Dreaded blue screen x2

the blue screen told me to uninstall any software or hardware I had just installed, so I uninstalled Zone alarm. I am just recovering from malware (thanx malware techies…muahhhh!) and one of the recommendations was to get a firewall. I had used zone alarm years ago and had no problems with it so installed that. then the dreaded blue screen which didn't say much, restarted, opened firefox browsing along and boom another blue screen with the uninstall advice. so I am sitting here with no firewall (well good one anyway) I have avast, avgspyware,spyguard,spywareblaster,spybotsearchanddestroy which btw I had all but avg and still got infected grrr….. any ideas on if I should try zone alarm again or if I did something wrong? I know too many blue screens means death help!

Hello Terri, I am not really clear on what programs you have. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are saying you have: 1 -Avast Antivirus 2 -AVG Antispyware 3 -Spyware Guard 4 -Spyware Blaster 5 -Spyware Search and Destroy Are all the definitions up to date on all the above software? I assume you have Windows Firewall enabled in start>settings>controlpanel>Windows firewall enabled to Automatic. When you download and install Zone Alarm Free which I have and am familiar with, during installation it will disable Windows Firealarm automatically. Are you sure please you do not have two Antivirus software programs installed as they will conflict and cause undue trouble to your system? Have you cleared your temporary cache lately, to do this go to start>allprograms>accessories>systemtools>diskcleanup and follow the prompts. I read your HJT log through that you posted around Christmas time and no where did I see that you were advised to install a firewall. I could have missed it however. Has your system been performing well since your Malware help and did it just react after you tried to install Zone Alarm? All systems are unique so if it was performing well I would think twice about doing anything at this stage. Please post back with more questions and we are only too happy to help. kind regards,

thank you for your attention. yes everything was and is running fine. Yes I have the programs you cited. you are right I was not told personally to download zone alarm, but from reading other sources was told windows firewall (which I do have and it is on) was not good enough. if you think I am protected enough then I will just go on as is. (I am SOOOOOO pleased with the malware tech that helped me) the reason I got so scared is I got help for my daughters computer and got it cleared up but 3 days later my grandson was browsing and avast went nuts and now her computer is reinfected with bad bad stuff. I am trying to get her help again, but in the mean time I don't want to risk it happening to mine. so I read up on firewalls and decided to try zone alarm. btw, my daughter has exactly the same protections on her computer and she got reinfected right away. thanx for your reply. blessings, Terri

Hi Terry,

I am pleased to read your computer is running smoothly and I concur the Malware Team are wonderful and all volunteers with accredited credentials.

I would include in your arsenal of Malware fighters ATF Cleaner by Atribune. Here is the link to download it. It is a free standing program and does not need to be installed. You computer may take longer to start up after you run it the first time but that is normal under this circumstance.

I am unsure why Zone Alarm will not install correctly for you, you could try it again and see how you go. Yes it is generally thought that Windows Firewall is not the best of Firewalls out there.

Re your daughters computer, are you very sure all the definitions are up to date and the software is run regularly.

I would post a HJT log for your Daughters computer and if no response after 5 days go here and a gentle reminder would be in order.

kind regards,

Hope this helps,

kind regards,

thanx for your reply…I have ccleaner installed already…is that a good one? will the atf cleaner contradict? I want whatever I need to have to keep from being infected again! man that was horrible. Never went thru anything like that in my over 10 years of computing. we have posted the hijack log of my daughters…thanx for the response on that. She has open black dos screens on startup so I told her to disconnect until I hear from the malware team and I can get over to her house to clean or reformat for her. I know the open dos windows mean someone is stealing her financial info…she has alerted her bank. thanx again for your reply blessings, Terri

Good that you have CCleaner, and no ATF.Cleaner.exe will not conflict as it is not installed -just a free running download that would sit in your maintenance folder on your desktop if you run things like I do. I have it along with others including CCleaner but all my Antispyware software is on manual. They do not startup when I boot up. Good advice re your daughters PC, the experts are great and so dedicated. We all must realise they are volunteers. kind regards,

thanx for your advice. I will use ATF also. I am so glad whatthetech is here. I searched awhile ago and find that whatthetech advice is easily followed with the utmost effect. blessings, Terri

Glad we have been able to help. You are very welcome at this forum. kind regards,

Hi Terri Knoll,

I just want to re-ask a question that may already have been asked and answered.

Some bundles of Avast, have the Alwil Firewall included.
Please confirm that your product is the Avast Antivirus only.
Alwil firewall and Zone Alarm may fight like tomcats in a gunnie-sack if installed at the same time on the same machine.

Best Regards

yes, I have Avast Anti virus only. thanx for the inquiry.

You're Welcome.

If you are inclined to investigate how your machine's system, software, hardware and internet connectivity are currently functioning, I recommend the PCPitstop Full Tests, available here

You can post the Test Results back here into this thread for assistance with analysis and recommendations.
Use TechExpress to post your link back here.

I'm glad you've found WTT and decided to join our community.

Best Regards

thanx, I don't know how to show you what PCPitstop found lol. here is the link http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/Summary.asp however I think that would only work for me correct? the biggest thing I see is they say saving web site passwords is a security risk. I have to save them or I will never be able to log on to anything, my brain can't remember them all.
it says my memory is low, but that should fix after I fix a couple other things they recommend. like my buffer size is default and they want me to optimize that. told me to defragment, which I know I need to set up a task for that…probably haven't done that in a year or so lol. also to reduce system restore space (I just had to fix that on the malware forums I thought) update some drivers…I would think on stuff I don't hardly ever use. and to install a backup system…I thought windows xp had one.

that's about it that I can see. thanx for your interest.

Hello again Terri,

The advice below will help you post the TechExpress Link back into this forum for us to analyse for you.

I hope this helps you,

kind regards,

The Full Tests take less than 5 minutes for most machines.
Once you have your Results, please post the TechExpress Link back here into this thread for review.
TechExpress is the last item on the list in the yellow box in upper right area of any Results page.
Post the entire URL link information back here into this Forum thread.

I am such a ditz…I swear I looked all over and couldn't find the link…but I think I finally did

http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=ER1USWXQGFGSHHBG

Hello Terri

"ditz" that is a new one for me, but then I have several friends in the US who continually ask me what I am talking about even although we speak the same language. I assume you are in the States! Here we call that "learning" however I admit if I knew you I would give you another funny name for it.

As you can see we have work to do to get your computer running at its best.

I would firstly follow the Customised Tech Tips given as that way you have direction by clicking each tip as it directs you how to go about correcting the problem.

If you do not want to disable your password saving option, of course that is your decision. It is a security risk, but you have fine Virus software. Remember you were not too long ago getting help in the HJT forum which would hint to me not to save passwords as you are vunerable…..your decision however.

Regarding the Driver updates, if you are not having trouble with any drivers, just let that advice lapse for the time being as you have more important things to achieve than worry about Drivers that maybe are not giving you trouble?

I am running XP/SP2 and in start> All Programs> I do find a Windows Backup software program, so perhaps you could look in All Programs and click on it if it is there. But for your system to be backed up you would have to initialise it. By opening it I see it costs money except for the default WBU and that would need to be saved to an external HD to be safe. If you saved it to your C:\Drive it would go down with your HD if it failed.

Have you ever considered Image backup such as Ghost or Acronis? They also cost money, but cheap in the long run if your HD fails. If you were further interested in image backup there are forums for each that only deal with image backup and are most helpful to get you going.

So I suggest you go ahead and take the advice of the pit test, then do another pitstop scan and post it back here once again.

kind regards,