NWR: Help! I have a computer virus!

(I posted this on NWR, but there's hardly any traffic over there... and it is hindering my wedding planning, so I technically should put it on BHB )

I have two viruses on my computer at home. My computer is only three months old, I have McAfee protecting it, and still - it damaged my computer.

It turns on, but it doesn't show the desktop, nor does it show the Start button. I called Dell and Geek Squad, and they both want over $100 to guide me over the phone on how to fix it. McAfee has given me the names of the viruses, but I can't delete or qurantine them - it tells me to verify that the file is not write-protected and to try again. I can't even get into my Control Panel to do a system restore (not that I know if it would even help) so I'm freaking out.

Should I pay the money to have someone guide me over the phone? Can one of you help me, please?

When starting your comp before the desktop would come up you have to try to start your comp is 'safe mode'. Try searching online, thats how i have gotten a lot of help. Just use google, or ixquick and type in virus or start comp in safe mode.
HTH
Anne

What are the names of the viruses? I'll see if I can download the fixes and email them to you.

Also starting in safe mode helps...It's one of the F keys (I think F1 or F4 or F8 when your computer starts up, but before you get to the Windows screen.

I hate mcafee

I have norton personal security package virus scanner and firewall and I have been fine for years

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Posted by BKtoLI

What are the names of the viruses? I'll see if I can download the fixes and email them to you.

Also starting in safe mode helps...It's one of the F keys (I think F1 or F4 or F8 when your computer starts up, but before you get to the Windows screen.

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Argh, I wish I saw your answer before I went home yesterday so I could have brought the names with me to work. I appreciate the offer and I'll FM you or reply here tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for offering!

I will try to start it in safe mode tonight.

I hate MacAfee too. My last computer had Norton.

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Posted by SexyEsq

Try calling McAfee before spending $$ and see if they will help for free. After all you are paying them for virus protection!!

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I should just call them. I tried looking online for a contact number, and it brought me to this screen where I could pay different fees for different types of help. I want free help! I'm going to try to contact them again tonight. I'm just going to randomly press buttons until I get a person.

Oh my gosh. I have McAfee too and now I have a virus too! I need help too!!!!

My computer is like 3 years old. Last year I installed McAfee and never got a peep. Recently we went to highspeed internet and McAfee updated itself.

I followed it's instructions and ended up deleting (I think) a lot of paths. I can't do a system restore, I can't add/remove programs... nothing! I can get onto the internet, I can get onto certain programs not affected.

The virius is NewWin32.

HELP....

I called Dell too and it would cost 99 bucks to walk me through it. I'm so mad at McAfee... all I did was follow what it told me to do!

Leese, I will let you know how i fix this.

It began with pop-ups (yes, the pop-up blocker didn't stop them) from a company called WinFixer that proclaimed that I had spyware and said that my computer was at risk. I tried to fix it (not like I know what I'm doing) following MacAfee's instructions - nothing worked. It's sick that this virus would install itself on my computer and write-protect itself so I can't remove it.

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Posted by Hallowedding

Leese, I will let you know how i fix this.

It began with pop-ups (yes, the pop-up blocker didn't stop them) from a company called WinFixer that proclaimed that I had spyware and said that my computer was at risk. I tried to fix it (not like I know what I'm doing) following MacAfee's instructions - nothing worked. It's sick that this virus would install itself on my computer and write-protect itself so I can't remove it.

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Thanks so much. I am dying to get it fixed!

Ok, I am using the computer now in safe mode. The virus scan came uo with the following files:

W32/Alemod.f.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32.wininet.dll

Dowloader_AGR
C:\WINDOWS\system32\pmnnk.dll

Adware-Virtumundo
C:\WINDOWS\system32\vtsts.dll


It still says I an't remove them or quarantine them! It says to check that they're not write protected!

This is killing me.....