will restoring my pc get rid of viruses?

norton inernet security stops all my popups

I´ve done it before, and it saved mine from alot of spyware that infected it. The only thing you have know is, when did you get the problem, and restore before that date.

And take in to account alot of the things you´ve done since the date that you restore to will be lost.

Norton Firewall.

If I were you, I would just reformat.
Restoring will not get rid of them.

Have you tried adaware? It´s free, easy to use, & might get rid of the popups.
Try this link for download...

[link to www.download.com]

You might want to try downloading ad aware also before you restore. Its free and works really well.

[link to www.lavasoft.com]

What he said ^

pop-ups arent a virus--they are adware.

Read this fast (or copy and paste it to notepad), cause it will probably be deleted, and I´ll probably be banned for saying this here---

but get ad-aware, spy subtract, spyware blaster, spybot search and destroy AND microsoft anti-spyware.

also, use mozilla firefox rather than explorer

all are free downloads and although not 100%, are about 98% efective (in combination) in the war against adware and spyware.

Stop using internet explorer and try using firefox.

www.getfirefox.com

Use an antivirus like norton for example. Use spybot, search and destroy... for optimum help post a list of every running process on this board so we can see what you have running.

Wow! Thanks everyone. Lots of good advice. I´m running a gazillion spyware/adware/malware/virus/trojan/worm WTFE programs right now, so I´ll be busy for a while.

To the AC that requested nmy running processes, I would list them if there weren´t so many of them and if I could just cut and paste from my task manager.


thanks again everyone!

THIS FREAKIN SUKS!!!!!!!!!

Well I had bad pop up problems before but after using pop up blocker software the problem is now more or less under control. I still get some pop ups but nothing like before.

Just the other week I got a bad virus on my system by using the net so as my windows was dying on me I decided to try the system restore option and thankfully it restored my system to normal from before I got the virus. I´m not sure if the virus is still somewhere on my system, but nothing bad has happening since the restore.

Nuke the motherfuckers. Reformat your hard drive.

I´d get Spybot as well as Adaware. It´s also free and can immunize your system against the real nasties.

And stay away from porno sites, they download all sorts of bad stuff onto your pc.

have you downloaded and installed all the available Windows Updates....also check the custom updates as there are many there that are also critical

Would you believe....

That I´m having the same exact problem!!!

The source lies with your ActiveX settings. Those pop-ups will NOT be removed by pop-up blockers or antivirus software.

Go to your IE settings and increase security settings to disable ActiveX controls...

Or, if you are thinking like me, you will realise that IE is a HIGHLY vulnerable browser. Get 98 lite and remove IE all together..(that´s what I´m now about to do).

Use Mozilla or Opera instead.

That should solve your problems.

get a mac !!!!!!!! the hell with windows i have spent allot of money they are after window s not mac

Not everybody can afford two computers. Mac is nice, but you can also save money and switch to Linux instead.

Mandrake is a nice distro to go with...or Fedora.

You need to install spyware doctor, or one of those, also a pop up blocker and a virus protector. You need all three. I have all three and it´s worth the 150 a year. My problems were out of control and now they are minimal.

If you keep opening thoose agressive Spyware ladden free gay porno sites you will get pop ups all over .....

DARN ! its happening in all Catholic school computers lately ....

They must have hacked the vatican !

Google has a good popup blocker.

"You need to install spyware doctor, or one of those, also a pop up blocker and a virus protector. You need all three."


I did all that..

IT DID NOT WORK

Don´t waste your money. The problem is due to malicious code that is setting off ActiveX commands.

Uninstall IE and get Mozilla.

If you don´t listen to me you will regret it!

Like the little girl in "The Ring" it won´t stop and will overwhelm and crash your computer every time you try to use it.

You like the FREE gay porno sites, 1441? Not willing to pay for a little peek at some ass?

Four programs you need.

AdAware -- Scans and removes adware and spyware

SpyBot search and destroy -- Scans and removes adware and spyware that AdAware misses. Also blocks malicious sites from downloading crap to your computer.

Spyware Blaster -- Blocks malicious sites that SpyBot misses.

AVG Antivirus -- Free virus scanner/remover.

Also, if you want to, I run a program called Cookie Wall. It lets you pick and choose what cookies to keep or delete and remembers your choices.


I would stay away from Norton. It is bloatware and severly degrades system performance.

Also stay away from McAfee. More problems than it´s worth.

As for popup blockers, if you use IE you can try service pack 2. Just do a backup first. Otherwise try google´s search bar. It has a popup blocker and no ads. I use it and never a problem. I may get a popup once in a while but not like I used to.

As for a firewall either zone alarm or sygate will work.


To clean your system, disable system restore, restart your computer and go into safe mode. Do all your cleaning and scanning from there. Also run a program called "msinfo", in the startup tab will show you all the processes that start when windows starts. Do a search on the internet for each process. If the process is associated with adware/spyware/viruses uncheck the box next to it. You may also have to run the registry editor to permanently stop these processes from starting. Be VERY careful with regedit, you can really muck up you system with it.

To check processes that are running, press ctrl-alt-del. Click the processes tab. Do a search for the processes listed to see if they are associated with adware/spyware/viruses. Do this with windows running normally.

Some viruses cannot be removed by just deleting the infected file. Some have to be removed with a "removal tool".

It looks like you have a HTA registered in your windows registry.

Find and rename MSHTA.EXE, reboot and check whether the pop-ups are gone or not.

Save any critical documents before proceeding.

Idol I found two copies...

What is it used for?

Is it part of windows?

"What is it used for?

It executes HTML scripts with the same privileges as applications, in other words, HTAs can do whatever they want.

"Is it part of windows?"

Yes. Microsoft created it so people can build applications without the worries of compilation, libraries, link editors, and other programming issues.

Unless you use HTAs, it is generally safe to rename them. Avoid deleting it.

So if you plan to do Windows Programming, then it should stay..

"So if you plan to do Windows Programming, then it should stay.."

You can use Visual Basic, Delphi or C++ to build Windows EXEs, which are directly executed by the CPU. MSHTA.EXE is only required to parse and interpret the HTAs.

Visual Basic, Delphi or C++....

So, is C programming obsolete?

I don´t like VB.