Massive problems with anti-virus please help!

I am having some horrible problems with my anti-virus programs. I mainly use AVG 8.5, it is fully updated, but when I try to scan nothing happens, it just doesn't work. I tried restarting and reinstalling and starting in safe mode but nothing worked. I also have spybot search and destroy and malwarebytes that I generally scan with after AVG. They both scan for about 2 seconds and then shut down. When I try to open them again it won't work. If I reinstall them and scan the same thing happens. Malwarebytes won't uninstall though, I go into control panel, click uninstall, it starts uninstalling, but doesn't finish, and control panel won't let me uninstall anything else because of it. I tried restarting but still no luck.

So I can't scan with any of my anti-virus programs, and I can't uninstall Malwarebytes, even though it won't run. I think I have a virus or something, can anyone help?

I tried using the free scan from panda something or other and it found some stuff, it only got rid of some of it though because its just the free version : /

 

Oh, and another problem I am having is sometimes some add for something seems to pop up randomly, also, when I type stuff into google search, and click on one of the links, it gets redirected to some other search engine

 

Sorry to say but it's time for a complete reinstall .
If even reputable security software can't handle the infections, you're running the risk of having lost control over your notebook.
Copy all important files to external media (USB stick/external HDD) and either use your install CD/DVD or recovery partition for a reinstall.

You could download the mbam-clean.exe and try to reinstall MBAM in safe mode or as described here and read/apply the MBAM fixes on the linked forum page, finally do a full scan and perhaps an extra online scan for safety and run HitmanPro but a reinstall will likely be quicker and surely the safest.

After the install, you might want to spend a couple of hours learning about (free) backup software and ' images'.
With an image, you can do future reinstalls (of a fully updated OS&programs) in 10-15 minutes.
Cheers.

 

/sigh thats what I was afraid off >.<

So, is there any chance transfering save games and documents etc to an external hard drive could be infected? Or is it just program files and that sort of thing?

Also, how would I go about a complete reinstall. I backup my files, then completly format my hard drives? Or do I need to uninstall all my games first?

 

You may have some infected files that get moved to the external drive. Before connecting it after you reinstall, install your antivirus and antispyware software, install all Windows updates, and completely scan your system. Only after doing that should you connect the drive, and then immediately do a complete scan of the external drive and your system again.

Backup your files, then either restore from your laptop's restore partition (if you have one - consult your manual and/or laptop manufacturer's support website) or boot from your install DVD and install the operating system. You didn't specify your current operating system, so I can't tell you how to do a format during the install process. Instead, you'll have to do some googling and read on how to format your C drive during the operating system installation. If you are installing from a DVD, you will have to download your required driver software on another non-infected machine, and install the necessary drivers after you finish installing the operating system.

 

I don't believe I have a restore partition. I have a partition titled Recovery though, its about 10GB. This isn't my laptop its my desktop, but this problem is related to my laptop (which should arrive soon) as I need to transfer save game files and stuff. I am using Vista 34bit and have the OS DVD. I also have all the original driver DVDs.

 

Well I believe I have everything backed up, I will reinstall the OS tommorow. Just wondering, should I still use AVG? I was planning on using AVG on my laptop as well but now I am not so sure, is there a better free anti virus available then AVG?

 

Offcourse! The best Free AntiVirus is Avira AntiVir v9.0.0.407
.

Try it and youll never miss a virus or go back to that worthless AVG!

I personally use NOD32 (which is paid offcourse) for 4 years and never got a virus. but my recommendation for anyone who doesn't want to pay would definately be Avira AntiVir FTW

 

Agreed. AVG(free version) is as suck as hell.
AVG premium suite(paid version), I don't know about it.
Hell, I guess it sucks too.
Avira Antivir Personal 9 is so far the BEST free Antivirus out there.
You can try Avast Home Edition too, it is FREE as well.
Both of these Antiviruses is 100%/totally better than AVG.

 

Many are happy with AVG, many are not (you )

I use (free) Avast on all my comps.

cheers ...

 

Quoted for truth!

 

Ok thanks for the help. I think I will go with Avira Antivir Personal 9 because it appears to be better then Avast for scanning. Should I still download and use spybot search and destroy and malwarebytes?

 

Yep! You can still use MBAM(malwarebytes) and Spybot as well as some additional software(free) called SUPERAntispyware which is on par with MBAM and SpywareBlaster(passive protection with 0 CPU usage and 0 RAM usage).
Avira Antivir Personal 9 have the highest detection rate and light resources. XD
With MBAM, SAS(Superantispyware), spybot, spywareblaster, and avira as well as windows fire and defender. You're virtually/ideally safe.

 

Ok. Well thanks for the help everyone. I have reinstalled Vista and run multiple scans and it looks like everything went ok and none of my backup files are infected.

 

Hi

Im am new to all of this. So please forgive me for not being as knowledgable as you guys, but if you have a virus that prevents you from accessing the internet (wireless) do I go into safe mode and install anti virus via disc as I wont have an internet connection?

Thanks

 

*coughs*

I've used AVG Free for years with no viruses. But I surely can't claim it's any better than Avira.

You reboot your computer, and hit F8 repeatedly as soon your BIOS screen flashes, and then select the Safe Mode with Networking option. If you still can't access the internet (or just to be safe either way) you can download the installer for an antivirus program such as mentioned in this thread, and then install it from a USB flash drive or CD or the like.

Cheers...