computer running extremly slow dont know what to do please help

[naimcohen]

i have a pentium 4 1.8Ghz 512mb ram and recently it has been running slower each day.

i have scanned for viruses and spyware and deleted all the spyware (no viruses) but i still have popups and a tootbar in internet explorer i cant get rid of.

i am up to a point where my computer is running so slow it takes about an hour to fully load up and even then most applications wont work

please help

thanks

 

[GregANDTCH]

Read this thread
Security thread

 

[daveybrat]

Sounds like it's about time for a format. If your pc is that infected, your best bet is to bite the bullet and format and reinstall windows.

 

[naimcohen]

thanks for the quick reply

i will probably end up formating my hard drive but is there any way to sole my problem without formating it?

also how can i save emails in outlook express?

thanks

 

[montag451]

To save email in OE, theoretically, you can export them.
BUT
I rarely have had this work satisfactorily.

You could try something like 123 Outlook Express backup.


RE-trying to recover your present installation.
Just to check, Did you follow GregANDTCH's/Mechbgon/Schadenfro etc advice? Fully?

 

[orion23]

I just fixed my friend's computer and spent more time cleaning it that what I would've taken if I had just formatted the thing.

I used the trial version for Kaspersky, but that sucked (it backed up the entire drive while cleaning, took so long)

I used AdAware Pro (latest) MS AntySpyware and Norton antivirus.

204 trojans/virii found Kaspersky
51 Spyware MS Antyspyware
35 Items with Adaware
Norton cleaned about 30 more

At the end of many hours, I still had something called "best offer" pop-up (NAIL.EXE)
Which none of the programs could fix.
Fortunately, the creators have a fix for removing this nasty spyware.

It is clean now, but I'm still not happy with how it runs!

If I were you, I would just format the damn thing!

 

[naimcohen]

hi i just wanted to thank you all for your help!

i sorted out my computer without reformating it and have no more popups and running smoothly!

i booted up in safe mode and ran spyware doctor, avg antivirus and microsoft antispyware.

it found about 5000 infections removed all, booted up into windows xp and ran the web scan found on http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and removed everything it found.

i havn't had a popup since!

thank you all so much for helping me sort out all the problems i had on my computer!