# Looking for some computer help... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 13, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123 "2009-01-13T18:37:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/1 "2009-01-13T18:37:04Z")
I seemed to have picked up some spyware that I can’t seem to get rid of. It hijacks any link results I get from a websearch (does this in Google, Yahoo and MSN searches… haven’t tried anything else) and takes me to some random page. What’s funny is that while mostly they are those generic spyware kind of webpages you see around… once it took me to [maxim.com](http://maxim.com)… once it took me to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) (?) While I can still get online, if I try to get to any sort of web security site (Lavasoft, Norton, mcafee, f-secure, trendmicro you name it) those webpages will not load. I managed to get a definition update to adaware from [download.com](http://download.com) but Adaware does not find the problem. I also ran a full McAfee scan and it did not find the problem. In addition- I tried to download a Hijack This and Malwarebytes (or something like that, something my friend recommended) and i can get the installer to download from [download.com](http://download.com), but the programs won’t actually run to install. I’m sure this is related similar to how I seem to be blocked from web security websites. In addition to running Adaware and McAfee… I have disabled everything in the background through msconfig… I went through my programs list in add/remove programs and don’t see anything unusual. I didn’t suspect either would help, but who knows. Oh- one more thing… since this started. I seem to get random error messages telling me google installer has caused a problem… it’s the standard “Send Error Reprot” “Don’t Send” windows error box. I’m assuming this is related somehow. Anyway- it’s driving me crazy. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![DogMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/2 "2009-01-13T18:57:17Z")
I don’t know if this will help you or remove your computer virus, HOWEVER… I’ve had a lot of luck with [SDFix.](http://downloads.andymanchesta.com/RemovalTools/SDFix_ReadMe.htm) Instructions on how to use it are [here](http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic131299.html). Even if SDFix doesn’t do the trick, the guys at bleepingcomputer are REALLY helpful if you post details. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/3 "2009-01-13T19:26:19Z")
Send me a PM if you can’t get to **DogMom** ’s link. The nasty you picked up is specifically blocking a list of sites that help you or let you download certain stuff. I’ve put up some tools on my web server that you can download (not tools I made - stuff like malwarebytes) and my server is not blocked by the virus. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/4 "2009-01-14T01:29:28Z")
Not surprisingly Dogmom’s links do not load. ☹ I will try to PM you ZipperJJ… but any other ideas? Am I really at running the recovery disk territory? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/5 "2009-01-14T01:38:17Z")
You might try running hijackthis and posting a lot at [http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/](http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/). If you need help getting it, PM me. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-computer-help/481123/6 "2009-01-14T03:51:22Z")
You might have better luck booting into Safe Mode first. You also might _not_, but it’s worth a shot. [Getting into Windows Safe Mode](http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm) Choose Safe Mode with Networking, or else Windows will not load the network drivers at all.