My PC is probably about 6 years old and was in the "affordable (cheaper)" bracket when i bought it. I use it for internet browsing and more recently for processing digital photos through canon software and Photoshop. It runs on Windows XP and i had to upgrade the memory about two years ago from 512Mb to 2.5Gb to run photoshop.

In the past few years it has become infected with viruses about 3 times (the latest one yesterday). I have AVG, but this latest virus seems to have got past and disabled it somehow as it is not functioning properly.

Each time i try to find the infected file and remove it, the computer stops working correctly, i.e. some function will stop working. Last night i loaded avast and it didn't install properly. I ran a virus cscan from boot and it found infected files in the system files. Then when i went to install AVG again it downloaded but refused to run it.

I am in the unenviable position of having to reboot, again, from scratch and then reinstall all my software and documents/ photos etc which i have backed up.

This generally takes up to 24 hours and i will do it, but i want to know do newer computers with newer operating systems fend off similar viruses. And if a newer machine does get a virus is it quicker, easier to get back to pre=virus condition?

I was thinking about a new PC but it wasn't even on my priority list until yesterday.

Thanks

Colm

If you've somehow managed to get a rootkit virus then you'll just be reinstalling onto a bad system and that could be the cause of your ongoing problems.

Could it also mean that some of your backup is infected?

I don't think buying a new PC will sort out your particular problem though.

Best way I've found to stop viruses getting in in the first place:

Make sure your Windows is up to date with Windows Updates

Install Microsoft Security Essentials (Free)

Use Chrome or Firefox with Adblock Plus

And last but not least.....

Don't simply click yes to everything that comes up on your computer.

If something then still manages to find its way in, try using Malwarebytes

If you've somehow managed to get a rootkit virus then you'll just be reinstalling onto a bad system and that could be the cause of your ongoing problems.

Could it also mean that some of your backup is infected?

I don't think buying a new PC will sort out your particular problem though.

From memory i have two options of rebooting my PC, one is from a partition and the other is from scratch. I have had to reboot from scratch in the past to ensure the system is as delivered from the shop. At least i have the opportunity this time of being proactive and making sure i have all files backed up before reinstalling everything.

Best way I've found to stop viruses getting in in the first place:

Make sure your Windows is up to date with Windows Updates

Install Microsoft Security Essentials (Free)

Use Chrome or Firefox with Adblock Plus

And last but not least.....

Don't simply click yes to everything that comes up on your computer.

If something then still manages to find its way in, try using Malwarebytes

Thanks for the advice. I have looked up some threads which have recommended Microsoft over AVG so i think when i am up and running i will give it a try. Also, hopefully the Google chrome or similar may fix the slow browsing and freezing my wife has complained about recently.

I try not to click yes to everything that appears. only when it is relating to a programme i am running which says it needs it do i click install. I do allow automatic updates from windows though. I have tried on many occasions to go through the programmes list and remove the ones i don't need, but it's not always clear what is needed and what isn't.

Thanks

Thanks for the advice. I have looked up some threads which have recommended Microsoft over AVG so i think when i am up and running i will give it a try. Also, hopefully the Google chrome or similar may fix the slow browsing and freezing my wife has complained about recently.

I try not to click yes to everything that appears. only when it is relating to a programme i am running which says it needs it do i click install. I do allow automatic updates from windows though. I have tried on many occasions to go through the programmes list and remove the ones i don't need, but it's not always clear what is needed and what isn't.

Thanks

Once you have Chrome installed, make sure that you install Adblock Plus. This will block a lot of compromised sites loading before they have even got to you.

From memory i have two options of rebooting my PC, one is from a partition and the other is from scratch. I have had to reboot from scratch in the past to ensure the system is as delivered from the shop. At least i have the opportunity this time of being proactive and making sure i have all files backed up before reinstalling everything.

I'll await further input here but my understanding from this reply is that your reinstall (from scratch) is actually from a separate partition on the single(?) hard drive that you have?

If there is already a rootkit virus then it will be active at switch on so any re-installation will also have it.

