RandyL

Antivirus and antispyware. The Windows firewall is ok but you could opt for a better one. For free antivirus you should go with Antivir or Avast. For free antispyware I use Spywareblaster and Windows Defender. For free firewalls are user choice. Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Recommended Security products I hope that gets you started bob.

Uninstall the Kiwee toolbar and restart your computer. Follow all the steps in our guide to remove malware. Once those two things are done reinstall AIM if needed. Your computer could be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Required Cleanup StepsDisable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

Thank you mark for your kind words and your donation. We are sure glad that all is well again. The guide that we use is one that the entire team is confident of. It has served many well. I would also suggest at this time that you look at a short list of products that we have also agreed on being effective. Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Recommended Security products

Chilli if it's what we think it is this is a tough one to remove. Try running our guide and hopefully it will work. If not repeat the SuperAntispyware and Malwarebytes scans from safemode. Required Cleanup StepsDisable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

I use SpywareBlaster too but Spybot is not a blocker but rather a scanner. An outdated and inefficient at that. SAS will find more.

You're like me. Even if it's not a problem you can't live with you still want to know why. I like that. I still suspect one of the senders that have forwarded it has done so from an AOL account. View the senders in the email header and it might give you some insight. On a slightly different tact I would like to make a suggestion for you to pass along. It's always better to pull the body out of the email and add it to a newly created email rather then just forward it or forward a forward of a forward from a forward etc. etc. There are reasons for this. For one thing everyone in the whole world doesn't see all the recipients address from the beginning of time on these forwards. Another reason is major scrolling or opening until you get to the original email depending on what clients or web mails people use. It also reduces major clutter. Besides just being good manners to do it this way it will also help ensure the mails get sent and recieved properly. If there is a problem it then becomes easier to isolate it. And as a final note I tend not to even bother opening forwards or multiple forwards as it's just a nusance for no reason usually. Next time you get one of these ask for the email to be sent as a new email instead of a forward to see what happens. Keep on learning sir.

OK so the Music link points to the right place again. The registry shows it correct too. So that part is fixed again. Unforunately you are back to square one with this second music folder reappearing again. Does the properties work in both folders? What is in both folders? It seems something is calling this folder back. It could be a backup program you have or some other third party program that deals with music. At this point I suspect the latter but I have no idea what that might be. Maybe someone else has an idea.

Thanks for the update Ron.

I take it that your home PC is a desktop. If you don't want to buy a caddy you can buy a Laptop 2.5" to Desktop 3.5" IDE Hard Drive Adapter Converter. This is because one uses 44 pins and the other uses 40 pins.

It's been a long time but I have got some in the past that resembles your issue. All I know is that the original sender was using AOL mail. Not the people that sent them to me. The original emails that were forwarded were AOL. I can't remember the exact details but I think it might have shown as an attachment. Sorry I can't offer more.

Sheldy you will need to burn it as an ISO or image file. What burning software do you have?

Hi Faz Double check to see if all your cables are secure. Running fixboot and fixmbr from the recovery console are two other options.

Hi Tom; First of all you should never use two real time antivirus progams at the same time. Three different things you should try here. 1. Uninstall AVG and try to update Avast. 2. Reinstall Avast if that doesn't work and try to update again. 3. Use the following guide in case an infection is blocking the updates. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Required Cleanup StepsDisable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

Well that is not good at all. Short of re-installing Windows a reg fix may be needed. I have been looking into this. First of all I would double backup the registry. Create a restore point. That is one way. Open regedit and click on the upper most hive to highlite it. Computer would be the safest. Click file>export and save it to the desktop for a location. Make sure it has a name and a .reg extenstion even if you have to add it. You should now have two backup possibilities. What we do from here depends on what we find out about your system.

That's ok for now. When you click on properties you should see some tabs at the top. One of which should say "Location". I understand you say you don't see much there but by any chance do you see that?

Sorry shrimply. I'm not in the normal Vista view at the moment. My mistake. I'll see what I can find or figure out. Just out of curiosity do you have the Navigation Pane enabled? It's usually located at the left side of your screen.

That's it. You're going on my naughty list.

Are you on dialup? This would cause some performance issues on web browsing while downloading updates.

I don't understand shrimply. Can you please explain what you mean by music link?

We know Acer systems well. We have suggested the options. We have also supplied you with the Acer pdf file manual. These are your only options. Read what we have said to do the reinstall. If your hard drive is bad then we have also given you the options on that. Your additional information is conflicting and leads us to belive that you are not being sincere. At this point we suggest to buy a full version of XP.

So now you have 3 recovery disks? I thought you said you only had 1.

I hope you come to see us on your birthday. Happy Birthday.

When I was a child I thought as a child. It was all about getting a few select toys. We didn't have a lot of money but I was still over joyed. As I grew a little older it was about the songs and the decorating and the whole experience. As a young adult it was just about getting paid time off from work. And then my life turned. As things went bad and I lost everything important to me Christmas turned into a time that I wanted to ignore. But my family and friends would have none of that and made the days better then ever. And then my life got better just before another Christmas. I was beside myself as I was once again on top of life and celebrated by buying gifts to those that had helped me. Since that time I have rejoiced in helping others enjoy the holiday just as others helped me. They rarely know my name but I was there anyway. In the past few years I have been lucky enough to watch my grandson grow to 5.5 years old this Christmas. Sure he likes the toys but it's the whole experience he enjoys the most. He loves to decorate and loves to sings the songs. Just like I did. It warms my heart to help him enjoy it. He is also asking the usual questions. Is Christmas pretend? Why do we have Christmas? Is Santa real? I was prepared to answer thanks to my life. Yes Virginia. There is a Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to all. Let the spirit live all year long.

Keep an eye on it shrimply to make sure. Also keep those files backed up.

Good idea. Better safe then sorry. I wish you well. Let us know shrimply. Vista is very different so we learn together.