PC shuts itself down when using search

[richieswift]

Hi guys,

 

My PC was recenlty hit with MS Antispyware 2009 virus. Have you heard of this virus? It is one of the worst I have ever come across.

 

Anyway, I have run anti spyware programs and virus checkers to get rid of it and I thought I was sucessful in doing so.

 

However, I am certain that there is still a spybot somewhere in my PC.

 

I am running some more virus checkers as we speak to try and get rid of it.

 

So that's the background.

 

The other issue I have, which is probably related to this, is that my PC restarts itself without being told to.

 

I am on Windows XP by the way.

 

When I go to search for files option on Windows and start typing in the name of the file I am searching for the PC restarts itself.

 

How strange is that? I don get any warning that the PC is going to restart, It just does it without warning.

 

I suspect there is still part of the virus program not fully deleted from my PC.

 

When you remove a virus, part of the process of removing it is to search for the bogus file by using search.

 

I suspect that part of the virus program is instructed the PC to shut itself down if the user tries to search for anything.

 

As I said at the beginning of this email, I am running a few virus checkers to try and get rid of it.

 

I just would like to know from you guys, if you know any other reason why the PC would restart itself when the user tries to do a search using the search function?

 

Thansk for any help, I am very grateful.

[DirtyPolo]

Hey Rich,

 

In answer to your first problem about the virus, although running your own scans is good,

we recommend that you follow our Anti Malware steps aswell sot hat then we can understand where you are with scans etc.

 

This may also help cure your other problems too.

 

Here are the steps:

 

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.

 

We would be grateful if you could please note the following:

• Please disable your resident security applications (such as AVG, Spybot, WinPatrol, etc.) before performing the below procedure so that they do not interfere with the process.
  
• Perform all the steps in the order listed to avoid any conflicts.
  
• If unsure, please stop and voice your doubts.
  
• You might be required to go offline during the disinfection process. Therefore, it is recommended to print them down for ease of reference.
  

If you stick to the above guidelines, all should go smoothly.

 

• STEP 1
  
  • Download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune.
    
  • Save the file to your Desktop.
    
  • Double-click on the file to run the program.
    
  • On the Main tab, check the Select All button.
    
  • Next, click on the Firefox tab (if active) and check the Select All button.
     
    Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Firefox, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
    
  • Now, click on the Opera tab (if active) and check the Select All button.
     
    Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Opera, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
    
  • Press the Empty Selected button and click OK to acknowledge the corresponding prompt.
    
  • Click on the Exit button to quit the program.
    

   

  [*] STEP 2

  • Please click here to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
    
  • Save the file to your Desktop.
    
  • Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
    
  • At the end, make sure a check mark is placed next to:
    
    • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      
    • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      

     

     

    [*] Click Finish.

    [*] The program will download and update itself if it finds the necessity to do so. Please allow this.

    [*] Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.

     

    Note: Depending on your computer specifications, the scan may take some time to complete. Please wait patiently and do not interrupt the process.

    [*] When the scan is complete, click OK, and then Show Results to view the results.

    [*] Make sure that every entry is selected, and click Remove Selected.

    [*] Restart your computer.

   

  [*] STEP 3

  • Please click here to download SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Version).
    
  • Save the file to your Desktop.
    
  • Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
    
  • Open SUPERAntiSpyware.
    
  • Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
    
  • Click the Scanning Control tab.
    
  • Under Scanner Options make sure the following fields checked:
    
    • Close browsers before scanning
      
    • Scan for tracking cookies
      
    • Terminate memory threats before quarantining
      

     

    [*] Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.

    [*] On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.

    [*] On the left, make sure you check mark C:\Fixed Drive.

    [*] On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.

    [*] Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.

    [*] After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK.

    [*] Make sure every entry has a check mark next to it and click Next.

    [*] A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then Finish to return to the main menu.

    [*] Restart your computer.

   

  [*] STEP 4

  • Please visit the ESET Online Scanner, using Internet Explorer to initiate the scan.
     
    Note: If you are running Windows Vista, then you will need Administrative privileges to complete the latter part of the procedure. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select the Run As Administrator option in the shell context menu.
    
  • Check mark the YES, I accept the Terms of Use box.
    
  • Click the Start button.
    
  • Click the Install button on the following screen.
    
  • Click Start. This will will initialize and update the scanner engine.
    
  • Check mark the box beside Remove found threats.
    
  • Click the Scan button. This will start the scan. Please be patient while it is in progress.
    
  • Restart your computer.
    

   

  [*] STEP 5

  • Click on Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and select System Restore.
    
  • Choose the radio button marked Create a Restore Point on the first screen and click Next. Give the restore point a name then click Create. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a note of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.
    
  • Next, click on Start > Run, type Cleanmgr and click on OK.
    
  • Click on the More Options tab.
    
  • Click the Clean Up button in the System Restore section to remove all previous restore points except the most recent one.
    

   

  This will remove any infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in "System Restore" are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only foolproof way to ensure the deletion of those files.

   

  Note: Please don't use it on a regular basis as this will clear all previous restore points. The feature might be very useful to revert your computer to working condition if something goes wrong.

 

Re-enable all your security applications and please return here and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

 

Happy Safe Computing! http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/../images/additional-smilies/thumb.gif

[richieswift]

Thank you so much for your help and assistance.

 

I will do exactly as you suggest and reply back to let you know how I got on.

 

Thanks again for your help and swiftness of your reply.