[flowergirl]

Hi Smart GEEKS.
I had un-installed my Norton thinking I could re-install it.
It wasn't letting me do the GO BACK. (I thought that might
help to get rid of my computer problem if I went back a few days.)

But now, when I try to run the disc,
it only installs halfway (to GO BACK) and STOPS.

Several have been really good about telling me how to get
rid of my spyware problem but I am CHICKEN as it is just
too complicated for me; a computer novice.

I am taking my computer to the shop on Jan 21. (While we
are on vacation to Florida for a week.)

Here is my question:
What can I do NOW to protect my computer from virus's?
I have Spybot and Ada-Ware but NO ANTI VIRUS protection.

Thanks
Janie flowergirl

Edited by flowergirl, 14 January 2006 - 04:24 PM.

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Hello flowergirl...

Try Avast...it's good and it's free. AVG is another good one.

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hello flowergirl...

Try Avast...it's good and it's free. AVG is another good one.

wannabe1

[gerryf]

Janie

http://service1.syma...=&osv_lvl=&seg=

There is a utility designed to remove norton antivirus that has been damaged by malware. After removing everything, you should be able to reinstall Norton without going to a computer shop

[dsenette]

Several have been really good about telling me how to get
rid of my spyware problem but I am CHICKEN as it is just
too complicated for me; a computer novice.

janie....i know what level you're at...but....i know you've got enough skills to do anything the malware guys tell you to do...just follow their instructions..i promise they won't stear you wrong

[flowergirl]

Dsenette, thanks for your confidence in me but I just
CAN'T do it; not when it comes to the 'innards' of my computer.

gerryf, I tried to download the site you said but it came up:
not a valid Win32 application.

I will try wannebe's ADVEST next.

I HAVE posted a thread on the Malware problem forum.

My computer has always been so clean and perfect;
not even pop ups and then I foolishly tried to download
REAL PLAYER update from a 'forward' that someone had sent me
that was a R RATED site. (Maybe it was X rated!)
Anyway, that is when my malware problem started!!!!

I can't keep my homepage but instead get C:\secure32.html
I have a continual popup from two red circles in my bottom taskbar
that says my computer is infected....I no longer have sound and now this:

I get a message that says: "WIndows only has 28MB free disk space and is
critically low"....when I go to programs I hardly have anything there.
I have very very little downloaded programs.
So why is it saying this? It says Systom Restore tracking changes can't
undo (can't read my writing for the next word)

So anyway, my computer is a MESS it seems.
I wonder if I should even be using it the next 3 weeks until I get it
fixed at the computer shop by GEEKS like you guys that know what they are doing.

Any help appreciated very very much.

[wannabe1]

Hi Janie...

I have to agree with gerryf and dsenette...you CAN do it. The folks in Malware are very good at what they do and have the patience of saints. If you still need assistance with the Norton problem after getting the malware cleaned up, you know we're here to help... (Besides, think how much you'll learn about your machine!)

The Avast will protect your machine while you work through all the other nasties it sounds like you've been infected with.

wannabe1

[gerryf]

try this

for whatever reason, your download was corrupt...try the above

[flowergirl]

I am just getting home so I am downloading ADVEST right now.
It is 11% finished.

Gerry, I clicked on TRY THIS and did the download.

I have it in my start BUT when I click on the icon to OPEN, I just get a quick
flash of a black screen with words at the top and it will not stay for
me to do anything at all. Do you understand what THIS problem is?

'Wannabe', what is SO EASY for you guys is hard for me.
I do things that would be HARD for you guys.
(Like germinating seeds into seedlings.)

There just seems to be so MANY little problems from this malware (or is it
called SPYWARE?) that I think I should have it PROFESSIONALLY cleaned up
by a GEEK that knows what he is doing....

I actually TEACH beginner computer lessons but they are entirely different
from computer technical problems.

Edited by flowergirl, 06 January 2006 - 09:31 PM.

[flowergirl]

It has been over 60 mins and my download is still
not finished. (above message) It is 90% done. (I HOPE IT WORKS)
It is sure going sssslllloooowwwwwlllllyyyy.

I have a question:
In the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel
I have 21 Windows XP HotFix starting in 2004
And 29 Security updates for Windows since then up
until the most recent in Jan of 06.

Can I delete the previous ones?
Will that give me more disk space???

Thanks...I am learning.

[wannabe1]

Hello again, Janie...

You'll want to keep all those Updates and Hot Fixes.

Are you on dial-up? Seems like your Avast download is taking a bit long... Keep us posted on your progress.

wannabe1

[flowergirl]

Thanks Wannabe...I thought I could probably delete the old ones.
Good thing I asked first.

Oh, on the AVAST download...it finished but

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

WHERE IS IT?....it just VANISHED.

It isn't as a desktop icon, not in my bottom taskbar,
it didn't say finished or ask me to install, it just finished
up to 100% and was gone...it is not in programs or
control panel.

WHERE DID IT GO...waaaaaaaaaaa
nothing is working right anymore.

I am frustrated.
I need a GEEK IN MY HOME AT MY COMPUTER!!!!

P.S. OOPS, edited to say YES I am on dial up
People PC at 10.95 per month.

Edited by flowergirl, 06 January 2006 - 10:48 PM.

[wannabe1]

What did you download with? Internet Explorer? Firefox? You might start another download and have a look at where it is being saved to...then cancel the download and look in the location it defaulted to.

wannabe1

[gerryf]

for AVAST, do a search for setupeng.exe

For my file, it is a zip file, right click and choose EXTRACT

[flowergirl]

Thanks Guys.
I was able to download AVAST...it is an icon on my desktop
and also a little swirly a in my bottom tool bar.

I ran the virus scan and it said I have several infections:
File C:\windows\soft.exe is infected by win 32: Hoaxalarm-k [trj
and
File C:\widnows\trzl.tmp infected by win 32: Hoaxalarm-k[trj]

File C:\Windows\system 32\trz2.tmp infected by Trojan file.
(Those two might be the same thing but the following seems different.)

I moved them to CHEST.
So ANYWAY, was that the right thing to do?

I have gotten that message that disk space is critically low on disc C
I am SURE it has something to do with this as I have very FEW programs
installed.

IS IT SAFE TO CONTINUE USING MY INTERNET TIL JAN 21 WHEN I TAKE
THIS *bleep* COMPUTER TO THE SHOP.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Janie

[wannabe1]

Janie...

Please download and install Everest Home Edition. Run it and generate a HTML report...Click "Report" on the toolbar, point to "Quick Report - All Pages", and select "HTML". Attach the log to your next post for me.

wannabe1

Edited by wannabe1, 08 January 2006 - 06:10 PM.