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How to kill adware and spyware

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Scot, Jul 4, 2005.

  1. Scot

    Scot The Small One Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Remove all ads!
    Okay, I've searched the boards and read the related threads, but haven't found the answer to my problems so here they are:

    I’ve got some ad/spyware programs that my Norton Anti-virus program found but failed to delete. Some I was able to manually delete, but I’m having trouble deleting many of them. Here are four problems:

    1. I try to delete the program and get this message. “Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently in use.”

    2. I try to delete the program and get this message. “Cannot delete ( file name) It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using it and try again.” All programs ARE closed when this happens.

    3. I went to Add/remove programs, highlighted file name and clicked on remove program then clicked on OK, but nothing happens and the program is still there.

    4. Anti-virus program identifies location of ad/spyware as C:Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\ Content.IE5 but there is no Local Settings folder in the Owner folder


    I've got: Windows XP, Norton Anti-Virus, Comcast broadband and a Firewall.

    Thanks.
     
    Scot, Jul 4, 2005
    #1

  2. Charlie Gems: 14/31
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    #'s 1,2 and 3 happened to me as well. Have you tried the programs or browsers mentioned in the other threads, like Mozilla, Adaware or Spy Sweeper?

    For #4, I think that file is hidden. You'll have to make it visible or just erase your temp internet files.
     
    Charlie, Jul 4, 2005
    #2

  3. Cúchulainn Gems: 28/31
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    You should have the option to run ad-aware when you next log on so that the item can be deleted before its used by the other program (when everything is starting up). Have you tried microsofts anti-spyware program? Its really good.
     
    Cúchulainn, Jul 4, 2005
    #3
  4. Barmy Army

    Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

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    Load up in Safe Mode and then delete them.
    If you don't already; use FireFoxas your browser. It blocks most of this crap.
     
    Barmy Army, Jul 9, 2005
    #4

  5. Lazy Bonzo Gems: 24/31
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    Spybot (Search and Destroy) is also good for killing spyware - and some adware.
     
    Lazy Bonzo, Jul 9, 2005
    #5

  6. Stu Gems: 20/31
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    Yeah, Spybot search and destroy combined with adaware has always worked for me, and they're both free!
     
    Stu, Jul 10, 2005
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  7. Errol Gems: 23/31
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    Like Cesard said, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware (Link) is surprisingly good. Ad-Aware (Link) is also very good.

    For the other problems, like Barmy Army has said, try doing it in SafeMode. And instead of FireFox, why not try Opera (Link) instead? :)
     
    Errol, Jul 11, 2005
    #7

  8. Wordplay Gems: 29/31
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    That is because M$ bought the best rated company soon after the reviews and renamed the program. ;)
     
    Wordplay, Jul 11, 2005
    #8
  9. Taza

    Taza Weird Modmaker Veteran

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    Barmy Army has the best advice. Boot into Safe Mode.
     
    Taza, Jul 11, 2005
    #9

  10. Errol Gems: 23/31
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    Now why does that not surprise me? :p
     
    Errol, Jul 11, 2005
    #10

  11. Yulaw9460 Gems: 9/31
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    Don´t use Norton. I used Norton a LONG time ago, and I had nothing but problems with it. I use Avast now, and since I switched I haven´t had a single virus, trojan, adware, whatever you wanna call it. I had 8 adwares that Norton couldn´t remove or quarantine. It could see them, however.

    5 minutes after I installed Avast, 11!!! adwares had been found and removed + 1 trojan that Norton hadn´t discovered.

    The oddest thing was that Norton could not remove these, even though it was able to see them. And Norton was fully updated. I initially tried Spybot. No good. They were still there when I rebooted, even though Spybot gave me the message that they were deleted before I shut down my computer.

    But Avast did the trick with virusdefinitions that were 2 years old. But even after I updated Avast, there was no more crap on my computer. And I haven´t had any alerts ever since that. I have no faith in Norton anymore.
     
    Yulaw9460, Jul 18, 2005
    #11
  12. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Hmm, yes, my PC seems to be virus free since I installed Avast.
     
    Harbourboy, Jul 18, 2005
    #12
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