Virus overtaken my computer -help!

[utmb]

My family computer, which I rarely use, has been overtaken by Asware, Spyware and viruses/trojan horses to the point where I cannot even use it anymore.

I have run Adaware, Spybot, and Avast! multiple times, each time it cleans up some stuff, but more problems keep coming. The computer is basically worthless now.

Any advice how I can rid my computer of this massive infestation?? I have never seen something like this before.

I have an older Dell P4 system.

I have a windows xp disc laying around, how could I just format the whole damn hard drive and start over??

Thanks.

 

[jmatt]

If you don't care about what's on it, the simplest answer would be to reformat and reload.

Some hints if you want to try to save it as is....

Spyware removal

Malware protection

HiJack This tutorial

 

[goofybevo]

Put the CD in the drive and let it boot from that. Then run the reinstall, but make sure you format it first, or it won't clean all the **** off there.

Nick, which other OS's are there?

heh

 

[goofybevo]

That's what I'm talking about. Penguin Power.

Go get 'em, Tux.

 

[spidey69]

I had similar problems and took a similar tact to getting out of it.

I may have run some combination of spybot and ad-aware 20 times each until I was in good shape. There was so much crap on my system, it was as if the programs were overwhelmed. I had to run ad-aware from safe mode to get at some of it.

System restore also helped if something got buggier after running one of the programs. Read help on system restore and start setting restore points before running either program.

Also, I ponied up for Norton which took care of the rest.

 

[goofybevo]

Actually, I don't run a Linux machine right now. I have a gaming computer I built that runs XP (ugh). And I have a iBook running OS X.

But I'm down with Linux. It's good people.

 

[AustinTejasFan]

sounds like you may also have peper trojan virus.

try this: The Link

 

[TXHookem]

Webroot Spy Sweeper works well in conjunction with the other programs and its also good to use CWShredder.

 

[schnarkle]

Mepis Rules

Just installed SimplyMEPIS-3.3.1 last week. It's great

 

[zork]

if you linux the virus/trojan writers win.

 

[schnarkle]

I've used them all over the years. Was primarily a Gentoo user and totally loved it... but when my system died I didn't want to go through the hell of another gentoo install. I like KDE better than Gnome, so Mepis is quick and easy. Plus I hate rpm based distros.

 

[mc gusto]

nerd!

 

[schnarkle]

sysadmin/webmaster at the Brownsville Herald.