Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

Erm no,

Run something like spybot or adaware and install Microsoft Security Essentials.

This could have been sitting on your machine for a while.

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

+1 I'd be surprised if it hasn't infected your restore points

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

This virus has the ability to electrocute you, don't touch the keyboard! In fact don't go in the same room 'cos the mouse will run across the floor, up your trouser leg, and ram itself up your rrrsss so quick, you'll be the one doing the squeaking. If you have your Mum on Windows Messenger, go round to her house and shoot her, you'll be saving the rest of the planet from hemorrhagic fever, the film 'Outbreak' is nothing compared to this mutha! :rolleyes:

I can only assume most of the so called "IT guys" on this thread are all in cahoots to wind you up, because how they could possibly post the advice posted if it were in all seriousness, based upon the information you gave, completely beats me!

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

Odd, thats normally the most powerful / best at removing those kind of things.

Even if you've done a restore. I'd be worried you havent got rid of it, they are normally sneaky b*stards and take some cleaning off. Which is why I suggested the full monty i.e. format and restore.

I'd be inclined now you have it running to run malware bytes again or try adware or the other one is spybot search and destroy. Dont be so sure you've got rid of it...

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

download a few of the anti spyware jobbys, one at a time and try them, just cos one didn't pick anything up doesn't mean another won't. I use super anti spyware, as well as microsoft security essentials, but they don't always pick every thing up, download from filehippo.com, hth

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

Done the Spybot Search and destroy thing and alls well. :) That virus was less painful than the common cold :)

Now you watch it come back and bite me in the ****! :)

C

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

Some of the early variants of this type of malware where nothing more than an executable and a run on startup registry entry, which created the pop up every 30 minutes, then took you to website to enter your credit card details if you clicked on "buy" the software. So long you had the sense not to buy the software, the malware itself was pretty harmless to the PC, just annoying pop ups. It could be that was all you had. You'll soon find out.

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

I had this and with the use of tips via a search on google, managed to get rid of it for the most part but my laptop never really recovered. Lots of lagging. I saved all my media etc and then wiped the HD reinstalled windows as well as a partition for Ubuntu. I do most of my internet trawling now via the Ubuntu and only go back to windows for office etc. Works well for me.

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

I've got Linux Mint on my media centre PC, recommended by someone on here. It only gets switched on occasionally to watch iPlayer or a DVD, so I was fed up of it doing half an hour of updates to Windows, Anti-Virus and every other bit of software every time I switched it on.

Re: XP holding me to ransome
 

Same here.

If ubuntu had any office software that actually worked I'd be laughing, seems openoffice and the like are fine for the person who does next to nothing, or the uber-geek who does everything... but complete sh*te for the person who's about in the middle!

Only other thing I use windoze for is solidworks.