Korean Job Discussion Forums

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

OK. Yes, my pc is old and crappy (P3, 6GB hard drive, no idea how much RAM or any other important statistic) and I'm not any sort of computer guru, but I'm not 100% stupid either....I USED to know my way around what I was doing, but lots interest in computers after university....and, well, now I need some big help.

First off, I only need to get another 6 weeks out of this computer, and it is strictly used to surf the net, and use hotmail.

I am majorly infected, and it seems to be that the culprit is mIRC. I can't get it to go away. It's eaten into everything, and my virus program WILL NOT get it off. I was running fine until this week, but my old copy of Norton must have let me down, because major popups started, like 50 a minute.

In the past 2 days I have downloaded and installed Avast antivirus (which then wiped off almost ALL of my programs like Firefox, Messenger, kodak camera software, etc as they were all infected apparently) but it seems to be getting a dozen viruses every day (stopping them that is); Adaware, Spybot, Spyware doctor, and am now running Zone Alarm.

Since starting Zone Alram the computer is barely running. As I type, I wait about 90 seconds for the letters to appear on screen. (hence, many typos in this post). Anyone have any recommendations about this? I could not run IE at all with it running on startup so I have to manually start it up each time I power on, and race against the popups or else the internet connection won't work.

As for this stupid mIRC program, I've not installed it, it's just worked itself on here. It will not uninstall from the control panel but I am wondering if I can go into the registry and just delete it myself? Is that being very very naive? It seems to be the problem attached to the main virus I have (ummm, WIN.32.exe I thinik?)

Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of mIRC and how to make Zone Alarm not slow my copmuter down to pre-1990 levels? I've spent the last two days sitting here workign on this computer and I just can't get it to cooperate with me.......

Thank you, I really appreciate any help

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

The logical thing to do is reinstall windows.

Otherwise do this.

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Run spy bot search and destroy, avg virus scanner.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

There is a good post here which could really help you. Skip the part about restoring windows and go directly to disabling that function and cleaning your system in safemode.

You would also be well served by getting rid of Norton and Keeping AVG running on your system.

On the other hand, if your data is backed up and you have XP disks, it might be just as well to do a clean reinstall with the formatting option turned on. You could also take your data (documents, pictures, etc.), and put them onto a partition, thus saving them from the effects of the format.[/url]

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:04 pm Post subject:

I'm for the clean install. You've probably lost some important windows files that are causing windows slows or problems.

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I would suggest you ask someone you work with if they have a copy of win xp you could borrow for 6 weeks. Since you are already using a pirated version, no reason not to feel bad breaking MS's copyright a 2nd time Razz

I would have just done a fresh install too if I was you.