If it were me I might start with a full scan of Malwarebytes, then run Ccleaner followed by a defrag. Then I might look in msconfig and see how many programs are running. Then I might see how much free space was left on my hard drive in case I had too much stuff on there causing the swap file to work that much harder. I might also go to PC Pitstop and run a full scan there, being sure to stay in the free area taking note of all the suggested fixes.

I don't understand why he removes the browsers then reinstalls them later. I use several browsers and keep them all installed and patched. I use firefox for most of my browsing, but there are a few sites that work well only with IE so I just use IE when I visit those sites.

bp.. some I believe he leaves on but he doesn't have a lot of free harddrive space.

What all does this Ccleaner do? I wonder if I should run that on my computer. Mine should be fairly clean but I'm sure there is leftovers from things I deleted. I have a lot of free space...
What is the minimum amount of free space U can get away with?
Dar

Dar Ccleaner does a far better job of cleaning than the 'Disk clean' feature already on all computers. Run it at the default settings and you might be pleasantly surprised how much junk it will remove for you. Usually I like to run defrag after using this program. The link below is good.

Regarding free disk space there should be a minimum of about 20 to 25 per cent free space. This allows the swap file to do it's job as effectively as possible.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ccleaner - slim, no toolbars to worry about

Would it be true to say that, for efficiency sake, one should run CCleaner first, so that, with all the megabytes worth of "crap" gone, the AV, spyware, and malware scans have fewer files they need to scan ?

Not2bright, I have never really thought of that and strangely never run all those tasks the same day. Your logic certainly sounds feasible.

Perhaps others might jump in and we can gather a consensus of opinions

Is REGcure Optimizer what I want? I see several downloads on that site. I clicked the 1st one but didn't download it. I want to be positive I am doing the right thing.

OK Dar go to this link and click the third option - the one stating it is slim. The only difference is the fact that the regular build will install a Yahoo toolbar if you are not paying attention during the install whereas the slim version does not offer the excess baggage.

You do not want Regcure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ccleaner slim

The link took me to RegCure... I didn't download that & came here & asked about it.

I did the Ccleaner & defrag on my computer.. I only have 28% free on drive C.. 61.3 total 43.9 used 17.3 free
Drive E is.. 120 total 34.6 used 85.4 free

What all can I put on E in the future to save usage of space on C?
Dar

What is drive "E" External usb type???

Back to my sons computer.. He has WAY to much on it. I'm trying to get him to take some off. He has lots of games on it.. games he seldom uses.
I can't physically do it as he is in VA & of course I'm in AL.

Dar you can physically do it. Use the free Teamviewer linked below. You click 'Start full program' and your son starts 'Start customer module'. You will need to answer a couple of questions, he does not. Once he clicks the customer module he will give you a 9 digit number which you type in with a space after each three. You click to connect and he will give you 4 more digits to type in. Then you are connected and have total control of his computer. If you use Skype as I do then you can talk with him as you make the needed changes. Fantastic little tool. You can use your mouse and keyboard and even re-boot his machine from yours and get re-connected if he has to leave.

While trying to avid confusion here Zep asked about your E drive, is that external or another internal drive or partition?

Here is a link that might be useful: Teamviewer

I'm not good with drives owbist in fact I stink at them,

So my question is will a program like ccleaner run fron an external drive.

I don't know the answer to that,,, cause I was thinking she could move programs to E.

But I'm not sure about it...

Owbist,
My son is capable of doing it if he just would.. He doesn't have much patience & gets frustrated easy (bi-polar & more) I wouldn't attempt to do his.. as U know I have trouble handling my own. I can get advice for him like the Ccleaner. I sent that to him & he used it. He was supposed to run MWB last nite & fell asleep & didn't do it... maybe tonite. He isn't good at maintaining his computer. Since that virus I got I have sure stayed on top of mine.
I know he has ADware which hopefully he will get rid of tonite. He said he was going to delete Google corome (sp) & Sifari (sp) browsers..hopefully for good. I don't know why his FireFox won't work in a site he goes to.. mine does.

What knowledge I have is self taught with a lot of help from here & LzD. I have no one here to help me in person(without paying)
Thanks Guys & Gals :)
Dar

OOPs forgot to answer Zep..
My hard drive is partitioned.. drive C & E. I now wish it was all one. If a program wants to go to C can I direct it to E instead? I have 2 card making programs that are pretty big. For some reason they are not working. Both are by American greetings. When I reinstall them can I put them on E? As I typed this a thought come to mind.. could the company have done something to disable them wanting me to buy new versions? They are pretty old but worked a few weeks ago. I believe I'll do a little research on American Greetings.
Dar

I can't answer hard drive questions so well if it were a file problem or folder problem I could help, others will answer I'm sure.

