Lots of problems with internet explorer, firefox and my computer in general :S

[conormacklin]

hi everyone, I have recently started having a lot of problems with my computer.
I guess if I make a list it would be easiest =/
1. When I search something in google, it works alright in firefox, but if I click on any link it doesn't take me to the site, and the search is extremely slow. (in fact, my internet in general is much slower.) when I click on a link, it says "redirect" and goes to some weird websites, like one called moxiesearch.com and another called bediddle.com (other rubbishy search engines)
2. I have started getting a lot of popups.
3. Hotmail doesn't work; I can log in, but when I click go to inbox absolutely nothing happens.
4. I have tried to restore windows from an earlier point, but no matter what date I try fails...
5. A lot of websites display in a really weird way, when two weeks ago they were fine.. The text gets all crammed up into two lines so is completely illegible, and java applications don't work through the internet.

Thats all I can think of, apart from the computer runes a bit slower than usual.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks for taking the time to read this :)

[Bob_180_Bob]

A lot of problems can be fixed with a simple solution, please try to one or, if necessary, all of the following to try and get your PC working again. Start at the first, working your way to the last, that is, if you are able to access the programs shown. If you know your way around a PC, I am sorry for the full details but this is to help people that don’t know how.

Check Disk

1. Right click your disk drive icon (normally “C”),
2. Click “Properties.”
3. Click “Tools”
4. In “Error checking” click “Check Now”
5. Check the 2 boxes, “Automatically fix file system errors” and “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors”
6. Click “Start”
7. At the pop-up window “The disk check could not……” Click “Yes”
8. Re-boot your PC and allow disk checker to start. (Do not press any key before it starts)

Check Disk from Boot

1. Re-boot PC, after the single “Beep” tap F8 several times until the windows boot window appears.
2. Scroll to “Safe Mode with command prompt”
3. At command prompt Type “ chkdsk /f” (Note;- Space after chkdsk.)

Alternative Start Mode

1. Re-boot PC, after the single “Beep” tap F8 several times until the windows boot window appears.
2. Scroll to “Start with last known good configuration.)
3. Press “Enter”

Or
4. Re-boot PC, after the single “Beep” tap F8 several times until the windows boot window appears.
5. Scroll to “Safe Mode” (With networking, if you want to access the internet)
6. Press “Enter”

Verify Window’s Files

1. Go “START”, “RUN” type “CMD” Press “OK” or Boot PC into “safe mode with command prompt”
2. Type sfc /scannow /f (note:- space after sfc)
3. Windows file protection will check your files. Follow any prompts; you may be required to use your XP CD.
4. Re-boot your PC

System Restore from boot

1. Re-boot PC, after the single “Beep” tap F8 several times until the windows boot window appears.
2. Scroll to “Safe Mode” and press “Enter”
3. A window will open asking if you want to use “System Restore”
4. Select “Cancel” to enter “System Restore”
5. Ensure “Restore to an earlier time” is checked and click “Next”
6. Select an earlier date when your PC worked well. (Must be a highlighted date)
7. Click “Next”
8. Allow system restore and reboot.
9. Check to see if problem still exists.

System Restore

1. Go “Start”
2. “All programs”
3. “Accessories”
4. “System tools”
5. “System Restore”
6. Ensure “Restore to an earlier time” is checked and click “Next”
7. Select an earlier date when your PC worked well. (Must be a highlighted date)
8. Click “Next”
9. Allow system restore and reboot.
10. Check to see if problem still exists.

Clean Boot

1. Go “Start”
2. “Run”
3. Type “msconfig”
4. Click “OK”
5. Click “Services”
6. Check box “Hide all Microsoft services”
7. Click “Disable All”
8. Click “Apply”
9. Click “Restart”
10. System will reboot, Check if problem still exists. (Do not access the internet or open any file you are unsure of as you have no virus protector running.)
11. If problem is fixed, enable the disabled items 1 at a time until you find the one causing the problem. If not fixed, re-enable all and re-boot.

On-line Virus Scan

Go to one or all of these sites and do an online virus scan.

housecall.trendmicro.com

security.symantec.com

us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp

Check Malware

Go to http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe
and download and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

Check Spyware

Go to www.safer-networking.org and download and run Spybot

If you have not installed Service Pack 3 yet, do a Windows repair, if you have installed it, first try…..

Post a detailed report

Go to:- www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html download and run Hijack this. “Do not try to do any repairs yourself.” Save the report and send it with your next post along with any error logs.
To check error logs, go to “START” “RUN” type “eventvwr.msc” Click “OK” and check if there any errors in the logs. Include any information that could help:-
1. What were you doing on the PC when the problem occurred?
2. Does it happen every time you do this?
3. What progs are running as well?
4. What have you done to fix this problem?
5. How long has the problem been happening?
6. Have you installed/uninstalled or updated any progs recently?
7. Any other information that may help resolve your problem. Remember, no one here can see your PC; you are the only one that can tell someone else about the problem.

To Repair Windows XP from your XP CD…..

1. Re-start PC with XP CD in drive (Have your serial number handy)
2. As your PC starts press “F12” for boot menu (Or what your PC may ask for)
3. Scroll to and select “boot from CD.”
4. At prompt “Press any key to boot from CD” Press “Any key”
5. In the Windows XP Setup window, Press “Enter” to set up windows XP, (Don’t worry, this is a repair only, not a fresh install.)
6. At next window, Press “F8” to accept license agreement
7. Wait until windows displays your current version of XP and asks “To repair the selected windows XP installation press R”
8. Press “R”
9. Enter serial number when prompted.
10. Wait for files to be copied (PC will indicate 39 mins, it will take a lot less.)
11. When asked to adjust Regional language options, click “Next” as it is still set.
12. PC will re-boot.
13. If you have AVG Free, copy serial number to a file as you will lose it on repair. After repair a window will pop up asking how you want to treat AVG, Click repair and when prompted enter serial number.
14. Check to see if problem still exists.

[sittas87]

Hi friend

It sounds like you're infected with a virus/spyware. I'll recommend the following witch is great virus removal tools and has worked for a number of people on this site/forum

Use TRends and Glarys tools in combo

download trend micro's DOS application here (2.1MB) and the two essential pattern files namely lptXXX and sspdaX_XX(X means latest versions)witch you can find at the same site

extract/install the DOS application and the files in a temp folder(all inthe same folder) in the root of local disk,now go into safe mode and run the DOS application
??

Glarys Utilities
Download Glarys Utlities http://glary-utilities.en.softonic.com/

Cheers and good Luck
Do get back to me

[conormacklin]

Hi, thanks for all the help, I realised just after posting that this was wrong section so also posted in the virus section and they said essentially the same things as you. Had a lot of trojans :P
Anyway, thanks again!

[Bob_180_Bob]

If the problem is fixed, please mark as solved.

[sittas87]

You're welcome

Cheers