How to clean an infected computer?

[Athena]

Hello,

My computer is infected with a virus. I do not know which one but
certainly it is a bad one:

1. I cannot boot to safe mode
2. Critical zone alarm files are erased
3. I cannot run on-line virus programs (trend micro, Karpersky). It
stops them.
4. Process explorer finds no suspicious looking process.
5. I cannot install ZoneAlarm, AVG
6. I cannot restore the system back to a restore point (even a week old)

Any help? Thank you.

Athena

 

[Eric Parker]

Hello,

My computer is infected with a virus. I do not know which one but
certainly it is a bad one:

1. I cannot boot to safe mode
2. Critical zone alarm files are erased
3. I cannot run on-line virus programs (trend micro, Karpersky). It
stops them.
4. Process explorer finds no suspicious looking process.
5. I cannot install ZoneAlarm, AVG
6. I cannot restore the system back to a restore point (even a week
old)

Any help? Thank you.

Athena

Hi Athena

I'd take the hard disk out and put it in another machine, that is not
infected.
Boot up the non infected system.
Backup any valuable data from the infected hard disk.
Scan the infected hard disk with as many AV scanners as possible.
Return the hard disk to the original machine.

Hopefully it will be more under your control now.

The other alternative (and safer) is to start afresh with a new install
of Windows (?).

Eric

 

[foghollow]

Hi Athena

I'd take the hard disk out and put it in another machine, that is not
infected.
Boot up the non infected system.
Backup any valuable data from the infected hard disk.
Scan the infected hard disk with as many AV scanners as possible.
Return the hard disk to the original machine.

Hopefully it will be more under your control now.

The other alternative (and safer) is to start afresh with a new install
of Windows (?).

Eric

Or get a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD For Windows, boot from it, then run your antivirus.

What might in the end be simpler, is to boot from your Windows CD, install a new copy of Windows
without destroying the old one, boot into the new Windows, then do all the cleanups, after which
you may be able to use the old Windows again.

Or just save any data files you want to keep and then wipe the whole thing and start fresh.

 

[Athena]

Thank you all who clearly explained what to do.

I am going to format the infected drive and install clean XP OS. I am
then going to
copy data form that drive into an USB drive. After I have a clean system,
I need to use the data in this drive. Can I safely run an anti-virus program
on
this drive? This is data-only drive, there is no OS in it. Can I be sure I
can clean the data in this drive and use afterwards safely? Thank you very
much.

Athena

 

[foghollow]

Thank you all who clearly explained what to do.

I am going to format the infected drive and install clean XP OS. I am
then going to
copy data form that drive into an USB drive.

Uh... copy the data to USB _first_, coz it won't be there after you format!

After I have a clean system,

I need to use the data in this drive. Can I safely run an anti-virus program
on
this drive? This is data-only drive, there is no OS in it. Can I be sure I
can clean the data in this drive and use afterwards safely? Thank you very
much.

If you have a clean system with up-to-date AV, the files will get scanned as you copy them back
anyway. But it would be a good idea to explicitly scan the USB drive first.

 

[De Zundappmuts]

Go to www.symantec.com and find the removal tool for your virus also you can
scan your computer on line and clean it on line.
Janus