can't get any antivirus program to download

[Guest]

-I'm working on a Dell 2400 computer that was loaded with malware, spyware,
etc. There was no sign of antivirus programs, except I did find a reference
to McAfee.com with a couple of files in it (via Windows Explorer), but I
didn't see any actual program there. I finally managed to get AdAware on by
burning a CD using a different computer then running the CD on this Dell
computer. I was able to download Spybot on the Dell.- I was able to download
Grisoft's AVG virus program, but the installation kept failing, even when
done from a CD. (The CD worked on my own computer, so I know the actual
download was good.)
I also tried BitDefender ans TrendMicro's programs, but they failed to run
online scans. Then I tried to start running virus fixes that I already had on
floppies. I started with the Blaster fix; that ran, but then came up with
error message (encountered a problem..., Send/don't send to MS).
HELP! Any ideas out there?? Should I just go buy Norton and hope the bootup
scan works from the CD?
Barb Zakrzewski

 

[darkrats]

Maybe go here:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/

and click on "check for security risks" and you can do an on-line virus scan

 

[Guest]

Hi Barb,
I have a similar problem with Norton. The help you need is quite complex so
rather than give you a variety of "possible' solutions, I will tell you some
basic facts about Antivirus programmes and Windows XP.
1. Uninstall/reinstall anti-virus programmes leave quite a "trail" of
hidden/system files on you computer that simply "unistall' does not remove.
Then when you go back and try to re-install or the same or other anti-virus,
XP will interpret this as a "violation" of its OS.
2. Anti-virus like Norton, can only be installed/reinstalled for a given
number of times on the same computer. Then it will refuse to oblige and you
then need to get in touch with Symantec and they will help you in this area.
3. Most anti-virus like Norton, will display various "error messages".
Follow these links to Symantec for details. As I said, the procedures can be
quite complex, depending on your level of skill with computers.
Please write back, if any of this makes any sense.
(e-mail address removed)
Good Luck.

 

[Rock]

-I'm working on a Dell 2400 computer that was loaded with malware, spyware,
etc. There was no sign of antivirus programs, except I did find a reference
to McAfee.com with a couple of files in it (via Windows Explorer), but I
didn't see any actual program there. I finally managed to get AdAware on by
burning a CD using a different computer then running the CD on this Dell
computer. I was able to download Spybot on the Dell.- I was able to download
Grisoft's AVG virus program, but the installation kept failing, even when
done from a CD. (The CD worked on my own computer, so I know the actual
download was good.)
I also tried BitDefender ans TrendMicro's programs, but they failed to run
online scans. Then I tried to start running virus fixes that I already had on
floppies. I started with the Blaster fix; that ran, but then came up with
error message (encountered a problem..., Send/don't send to MS).
HELP! Any ideas out there?? Should I just go buy Norton and hope the bootup
scan works from the CD?
Barb Zakrzewski

For viruses, start with Trend Micro’s Sysclean. Download it and the
signature file. Turn off system restore, boot into safe mode and run
sysclean. Boot back into normal mode and run a full AV scan with your
normal AV program. Then turn system restore back on.

Trend Micro Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Trend Micro Signature File
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

You should also regularly run at least two of these online scans in
addition to your regular up to date AV program:

Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

Make sure you have a firewall active at all times. If nothing else use
the one built into XP, but there are a variety of free third party ones
that do a better job from Sygate, Zone Alarm or Kerio.

Sygate Personal Firewall
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=staticcomp_za

Kerio Personal Firewall
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

If you’re still having problems after running these then run HijackThis
and post the log to one of the specialty forums, _NOT_ this one.

HijackThis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Forums to Interpret HijackThis Logs:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I also tried BitDefender ans TrendMicro's programs, but they failed to run
online scans. Then I tried to start running virus fixes that I already had on
floppies. I started with the Blaster fix; that ran, but then came up with
error message (encountered a problem..., Send/don't send to MS).
HELP! Any ideas out there?? Should I just go buy Norton and hope the bootup
scan works from the CD?

I suggest a read of Richard Harper's
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

But if it is in that bad a state the most sensible course may be to
clean the disk right off and start over, this time installing one of the
good free AV systems (eg AVG 7 from www.grisoft.com) and ad-ware checks.

Norton will not do any better than free tools in cleaning a totally
corrupt system