Let me start off by saying that I know there have been many “help, I’ve got spyware” posts lately, and I’m sorry to ad to the deluge. I really did search previous posts to see if any of them would solve my problem (and this MB is how I found out about Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy, which helped me remove spyware a few months ago, so thanks for that) but none of the stuff recommended is helping me now.
I run AdAware every time I use my computer, and recently it’s been finding the same files practically every time, no matter how often I delete them. I run Spybot Search and Destroy fairly often too, and it finds a whole different set of files (real comforting, that…) and I delete those too. But I still have massive numbers of pop-ups that appear even when I’m not opening web pages, random words that highlight on all web pages (including the SDMB) that link to ad sites, and web pages load reaaalllly slowwwly, too, which never used to happen. For what it’s worth, files that the above two search engines spot every time include “dealhelper” and “clientman.” I can’t remove either of those two programs via the “add/remove program” option in Control Panel either – my computer won’t let me remove them!
Finally, I think, screw this. I’ll just use System Restore and restore to an earlier, happier point in time before this evil crap infected my lovely computer. So I click on “System Restore,” pick a sunny April day, cross my fingers and hope for the best.
My computer shuts off, takes its sweet time in turning on again, and I get this message:
**Your computer cannot be restored. No changes have been made to your computer. To choose another restore point, restart System Restore.
**
Huh. In the upper right corner is a “help,” button, and as I’m clearly in need, I click on it. I get this helpful clarification:
**
No changes have been made to your computer. System Restore was unable to restore your computer to the specified restore point. Select another restore point and try to perform the restoration again.
**
Ever one to listen to helpful advice, I try once more. Anyway, nine restore points (and not one successful System Restore) later, it dawns on me that this may not actually work.
So, to my computer, I have to say this: Listen, bud, only one of us is boss here, and it should be me, not you. Unless you’re going to go crazy like HAL and start killing people, in which case I’ll be quiet and let you go about your business, I think you should let me delete any damn program I feel like, and I think you should restore when I tell you to.
P.S. Yes, I know, I should switch to Mozilla, and I plan to, I really do. I’d like to get rid of all this crap on IE first. For what it’s worth, my brother has Mozilla and says there are a few (rare) web pages it won’t open, so I would like to keep IE as a backup, which I can’t do if it pops ads up all over the place and all the rest of the crap it’s pulling.
P. P. S. This is in GQ for a reason, actually. Anyone with any helpful advice is welcome to respond. Commiseration is welcome as well.