As I said, I'll await confirmation from someone who's had one of these blighters (maybe Sam's suggestion eradicates it?) and see what their thoughts are.

It is possible that your recovery partition has been infected as well. Rootkits are ******s to get rid of though by design, seen several where I work (IT Support, so seen just about everything under the sun). Some tools that can help get rid of them:

Trinity Rescue Kit (bootable, read-only Linux CD with 4 or 5 different AV programs on, this will scan your HD 100% as the rootkit can't load if you don't boot from your built-in hard drive)

Sysinternals Rootkit Revealer

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware

Microsoft Security Essentials (which IMO would be very good even if it was a paid program, even better since it's free for home use).

I've got rid of any infection from rootkits to annoying fake antivirus popups with a combination of the above, but it can be pretty time-consuming...

Best way I've found to stop viruses getting in in the first place:

Make sure your Windows is up to date with Windows Updates

Install Microsoft Security Essentials (Free)

Use Chrome or Firefox with Adblock Plus

And last but not least.....

Don't simply click yes to everything that comes up on your computer.

If something then still manages to find its way in, try using Malwarebytes

+1

And to add to that never use Outlook to get your email. Always use a web based email client. That keeps the viruses at arms length.

And get a free firewall like Comodo if you don't have one on your router.

http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

It's nothing to do with having an old computer. Mine is 8yr old and I've had about 2 viruses in that time none of which have managed to do anything.

The wife has destroyed it a couple of times with Itunes but that's another story.

I'd suggest reformatting an starting again. If you suspect you have a rootkit you might have top try something like this - http://forum.soft32.com/windows/Removing-Rootkits-Boot-Sector-ftopict341659.html

To clear out the boot sector.

The (partial) install of Avast i managed to download ran a sweep when the pc was booting up (blue screen) and found a number of infected files in the the Windows System files i think. I was reluctant to delete these as i thought i would permantnely disable my machine.

Once i get all my data backed up safely should i run malware/ avast etc (if my pc loads them) and remove/ delete all infected files?

I suppose i intend to reinstall from the cd which came with my PC (as far back as i can) so i have nothing to lose.

The last time this happened it started with one of those redirecting viruses which meant i could never find the web page i asked for. That managed to get through AVG and nothing i did could get rid of it.

This time around and surprise surprise i am having the same redirecting issue in the browser. Not sure if that is linked but rebooting from the recovery disk was the only way i got rid last time.

Before you rebuild try combofix http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix

I have found this to remove most things. If this does work, remove AVG and install MSE. Then run Malware antispyware and see if this pics up anything else.

Finally check the firewall is on and windows up to date with SP3 and all the hotfixes.

Do yourself a favour and bin AVG. From mine and friends and family's experience is crap. Everyone I know who's used it has gotten a virus without AVG even batting an eyelid.

1st step is you need to know what it is you're infected with, and anything loaded on the machine is compromised. So bin AVG now as it wont be protecting you any more.

Next run Trend Micro's house call from their website. Nothing is loaded on the machine, so it cant be messed with.

Report back what it finds before we can assume your machine is safe enough to load on any removal tools.

+1

And to add to that never use Outlook to get your email. Always use a web based email client. That keeps the viruses at arms length.

And get a free firewall like Comodo if you don't have one on your router.

http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Comodo possibly the most paranoid firewall known to man. I fixed a friends laptop which had comodo installed and pretty much attempting to access any web page or start any program lead to crazy pop ups warning that the sky was about to fall upon your head. I assume it protects you merely by making you spend 3/4 of your time clearing messages threatening impending doom.

Next run Trend Micro's house call from their website. Nothing is loaded on the machine, so it cant be messed with.

I would disagree. It's trivial for a proper rootkit (i.e. one written by someone who knows what they're doing) to patch/replace various built-in API calls once it's been loaded by booting Windows, and therefore just as easy to hide your rootkit from an online based scanner as it's still using those standard APIs to access your disk even if it's not installed onto the computer.

The only way to be sure is use a bootable CD such as Trinity which doesn't boot your Windows installation and therefore doesn't load the rootkit at all.

