Re: Something is using a whole lot of memory after virus deletion

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Paul in San Diego (me_at_you.com)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 06:52:41 -0800

Thank you. I certainly am confident in reinstalling - I built the computer
to begin with! Ya know, it's just the 'do I need to' thing ... I've got a
CD burner and can easily backup my data...but then again if I do the
FDISK/Format, Reinstall, then update, it's a day's work to install a hundred
pieces of software on the PC. And that throws away the day's work that I've
already got tied up in this stooopid virus removal!

>
> >I caught a virus last week which did not much more than introduce a lot
of
> >spyware on my PC. Most of the spyware was easy to remove, and Norton AV
> >2004 got rid of the virus. It still shows a couple of instances of
> >'MALWARE' on the computer that it cannot delete.
> >
> >Adaware 6.0 finds nothing. Spybot S&D is installed, as is 'HIJACK THIS'
> >which I had kill processes that I couldn't verify with google.
> >
> >Bottom line is that now the machine is showing memory usage of 600-800
megs
> >of RAM with no programs running. Number of processes (including Norton)
is
> >normal, about 35. None of the processes that I see are out of the
ordinary
> >(I'm not new to this stuff and I normally know very well what's happening
on
> >my PC)
> >
> >If I use MSIE for net browsing, I get constant popups, and my popup
blocker
> >is working hard. I now use Firefox to get rid of that problem. Bottom
line
> >is that the PC is still not healthy, because the popups are a byproduct
of
> >whatever malware I can't remove. How do I find out what is using all
this
> >memory and the popups?
> >
> >OS is XP Pro sp1 but the browser has had it's latest shots from
Microsoft.
> >PC is 3.3G intel with 512Megs of RAM. Normal memory usage with no
programs
> >running has always been about 200-250MB.
> >
> >Suggestions appreciated!
> >
> Hi Paul, you seem to have done a lot to remove this stuff and it is
> now time to re-install. Most professionalls re-install on the first
> sign of a virus, but that is no good for home users, is it? However,
> you have probably reached the end of the road. Of course, it's up to
> you, and you may feel competent enough to continue. If you are I'm
> sure that people here will help you.
>
> I'd review where you are and see if you want to take it further.
> There's no doubt that you will learn a LOT about your systems if you
> do continue!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Cliff
> --
>
> The National Party manifesto can be viewed here:
>
> http://www.labour.org.nz/policy/index.html

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Do I have a virus?
    ... If you delete the one on the harddisk, it rewrites it self down on the harddisk immidiately from a copy in RAM. ... During shut down the virus secure a copy of it self on the harddisk. ... reinstalling the malware, or the vector the malware used to gain access initially, by reinstalling the OS and backed up user programs and data.>> ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: need help with Window XP SP1
    ... I know that reinstall my program will not keep the virus from entering the ... I didn't know that once you download spybot and after you scan ... reinstalling the system and then ... problems with virus, Trojans, malware, etc. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • installed malware Do I have to format to fix it
    ... On my sisters PC an HP Pavilion with windows ME and it is ... useless from popups. ... install loads more malware during boot process if I deleted ... Not sure if this is by definition a virus or what. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • installed malware Do I have to format to fix it
    ... advise you further if you need to run a hijackthis scan. ... >useless from popups. ... >install loads more malware during boot process if I ... Not sure if this is by definition a virus or what. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: installed malware Do I have to format to fix it
    ... > On my sisters PC an HP Pavilion with windows ME and it is ... > useless from popups. ... > install loads more malware during boot process if I deleted ... Not sure if this is by definition a virus or what. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)