Computer question

**mnvikes61** · 03-11-2009, 03:06 PM

I've got a quick computer question for all you computer geniuses. I recently restored my computer with recovery discs that was sent by HP. I updated all the windows crap, installed Service Pack 3, installed Windows Defender, and then downloaded and installed Avast from download.com. I had it do a scan when the computer was rebooting and it came up with, I believe, an adware. I'm not entirely sure because I deleted it. Then I did a thorough scan the next day and it came up with an adware in the file that held all the AOL, and ISPs. After this I decided to restore my computer again and see if the same thing happened. Did the exact same thing once my computer was recovered, scanned my harddrive again and those two files came back up. I don't know if anyone will be able to help since I didn't write down the files or what they were infected with. Is this something that is appearing on my harddrive with the original files on the recovery discs, something about where I got Avast from, or could my harddrive be corrupted.

**VikingMike** · 03-11-2009, 03:22 PM

Try downloading [size=13pt]Spybot Search and Destroy[/size]. Once it's set up, run "Check for problems". If there's any spyware or adware, it will pick it up.

I haven't used Avast...I use Avira, which is also free. But these will only protect you from viruses and worms...they won't catch ad/spyware unless you have the premium version. That's why I use spybot, and I run an update and search once a week, works fine.

If these 2 files continue to appear, try to quarantine them if they're not required system files. Good luck.

**mnvikes61** · 03-11-2009, 03:25 PM

"VikingMike" wrote:

Try downloading [size=13pt]Spybot Search and Destroy[/size]. Once it's set up, run "Check for problems". If there's any spyware or adware, it will pick it up.

I haven't used Avast...I use Avira, which is also free. But these will only protect you from viruses and worms...they won't catch ad/spyware unless you have the premium version. That's why I use spybot, and I run an update and search once a week, works fine.

If these 2 files continue to appear, try to quarantine them if they're not required system files. Good luck.

Where do you think I'm picking them up? I figure the ISP one definately is just spam that is on the recovery discs. The other one, I wish I had the file name, I'm not too sure of. I think, this is a shot in the dark, that it was in the HP Update files.

**bleedpurple** · 03-11-2009, 03:47 PM

"mnvikes61" wrote:

"VikingMike" wrote:

Try downloading [size=13pt]Spybot Search and Destroy[/size]. Once it's set up, run "Check for problems". If there's any spyware or adware, it will pick it up.

I haven't used Avast...I use Avira, which is also free. But these will only protect you from viruses and worms...they won't catch ad/spyware unless you have the premium version. That's why I use spybot, and I run an update and search once a week, works fine.

If these 2 files continue to appear, try to quarantine them if they're not required system files. Good luck.

Where do you think I'm picking them up? I figure the ISP one definately is just spam that is on the recovery discs. The other one, I wish I had the file name, I'm not too sure of. I think, this is a shot in the dark, that it was in the HP Update files.

your probably getting it from AVAST... anything you download from a site like download.com has a potential to be infected... or get what you are getting...

**mnvikes61** · 03-11-2009, 03:49 PM

"bleedpurple" wrote:

"mnvikes61" wrote:

"VikingMike" wrote:

Try downloading [size=13pt]Spybot Search and Destroy[/size]. Once it's set up, run "Check for problems". If there's any spyware or adware, it will pick it up.

I haven't used Avast...I use Avira, which is also free. But these will only protect you from viruses and worms...they won't catch ad/spyware unless you have the premium version. That's why I use spybot, and I run an update and search once a week, works fine.

If these 2 files continue to appear, try to quarantine them if they're not required system files. Good luck.

Where do you think I'm picking them up? I figure the ISP one definately is just spam that is on the recovery discs. The other one, I wish I had the file name, I'm not too sure of. I think, this is a shot in the dark, that it was in the HP Update files.

your probably getting it from AVAST... anything you download from a site like download.com has a potential to be infected... or get what you are getting...

Where else can you download avast?