[DonnaB]

OK. The Java files you can not find are residual files left behind in the registry. Hm? JavaRa, huh? I see no indication of that in the uninstall list. That program is used to remove older versions of Java. Click on the JavaRa.exe and run the program. That should remove the residuals left behind. If the .exe doesn't open the program, right click, uninstall and reinstall from here. As with any software that you install, pay very close attention to any unwanted software that is offered such as toolsbars, scanners, browsers, etc. If you are presented with the opportunity to choose Custom Install, please do.

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I tried as you requested and I checked all the boxes to remove, it gave me the message that remove was "successful" but the folders/files still remain.  Can I just delete them?

[Denisejm]

I tried as you requested and I checked all the boxes to remove, it gave me the message that remove was "successful" but the folders/files still remain.  Can I just delete them?

[DonnaB]

Yes. Please do.

Subject to no further issues, allow me a bit of time to prepare a post to uninstall the tools that were utilized during this session.

[Denisejm]

Ok, thanks.

[Denisejm]

You mentioned WOT in one of your posts.  I installed it a while back for IE8 but it doesn't open with Firefox.  Is there a WOT program for Firefox?

 

Can you also give me a link for the newest version of Avast.  I'd still like to see if it'll work with IE8 and not crash my pc.

[DonnaB]

Yes! I am so glad you brought WOT to my attention. I did want to discuss that with you. There is an extension for Firefox and Chrome as well. You'll find that >>here<<.
 

Can you also give me a link for the newest version of Avast. I'd still like to see if it'll work with IE8 and not crash my pc.

I sure can!! I have been wanting to ask you if we could try and install Avast my way to see if it worked for you, but I didn't feel comfortable using you and your system for experimental purposes to curb my curiosities.

The version you uninstalled last Oct. was Avast 2014. Only thing different are the updates since then. Cross your fingers this has made a difference.

Here's how I would try it.

Download AvastClear.exe to your desktop if you have uninstalled the previous one.

Download Avast2014 from >>here<< to your desktop.

You may also want to download Avira to your desktop, just in case Avast does not work. This way you won't be surfing the web unprotected looking for a good download. You can get that download >>here<<

Disconnect from the internet....

Go to the Control Panel and uninstall Avira.

I see you have Revo uninstaller installed. You may want to use that after uninstalling Avira to remove any residual files that may cause conflicts.

Then install Avast, register, reboot and see what the results are.

If your system refuses to boot, boot into safe mode and use AvastClear to remove it as we did before, then reinstall Avira.

We will leave the tools installed for now. We may need OTL to have a look to make sure you don't have files from multiple AV's.

Please keep me informed to the results.

[Denisejm]

Thanks for the links . . .  i appreciate it.

 

I had a problem with Avast.  After it installed, it asked me to do a scan, I clicked on OK and my pc froze.  I did a reset and I got a black screen with the pointer arrow but nothing else.  It never booted to me desktop.  As you suggested, I went into SafeMode and used AvastClear.  It worked and I re-installed Avira.  I don't know what they did to Avast to cause this problem with x64 systems.  It seems like it should be a fixable problem.  I'll try again in a year and see what happens.

 

I installed WOT for Firefox and had not problems installing it and it's working with no problems.  I feel safer with it.

 

I'll check here tomorrow to see if you've written anything else but my pc is working very well now. 

 

Denise

[DonnaB]

Hi Denise,

Sorry for the delay. I was wondering...... You do have your heart set on Avast. Avast has a security suite called Avast Endpoint Protection. It is not free though was designed for servers, in particular. I am not sure it will run on your system and wasn't sure if you would want to install the trial version and take it for a run to see how well it behaved, if at all. You can install the trial version and if it does not work, you could just uninstall using AvastClear prior to removing it from you desktop.

Please let me know if you do decide to try the software and I would appreciate if you would share the results with me.

Double-click on the AdwCleaner.exe icon to run the tool again.

