1. You first step is to be sure you have the latest Windows updates.
2. Make sure your Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs are up to date.
3. Make sure you have a Firewall active.

Note: Only have one Anti-Virus and Firewall active

We strongly suggest you do this first.

ERUNT - Download - Homepage
This ensures we have a valid registry backup. ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) is a free program that allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore if needed. Removing modern malware infections often requires making changes to the registry, and a corrupt registry can prevent a system from booting. Compatible with Windows NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, 32 & 64-bit versions.

1. Download ERUNT
2. Double-click erunt_setup.exe to run.
3. Follow the prompts and install using the default configuration (setup language, install location, shortcuts...).
4. Say No to the portion that asks you to add ERUNT to the start-up folder, if you like you can enable this option later.
   
5. Start ERUNT
6. Choose a location for the backup
   The default location C:\WINDOWS\ERDNT\[today's date] is preferred
   
7. The first two check boxes are ticked by default (System registry and Current user registry).
8. Press OK
9. When prompted, click YES to create a new folder.
10. Progress bars will show backup status.
11. A confirmation window will popup when complete. Click OK to close.

We have a "Self Help" area that will be able to help you get started in
cleaning your computer.

This is a "Self Help" area:
Use at your own risk: WhattheTech forum, does not take responsibility for any outcome of following these directions. Every computer is different, so we cannot guarante the outcome. If you are apprehensive, please post a log from HijackThis in the designated forum and let us take a look and guide you to a clean system.

Please read our "Self Help" Topics:

Even if you don't have any of the posted infections, be sure to use the Topic:
Before Posting A HijackThis Log

Please read ALL the instructions before posting your HijackThis log.

Once you have posted your HijackThis log, Do Not post a reply to your HijackThis log until we have posted a reply. We look for post without any replies first. If you post a reply to your HijackThis log you already posted, it appears to us you are already being helped.

Updated May 17, 2008