Virus on computer! Help please

SpyroFanatic · Nov 21, 2009 3:14 AM

Bleh, I have another virus on my computer. This time, it won't let me open ANYTHING and if I try to, an error message pops up saying: 'Application cannot be executed. The file taskmgr.exe is infected. Do you want to activate your antivirus software now?' I'm lucky I got on Mozilla Firefox fast enough. I can't even open cmd.exe or taskmanager >>

Help please?

~Ika

Vistnaulmus · Nov 21, 2009 3:31 AM

Reformatting your computer is the only thing I can think of.

bmah · Nov 21, 2009 6:41 AM

Have you tried deleting the virus in safe mode? Next time you boot up your computer, keep pressing F8 until you're directed to the option of going to Safe Mode. And choose "Safe Mode with Networking" so you can work online as well. Basically, you can do your research on the internet about how to get rid of the virus (or figure out your problem in general) and make that attempt without the virus interfering with your programs. Obviously, if you try to go on the internet through the regular mode, the virus will interfere and you'll have a hard time trying to even access the internet.

I've also contacted Microsoft help desk in the past and they really do get the job done. Typically though, it involves potentially long waits and usually some guy from India to help you out, but the guy on the other end usually knows what to do.

I once had a virus that within seconds eliminated any window I open that involves task manager or system32. It's pointless trying to click faster than it deletes your window. Get rid of the virus in safe mode instead.

Neotyguy40 · Nov 23, 2009 3:54 AM

Umm... Isn't there something where you could just make Windows fix the file automatically?

Cesna · Nov 23, 2009 4:18 AM

system restore.

Neotyguy40 · Nov 23, 2009 10:14 PM

Yea, just press the system restore button and you're good to go!

Naegling · Nov 23, 2009 10:40 PM

I had a similar problem once and we had to call dell. we got a guy from india that said that it was the canadian help desk. we called again and got another guy from india saying that it was the us help desk. my dad couldnt understand a word he said so he handed the phone to me. i could acctually understand him and the terms he was using to describe the computer. i had it fixed in no time. they are very helpful. ironicly a few days later we had the same problem again but i could fix it on my own. it made me laugh how much of a geek I was.

RedDragonX · Nov 24, 2009 6:32 AM

System restore and you'll be good as new

midget_roxx · Nov 25, 2009 1:39 PM

It's a strange virus. Perhaps it's just your computer since the point of a virus is really to steal information (most of them). If it is a virus you've obviously taken down your firewalls or been downloading stuff thats dodgy to let something this serious get in tongue

Just go into safemode, run your virus scanner and it shouild pick it up. If it doens't use Ad Aware 9 and Spybot to look there. Also delete your temp interent files

This seems a bit more serious though and would have to get itself into the system files, which again you must of done something to download a virus :s

dragon protector x · Nov 25, 2009 4:49 PM

QUICK before its to late grab the tower and throw it threw the nearest window and shout VIRUS BE-GONE! Quick simple and most expensive solution.

Or just simply go to your anti virus program have it do a scan to locate the virus and delete the file and virus. Which for my computer would take normaly about.... 2 hours. Thats the long and un expensive option.

Ghakimx · Nov 25, 2009 6:46 PM

Get a better anti-virus.

bmah · Nov 25, 2009 7:43 PM

I don't think the OP's problem is as easily solved as a simple system restore. If it was, I'd certainly make that approach but my similar problem in the past led me to do the dirty work in Safe Mode and on another occasion the help desk.
Also, wouldn't you have to readjust all saved settings you had at your inconvenience if you used system restore?

RedDragonX · Nov 25, 2009 9:07 PM

If you want to do a system restore you'll have to back up all your files on harddrives or another external device before returning the OS to normal settings. It works so long as you're willing to save and extract all your data, but if you don't have the capability of doing so then everything will be wiped.

Spyrorocks · Nov 26, 2009 3:21 AM

Sounds like a rouge antivirus to me.

Id suggest trying malwarebytes to remove rouge antiviruses. You should install it in safe mode.

Microsoft also now provides a free antivirus to all windows users: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Its pretty good, I run it just for the heck of it (Never get malware anyways). It tested quite well in 3rd party tests, and its quite lightweight and doesn't ever bother you.

midget_roxx · Nov 26, 2009 5:21 AM

www.avg.com is another good anti-virus that I use. I find Norton and McAfee stuck too much CPU form your PC.

Apoc · Nov 26, 2009 4:13 PM

Spyrorocks wrote:

Sounds like a rouge antivirus to me.
Id suggest trying malwarebytes to remove rouge antiviruses. You should install it in safe mode.
Microsoft also now provides a free antivirus to all windows users: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
Its pretty good, I run it just for the heck of it (Never get malware anyways). It tested quite well in 3rd party tests, and its quite lightweight and doesn't ever bother you.

I've got Avira now, but I don't really trust MS nowerdays cuz of the crappy OS's

Spyrorocks · Nov 26, 2009 10:06 PM

Id recommend looking for reviews of a product before dismissing it so quickly... Reviews of microsoft security essentials

AVG has really bad detection according to my personal experiences.

Apoc · Nov 26, 2009 10:16 PM

Free AVG software is rather buggy

Cesna · Nov 27, 2009 6:43 AM

ESET is my fave.
plus it helps that i cracked it =P

Apoc · Nov 27, 2009 7:44 PM

I'm still using Avira

MrXLink · Nov 27, 2009 8:04 PM

Avira Free Antivirus. Upgrade to Premium now and get 20% discount!

(Stupid messages interrupts gameplay)

Apoc · Nov 27, 2009 11:15 PM

I haven't had that problem yet

Neotyguy40 · Dec 01, 2009 1:16 AM

You know what I hate? I use a Mac, and when I go to a website, sometimes they say 'free antivirus scan' and automatically link me to the next page. THEN it says 'scanning'... But it shows the WinXP c drive! Then it says I have a crap-load of viruses, and automatically downloads a security executable... Which doesn't even open on Mac... THEN when I try and close it, a spam message comes up and gives me one last warning that '100 million viruses are on your computer lolz. let me delete plox!'. Then, even after I close it, it tries downloading one last time.

Spyrorocks · Dec 01, 2009 7:28 PM

Thats called a rouge antivirus landing page.

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Virus on computer! Help please

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