• Click on the Uninstall button.
• Click Yes when asked are you sure you want to uninstall.
• Both AdwCleaner.exe, its folder and all logs will be removed.

Next:

OTL Clean-Up

Right click on the icon on your desktop and choose Run as administrator to open the main window.

Next click on the button.

Once clean up is complete you will be prompted to reboot your computer. Please do so.

This will remove most of the programs we have used including OTL itself.


Next:

Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features and uninstall the following, if found:
ESET online scanner


Next:

On the desktop right click and choose Delete for the following programs/setup files, if found:

esetsmartinstaller_enu (ESET)
avastclear.exe
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
Security Check
JavaRa


Next:

Follow the path below and delete the folder(s), if found:
C:\AdwCleaner
C:\_OTL -> May be found in Downloads folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\ESET

If there are any left over tools or logs, files or folders on your computer please delete them now.


Next:


Clear Restore Points

Go Start > All Programmes > Accessories > System tools
Right click Disc Cleanup and select run as administrator
When it pops up at the first prompt select OK after it has done some calculations the tabs will appear
Select More Options tab
Press Sytem Restore and Shadow Copies Cleanup button


The above will flush out all the old Restore Points and keep the latest one we created. <--Very important

I'd like to recommend a program by OldTimer called TFC (Temporary File Cleaner).

TFC (Temp File Cleaner) will clear out all temp folders for all user accounts (temp, IE temp, java, FF, Opera, Chrome, Safari), including Administrator, All Users, LocalService, NetworkService, and any other accounts in the user folder. It also cleans out the %systemroot%\temp folder and checks for .tmp files in the %systemdrive% root folder, %systemroot%, and the system32 folder (both 32bit and 64bit on 64bit OSs). It shows the amount removed for each location found (in bytes) and the total removed (in MB).

Before running, it will stop Explorer and all other running applications. When finished, if a reboot is required the user must reboot to finish clearing any in-use temp files.
-- TFC only cleans temp folders.
-- TFC will not clean URL history, prefetch, or cookies. Depending on how often someone cleans their temp folders, their system hardware, and how many accounts are present, it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more. TFC will completely clear all temp files where other temp file cleaners may fail.

TFC requires a reboot immediately after running. Be sure to save any unsaved work before running TFC.

Instructions to install TFC:

Download TFC by Old Timer from here:

• First, save any files as TFC will close ALL open programs including your browser!
• Double-click on TFC.exe to run it. If you are using Vista/Windows 7 right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator.
• Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process and let it run uninterrupted to completion.
• Important! If TFC prompts you to reboot, please do so immediately. If not prompted, manually reboot the machine anyway to ensure a complete cleaning.

You are at a disadvantage running an outdated/unsupported operating system, which is now a recipe for disaster. Please take a moment to read the following links:

Windows XP, You Have Served Us Well

Survive the XPocalypse: 10 Tips to Keep Running It Safely

How can I use Windows XP safely now it's no longer supported?

And finally! Some more of my very own tips for safe computing:

• Make sure Realtime AV scanning is enabled.
• Don't trust pop-ups that tell you that you may have spyware on your machine. Most of these are money making schemes designed to get you to buy their removal product, which in some cases also contain malware.
• Make back-ups of your most personal files frequently by whatever means you have available, i.e. Tape, CD, DVD, USB Drives, Ghost programs, etc. You never know when you'll have to reformat and start from scratch and without current backups of your personal files, you're basically at a lose. You can always reformat and reinstall programs, but you cannot replace your data if you haven't made backups.
• Be careful where you "surf". If you know you are going to click a site that is questionable, then at least be intelligent enough to disable javascript, java, ActiveX installations, etc... You "surf" these sites at your own risk.
• Uninstall and quit using P2P networking programs like uTorrent, Kazaa, BearShare, eMule and Limewire. These are your most likely weakest links if you're using them. Primarily most stuff transferred is illegally obtained and if you won't give it up you eventually pay the consequences.
• Don't give access to your computer to friends or family who appear to be clueless about what they are doing. Otherwise you'll come home from school/work one day and your computer will be trashed.
• In my opinion, a PC is just that, a PC (Personal Computer). Don't allow your children to talk you into any Windows cracks, hacks, or tweaks that could turn your computer into an expensive doorstop.
• When in doubt -- don't download it and don't install it until you've researched it.

