subject: Very easy and free method to remove virus called xp total security Win 32 virus [print this page] Very easy and free method to remove virus called xp total security Win 32 virus
There are several viruses out there that take over your PC and pose as an anti-virus program. The problem is that once you get infected with one of these, all of your real security software seems to disappear. At a loss for options, I put my situation to a group of people with whom I play "Mafia Wars" on facebook....hoping to get an answer. I got this one this morning, tried it and after a night of hell....am up and running again and am as good as new. Here is his response.
You picked up a Win32 virus. Pull power cord from computer while it's ON and wait 30 seconds. Replace cord and restart. As your computer is starting, continuously hit the F5 key (you may have to repeat this process a couple of times). Once you see the "Windows was not shut down properly" prompt, use your ARROW keys to select Safe Mode. Once in safe mode, go to your "Search Bar" in the lower-left corner and type "System Restore" (Win32 virus will have moved the "Restore" from it's normal file). Once "Restore" is found, type in a date prior to you picking up the virus. Depending on how much of your hard-drive was wiped out, this process can take a while, but it works.
Yes, it worked.After spending hours of reading how to delete processes and registry enteries...this was a very quick fix. Enjoy surfing and watch what you click..but in this case..it worked out fine for me. I actually looked into buying virus removing software to combat this problem. Thank God I didn't. I got too tired from reading tutorial after tutorial so I gave up and awoke to his solution. If only everything in life were that easy to fix.
With three kids, a fairly old tower and gadgets galore, I will continue to trouble shoot various issues as they arise. If I get good advice on an easy fix, I promise to share it here. If I would have read the words of this man three years ago (got infected with a similar virus and had to back up all my photos, etc), I could have saved a lot of time and grief for my family.
