Malware / Adware ? [Solved]

Hi Guy's It's been a while since I posted but all has been well, that is until today, I switched her on booted up as usual (slowly) but thats what an old laptop does, all the Icons were flashing and it would not let me connect to the internet. Any ideas. Regards Tuxedo Hi again, I just got angry and doing a fresh install, that should clear it, or its a new hard drive. Anyway its old and for the kids to use Thanks for looking Tuxedo

Hi Tuxedo

doing a fresh install

Have you done that or do you still need us to take a look?

Satchfan

Hi Satchfan, I have done the fresh install but having the same problem, would really apriciate your help. Tuxedo

I have done the fresh install but having the same problem

If this is a fresh install, unless you have malware that hides in memory, I would say that your problem is hardware-related but we’ll run a couple of scans to be certain.


Run DDS

Please download DDS by sUBs from one of the following links and save it to your desktop.

DDS.pif
DDS.com

• disable any script blocking protection (How to Disable your Security Programs)
• double click DDS icon to run the tool (may take up to 3 minutes to run)
• when done, DDS.txt will open.
• after a few moments, attach.txt will open in a second window.
• save both reports to your desktop.
• Post the contents of the DDS.txt and Attach.txt reports in your next reply

===================================================

Run aswMBR

• download aswMBR.exe to your desktop.
• double click aswMBR.exe to run it
• if asked, accept the AVAST virus definition download
• click the "Scan" button to start scan
• on completion of the scan click Save log, save it to your desktop and post in your next reply. Note - do NOT attempt any Fix yet.

Please include the following in your next post :

DDS.txt
Attach.txt
aswMBR log

Thanks

Satchfan

Satchfan, sorry but I am having difficulty starting any programs inc IE the icons just flash until I click the start button and open that then all the icons stay solid but as soon as I drop the start control they flash again. when I restart the screen comes u stable its only when I click any Icon that they begin to flash. I can open the cmd prompt but don't know if that will help. Tuxedo

This is more than likely a hardware problem.

Let’s check your hard drive.

• click on Start in the lower left of your screen and select Run
• type cmd in the box and click OK
• type chkdsk c: /r, (don't forget the spaces: there are two, chkdsk^c/:^/r) and hit Enter
• type Y to agree to run at restart
• type Exit and hit enter.

Now reboot your computer and let Chkdsk run.

Let me know the result.

can I get back to you tomorrow I Have a early start in the morning. Tuxedo

Hi Satchfan I ran the chkdsk but I was in a hurry to do the school run, so I didn't wait until it had finished before I had to go but I let it run, when I got back the laptop had rebooted and low and behold no flashing Icons, I can click any Icon no problem so that seems to have cleared whatever was the problem. I have rebooted many times and still no conflicts, I would really like to recover some of my old data but not sure if that is possible but anyway all seems to be good now, thank you so much for your help. The team at Whatthetech are great. Thanks again Tuxedo

I don't believe it I had just posted the last rely when a fast tapping noise came form the laptop just below the touch pad, could it be a hard drive failure ? again when I click start and the menu comes up the noise stops. Tuxedo

tapping noise came form the laptop just below the touch pad

sounds like a loose keyboard but I am no expert in hardware problems.

If you computer is working OK, I think it would be worth running the scans I suggested, just to be sure all is fine.

Hi Satchfan I have just booted up to try and run the scans but I am getting a hi pitched tone when moving the mouse and the search screen is up and will not go away, I think the HDD has given up the ghost. Tuxedo

Again, I'm no expert but it doesn't sound like the hard drive. How do you connect your mouse to the laptop? Also, try closing the Search window by pressing ALT+F4 .

Hi I connect the mouse through the usb but at the moment no mouse connected, I have just tried alt + f4 and after a moment of flickering the shutdown screen appeared. Tuxedo

I connect the mouse through the usb

Try it in a different usb port.

after a moment of flickering the shutdown screen appeared

You may have held the F4 key down too long. Try holding the Alt key down but just tap F4 once.