computer help: I’m no novice at computer use, I’ve had my fair share - Help.com

did you try via “Safe Mode”?

hmmm…
Im not sure how to…
but what type of info or crap does the popup display?

If you download ProcessMonitor from Microsoft you can watch what’s running and figure out where its files exist.

Go to microsoft.com/downloads and download the latest Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Run it. Then check out the hosts file and see if something is hijacking it. Then go to start > run > netsh winsock reset catalog. Reboot.

Let me know if that helps.

hurley7 wrote:
i dont know what too look for in process monitor there is 30000+ results and i dont know what to put into the filter

It’d be easier if you killed all the running programs you can first, then see uses the registry the most while nothing is supposed to be running or when just one program hosting malware is running.

Hmm… unfortunately I don’t have a Microsoft system so I can’t easily guide you through it step-by-step… that’s just what worked fastest for me in fixing other people’s mysterious-virus problems. Perhaps following the Mayor’s advice will get you there much quicker.

I found this at one of the first google results for anti spy knight:

“Antispy Knight manual removal:
Kill processes:
antispyknight.exe
HELP:
how to kill malicious processes

Delete registry values:
AntispyKnight
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\antispyknight
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{D3C91983-DDCC-4586-9FE2-78E856 0470CF}
HELP:
how to remove registry entries

Delete files:
antispyknight.exe
HELP:
how to remove harmful files”

You did mention it as one of the problems though. Did you search the registry for that term?

hurley7 wrote:
yes i mentioned it because it is the trojan that tells you you need to download anti spy knight

Yeah, I know. That’s what those removal instructions are for. They may be totally inaccurate as to where things actually exist but the general malware-style is usually the same.

just ignore me if I’m babbling. I was looking at other posts.

‘processexplorer’, part of the same sysinternals group of programs may have been the easier one to use.

I think the most important thing is to not take it too personally, don’t let yourself get too frustrated by the machine. You’re running Windows, it’s buggy and insecure, that’s just how it is. Things screw up, crash, you can fix it, or wipe the hard drive or reinstall the OS. It all doesn’t have to matter too much, it’s like a game in itself.

That’s my words of wisdom, take it for whatever it’s worth.

I know what that bug is but I suggest that you get a legit copy of you office system and reformat the pc. That way you will get all of the options that you should have. Hope this helps :-)

My suggestion (If you plan to reinstall)
- Boot from an external device. In my case I use a portable version of linux on my flashdrive.
- Copy all the things you want to save to an external device. In my case I would use my 500gb hard drive. (costs about $100)
- My Documents, Favorites, and Desktop is all I keep, but you may need more.
- Reinstall the OS with a proper copy. For me it would be Windows XP with SP2.
- Run all the critical updates to Windows - keeping your computer up to date is the most important thing in protecting against viruses (If you have had problems with SP3 you can skip that one) I install Microsoft updates and install/update everything except the new Microsft Search tool that slows down my computer.
- Created a backup image of your computer. I own Ghost, so I would use that. But there are others that would work.
- Install your security programs - For me it would be Spybot and CCleaner. So far I haven’t had a need for anti-virus software. I do regular reinstalls of my computer, and am constantly updating my Ghost image so that re-installation is easy.
- Update your security software - Especially if you install anti-virus software.
- Create another backup image of your computer.
- Install all the internet programs you use. For me it is Flash, Shockwave, Acrobat, Java, Picasa, Chrome, Talk, Quicktime, and Silverlight.
- Update the internet programs.
- Create another backup image of your computer. (You can clean out the original one if you are sure you security software hasn’t effected the speed of your computer.)
- Install Office (I use OpenOffice.org), and all the other software that you think is most important.
- Run Updates.
- Create another image.
- Use your computer like you normally would. Surf the net, install demo software, test beta software, chat, email, …
- Continually backup your documents, pictures, music to your external device.
- Reinstall you computer with your latest image when you computer gets bogged down with to much stuff and/or installed programs.
- Run updates again.
Repeat the last four steps as much as you like, depending on how you use your computer.

Why would anyone so so many backups when you installing your programs after new install? It automatically makes a restore point so you don’t have to do any of those images until your finished installing all of the programs. Must have a lot of free time on you hands LMAO. Hope this helps :-)

It is just how I do it. The computer does the work for me. I am usually working on other things while it is being ghosted. I have had issues with system restore so I don’t use it anymore. It used to take me hours to fix a computer problem, now I just copy my data (that isn’t backed up) and reinstall. The most time I will spend on a problem is 15 min now.