Common PC Cleaning

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Note: If you're going to post a HijackThis log, please perform the following prior to posting. The following steps will likely clean most of the garbage from your system. Print out these instructions for using.

Step 1:
Download Adaware by LavaSoft. Link 1 Link 2

• Use the: "Check for Updates Now" option and download the latest reference files.
• Use the Start button, and on the next window, select: Perform Full System Scan.
• Press Next, and let Ad-aware scan the hard drive
• When finished, right-click the window with the entries, choose: Select All from the menu, and click Next.
• Once AdAware has removed the entries, close the program.
  Restart your computer.

Step 2:
Dowload the latest version of Spybot 1.4. Link 1 Link 2

• Check it for updates.
• Run the program and have it fix anything it finds in Red.
• Restart your computer.

Step 3:
Reboot to safe mode. Instructions here.

• Delete the entire contents of the below Temp folders, but not the TEMP folder itself.
• Remove all the files and sub-folders from the below TEMP Folders:
  • C:\Documents and Settings\ \Local Settings\Temp
  • C:\temp
  • C:\windows\temp
• The TIF ( Temporary Internet Files) can also be emptied via:
  Internet Explorer--Tools--Internet Options--General tab--"Delete Files". Also tick the "delete all offline content" box .
• Clean out your Recycle Bin

Step 4:
Update your Anti Virus!

• Run a full system scan with your Anti Virus. If you don't have one, this is the time to get one.
• Run another scan with Ad-aware. Have it fix anything it finds.
• Run another scan with Spybot. Again have it fix anything it finds.
• Restart your computer!

Step 5:
Run a scan, preferably with Bitdefender (see below). Be sure and Check Auto Clean. Make a note of anything it can't remove.

Go to TrendMicro - Free Online Scan

• Be sure and check Auto Clean before you do the scan.
• If it finds anything that it cannot clean, have it delete it or make a note of the file location so you can delete it.

Free online scans:

• Kaspersky Scan
• Online Panda Scan
• Online Virus Scan
• Bitdefender Scan

Step 6:
Download the latest version of HijackThis! Link 1 Link 2

• Unzip the newest version of HJT into a new dedicated folder. Very important!
• Create a folder on the C: drive called C:\Programs\HJT.
  You can do this by going to My Computer (Windows key+e) then double click on C:. Then right click on Programs and select New then Folder and name it HJT.
• Unzip HijackThis into this folder.
• Launch Hijack This. Then press Scan, and press Save Log. This will generate a text file that will list all running processes, all applications that are loaded automatically when you start Windows, and more.

Caution: Most list items in the HJT log are harmless and needed so don't make any changes. Do NOT fix any log items unless you are sure of what you are fixing. Get help here.

• Start a new thread and post your entire HJT log. You will get help quicker if you start your own thread. Posting a HJT log in someone else's thread gets too confusing and there is a good chance it will get overlooked (or deleted).

Please be patient while waiting for help on your HijackThis log. We are a new and growing forum and will get to your log as soon as possible. Do NOT PM THE LOG READER, to find out the status of your log, use the bump method. Just type bump in your post, or make a simple request of the status, and it will go to the top of the list.

Dave

Special Thanks to SouthernLady!

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