posted
At least i think it's a virus. What it does is open up the system32 folder every time i boot up my computer. Also, once in a while my antivirus will pop up that it found a virus and quarenteened it, and when this happens the system32 folder will pop up again. Now, from what i can tell it doesn't really do anything else. And it's been around for a while. But at the same time, my system32 folder is not something i want an unknown program playing around with.
Adaware and spybot don't get rid of it. running norton antivirus doesn't find it. i can't find it in any of my running processes. and it's really bothering me.
also, on a maybe related note. i have this "IE search bar" thing that i don't remember ever downloading, can't find where to get rid of it from, and every time i download the google toolbar something happens and it doesn't stay. although i think it's still installed, but not available as one of the options when i right click up on the IE toolbar.
posted
Have you looked for "hijack this"? I've heard that it's pretty good in getting rid of the special toolbars for IE.
Also, you might want to give Firebird or Opera a shot. At least you won't have to worry about fun little toys being installed without your permission.
Posts: 851 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
it's definitely not that. i've had this for weeks. and it definitely didn't come through any email. I think the safest bet is to just blame it on something my girlfriend did. Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Just download Ad Aware 6.0 and use it to strip all those unwanted toolbars off (it will only work to take away unwanted programs you already have -- not anything more you get after running it).
See if that helps. We use it a lot at work to take off stupid things that people put on their PCs. Then we just uninstalled Ad Aware when we are done with it.
It could be an installed program, but a virus is also a possible suspect. I wouldn't worry about it too much, if the AV seems to have it under control . . . but you might try running a more thorough scan of your computer if your AV software has that option.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
reference to a prank i had a minion pull in august. there was a pretty extensive description on the last grenme forum (or was that 2 iterations ago?).
if you read the thread, you might remember that i was seeking revenge against the person who installed a home made virus on bill's computer, mostly because bill's first reaction was, "i think my wife gave my computer a virus," even though there were 8 other people in the house that weekend.
Posts: 3956 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
hmmm...the majority of files that have been quarantined come from my content.ie5 directory. which i know is in my temp internet files folder. but which doesn't seem to exist when i access that folder.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Go to the "Folder Options" dialog in Windows Explorer (Open up your C:\ drive or any folder). (In XP this is Tools> Folder Options, but in older versions of windows, I think it was under the View menu.)
Go to the "View" tab.
Scroll down and make sure the checkbox is deselected next to "Restore previous folder windows at logon"
Posts: 1592 | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
that worked Nato, i went into msconfig and saw some suspicious stuff there. disabled it and the pc started up fine. thanks.
although i know this stuff still exists on my pc. i've just stopped it from running at startup.
Celia, i have a vague recollection of that thread. But i have this horrible condition, you may have heard of it. what it does is it makes me not really pay attention to stuff that isn't immediately pertinant to me. It's horribly disabling. Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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You should Google for the "suspicious stuff" and see if anyone else has had this virus and knows how to remove it.
Posts: 331 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Related question: my laptop has somehow contracted something that makes my homepage www.websearch.ne+ (url misspelled to not inadvertantly send any business to these jerks). I can change the homepage, but when I restart the computer, the websearch page returns. I'm embarrassed not to know how to get rid of this, because once upon a time I was really tech-savvy, but I'm not so embarrassed that I want to leave it there!
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Have you tried Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy?
Running through updated versions of both of those would probably get rid of it. If not, you could look through your startup list in the "msconfig" System Configuration Utility to see if there's anything that might look like it.
Posts: 1592 | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
That's definitely adware or spyware. Run those two programs, and if neither works check your add/remove programs list for suspicious stuff.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I looked through MSConfig and didn't see anything that stood out. I haven't done the adware or spyware thing. I guess I'll try that.
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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I'm embarrassed not to know how to get rid of this, because once upon a time I was really tech-savvy, but I'm not so embarrassed that I want to leave it there!
