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Urgent Help Needed - Spyware / Windows crashing
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| HardTranceProd |
Plase help - urgent assistance is needed:
I've recently had a lot of spyware/malware accumulate on my PC. I have Windows XP.
Now, however, it's gotten to a point where if I start up Windows, it gets to the "Welcome" screen (dark-blue/blue "Microsoft Windows is starting up..." screen), and then immediately reboots, without even reaching the desktop. This rebooting cycle keeps happening so I can't even do anything from the desktop, I'm writing this from Safe Mode.
Previously I've solved spyware issues by using System Restore, where you choose a day to return to and it moves you to a previous state. Now, even System Restore is ed. The buttons on the calendar (left/right) don't move and there is no restore point this month. I can't restore.
I bought my PC 3 yrs ago and I don't have the Windows installation CD. I have a lot of critical info on my hard drive and don't want to format anything without a lot of preparation.
What should I do???! |
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| Arbiter |
| Well, you can try running HijackThis in safe mode and removing just about everything (but keep a backup!) then see if your computer can start normally. Then, if it works, you can try restoring anything you want from the backup. Beyond that... put the HDD in another computer to copy the files you want to keep, then reformat and buy a new OS (sigh). |
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| gtron |
before Windows launches, press F8> 'Start the computer using the last known good configuration'> run multi spyware killers
if that doesn't work...
before Windows launches, press F8> 'Safe Mode'> run whatever spyware killer you have
if that doesn't work check back in |
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| HardTranceProd |
I only have AdAware which is from like 2003. I don't know of any good modern (free) spyware removal tools.
But I'll at least try the 'last known configuration' from F8. |
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| kid nyce |
ad aware is still very much available these days. it's actually been upgraded pretty heavily since 2003 so I suggest you update you're scanning engine and definitions as soon as possible.
As for the rest, try the above I'm sure these guys can figure it out. |
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