help with my computer?

[kizzo]

I have win xp sp2 and i am experiences several annoying problems. I use firefox as my browser now because explorer was becoming unreliable the more often i used it and now i get an xpcom event receiver error message when i shut down my computer and have to close it several times.

also, my AVG Anti Free finds multiple trojans on a daily basis.

and my computer always seems to freeze or lag when i open certain types of files like control panel or anything involving an explorer application i suspect. the lag or freeze then ends with the error report of eplorer.exe

any ideas?

[hyunelan2]

Time to wipe the computer out and start new. First, you've got a virus that is probably trying to propagate through the rest of your computer (why AVG keeps popping up). That eats resources and makes the computer slow.

Second, sounds like Windows is corrupted, if you are getting explorer errors.

If you have .mp3s or movies or any important documents, I'd copy them to a CD, then format your computer and start fresh.

[Munky]

Time to wipe the computer out and start new. First, you've got a virus that is probably trying to propagate through the rest of your computer (why AVG keeps popping up). That eats resources and makes the computer slow.

Second, sounds like Windows is corrupted, if you are getting explorer errors.

If you have .mp3s or movies or any important documents, I'd copy them to a CD, then format your computer and start fresh.

You forgot one crucial thing:

Stop going to porn sites.

[Pete03GLS]

google: CCLEANER

thats a very helpful tool. install it and then do a ISSUES SCAN and delete anything that comes up, and then do the clean system scan, or w/e its called. i forget, but its a good tool. ci fthat helps at all

[Munky]

google: CCLEANER

thats a very helpful tool. install it and then do a ISSUES SCAN and delete anything that comes up, and then do the clean system scan, or w/e its called. i forget, but its a good tool. ci fthat helps at all

No software/adware/whatever cleaner is going to rid the computer of a virus. All those do is give you a false sense of security while the virus continues to replicate. The only way to truly and safely get rid of it is with a clean sweep.

All programs like McAfee and Norton do are waste valuable memory.

If people were more careful with what they did while on the computer, you would never have a problem.

I haven't used a single virus-scanner, adware scanner, or firewall in about three years. Never once had a problem.

[Pete03GLS]

maybe none of the viruses are interested in a munkeys computer? :) lol
i used to have norton, but it expired, n i havent used it in a long time... i just do a simple scan with the program i mentioned and another 1, every once in a while.

[kylemorg]

You could also try http://housecall.trendmicro.com

They have a free virus / malware scanner that sometimes catches stuff that the installed programs miss.

[hyunelan2]

The problem with a lot of "cleaners" is they don't really repair anything. A lot of them can delete instances of the virus, but they don't repair possibly corrupted registry values or windows files - just delete the infected file.

Running an active anti-virus/anti-malware/etc program is a good way of stopping the bug from getting in in the first place (unlike Munky's thought that they are a waste). If I didn't have SAV corporate edition here, I'd have 50+ infected computers. Since I do, they are stopped before they get into the system. But I do agree with Munky that once they're in, a clean sweep is the best thing.

[Munky]

The main reason I don't screw with anti-virus/spyware is because I deal with computers on a daily basis, and I can easily get rid of anything I don't want myself.

I do agree that they can be helpful to someone who isn't as knowledgeable with a computer.

I just hate how they are huge memory hogs. McAfee alone uses what..11 processes?

[Ugzz]

no, hyun was right in his first post here, your beat.
even if you got the virus out, and you got all the spyware and such out (by all i mean what the programs would find and remove) your system will still be slow and crap.

You need to reload. and the next time around toss on spybot/adaware/ and a good antivirus. keep them all updated and run them one every few weeks. NEVER go to warez sights, download "smileys" or do lots of porn searching etc. you will end up just as infested as the first time. Do not install or click on things that popup and stay away from things like "free system cleaner, fix your computer!" and crap.

you need to just be mindfull of what you clikc and youll be fine. like munky said if you always watch what you click you dont need any spyware or virus protection.

also the best antivirus ive ever used is antivirus corporate, so get your hands on that if you can. the coporate is way better then the stanard or boxed versions..

so if its a store bought pc get your recovery discs out, burn all **** you want backed up. and use those recovery discs to start all over again. dont forget to update your windows once your back up either, that can let attackers and viruses in all by itself these days :P

then grab your discs and put your crap back on and your set.

if you dont have recovery discs call the company and get some, or get your hands on a windows xp cd (but it may not have all your drivers)

[kylemorg]

WTF are you guys talking about? I've had junk on my PC and got rid of it all. It's not rocket science, it just takes some perceverance.

Sheesh... maybe you guys are not as good with PCs and XP as you think.

[hyunelan2]

WTF are you guys talking about? I've had junk on my PC and got rid of it all. It's not rocket science, it just takes some perceverance.


You probably haven't had anything go very deep. Sure, it's easy to uninstall the "google toolbar" or other add-ons that are not extremely malicious. Once you get a computer with several different types of malware, it's easiest (and best) to just start fresh.

Sheesh... maybe you guys are not as good with PCs and XP as you think.
My business cards say otherwise :rolleyes:

[mlumz]

i am gonna second the reformat. i'm very good with computers and when u get a trojan/virus/worm infection they are a pain to remove unless u can find the exact registry/file and if u do sometimes it won't let u delete it because it has actually infected several places.

as for antivirus, yes they are memory hogs but for most people it stops basic stuff from the internet and now i like it because it has email scan so you make sure other people aren't giving you stuff.

i've a fan of norton internet security... it has protected many of my computers well. i also run ad-aware and pop up blockers in firefox, but nothing is fool proof.

Basically stop bootlegging music and downloading porn and it should stop most of the re-infection.

Trust me just reformat, it will be faster and it removes all the crap hidden files from old programs.

[ArunSenior04]

Its always good to reformat your pc every now and then (maybe on a yearly basis.) It helps by removing all the dead files, registry entries, drivers, etc that lower the efficiency of the machine. There's nothing like having a "fresh" reinstall (performance-wise).

Another thing you can do is to make sure that only vital files/apps are booting up on startup. You can run msconfig to make sure the the vital windows apps are running, and ur antivirusm, and that is all.

[Munky]

WTF are you guys talking about? I've had junk on my PC and got rid of it all. It's not rocket science, it just takes some perceverance.

Sheesh... maybe you guys are not as good with PCs and XP as you think.

I have, many times. Which is why I never use anti-virus programs or anti-spyware.

A clean sweep is always a last resort for me, meaning, no matter how many times I remove it, it still shows up.

as for antivirus, yes they are memory hogs but for most people it stops basic stuff from the internet and now i like it because it has email scan so you make sure other people aren't giving you stuff.

I don't need to worry, my ISA server takes care of everything to do with e-mail. As for the rest, just watch where you click.

[webflunkie]

I agree with all above who say just start over. For multiple reasons already mentioned such as it being the easiest way to get back to 'normal'