|
How to delete a virus - How to delete Spyware - Virus Removal - Spyware Removal
Step One - The Easy Route: Rule #1 - Never Reboot your Computer. If you think you have a virus DO NOT REBOOT your computer. Rebooting allows the virus to do all sorts of Damage. Instead you want to follow the steps below and Run as many Scans with Real Antivirus and Antispyware as you can. Rule #2 - Never Install more than 1 Antivirus at a time. Once your done scanning with 1 Antivirus, uninstall it, then install the Next one to scan with. But when you uninstall an Antivirus program, it may ask you to Reboot, just choose reboot later and then install the next one. Remember, NEVER REBOOT unless you have scanned with a few real antivirus programs and feel comfortable that the virus is gone or at least disabled to some effect. Now that you know the rules, you can continue with the steps below.
If you have a trusted antivirus, or antispyware program installed update them and run a scan with those programs first. Make sure you turn up your scan settings before running a scan. (example: turn on scanning of archives, turn up heuristic scanning, turn on scan hidden files and alternate data streams) If you DONT HAVE ANY Antivirus or Antispyware? - Skip to next step.
IF YOU CANT DOWNLOAD or UPDATE your Antivirus or Antispyware, read this! If you cannot download because you are unable to get to the download site then the virus maybe blocking you from reaching those websites, Click this link for help on how to handle viruses that will not let you download antivirus or antispyware software.
IF YOU CANNOT INSTALL ANY PROGAMS, including Antivirus and Antispyware go here for more instructions.
Step Two - Still Easy: Before using or installing another type of Antivirus or Antispyware. Run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool.
- For Windows XP - You can run it by going to start, run, then type mrt.exe and hit enter. (Go ahead and update it if you are prompted then reopen it)
- For Windows Vista - You can run it by going to start, then type mrt.exe into your search box and hit enter. (Go ahead and update it if you are prompted then reopen it)
After opening the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, click next, then choose"Full Scan" and hit next to start the Scan. Let it run until it completes and follow any instructions it gives you. Once the scan completes you can continue with the steps below if the virus is still on your computer. If you are having trouble opening the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, you can go to your System32 folder and find it and open it from there. Just double click on Mrt.exe in the system32 folder and it will open. The default location of mrt.exe is in c:\windows\system32\mrt.exe
If your antivirus and antispyware failed to remove it all. You can still take the easy route for now. Keep in mind that its not a good idea to run more than 1 antivirus or more than 1 antispyware on the same computer. With that said, you will want to uninstall your current antivirus and antispyware before installing anything else. This way you dont get some sort of computer error. Then download one of the items from the links below. Scan with only 1 program at a time, uninstall it, then use the next program.
WHICH ONE do I choose? You can install all of them. Just install 1 at a time, then uninstall it after your done scanning and install the next one. This way you can avoid any new issues from conflicting programs. But remember one thing, if you've had problems with your system locking up its do to other antivirus or antispyware programs conflicting.(this is not serious) This means that 1 of the antivirus or antispyware programs are conflicting with one another. In this case uninstall all antivirus and antispyware except the 1 that your trying to scan with should be uninstalled. Drop us and Email if you need help. Then run the new software you installed.
IF YOU CANT DOWNLOAD or UPDATE your Antivirus or Antispyware, read this!
If you cannot download because you are unable to get to the download site then the virus maybe blocking you from reaching those websites, Click this link for help on how to handle viruses that will not let you download antivirus or antispyware software.
Step Three - Still Pretty Easy: If you still cant get rid of it. You can boot your computer into safe mode and then run your programs again. In safe mode antivirus and antispyware programs tend to remove stubborn viruses but not always. If you still cant remove it in safe mode skip to the next step, or email us and we will be glad to help you from there.(Try to include the name of the files you cant remove)
HOW TO GET INTO SAFEMODE? Shutdown your computer completely.(No sounds, no lights, no nothing, dead computer) Then start your computer up and immediatley start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Just tap the F8 key repeatedly until you come to a screen with options. These options will include safe mode. Chose regular safe mode not safe mode with networking. Your screen will show you a black screen with a bunch of white letters and sometimes this screen takes mintues to get past. Eventually windows will start and you will logon as usual. You will be warned that windows is running in safemode and simply click continue to finish logging into windows. Then your free you do as your please. (Note: some brands of antispyware and antivirus will not run in safemode)
Step Four - Easy Enough: If you have Windows XP Home, you will have to find your files that you are not able to delete. Then right click on the file that you want to delete. Choose delete. If you are not able to delete it. Try going into your taskmanager and ending every program your find listed under the processes tab, but only end the programs that dont say system, local service or network service in the username column, and dont end task explorer.exe or taskmanager.exe After you end all the programs, if you still cant delete that file, you can email us for free help. (Include the name of the files you need to delete). Just click on the contact link at the top of the website. If you have Windows XP Pro of 2003, you need to open my computer. Then find your files that you are not able to delete. Then right click on the file that you want to delete. Choose delete. If you are not able to delete the file. Try going into your taskmanager and ending every program your find listed under the processes tab, but only end the programs that dont say system, local service or network service in the username column, and dont end task explorer.exe or taskmanager.exe If after you end all of those programs you still cant delete that file. Open My Computer again select Tools at the top of the page. The select Folder Options from the tools menu. In the next window select the View tab at the top. Under the View tab scroll down and uncheck "Use simple file sharing". What we just did was disable simple file sharing. We can do this temporarily. Now we have the option to deny permissions to files. So find your files that you are not able to delete. Then right click on the file that you want to delete. Choose properties this time. In the properties window choose the security tab at the top. Then the advanced button on the security window. Now your in advanced security settings. Here we want to make sure the check box for "inherit from parent the permission entries.... " is unchecked. When asked choose copy after unchecking that option. If you accidentally clicked anything else, follow these instructions by clicking here, then pickup where you left off. If you clicked copy then continue on with highlighting each of the user names / entries that are in the list except the everyone entry and chose remove. Now highlight the everyone entry and choose edit. Then click uncheck all, followed by putting a check in the delete check box only. This way no one on the computer has any permission to this file, except to delete it. Now save your settings and exit by clicking OK on all of the open windows. restart back into safe mode and find your files again. This time right click and click delete. Your file should now delete. If not email us for help if needed. Although if you denied all permissions to the file like we have shown you. The file has been rendered pretty useless.
* If you clicked anything other than copy and cleared out your list of entries to deny permissions. Then click on the add button to add another entry. After clicking add click on the advanced button on the next screen. Again a new screen appears and we need to click the find now button. From this list select the everyone entry and click OK on every screen until you get back to the "advanced security settings" screen. Then pick up where you left off in Step 4 of the instructions.
Step Five - AVANCED USERS ONLY:
ADVANCED USERS ONLY - The links below are for Anti Rootkit Programs. Anti Rootkit programs can help in finding and removing stealthly malware from your computer. ASG recommends that only Advanceded users attempt the use of Anti Rootkit programs. The reason is that Anti Rootkit programs sometimes give you a 1 click link to delete files from your computer that can severly damage your computer if you do not know what your doing.
ASG Anti Rootkit Programs
|
Remove Malware
