MAJOR COMPUTER HELP!!!!!!?

Question

out of no where, i got a virus (assuming it is one) my computer has been acting very weird. pop ups will occur just out of no where when im NOT even surfing the net. i will be listening to music on windows media player then a pop up. when i click an icon, link, etc it makes a "click" noise (this is normal) but now it makes the noise like every 30 seconds without me touching the mouse. my only solution is system restore, but how do i do it? i know where to go, it says something like "restore to a checkpoint date", but does that mean if i choose oct. 21st does that mean that any downloads, files, etc i made oct 22 to now will be lost? this virus is killing me, it says "click here to erase" i do so, but it says "anti viurs $14.99" and other pricey options. will restoring computer help with this? PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

Thats a very good Question! If you restore your computer to a previous date your documents and pictures wont be affected. the only things that will be changed are installed programs. You will lose some things that you downloaded. My suggestion is get a 1 or 2 gb flash drive and backup anything you downloaded in the past week. So now you cant lose anything!



Also you need to run a real virsus scan. If you dont have one get AVG Free. There is a link at the bottom. Also get Spy-Bot and Ad-Aware. Download and install them all. Go into safe mode and run them. They can most likely get rid of that virus for you! Keep running them until its all gone. To get to safe mode Start > Run > msconfig and go to the boot tab. select Safeboot. And restart your computer so you can boot into it. With AVG in safe mode it will tell you exactly where the bad files are located. so when you see a bad file go to My Computer and delete it! I got rid of many viruses this way.



Hope this helps!



Richard



Certifications:

MCSE (microsoft technician)

CSSA (Sonicwall technician)

Dell, HP, Gateway, Acer, Lenovo/IBM, PowerSpec certified technician





Helpful Programs:

(all these programs are 100% free lifetime programs, if your asked to pay for it you clicked the wrong link)



CCLEANER

(http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/)



DISK DEFRAG and REGISTRY DEFRAG

(http://www.auslogics.com/en/software)

Feel free to also get System Information! Its very helpful.



AVG FREE

(http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?part=dl-AVGAntiVir&subj=dl&tag=button)

(make sure that you click the big green Download Now button)



SPYBOT

(http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Spybot_Search_and_Destroy/1043809773/1)

(make sure you take the one with the check mark)



AD-AWARE

(http://www.download.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=Ad+Aware+2008&tag=404&searchtype=downloads)

(make sure that you click the big green Download Now button)

Answer 2

Make sure you do a system restore point a day or two before these symptoms started. Your system will only change the operating files. If you installed any software after the date that you pick, you will lose that software and will have to reinstall it.



BUT!!!!! Whatever files you stored on your computer, like music files, or documents that you typed up or anything else that are not system files, WILL NOT BE CHANGED!!!! Also make sure you empty out your cache in Internet Explorer and any other browser you may be using.



Also, empty out your TEMP folder. Go to your start menu. Hit START, then hit RUN, when the box opens up type in %temp%, make sure you use the percent signs before and after with no comma. A folder will open up. Empty everything out of it. These are files that build up when you install things on your computer and are not needed anymore. If by chance some files won't delete because it says they are being used or just wont delete, deselect them and keep deleting other files until you have none or hardly anything left in there.



It is a good practice to keep that folder cleaned out and also change the amount of information your Internet Explorer browser holds in its cache to a very small number like 50 mg.



Also, that clicking noise you hear is probably the spy program or internet redirection program trying to get your browser to go to its site.



Good luck. IF things get really bad and the system restore points don't work and it keeps happening, save everything you have that you need and burn them onto discs or buy a USB hard drive like I did, I bought a 250 gig USB drive for $79 and I put everything I had on it and did a complete system restore back to the day I bought the computer. Sometimes you have to do that. It's called a DESTRUCTIVE RESTORE. you'll find that option on your system restore program.



Later.

Answer 3

Some will say an anti-virus is your solution, thats a lie. They are part of the droll brainwashed system filled with price loop holes and never ending viruses made by the companies that sell anti-viruses themselves. I suggest you burn any files you don't want to lose onto a CD, then do a system restore. That might fix your problem, if not then it's time to format. Good luck.

Answer 4

if u have a external drive, just back up all your downloaded stuff. if u dont have one go get one, u're bound to run out of space anyways. once that's done, just restore it back to Oct 21



yeah just like the first guy said.... dont trust anti-virus. most of the time they slow down your computer and sometimes they cant even detect new virus. i format/restore my computer monthly and i keep all my downloaded files on an external drive

Answer 5

If you do a system restore, your files will remain, but programs installed after the system restore point will be deleted. Also, do not click on the pop ups, they will either further infect your computer or try to scam you. I advise you to do a system restore.

Answer 6

I would try two things, first download spybot here:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol



It's free and it works pretty well, if that doesn't solve your problem you're going to need to restore your operating system



To do that, you put your operating system CD in your computer, then restart it and go through the menus, just make sure you have all your files backed up before you do though.



Good luck

Answer 7

Firstly get AVG free at http://free.avg.com

Its a awesome program.

Also once you have it, disconnect from the internet.

Scan your computer.

If that doesnt work google anything that you could potentially aquate to your problem.

I have saved myself from wiping my hard drive over 5 times because i googled the warning.



Thats all, Good luck Oh and spybot is free spyware killer and good. Winpatrol can help future problems.

Answer 8

Restoring your computer helps with most viruses. In my experience, it hasn't messed with any downloads, but I can't be positive. The cheapest thing to do would be to restore it.

Answer 9

u can get avg for free off of download.com very good antivirus dats all u need u dont need to system restore virus will probally still be their.....

Answer 10

Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.



This may not totally solve your problem, but I hope it does.



If not, go download a simple antivirus, like Avast.



www.avast.com



If nothing helps, you may just have to go to the professionals. =[

Answer 11

Download Malwarebytes



Don't ever buy anti-virus software. Those companies create viruses so that you have to buy their software. It's a total scam...

Answer 12

get an anti virus/spyware such as nortons 2008 or panda

Answer 13

download superanti spyware this will get rid of anything

Answer 14

the same problem with my computer.