanks in advance for your help. I really appreciate it.

[gr8fl4porsche]

1. Reboot in safe mode.
2. Download and install AVG Free (not trial).
3. D & I Spybot Destroyer.
4. D & I Adaware
5. Run all programs
6. Reboot normally
7. Report back here

[74-911]

I've had to help "repair" two computers infected with this. Download Malwarebytes and run it.... Malwarebytes will definitely fix the problem.
You don't really have any problems with your machine other than the trojan displaying the messages. they are trying to extort $59 from you.

go here to download the free version:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[FastCarFan]

Thanks for the advice. I have been out of town on business & haven't been able to work on the problem yet.

I think the problem may be worse than what you suggested. We can't even get the computer to reboot in any manner. I will work on it tonight with my son & report back tomorrow from work.

Thanks again.

Doug

[drew1]

If worse comes to worse, you may have to clean your hard drive.

If you have XP or Vista, you can try a Recovery.

To clean your hard drive go to DOS Commands & FORMAT C:
First you want to put everything in My Documents, etc on a CD. Then go ahead & format. You'll have to reinstall your operating system & all software. Run a virus scan on the stuff you saved on the CD before putting it back on hard drive.

[gr8fl4porsche]

A better idea with a corrupted drive that won't boot is to get a new hard drive, install OS and plug the old one in as a data drive. Usually you can read the data, transfer it to the new drive and all is good. You will have to reinstall your programs (software) but your pics and files can be salvaged. You may get lucky and be able to format the old drive and now you can keep the OS and programs on one drive and all your important data on the other.

Also a good time to purchase off site storage and you can sleep easier knowing that pics of your little ones are saved on an off site server. The likely hood of your system crashing and their server crashing at the same time are about 0.

[slodave]

You cannot format the c drive from inside Windows.

Try it .

[74-911]

google "personal antivirus"... this is the "scareware" you are infected with. Just trying to extort money from you by scaring you into buying their product.

Malwarebytes (free download per the above post) will get rid of it very quickly.

[ruf-porsche]

Install malwarebytes on another machine that hasn't been infected and remove the infected drive and install it in a portable usb enclosure, run malwarebytes and have it scan the usb enclosure.

[m21sniper]

mAlware bytes +1

[FastCarFan]

Thanks again for all of the advice. However, we can't even get the machine to boot up in safe mode. We can't get it to do anything. Sometimes we can get to the screen to select "safe mode", but then all we get is the dreaded blue screen.

In other words, I cannot download software, or do any of the things suggested -- I can't do anything!

Since I am far, far from a computer expert, I think we are going to take it somewhere for some expert assistance. I will report back.

Thanks.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Stick a new drive in the box and reinstall OS. Unless your motherboard is dead that should work. Slave the old drive and retrieve data. If your drive is older, its time to replace it.