Here is a link that you might find interesting that will educate and enhance your online surfing abilities by Tony Klein and kept updated by our very own Corrine:

"So how did I get infected in the first place?"

If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask! Any member on this site will be more then happy to guide you in your quest for safe surfing and to prevent infection. It's been a pleasure helping you.

Happy and safe computing!

Donna

[Denisejm]

I got up to "Clear Restore Points" and stopped before I did this.  Java is being stubborn.  I can't seem to remove it unless I just delete the folders.  There are no uninstall files for Java and Java doesn't show up in Revo Uninstaller.  It does show up in other places tho as attachments.

 

What can/should I do?

 

I'll do the restore point after I hear from you.

 

Denise

 

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Attached Files

•  Control Panel - View x86 Control Panel Icons.bmp   1.07MB   345 downloads
•  Java - Add Remove Programs.bmp   1016.65KB   294 downloads

[DonnaB]

Did you install Java 7 update 60 updated version from the link I provided in this post or did you decide to just remove and not install at all?

Sometimes, if there is a corrupt uninstall, the best way to fix it is re-install then uninstall because some files that are essential to uninstalling are missing. Try reinstalling and using Revo. Does Revo find Java this time?

Let me know.

[Denisejm]

You had said

Go ahead and remove the Java that is outdated and install Java 7 update 60 if Java is a must have for you.

 

Since Java is no longer needed, I decided to uninstall it.  I went through Add/Remove Programs and uninstalled 2 Java items.  When I went back to uninstall the 3rd, it didn't have the option to uninstall and it's not listed in Revo Uninstaller either.

 

When I downloaded Java from your link today, installed and uninstalled, it didn't remove all the files again and it's still listed in Add/Remove Programs and it still doesn't have the option to uninstall.

[DonnaB]

You're right. Java is such a pain in the side. Go ahead and delete what your search found.

[Denisejm]

I deleted most of what Search found for Java but there are Java folders associated with C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\

 

I don't know why I'd have Apple files on my pc . . .  whether they were installed during Windows x64 installation or if they came with another program.  Do you know?

[DonnaB]

Have you ever had iTunes installed? iTunes was developed by Apple. If you have never installed iTunes, at one time or another some type of software that was developed by Apple had been and the Apple folder was created at time of installation. If you have no software associated with Apple installed, you could remove the folder. If you are not sure, might be best to leave it alone. No harm being done.

[Denisejm]

I don't remember if I ever had iTunes installed but possibly.  I left those Java files installed just in case they go with some program or other.

 

I did "Clear Restore Points" and read the links you provided.  I understand that XP is no longer supported by Microsoft but I like it and will stay with it until I need to upgrade due to XP Pro x64 no longer being supported by the internet.  I'm really not too concerned about viruses/trojans/malware and speed or the other gadgets in Windows 7 and 8.  I have just about nothing anyone wants (bank accounts, etc) on my pc and when I do have problems, people here help me fix them.  I usually don't go to websites that will cause problems and I'm usually very careful about what I download and from where.  The fake Avast website and the fake Firefox website really fooled me but it's not too often that I get fooled. Now that I have the ligit programs, I won't be downloading programs for a very long time.  Nobody but me uses my pc so I have no worries there.  The links you gave me were very good.  I'll use the info they offered for guidelines and keep it in mind for future reference and use.

 

I also ran TFC

 

Thanks, Donna for all your help.  It is so much appreciated and it was very pleasant working with you.  Take care and have a wonder summer !

 

Denise