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I'm not an IT pro, but I have fought off a bunch of viruses/spyware/etc. in 15-plus years of online computing. Now I'm facing something I can't cure on my own. It started with a Click.GiftLoad infection, mutated into a Google-redirect situation, and most recently has eliminated audio functions & refuses to allow me to install new programs like Vipre or Super Anti Spyware. I have run Spybot and Malwarebytes repeatedly, including safe mode, and CCleaner, which seems to have wiped out restore points prior to last week. Have done a few system restores. Quite likely I have made the problem worse. Attempts to reinstall Windows XP Pro SP 3 have failed as well. Any hints, suggestions or next steps will be welcome.
You probably picked up a rootkit. Run these free progs in EXACTLY the order listed
1- rkill.exe (kills the process so it can be removed)
2- TDSS Killer (helps to remove rootkit if found)
3-Malwarebytes (run a full scan again to remove any more infections)
Reboot your PC and see if the problem is gone.If the above 3 don't clean it up, then try these other 2 progs
a- Trojan Remover
b- Hitman Pro
Fix all they find.Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers
Google is back on line. Thanks. One small problem continues: Coming out of standby mode, the machine cannot set up a wireless link. Is that connected to the rootkit, or is it a Windows setting I can't figure out?
...and there is no audio device installed any more.
'Google is back on line. Thanks.' Which scans fixed that? Is this a desktop or laptop?
Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers
After running rkill and TDSSkiller, Malwarebytes found & fixed two problems. No redirect issues since. Although it's kinda quiet around here....
Sorry, it's a laptop. Dell Latitude E6400.
sounds great! Glad it worked for you, it will help others with silmilar problems. You may want to run the other 2 utilities I mentioned and fix all they find. Then ununstall them as they are 30 day trial fully functional progs Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers
Will do. Hope it helps others. Any clues on the wireless/audio issues?
I never use standby mode, I prefer to set all my power options to 'never' and just use a screensaver. On the other hand if it is a laptop, do the same if it is running on AC power, but leave the battery settings the way they are.
For the audio device, go to the Dell site and see if there is an updated driver...yours could be corrupt...hope that helps.
Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers
In Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices, no audio device is installed. Nothing for which I can download a new driver.
get a new sound driver from Dell like I mentioned earlier Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers
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