[maxjudge]

My PC has recently suffered from an infection similar to one a few years ago that had been due to an internet file download which caused very slow start up of windows XP even prior to the windows progress loading appearing on the screen, apart from that the PC appeared to work fine. Over a period of a month slowness made boot up and login take over half an hour, copying files I needed over to another PC infected the other PC.

Eventually the slowness inpacted the functioning of applications as well. Scans by different AV software didn't detect anything nor did the zone alarm software I have detect nor prevent the infection. I tried unsucessfully to overcome the problem by reinstalling windows after fist repartioning and doing a full format of the hard drive but the slowness impacted the new installation as well, leading me to believe that a low level format may be necessary and it simply easier to replace the hard drive. I had tired but couldn't find a solution nor any discussions on this particular infection.

Recently I inadvertantly copy files from an old CD which much have been from the infected PC.

Does anyone know whats causing this?, how it does so? and how to fix my PC's file system from this nasty problem?

[rgreen4]

Would you give us some specifications on the machine? Make and model if manufactured, MB make and model if custom.

What version of XP are you running - SP1, 2, 3?

What Anti-Virus, Anti-Software and Firewall programs are you running?

[Adama]

Hi Maxjudge, and welcome to PCWorld Community.

If I may ask - how often do you defrag your computer, once a month? once in a while? never? Sometimes, a fragmented HD causes slowness at start up, etc.

[rgreen4]

Good catch Adama - something that usually gets by me since I have mine scheduled.

[Flashorn]

Hey maxjudge!!



Welcome to PCWorld Community!



We will try a few antimalware programs and see if this can make a difference.

Before we do , could you tell me if you are getting any error messages or any

pop-ups. Also could you verify that the Windows System Restore and

Automatic updates are working normally . It would be helpful if you could name

the security programs that you already have Running on your PC. If you have more than one

AntiVirus with Real Time Protection running at the same time , this would also cause

the slow downs you are referring to. In any case , only one AntiVirus with real time shields

and only one AntiSpyware with real time shields should be on your PC along with a good

Firewall.

So, if you are willing, let's start with this antimalware application:

SUPERAntiSpyware by Nick Skrepetos . When on the main page PLZ download the FREE

version. Once installed please update the definitions by clicking on the update button situated

on the main face and at the bottom left hand corner.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!



Now on the other side , you will see a "Preferences" button . Click on that one which will bring you

to the next set of controls. Click on the "Scanning Controls" tab. This is how you will check mark

the options.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

N ow you are ready to do a Full Scan. Go back to the main page of this application and click on the

"Scan your Computer" tab. in the next page you will see options. PLZ choose Full Scan.

Once the scan is finished if it finds any malware, say YES to delete , which will Quarantine the

objects found. Could you also take down the names of the malware down and report them

in your next post.



The second scanner is also a FREE one.

MalwareBytesAntimalware . Again, click on the blue link and

choose the FREE version. Once you have installed this one, you will also Update to the last definitions

by clicking on the Update tab.When the update is current PLZ click on the "Settings" tab and check mark

as in the screen shot.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

You can now go back to the "Scanner" section but, this time do only a

"Quick Scan". If it finds any malware PLZ copy and paste the findings.



If you have any questions on the procedures , then post back and I will try

and explain further.





FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[maxjudge]

I'm running SP2, and have zone alarm running, but have scanned with trend micro but not found anything. I've fefragged my disc and removed excess files in temp folders.

[maxjudge]

folks, thanks for all the help.

I ran the Superantispyware but all it detected was tracking cookies & this is consistent with what I found during the previuos time where I ran several antii virus scans including trend micros house call including otghers which didn't detect the malware and the PC finally was taking close to and hour to boot and forever to load any application or respond to any user input. Moreover repartioning the hard drive into different sized partions from the original and the performed a full format before reinstalling windows still resulted in the sytem taking almost an hour to boot and extremely slow application run times.

On the other hand installing the same windows XP onto a new hard drive and then there was no problems at all led me to believe that the problem caused by the malware must have been a low level one within the hard drives structures, perhaps something that could only be removed by a low level reformat of the hard drive.

Since my data is valuable, this time I really need to find a solution that can recover the contents of the file system and the operating system without having to junk it.

Has anyone come across malware thats been around for about 3 years and causes these problems?

[piyushsingh]

Which brand is your hard drive? If its a seagate then download seatools and check it with seatools. There are similar tools for other brands also. Search and you should get.

make a backup of important data before using seatools