Help with laptop computer virus

[99RangerKrazy]

Well, my laptop was working great for the past year I've had it. I went to jump on it real quick to look something up (I had just gotten off of it not too long before) and I open it up and there are popups everywhere and all of these virus warning popups are coming up. Great. I exit them all out and pull up my anti-virus program. Expired. (Except for the program that came already installed on the computer) Awesome. So I re-purchase the program (AVG). It's the newer version (AVG 9.0) and I downloaded the new version. Here's the problem - - - when I go to open the download, I click 'run' and then it asks for my permission to open it, so I click 'continue' and it begins extracting files. However, it only gets about halfway and then a popup comes up that says something like "the file __ cannot be opened because it is infected." So my computer won't let me open the file so I can re-install the anti-virus program. I've been messing with it for a couple hours and I can't figure it out. Is there a way to possibly turn off the computer's security features to allow me to open the file? I can't figure it out, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Computer is a Gateway, Windows Vista

 

[Nosetackle63]

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

I used the free version to get rid of all the nasty viruses on my Toshiba laptop. It works great!

 

[hoosier1104]

Use it for target practice if you can afford a new one or wipe it clean with a uncorrupted version of Vista but why not upgrade to 7 while your at it. I vote target practice because shooting stuff is so much cooler than fixing them.

 

[mini274]

i had this same virus rite before Christmas... i ended up buyin the upgrade windows 7 and deleting all the partitions when installing... trust me its 100 bucks and the only thing that works.. its more like a worm virus and it will keep getting worse the more you try to fix it... I couldnt even open up the internet to get my AVG upgraded... it wouldnt let me do anything... so if you have a vista disc do that but make sure no matter wat you do delete the partitions or the virus will still be their and keep messing your computer up...

 

[srteach]

What is advertised on the popups? If it is claiming you have a virus infection and wants you to sell an Anti-virus program, do a google search from a clean computer for the AV name and the words "removal instructions". First read ALL the instructions, then follow them exactly. This is a whole family of scareware (try to scare you into buying a worthless "AV" program) that is prevalent on the web.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

download microsoft security essentials uninstall your other programs it`s free

 

[kimcrwbr1]

As long as your versions of windows can be validated

 

[HareRazor]

I would definitely go with the malware bytes route first then try to get your virus scanner installed again. You might have to rename the installer file before trying to install it though as a lot of viruses won't let it run. Another thing to check is to make sure they didn't create a file association for .exe. Go to start > control panel > programs > default programs and look through that list for .exe. A healthy computer probably won't have one listed in there.

 

[srteach]

What is advertised on the popups? If it is claiming you have a virus infection and wants you to sell an Anti-virus program, do a google search from a clean computer for the AV name and the words "removal instructions". First read ALL the instructions, then follow them exactly. This is a whole family of scareware (try to scare you into buying a worthless "AV" program) that is prevalent on the web.

These scareware programs disable .exe, real AV programs, the Malwarebytes anti-malware program and all program installers. Follow the instructions and it will allow you to clean the problems without loss of data. I have done this many times for others (and I get paid to do it).

 

[AllanD]

And don't go to the websites that infected you in the first place.

But before you shoot a laptop and by a new one send it to me.

I'll shoot mine instead.

AD

 

[powerranger262]

Download adaware by lavasoft, not the knockoff one. This took care of it right away and it's free.

 

[Scotty J.]

There are a variety of "AntiVirus" malwares going around. HERE is a great site that discusses getting rid of the most common ones. It uses Malwarebytes as one of the tools, but most of the malware these days are onto malwarebytes so you have to try other avenues.

 

[r1hatman]

You could also try to restore your system back to when you didn't have any problems. That worked once for me. This is good and free to; http://sd-net.com/ I use Mozilla Firefox now and I haven't had any problems in about 6 months. Too many people don't like Bill Gates and Microsoft and the write viruses all the time just for Explorer, stay away from MS anything!

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Just got hit with the same crap!!!
If I could get my hands on the guy who wrote this piece of crap program I would pull his spine out thru his a$$ with a chain hoist!

 

[Scotty J.]

From what I understand, most are from Russia. These people should be thrown under the jail, but what you have to consider is this. They could be dropping less noticeable stuff on your machine that could make it a zombie machine for a distributed attack. There can be some ugly stuff being dropped on computers that people will never know is there.