Seriously...what the hell?

[GT40FIED]

Ok...Let me start by saying I've got 3 different types of adware/spyware/malware detectors. Problem is none of them seem to be working. I'm running Adaware, Spybot S&D, and A squared and, although they seem to work (except for A squared...over 20K registered signatures and I never get any results), I still get stupid bullshit on my computer. Just today I hop on and there's 3 new icons on my desktop. Icons I didn't put there. Some stupid shit for discount travel, free games and cash prizes, and some retarded love finder. These have popped up before a few months ago, were deleted, and now they're back. I run all 3 of these programs once a day and I'm still getting this crap that won't go away. Any suggestions?

[Rob]

Have you cleaned your registry? There still might be a hidden file there that has embedded itself and runs everytime you surf the net.......

[GT40FIED]

That's what I thought at first...but then I went through my registry ans shit wasn't where it was supposed to be. It's making me wicked pissed. I don't even really know where to start in my registry.

[Rob]

O.k.....do this...dowload Bazooka Spyware here (http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html?source=appvisit). I know this is redundant to what you already have but Bazooka will find spyware on your computer then give you full directions on how to delete the shit that it finds...including what and where in your registry...just a suggestion and I think it's worth a try....

[GT40FIED]

Yeah...I used to use that...or at least I did once. All of the registry locations it gave me were either wrong or didn't exist.

[Rob]

Originally posted by GT40FIED
Yeah...I used to use that...or at least I did once. All of the registry locations it gave me were either wrong or didn't exist.
Really...that's what I use and it's always been dead on for me....

[Nizman]

just a thought, try this

if you have any .exe files in this directory delete them.
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services

If windows says that they are in use, goto Task manager then the process tab. You will find a process with the same name as the .exe file you cant delete. End that process and try deleting the file again. Reboot, go straight back to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services and see if the .exe files have reappeared.

But if your running Adaware, Spybot S&D, and A squared you probably already know this trick.

[blind34_1]

there are also two programs i find useful when trying to track down what is running on your computer: filemon and regmon.

they will show what is running and when. I like to start a program while having both of those programs running so i can see where in the registry it is looking, and what other files it is calling. its a long shot for you, but it might help you figure out what is happening.

both are available here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/filemon.shtml

[GT40FIED]

Ok...now how's this for messed up? Last night my modem was being a whore so in order to reset it I have to unplug it and restart the computer. After unplugging it I decided to leave it unplugged and run adaware. Normally I'd get 10-20 hits in a scan. With the modem unplugged I got almost 100...89 to be exact. A ton of stuff that doesn't come up normally. So what the hell is happening here? I deleted all of the stuff and I don't see it anymore...but I'm still getting the same old bullshit.

[IALuder]

you have more problems then anyone i know with a computer GT40.:D

[GT40FIED]

No shit. I wanna reformat my hard drive because I'm getting ready to install another one. Problem is I don't know how to save all of the stuff I need (various programs, my OS, files, etc.) and still get rid of everything that's completely fucked.

[IALuder]

put all that you want on a CD.

[GT40FIED]

Right...but how do I put stuff like my operating system onto a disc? It was OEM so I don't have a disc for it.

[blind34_1]

usually whenever you buy a pc with the OS already loaded, they give you some set of cd's called recovery discs or something stupid like that. The reason they suck is because they are usually customized with the OEM name branded on everything, IE is modified the same way, and they can include more crap that you don't wantt. but the point is, its a copy of windows, give or take.

btw: if you're a student or teacher, winxp pro is only $50.

and, as a third option, you must surely know someone that can find you or has a cracked version of xp that they can copy for you. thats up to you.

Until you can secure a working copy, don't do anything, because you'll be screwed.

Also make sure you install SP1 after your reformat.

[GT40FIED]

SP1?

[blind34_1]

Service Patch 1 for Windows XP. Seems to fix a lot of "wtf problems" some people have. just good to stay somewhat up to date.

Be careful with hotfixes though, those can cause more problems than they fix. sometimes.

SP2 should be out soon, but don't wait for it.

[GT40FIED]

Interesting indeed.

[pbateson]

Damn I have too many hotfixes and I cannot chink on User Account, but the screen went off. :mad: :confused:

[FlooredAccord]

I'm a computer tech and deal with this shit all the time. 1st ad- removal managers sometimes install adware and spyware while you install the program. Uninstall all adware removal managers except for Ad-Aware 6.0(It's the only one reccommended by Microsoft.) It is free. Once that is done, download and install the updated reference file . Run a scan. Quarantine and delete as much as possibble,(Some might not be removed the 1st time). Reboot your computer and rerun the scan.

[black95gs-t]

Or you could just take your computer to the top of a 10 story building, hold it iver the edge and threaten it. Tell it that if it doesn't start working, you'll be back there and you will drop it. It works with people.
Jon

[blind34_1]

^^ scary and funny at the same time!

I recently had a run-in with some nasty spyware/malware/wtfware, etc.

adaware, spybot, etc. couldn't find anything, but then I used CWShredder, which completly owned 6 things that nothing else could find.

Granted, this may not fix your current problem, but cant hurt to try. cwshredder, is designed to get rid of those stupid toolbars and other BHO's (Browser Helper Objects)

[Violent Apathy]

Tsk tsk, too much porn....

[CD5Passion]

you know something that helps?....get a Mac..I never get problems with any adware or spyware muahahah

[biker's back]

YOu get this fixed yet?

[GT40FIED]

Haha...not even close. I'm still getting weird shit popping up on my desktop and now I've mysteriously gotten some bullshit about my daily horoscope popping up in my quickstart menu. I'm about ready to kick my computer in it's sack.

[biker's back]

Just grab your important files and format. Then see if you can get the lastest version of black ice

[Racing Rice]

You definately need to go through all of your services and see if something is running. I had the same problem, it was a PITA to clean, but I eventually got it. It was actually some kind of virus variant that wasnt getting picked up by Norton, nor would Adaware pick it up.