Unneeded Programs

[mnraybon]

HELP. My son downloaded some screensavers and I don't know how to remove them. Anyone that can help me I would appreciate it. I do not see them in add/remove programs. There are about 6 screensavers I am presuming they came as a bundle? They are pretty cool looking but computer has been doing funny things ever since he downloaded them.

[LT. Columbo]

have you run spyware/virus scans? you surely have spyware.

[mnraybon]

Yes I have run my Virus Scan, ad-aware and spybot. I still want these screen savers off my computer.I tried right clicking on them but gave me no option to delete. How do I get rid of them?

[Chewy]

when you right click, go to properties and even advanced, what kind of settings do the files have?

download trojanhunter, update it and run a full system scan

http://www.misec.net/

virus scans don't catch many of the new generation of trojans
safe mode might

[mnraybon]

I downloaded and ran trojanhunter as you said. As the scan was running my McAffee popped up 2 notices saying my computer was infected with the Malformed Archive Virus and couldnt be cleaned. The messages were The fileC:/Documents and Settings/Compaq_Owner/Local Settings/Temp/C got another one with Temp/K said Temp /k kmpv.exe.....What does all this mean?

[Chewy]

means your son downloaded and installed a virus/trojan/malware package and hosed your computer, as I thought!
P2P download probably

http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=description&virus_k=136455

update every program you've got and then disconnect from internet,
boot into safe mode and start scanning, good luck, you'll need it!
I fought one for 2 days, took 7 hours to kill the SOB!
Corporate missioncritical bookkeeping box, otherwise I would have wiped and done a clean install.

[mnraybon]

I really hate to sound like a moron but I am new to computers. I guess what I am saying is I really don't understand what you are telling me.

[drfsupercenter]

He means the file has a virus in it, he is telling you to unplug the Internet and start your computer in Safe Mode... from the boot options screen.

Then scan it for viruses.

[mnraybon]

how do you start in safe mode? and will unplugging ethernet cord be sufficient enough?

[mnraybon]

Also what scan do I run? Mcafee,ad-aware,spybot,trojanhunter? All?

[Chewy]

I would run 2 fully updated virus program scans from safe mode, then
spybot, then finally trojanhunter

Right at the last part of bootup you have to hit F8 or ctrl,
another way is go into msconfig and change bootini settings

[Kabuchan]

Chewy, just out of curiosity, What is the difference between a regular boot and safe mode? If you're not connected to the Internet, does it matter?

[Chewy]

Many nasties load in regular mode but not in safe mode, scanning for virus anymore really needs to be done in safe mode, virus are written to hide in regular mode. One of the reasons I tell people to use trojan hunter, it detects a lot that are running resident in memory, heuristic(behavior) detection. TH won't find the installer a lot of times but is good at spotting the crap when it's running. The reason you disconnect from the internet is to keep the witches brew of new malware from reloading or updating itself
as you are killing it, matter of fact if you reconnect too soon, you have to start all over from scratch. A lot easier to just throw in the towel and do a clean install, that always works.

[Kabuchan]

Thanks Chewy! Makes a lot of sense now.

[mnraybon]

ok here is where I am at right now. I made sure mcafee was updated and ran a scan in safe mode. It showed that nothing was detected. What I am confused about is when I ran the trojan hunter scan as you said while the trojan hunter was scanning is when the notices from mcafee popped up about the virus warnings listed up above in my post. If it says they are there and can't be cleaned,deleted or quaranteed why are they not showing up on the scan? Also no one has answered my original question about how to get rid of the screensaver programs.