Okay, my little sister babysat for me last night and apparently spent the entire evening downloading whatever random crap the computer prompted her to. I’ve now got AOL instant messenger (which I suspect was the root of all this evil), some crap called virtual bouncer, a “date manager” that I’m afraid is connected to >spit!< Gator, some bizarre bottom of the screen toolbar whenever I log online, my google toolbar is being automatically covered up by some other “noeafstqugr” piece of crap, she somehow disabled my pop-up stopper (it was just a free version, so I can download a new one but still), I’m getting pop-ups when I don’t even have a browser open, and in short, my computer’s a frickin’ mess.
Other than killing my sister, what do I need to do? I’ve spent the last hour going through add/remove programs but that hasn’t come close to putting things right. I know this adware crap hides in your computer and I’m not savvy enough to know how to root it out. I’ve always just depended on the fact that I’M NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO LET IT IN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I have anti-virus, so I’m not too worried about that, but I want my computer back how it was. Wahhhh!
Okay, now random teenyboppers are IMing me. Please, someone help me make it stop!
I downloaded Adaware, and ran the scan. ** 293** items were quarantined! Woohoo.
But–I’m still getting the lame toolbar at log on, some thing called “free scratch tickets”, which in order to uninstall must first be exited but that makes you lose the uninstall page , and I’m still getting stupid pop-ups to Search America or something like that. Plus, every time I reboot, my homepage is changing.
I’m probably just missing something in the adaware that will help me with this? Hopefully, anyway.
What Windows version are you running? This will help me give a more detailed answer. Most programs can be manually removed, or you can tell windows not to load them at startup.
Does your computer have a system restore function? I believe that Win XP has one included or if you have another OS the manufacturer may have included their own version.
If you do have system restore, just select the date to restore to that is prior to your evil sister’s shenanigans.
Did this, I’m still tinkering to see if it helps. I’ll report back.
Not nearly cute enough to make this amusing.
For many reasons, not the least of which is my own tenuous grasp on computer workings, that’s really not something I want to have to do. An ex is the one who originally set up the system, and I don’t have hardly any of the actual disks and whatnot to redo stuff. Unfortunately, it was a messy break-up or I would have called his ass over here to do all this for me.
I’m on Windows 2000 Professional
I’m not sure, how can you tell?
Ugh. I feel like such a doofus. I never realized how little I knew about my system. Little sis is going down!
No restore function, alas. But thankfully, Spybot seems to have made a huge difference. I’m still getting pop-ups even with the stopper reinstalled, but I can work with that. Thanks to everyone!
Hi belladonna
Along with some of the excellent advice already given, you might want to take a quick look through add/remove in your control panel, to uninstall any new apps that you didn’t want added.
As well, if you need to see what’s loading at start up, and be able to disable it, this small app will do the trick for you.
Lastly, you might want to do a free on-line virus scan at housecall, just to make sure your system is clean.
With Ad-aware you often need to run it 2-3 times in a row to clean out all the spyware/crapware/annoyware applets as (IIRC) some spybots are somehow installed diabolically enough so that Ad Aware has to clean them off during re-boot vs un-installing them in windows.
What about disabling some startup programs?
Follow this tree…(I`m doing this with 98)
Start
programs
accessories
system tools
system information (click on this tab)
click the “tools” tab
click on “system configuration utility”
and then finally the “startup” tab.
Uncheck anything that doesnt look right. I usually just keep the things that start with "C:\windows" running and anything else I recognize that I know what they do. Youll need to re-start to make it take. You should notice a much faster re-start after you uncheck a few things.
By the way, dont be afraid to uncheck programs you want on your computer. They wont be deleted, they just wont startup when you turn the computer on. You can still run them normally by clicking on their shortcut icons or by opening the start/programs menu. Examples of things you dont need to start up with your computer would be;
auto weather programs(open it later if you want)
Kazaa
quick time
music match
MS office stuff
any garbage your sister put on their
etc.
Whuckfistle? Does Windows 2000 Professional have msconfig?
I posted a link to a Start Up Control Panel that would accomplish the same thing, but I’d feel a fool if I’ve been under the wrong impression all this time?
Make sure you’ve told Ad-Aware to ‘check for updates.’ I downloaded a fresh copy a few days ago, assuming that it would be updated with the most recent files – not so. I finally noticed the update button after three days trying to remove VirtualBouncer manually (incidentally, this insidious little program is advertised as a spyware blocker, which it obviously is not). Made all the difference!
Right, Stoyel, Adaware, like many programs, comes with the database that was current at the time the program was last built, which may be weeks-to-months ago. The first time you run it, get the latest data file first or else you will be overlooking the newest stuff.
, and I’m still getting stupid pop-ups to Search America or something like that. Plus, every time I reboot, my homepage is changing.