Update issues, probably virus related

C

Cabanaboy

New Member
Doing some work on a family friend's PC. It is an OLD Compaq Presario. It is running Windows XP SP3.

They have the computer loaded up with a ton of games and other unnecessary media, but that's not my concern although it is slowing the PC down a bit. I am having an issue with the following:

1.) Cannot get Windows to update. I am correct in the fact that I need to visit Windows site to download XP updates?

2.) Microsoft Security Essentials. I could not get it to update, and I uninstalled and I cannot get it to download. Me thinks it is the doing of some virus I can't get removed. Not only did it say there was a connection issue during the update, but when I tried to go to the site to download it, the webpage comes up with the connection problem screen....all the while I am browsing articles on google in another window no issue.


I've run Malwarbytes about 10 times. I have removed 3220 total infections (ya...that number is correct) and the computer is alot better than 48 hours ago, but I need to get updates and MSE working before I feel safe completing the rest of the PC cleaning and repair done.

Is there another utility I can use besides Malwarebytes to find and remove infections?
 
Cabanaboy said:
Doing some work on a family friend's PC. It is an OLD Compaq Presario. It is running Windows XP SP3.

They have the computer loaded up with a ton of games and other unnecessary media, but that's not my concern although it is slowing the PC down a bit. I am having an issue with the following:

1.) Cannot get Windows to update. I am correct in the fact that I need to visit Windows site to download XP updates?

2.) Microsoft Security Essentials. I could not get it to update, and I uninstalled and I cannot get it to download. Me thinks it is the doing of some virus I can't get removed. Not only did it say there was a connection issue during the update, but when I tried to go to the site to download it, the webpage comes up with the connection problem screen....all the while I am browsing articles on google in another window no issue.


I've run Malwarbytes about 10 times. I have removed 3220 total infections (ya...that number is correct) and the computer is alot better than 48 hours ago, but I need to get updates and MSE working before I feel safe completing the rest of the PC cleaning and repair done.

Is there another utility I can use besides Malwarebytes to find and remove infections?
Click to expand...
Malwarebytes is usually for spyware/malware only but I would recommend a good antivirus/ISS program.... maybe AVG free version might do and also a good registry cleaner program might help.
In a nut shell I would personally start over with a format of hard drive and fresh install of software.

Your choice.... Cheers and best of luck.
 
make sure you have the new version of mse which is 2.0

i would strip the machine down to bare minimum software and start over

iobit security 360 is good malware cleaner and you can get a non install portable version

you can get most all updates via the microsoft update catalogue site

make sure you have service packs up to sp3, all up to date net frameworks which i think is version 4.0, some updates and software wont install without minimum xp sp2 and net framework 2.0 sp1.

finally all up to date windows installers i believe up to version 3.5.

once you have updated system, give it a good deep clean defrag, then run a full virus scan.

make sure the mse you have its the right version i.e. 32 bit or 64 bit.
 
Anytime malwarebytes picks up that many infections I'm always concerned about it being a virut or ramnit infection, which can't be cleaned. Windows must be reinstalled.

I would suggest copying and pasting part of the malwarebytes log so I know whats it found and deleted. Basically what I would like to see is part of the what was listed under "files infected" heading.

I would also recommend doing the following.

Please download and run the ESET Online Scanner
Disable any antivirus/security programs.
IMPORTANT! UN-check Remove found threats
Accept any security warnings from your browser.
Check Scan archives
Click Start
ESET will then download updates, install and then start scanning your system.
When the scan is done, push list of found threats
Click on Export to text file , and save the file to your desktop using a file name, such as ESETlog. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
If no threats are found then it won't produce a log.

The scan may take hours so be paitient and let it finish. Post the log back here when its done.
 
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