Computer has a mind of its own.

[Guest]

Here recently, my computer has been acting like it has a mind of its own or
like someone else is controlling it. Programs and applications open and
close on their own. I will be on the computer or I will come back to it
after hours/days to find that programs have opened themselves up on their own
and started running. (Usually McAfee or AdAware). At the same time, my
computer speed has slowed down significantly. I have a 80GB hard drive (77GB
unused) and 256MB of RAM. I use cable/broadband internet service. It takes
forever for images to download off a new web page!
I faithfully update my virus definitions and run a full system scan. I also
run disk cleanup, analyze for defrag, clear my cache and cookies, and run
AdAware and Spybot weekly. I don't understand what could be causing these
changes in my computer.
Could this have anything to do with a program (Gamebar Toolbar for IE) that
for the life of me I can't seem to uninstall from my computer? Could this be
the result of a hacker? Has my computer been hi-jacked? Could I possibly
have a virus?
Please help me, I am a computer dummy. Hell, I'm not even sure if I'm even
giving the proper/adequate info needed to solve my problem....

 

[David H. Lipman]

1) Download the following three items...

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

Latest Trend signature files.
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

Adaware SE (personal free version)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Create a directory.
On drive "C:\"
(e.g., "c:\New Folder")
or the desktop
(e.g., "C:\Documents and Settings\lipman\Desktop\New Folder")

Download sysclean.com and place it in that directory.
Dowload the signature files (pattern files) by obtaining the ZIP file.
For example; lpt194.zip

Extract the contents of the ZIP file and place the contents in the same directory as
sysclean.com.

2) Update Adware with the latest definitions.
3) If you are using WinME or WinXP, disable System Restore
http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm
4) Reboot your PC into Safe Mode
5) Using both the Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware, perform a Full Scan of your
platform and clean/delete any infectors/parasites found.
6) Restart your PC and perform a "final" Full Scan of your platform using both the
Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware
7) If you are using WinME or WinXP,Re-enable System Restore and re-apply any
System Restore preferences, (e.g. HD space to use suggested 400 ~ 600MB),
8) Reboot your PC.
9) If you are using WinME or WinXP, create a new Restore point
10) Please report back your results

Dave






| Here recently, my computer has been acting like it has a mind of its own or
| like someone else is controlling it. Programs and applications open and
| close on their own. I will be on the computer or I will come back to it
| after hours/days to find that programs have opened themselves up on their own
| and started running. (Usually McAfee or AdAware). At the same time, my
| computer speed has slowed down significantly. I have a 80GB hard drive (77GB
| unused) and 256MB of RAM. I use cable/broadband internet service. It takes
| forever for images to download off a new web page!
| I faithfully update my virus definitions and run a full system scan. I also
| run disk cleanup, analyze for defrag, clear my cache and cookies, and run
| AdAware and Spybot weekly. I don't understand what could be causing these
| changes in my computer.
| Could this have anything to do with a program (Gamebar Toolbar for IE) that
| for the life of me I can't seem to uninstall from my computer? Could this be
| the result of a hacker? Has my computer been hi-jacked? Could I possibly
| have a virus?
| Please help me, I am a computer dummy. Hell, I'm not even sure if I'm even
| giving the proper/adequate info needed to solve my problem....