Dar you can remove any program from your C: drive and install it on the E: except Windows. What happens is that the program installs in the same way but the operating instructions are still loaded onto the C:\Windows and C:\Windows\System32 folders so Windows can do it's job. There was a time long ago when I had all my programs on a different partition than Windows.

As regards your American Greetings Cards program it is possible the company did something if you allow the program access to the internet but I doubt they would cripple it. Try installing on your E: drive and see what happens as it may be just a couple of corrupt files interfering

Well I think we have more problem with my sons computer than Adware.
He did a MWB full scan & it found 8 adware BUT it also found a Trojan.agent. It was put in quarantine But I know that isn't the end of it..wish it was. How big a problem is it. No telling how long he has had it. He probably needs to go to LzD & see Corrine doesn't he? Is there anything he can do before going.. I think I can send him HighJackThis setup. What else can be done ahead? He knows not to do anything like removing anything until told to do so.
Dar

Have U ever heard of a browser named Luna Scope? That is what he is using as it works in the site he goes to when FireFox won't. Sorry to be so much bother.
Dar

Better to send him the link for the forum, not the hijackthis tool,

Malwarebytes probably found Trojan Vundu. Not real serious Trojan not a password stealer or anything like that.

That's the reason I use Malwarebytes it always removes Most of Vundu but not necessarily all it.

Zep he said that in the quarantine it said Trojan.agent.. is that the same thing? Or maybe that is just kinda a generic name for the trojans. OH.. I wasn't gonna have him act upon HJT on his own.. no way. I'll see if I can get him to go to LzD forum. He needs some help.
Dar

I'd really need to see the malwarebytes log to answer the question correctly, and have some clue as to the symptoms on the pc, other thing if it's in quarantine it can't hurt anyone.

Your next step is really to run another scanner, an online scanner like one of these Kaspersky, ESET, Panda or BitDefender and see if they turn anything up, or go directly to other forum and do the routine there.

Zep he said that in the quarantine it said Trojan.agent.. is that the same thing? Or maybe that is just kinda a generic name for the trojans. OH.. I wasn't gonna have him act upon HJT on his own.. no way. I'll see if I can get him to go to LzD forum. He needs some help.
Dar

Zep I posted the last reply before I saw your answer.. what really happened is I previewed my post.. didn't send it by accident.. I left & came back & realized what I had done. Then I sent it without looking. I am just gonna send him to LzD as I think there is other problems & maybe they can help.
Dar

No problem...

They will help you,

Good luck..

Thanks for the link to Ccleaner, but I need help installing it!

I downloaded it to my desktop but when I clicked on the link I got a box asking me which program to use to open it. Would that be Winzip?

Sorry for such a dumb question!

Thanks,

Mark

Mark on the page linked below you click the third choice to get the slim version with no toolbar. You will get a new window but wait a few seconds and the download box appears offering you to click 'Save file', this will be ccsetup215_slim an exe file. Save it then double click on it to install. Once installed run the cleaner.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ccleaner slim version with no Yahoo toolbar

Thanks owbist.

For whatever reason the file won't open, so I deleted the link from my desktop and tried a fresh download, but the download won't complete!

What if I go with the "standard build"? Any reason not to?

I appreciate your time and helpfulness. Thank you very much.

M

Yes, try the standard build then but just be aware that during the question and answer session you will see they have it checked to install the Yahoo toolbar, simply remove that if you do not want the toolbar. Other than that they are identical.

Failing that try the link below to Majorgeeks, they are a very reliable site too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Download at Majorgeeks

Thanks again. I'll try now.

M

Trojan agent is a different one and very difficult to get rid of if you go on over to LzD you will see several threads there dedicated to trying to clean it out of a lot of pcs, so yes he does need to go there and ask Corrine for help it will not get clean with out special help.

If you have ATF which we usually have you use at LzD you do not need ccleaner they are quite similar, you can use it to clear out the same things.

And yes it is always best to run ATF or CC prior to running any thing else so that you have gotten rid of all that extra junk and the scans do not have to deal with it so the scanning takes less time.

As you know he will have to follow the directions he is given at LzD explicitly to gain the full benefit of their expertise.

By the way Corrine has put up a sticky at the top of the Hijackthis forum dedicated to Trojan Agent and how to get started, but as always never follow any other directions except the ones specific to your thread as each persons directions will be different.

To follow up on my CComputer download: I'm happy to report that the bigger download worked and I ran the scan at once, and things definitely appear to be working better. Now I'll wait and see if my wife notices a difference. :-)

Thanks again for the guidance.

Best,

M