Anti Spyware/Adware Software Recommendations?

[colchar]

I am usually quite careful and rarely get computer infections but, lately, I've been getting redirected to various webpages promoting online gambling etc. I've tried protecting my system using Malwarebytes Anti Malware, AdAware, and AVG but none of these have managed to catch the malware and stop this from happening despite all being fully updated. Does anyone here have any suggestions for software that can remove this from my system?

[Bostondevil]

SpyZooka

[YmoBeThere]

Bless you, BD

[CameronBornAndBred]

Malware Bytes is my favorite, it usually does a great job getting rid of everything. I didn't see combofix in your list, and you need to run that as well. Once you start it, don't run anything until it completes. You can download it here.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofi ... e-combofix

[colchar]

I thought this issue had been resolved but, alas, it hasn't. I've just downloaded combofix and am going to run it in the morning. It suggests that you post your log to any one of a number of forums and that you'll get help from there. If I were to post it here would you be able to help me with it?

[CameronBornAndBred]

I thought this issue had been resolved but, alas, it hasn't. I've just downloaded combofix and am going to run it in the morning. It suggests that you post your log to any one of a number of forums and that you'll get help from there. If I were to post it here would you be able to help me with it?

Sure.

[colchar]

Thanks for the offer but I've now got a bigger problem.

I downloaded combofix but, before I ran it, I decided to uninstall AVG (it wouldn't turn off properly so I figured uninstalling and then reinstalling later made sense) and that seems to have royally screwed up my computer. During the restart that is part of the normal uninstall process my computer failed to restart and I got an error message saying something was corrupted or missing (some Windows driver). Now it won't start at all - even in safe mode.

The system tells you to insert your disc and hit repair but I don't have the disc so I am going to have to take it in to the guy who I use for computer fixes and get him to do it for me. Shitty. The last time something like this happened to my system occurred when I was uninstalling AVG so I've learned my lesson and will never use it again!

I was seriously considering switching to Windows 7 next week but now I'll have to have my desktop repaired first because there is stuff on there I need that hasn't been backed up. If I could upgrade to Windows 7 while saving everything on my system I would do so but I'm guessing that isn't possible so I'll just have to have it repaired, back stuff up, and then switch to Windows 7. Then again, I am assuming that it will be possible to fix it and save what is on there - if it isn't then I will just go straight to Windows 7.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Well that sucks. I've never had any problems with AVG, I use it tons and install it on all of my clients computers. You can do a Windows 7 install first, all of your data will still be there. (It creates an old windows folder that has our user folder). I'd feel better knowing it was backed up first, just in case.

[colchar]

In order to back it up I'd have to have it fixed first - damn I wish I had a copy of that damned disc
I'll have to pay to have it fixed which also sucks.

Then again, I could just get the upgrade disc for Windows 7, install that, and hope for the best thus saving myself a little money. If I lose anything I'll just have to deal with it.

If I do go ahead and get Windows 7 will it matter that I can't currently start Windows? Or will the upgrade disc override that for me?
If you are upgrading from Vista to Windows 7, it should be a true upgrade and you won't lose anything..and save yourself lotta money. It will let you know early if it will upgrade or have to do a fresh install.

[colchar]

According to the Windows 7 website I can upgrade from Vista Home Premium to either Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Ultimate. The bookstore at school only lists a price for the Windows 7 Professional upgrade so I hope they have the update discs that I would need (makes sense as, according to the Microsoft website, you can only upgrade to Windows 7 Pro if you have Vista Business edition). If they don't I can't justify the cost of buying this from a regular store as the academic license will save me quite a bit of money.

I checked my laptop and I can upgrade it to either the 32 or 64 bit version. If I upgrade to 64 bit I will have to do a custom install. If I upgrade to 32 bit I won't and stuff can be saved. I can't remember what it said about this for my desktop so I will likely just upgrade that to the 32 bit version in the hope that nothing is lost. Besides, my laptop has 2GB of RAM while my desktop only has 1GB so the laptop can handle the 64 bit version better than the desktop would. I plan to upgrade the RAM in the desktop just not right now.

If I upgrade my desktop to Windows 7 without fixing whatever has gone wrong with Vista will the upgrade work? Right now I can't even start the desktop so will the upgrade CD override that? And I had been getting redirected when surfing the web because of some sort of malware that I haven't been able to delete. Will upgrading to Windows 7 get rid of that malware for me or would it be saved in my settings and thus continue to be a problem after the upgrade?

[CameronBornAndBred]

If I upgrade my desktop to Windows 7 without fixing whatever has gone wrong with Vista will the upgrade work? Right now I can't even start the desktop so will the upgrade CD override that? And I had been getting redirected when surfing the web because of some sort of malware that I haven't been able to delete. Will upgrading to Windows 7 get rid of that malware for me or would it be saved in my settings and thus continue to be a problem after the upgrade?

It will probably still be there, but I can't say for certain. Best thing would be upgrade, get into Windows, then run combofix. If you had the means...the best thing would be to go into your hard drive another way and scan it/remove virus, and then install 7, but I doubt you have a way of doing that. You should be fine with an upgrade then a cleaning.

[colchar]

Cool, thanks.

All of this is a complete and utter pain in the arse but it definitely helps to have friends who are experts when advice is needed!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Cool, thanks.

All of this is a complete and utter pain in the arse but it definitely helps to have friends who are experts when advice is needed!

Yer welcome. If it all fails miserably...blame DA and her coworkers.

[colchar]

Cool, thanks.

All of this is a complete and utter pain in the arse but it definitely helps to have friends who are experts when advice is needed!

Yer welcome. If it all fails miserably...blame DA and her coworkers.

I'm hoping (praying) I won't have to kick her shins ;)

[CameronBornAndBred]

Cool, thanks.

All of this is a complete and utter pain in the arse but it definitely helps to have friends who are experts when advice is needed!

Yer welcome. If it all fails miserably...blame DA and her coworkers.

I'm hoping (praying) I won't have to kick her shins ;)

You just made me think of great things...see the LTE.

[DevilAlumna]

Cool, thanks.

All of this is a complete and utter pain in the arse but it definitely helps to have friends who are experts when advice is needed!

Yer welcome. If it all fails miserably...blame DA and her coworkers.

I'm hoping (praying) I won't have to kick her shins ;)

I could say something about, "use the MSFT antivirus tools, and you wouldn't have this problem," but I won't. ;-)

Sorry you're having so many difficulties, Colchar. If you can't get a Home Pro or Ultimate upgrade through school, give me a ping.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I could say something about, "use the MSFT antivirus tools, and you wouldn't have this problem," but I won't. ;-)

Good...and you shouldn't. No offense..but those tools are horrendous. Symantec sucks too, but not quite as bad.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I could say something about, "use the MSFT antivirus tools, and you wouldn't have this problem," but I won't. ;-)

Good...and you shouldn't. No offense..but those tools are horrendous. Symantec sucks too, but not quite as bad. I'm not speaking from emotion, I'm speaking from field experience.

[colchar]

Anyone have a guess as to whether the upgrade will work when my copy of Vista is so screwed up right now (missing a file or Windows driver) that I can't even turn the system on? Will the upgrade disc just power its way through that little problem? If so, then I'll do the upgrade. If not I'll have to get the desktop fixed before I can upgrade and, at that point, I wouldn't really need to upgrade - at least not right now.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I can tell you that windows will work after the upgrade. Whatever component is missing now will be replaced by the Windows 7 version.