Problem with start-up

[Guest]

The other day I installed a program that my friend sent me, and I'm pretty
sure that in the process, received some unwanted Spyware. Now when I start up
the computer, before I can take any steps to get rid of the program, the
computer slows itself essentially to a halt (when I have the Task Manager
open, it says my CPU usage is 100%).

Is there any way that I can restart my computer, so that the programs that
have been messing my comp don't start up, and I can get rid of them?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

What was the name of the program you installed? Depending on what type of
program it is, it could interfering with Windows.

 

[Guest]

I forget what the exact name, but it was an Instant Messenger add-on that
translates what you type into various forms of slang

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

What happens if you uninstall the add-on? Does your system return to it's
faster speed? Messenger add-ons, of any kind, can slow a system down. A
spyware check wouldn't hurt - using these programs:

Ad-Aware - www.lavasoftusa.com
Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/
CWShredder - http://forum.aumha.org/downloads/cwshredder.zip
Spy Sweeper - www.webroot.com

Try SpyWareBlaster to stop intrusions:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Also see the following links:

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

 

[Steve B.]

The other day I installed a program that my friend sent me, and I'm pretty
sure that in the process, received some unwanted Spyware. Now when I start up
the computer, before I can take any steps to get rid of the program, the
computer slows itself essentially to a halt (when I have the Task Manager
open, it says my CPU usage is 100%).

Is there any way that I can restart my computer, so that the programs that
have been messing my comp don't start up, and I can get rid of them?

Have you tried starting is Safe Mode? Safe Mode skips most of the non
essential stuff and just gets you up to an operational system. You
can get in by pressing F8 right before the boot up process begins.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#02

Steve B.