The Official Malware/Antivirus Thread - Need help or general advice? Read this first!

[Lzen]

This is my kids' laptop. Something shut off Avast. I think they had to select allow for that to happen because Avast doesn't let crap like that in.Also, several keys on the keyboard aren't working.

[Fish]

Hmmm. Can you turn Avast back on and does it stay on?

I can't see how any virus or malware would disable any keys. I don't see how that's possible.

[Lzen]

Can't turn avast on and can't uninstall it.

[Fish]

What happens when you try? Error messages? Did you try in Safe Mode?

[chasedude]

You might want to run an error check on her hard drive, just to help rule out it causing your problems

Open Up "My Computer" and right click on the hard drive... choose properties. (it's usually the last choice)

You should see a new window popup with multiple tabs to click on, click on the Tools Tab.

Now you should see a button that says "Error Checking", click on it.

A new smaller window will popup, choose both options... auto check system errors and recover bad sectors. Now click start.

Depending on the size of her HD and the resources available, it might take a while. Start it before you go to bed and hopefully it'll be done by the time you wake.

The guys above have gave good advice, I thought this would help at least to see if the HD was causing problems.

[Lzen]

Ok, I have narrowed down that the keyboard issue is a bad keyboard. A USB keyboard works fine. I ordered a new one and it shouldn't be too difficult to replace.

But the whole thing with Avast is weird. It had some kind of malicious software that shut down Avast. Even after I ran everything according to this thread and got rid of the crap, Avast would not work. It won't work in safe mode, either. And I can't uninstall it and reinstall it. I'm using AVG now, but I prefer Avast.

BTW, I think the keyboard issue timing was just a coincidence.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Ok, I have narrowed down that the keyboard issue is a bad keyboard. A USB keyboard works fine. I ordered a new one and it shouldn't be too difficult to replace.

But the whole thing with Avast is weird. It had some kind of malicious software that shut down Avast. Even after I ran everything according to this thread and got rid of the crap, Avast would not work. It won't work in safe mode, either. And I can't uninstall it and reinstall it. I'm using AVG now, but I prefer Avast.

BTW, I think the keyboard issue timing was just a coincidence.

From the sounds of it, Avast imploded. I've seen it happen before, and it had nothing to do with any malicious software.

Try the Avast uninstall utility: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

That will let you remove it and reinstall it from scratch...

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

From the sounds of it, Avast imploded. I've seen it happen before, and it had nothing to do with any malicious software.

Try the Avast uninstall utility: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

That will let you remove it and reinstall it from scratch...

Ok, thanks. I'll try that.

[Lzen]

That worked. Thanks Fish.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Lzen

That worked. Thanks Fish.

We just can't let you have anything to play with, can we?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

We just can't let you have anything to play with, can we?

Hey, it wasn't me. It's my kids' laptop that always has crap happening to it. My laptop is fine.

[Dr. Gigglepants]

If anyone could offer any help with an install of Microsoft Security Essentials it would be greatly appreciated. My wife is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (Service Pack 1) on her laptop. The first thing I did when we got the laptop was uninstall McAfee and install Eset. Now that the Eset subscription is out I want to install MSE since it is free, and the other laptops in the house are running it just fine.

Yesterday I uninstalled Eset using the Windows Uninstaller, restarted, and downloaded the MSE install file from their website. I downloaded the Windows 7 64-bit version of MSE. I ran the .exe file and it gave me the error code 0x8004FF81. I googled it and there isn't a definite answer as to what this error code is.

I think Eset is completely uninstalled, I checked C:\Program Files\Eset and C:\Program Data\Eset and both of those folders are gone. There is, however, a C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee folder for some reason.

1) Do you think if I delete the McAfee folder it will let me install MSE?
2) Could anything bad happen if I delete the McAfee folder? (When I go into control panel\Programs and Features there is no listing for McAfee, so it looks like it is completely uninstalled except for this folder that still exists).

Thank you tech gurus of ChiefsPlanet!

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gigglepants

If anyone could offer any help with an install of Microsoft Security Essentials it would be greatly appreciated. My wife is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (Service Pack 1) on her laptop. The first thing I did when we got the laptop was uninstall McAfee and install Eset. Now that the Eset subscription is out I want to install MSE since it is free, and the other laptops in the house are running it just fine.

Yesterday I uninstalled Eset using the Windows Uninstaller, restarted, and downloaded the MSE install file from their website. I downloaded the Windows 7 64-bit version of MSE. I ran the .exe file and it gave me the error code 0x8004FF81. I googled it and there isn't a definite answer as to what this error code is.

I think Eset is completely uninstalled, I checked C:\Program Files\Eset and C:\Program Data\Eset and both of those folders are gone. There is, however, a C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee folder for some reason.

1) Do you think if I delete the McAfee folder it will let me install MSE?
2) Could anything bad happen if I delete the McAfee folder? (When I go into control panel\Programs and Features there is no listing for McAfee, so it looks like it is completely uninstalled except for this folder that still exists).

Thank you tech gurus of ChiefsPlanet!

Try running both of these uninstaller tools -- one is for ESET and the other is for McAfee.

Eset: http://download.eset.com/special/ESETUninstaller.exe

McAfee: http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe

Report back

[Dr. Gigglepants]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Try running both of these uninstaller tools -- one is for ESET and the other is for McAfee.

Eset: http://download.eset.com/special/ESETUninstaller.exe

McAfee: http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe

Report back

Ran both, restarted, downloaded MSE again, it gave me the same error code when I tried to install it.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gigglepants

Ran both, restarted, downloaded MSE again, it gave me the same error code when I tried to install it.

Hmmm -- might want to try cleaning up the MSE install. There is a MS fix-it we could run to try and remove all MS security tools and any registry entries that may be there -- then trying re-downloading and installing MSE again.

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Pr..._and_Uninstall

This tool is designed to fix un-installation issues like, MSE registry issues, removes remnants of Microsoft Security Essentials from your computer.
a. To do this run the FixIt tool from the following links.
b. Click the below link and select Run Now button.
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Pr..._and_Uninstall
c. After downloading and running for the first time
d. Select Run on small pop-up window and select Run on Internet Explorer-Security Warning Window.
e. Select Detect problems and let me select the files to apply.
f. Select Uninstalling.
g. After detecting problems Select Microsoft Security Client to uninstall and click Next.
h. Repeat the steps from b to f and, this time select Microsoft Antimalware from list to uninstall and click Next.
i. Restart your computer and reinstall Microsoft Security essentials.