Step 1: House Cleaning & Setup
Uninstalling malware programs - Work thru the below link to uninstall any bad stuff that should not be installed on your PC. This may in some instances even resolve your problems. It takes a small amount of time (based on your exerience level) to do this comparison, but it well worth the effort.
Uninstall Malware via Add/Remove Programs
Skip this Sun Java update procedure if using Windows 98 or ME. Uninstall ALL old Sun Java versions because they have vulnerabilities and then get updated.
See: Updating Sun Java
**** Msconfig must be set for Normal Startup mode **** NOTE: If you don't do this you will be delayed in getting help for your problems!!!!You MUST be sure that MSconfig is not being used to control Startups.
Note: That some Window's OSs (like Win 2K, 2003) do not have MSconfig! Run the procedure in the below link for your Windows version:
Use MSconfig to setup for Normal Startup Mode
Read this to better understand why not to use MSconfig: Dealing with Startup Processes
Empty ALL Quarantine type folders for antivirus and antispyware applications.
This step of house cleaning may save a load of time later (reduced scanning time) and can significantly reduce the size of logs being posted later. Here is just one example for doing this with Norton/Symantec:
Removing files from Norton AntiVirus Quarantine
Empty your Recycle Bin
Empty Norton Nprotect folder - If you are a Symantec/Norton user make sure you empty their Norton Nprotect folder guarding the Recycle Bin.
See Emptying the Norton Protected Recycle Bin
Download and install CCleaner
Now run Ccleaner with the default options (that means don’t change anything) to clean out temporary files.
Only use the default settings on the Windows Tab and select Run Cleaner. Do not run any other options from other tabs.
Also it is highly recommended to login to all other User Accounts on the PC including the Administrator account (on Win2K,XP and Vista) which will only show when you boot in safe mode.
Run CCleaner on each account. This can greatly reduce scan time and log sizes from the later scanning you will do below.
If you don’t see Ccleaner’s link when logging into the other accounts, just goto the C:\Program Files\Ccleaner folder and double click on the ccleaner.exe file to run it. You can also create a shortcut to the file on the Desktop of your other user accounts to make it easier to run in the future.
If you booted into safe mode to clean the Adminstrator account, be sure to reboot in normal mode before continue on with the below instructions.
Step 2: Enable viewing of hidden files, system files and file extensions
Some programs hide themselves by making their files invisible in normal Windows settings. Run the steps in the below link (has steps for ALL Win OS's) to make them easier to find.
How to view hidden, system files & folders!
Not doing this would allow file extensions commonly used by trojans and spyware to be hidden, for example a file ending in .exe or dll making manually finding it, if needed, difficult to impossible.
Step 3: Select and run the all steps in the cleaning link below based on your Windows Operating System
You must click the blue underlined links to get to the cleaning procedures for your version of Windows!
If you have Windows 95, 98, or ME, continue here: Windows 98 and ME Cleaning Procedure
If you have Windows 2000 or 2003 continue here: Win 2000 & 2003 Cleaning Procedure
If you have Windows XP, continue here:Windows XP Cleaning Procedure
If you have Vista, continue here: Vista Cleaning Procedure