Computer Hope
Software => Computer viruses and spyware => Topic started by: erosarrow on February 10, 2009, 04:11:20 PM
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Windows XP Media Center Edition, Dell computer... not sure on specs, sorry.
Info: It started with popups for anti-virus software, saying my computer is infected. I use Firefox, so I wasn't used to seeing popups and naturally assumed it was fake and didn't click on anything (except for closing the windows). My wallpaper was replaced with a warning saying my computer is at risk, something about a trojan horse or more. My 'My Documents" folder would open up multiple times, even when I wasn't doing anything on the computer.
Scanning using McAfee found items and 'fixed' them, but it never fully got rid of anything. Multiple scans one after the other kept finding items and nothing changed.
Finally, on the advice of the internet, I tried booting up in Safe Mode to scan from there. I clicked on my name, it said logging in, flashed to the safe mode screen for half a second, and logged me out. Same happened when I tried Administrator. Now when I try booting up normally the same thing happens (which is why I don't know my specs and why I don't have exact wording on popups or wallpaper).
I fear the only way to fix it is a complete system restore, but I have files on my computer I can't lose (and wish I backed up before attempting safe mode). Is there any possible way to get around the login screen so I can try to save my files? I could take it to a computer fixing business, but I don't want to spend that kind of money and don't trust them not to wipe all of my files.
The only answers I've found for similar problems is "run in safe mode"... which, as I said, can't be done. Any help at all (even suggesting places to take it to if that's the only option) would be greatly appreciated.
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Do you have a 'computer savvy' friend that could remove your hard drive / slave it to his/her system & get your data?
Alan <>< :D
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Ah, I heard that was possible... I have a couple engineer student friends who might know how to do that. Would their computers be at risk of getting whatever I have, though?