I must have downloaded something recently, I don't know, but I keep getting annoying pop-ups that i didn't usually get. Even when IE isn''t even opened.

Spyware? I downloaded the microsoft anti-spyware beta thing, it helped a little but the problem still persists. Can anyone recommend something to do about this? I'm thinking about doing a system restore to a few weeks ago, but prefer that as a last resort.

I'd recommend you'd first try This first, (I use that program myself) and later on start using Mozilla Firefox instead of IE.


Good luck!

You could try posting the processes that are running in your task manager here and we could probably pinpoint the problem. If it is pulling popups without IE open there is some process running in there somewhere.

If you are running XP.. the only thing that needs to be in there is explorer. Everything else you can close one by one and see if it stops after each one.

AAA! I've got a really annoying virus type one thats attached itself to a system crit file so I cant delete it ah well all it does is opens pop ups.
I think

last time i listen to you
i chose one thing at random and pushed end process, i got a windows pop-up said "blahblahblah has been unexpectedly terminated, you have one minute to save your programs before windows shuts down." it came complete with a countdown timer.

well my suggestion is that you see if you can get a new crit file or something.


Ha ha ha ha!

oh that's just funny, pay more attention to what you're ending.

just go to task manager and type out all your processes. I have enough experience with spyware to be able to pinpoint which ones are spyware.

well nothing you guys have recommended has helped so...

explorer
realplay
bargains
taskmgr
realsched
gcasServAlert
nls
gcasDtServ
service32
WZQKPICK
WinIRXHelper
BigFix
Playlist
Steam
Weather
msmsgs
p2pnetworking
gcasServ
rundl32
WinSys
lxfbmon
jusched
shwicon2k
RxMon
DrgToDsc
zHotkey
CCAPP
sstray
explorer
MsOMSPv
wanmpsvc
wdfmgr
svchost
slserv
nvsvc32
CCSETMGR
acsd
spoolsv
LEXPPS
LEXBCES
svchost
svchost
svchost
svchost
svchost
lsass
services
winlogon
csrss
smss
symwsc
CCEVTMGR
alg
System
System Idle Process

http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html

pop-up blcoker. It worked very well until I got Norton, so I have no moe use for it.

Wow you have alot of stuff running!

well the one called bargains is sure to be spyware... most likely one sending you popups. You also have two processes called explorer which if that isnt a typo could mean some program is masquerading in as one of them. The real explorer should be about 12,800k in size. Do you use a peer to peer network? if not... I would definately kill that p2pnetworking. That could be a problem one. There are a couple others like BigFix that I dont recognize that could be possibilities.


I would definately try that one called bargains though first. That almost seems too obvious.

uh compassion.

you give bad advice!!!!

i ended explorer and i lost my taskbar!!!!


hamster!

my shortcuts are gone too!!!

i ended bargain, it did nothing.

i use limewire, is that p2p?

bigfix is software on my computer, its nothing.

Did you try the Ad-aware?

Okay... first off... You need to calm down a bit.
Troubleshooting something involves some hit or miss (especially across a forum). There is no permanent damage being done to your computer by closing processes that a simple reboot won't fix. If you want a 100% guaranteed solution that will work on the absolute very first try then here it is...

Go collect all your install disks... backup all your important files to another harddrive or burn to CD... reformat the harddrive and clean install windows... then reinstall all your programs and download all the updated drivers. Done... guaranteed corrected and your whole system will be running alot more efficiently again.

I tried this for someother problem a while ago, but i couldn't get it to work... anyway, i'll look for some other solutions before doing this. it would take a looong time to backup my important files, especially to disc.

For the record, "explorer" is only your interface layer. Ending it does not result in the loss of anything whatsoever; just reboot the computer to get explorer back. Or you can start it as a new task.

(ps: You've got a LOT of processes running! Are you sure you need all that stuff? Could be saving bucketloads of memory...)

*casts revive

ok here's the deal, this my thread, and i am reviving and using it for a similar problem.

i want to restore my computer to the day i got it. can someone tell me exactly how i do that? i have these restore CD's that "Give a complete backup of the software that was preinstalled on the PC" (i am assuming this includes windows )

so what exactly would i do to wipe my hard drive? i don't believe that putting these CD's in the PC actually brings up a prompt that says 'do you want to restore your cpu blahblahblah'...

plz go easy, i'm more or less a noob at PC's... thanks.

Here are my two cents.

First of all, one good way to get rid of spyware, the one I use, is Spybot Search and Destroy. It's awesome, it works, and best of all, it's free. (Of course, it's not like anyone suggested anything that wasn't free, but it's still important)


EDIT-Oops, hadn't seen the post dates. To your current problem, I think there's also a way to do that without the disks, I think you can go back to a restore point using the control panel.

nvm, its done....
i hereby declare this thread useless, may it be doomed to lockedness.

Bada-bing, bada-boom.