I've managed to do ok tbh, had one in the past though that wiped me out completely. If you do however find you want a new PC, drop me a PM as I've got a machine I want rid of and will easily last you another 6 years .

Suggest get a second machine, like a laptop, which you can just use for internet stuff.

Your main machine with photoshop keep disconnected from internet.

Failing that, get an iMac (virus free system) and use Photoshop Elements 6 or higher, which is pretty much on par to Windows Photoshop 7 (I use both), on my iMac.

Trouble with 'Windows' no matter what system it is, it will always be wide open/ prone to some type of virus, new ones every year it seems.

Processor speeds are just being wasted on anti-virus running programs.

Argh. Pet hate. Macs AREN'T virus/malware free. Bad things do exist for Macs, and if people like you keep spreading that opinion then it's only going to get worse, as more people buy them and assume they're safe just because they're on a Mac and don't bother running any virus protection.

Really grinds my gears, that one.

Argh. Pet hate. Macs AREN'T virus/malware free. Bad things do exist for Macs, and if people like you keep spreading that opinion then it's only going to get worse, as more people buy them and assume they're safe just because they're on a Mac and don't bother running any virus protection.

Really grinds my gears, that one.

+1

ANY computer is susceptible to viruses.

Update:

I was out most of yesterday evening, but i did give Malwarebytes a go. I got onto the internet, downloaded Malwarebyte, and extracted and installed it onto my machine. All went well and i went through the usual programmes menu, found the linked and clicked to open it. Then, as with AVG, and all other such programmes over the past two days, i got an error message. This one said something like i do not have the permissions to open/run. I did try to open other programmes such as photoshop and Picassa which all still run.

So, not only does my computer have a virus or two, now i can't even run anti virus software to find and remove it.

Back to the last resort of rebooting from scratch and then installing the aforementioned programmes to check my system.

Suggest get a second machine, like a laptop, which you can just use for internet stuff.

Your main machine with photoshop keep disconnected from internet.

I was going to reply and say that isn't really an option, but the more i think about it, the better it sounds.Howver, i tend to upload photos to photobox for sharing, storage, prints etc. So i would need the internet access on my PC as i can't imagine transferring photos back and forth from PC to a lap top.

Oh, and i just remembered, my wife uses the PC 99% of the time and only for internet browsing. It stays in the study away from the kids, so no doubt if i had a lap top, i would never get near it and the kids would have it wrecked. I will give it another few years yet. Maybe even pick up a cheap second hand lap top for internet.

As Gavin has mentioned earlier, you really need to get someone to burn you a bootable CD to do your checking from.

You don't have your profile filled out so I can't see where you're from, but if you're from Nottingham/Derby/Leicester (at a push) then drop me a PM and I'll bring it to work and sort it properly for you.

If you can't run the AV scan at all, try using RKILL before you run the scan. It will terminate the processes of a lot of known malware, (hopefully) allowing you to run the full scan.

You don't have your profile filled out so I can't see where you're from, but if you're from Nottingham/Derby/Leicester (at a push) then drop me a PM and I'll bring it to work and sort it properly for you.

Will update profile now, but unfortunately i'm across the water in Northern Ireland. Thanks for the offer though.

Softscoop, i am in work now, but i will try that link when i get home. I am 99% sure like the other programmes, it will downoad and install, but won't run. If it doesn't, i will post up the error message. Following that it will be back to the recovery CD.

If you know how to back up and then re-install windows then crack on

It's like nuking the site from orbit, "it's the only way to be sure"

You can spend many hours chasing down nasties and never 100% that they are gone.

Re-format on the other hand, one solution fixes all problems

Tried to run the system recovery disk last night with very little success. The first few occasions nothing happened. I then cleaned the disk and it got so far (started partitioning) and crashed. Eithe my PC has issues with it or the CD reader is touchy. i brought the cd into work and it opens fine.

I will make a new copy and try again this evening.

By the way, the error which came up when i tried to run the recovery disk was "Windowsroot>\System32\hal.dll. missing or corrupt" I am hoping this was because it couldn't read the disk.