Need tech help- computer infected

[Moy]

Hey all, I write to you in light of a recent situation.

My sister's computer seems to be full of viruses, ranging from low-risk malicious software such as Starware, all the way to ContraVirus and Antivirus 7, which have disabled the firewall and bypassed the antivirus protection.

Current antivirus software used is Avast! Home Edition, version 4.8.

Malware software is Malware Bytes Anti-Malware.

Most of the malware detected has been in the registry keys, some in system32 files.

I do not know what course of action to take to rid the computer of these infections.

Many of the files I have searched online and have found that some of these pathways are viruses.

I will try putting the infected files into quarantine for the time being, but need advice on what steps to take for a further course of action.

If any of you can offer insight on what I should do, I would be deeply thankful.

-Chris

 

[SupraMario]

Can you get into Safemode?

 

[7Matt-GE]

you might as well reformat dude...its gunna be a bitch removing those viruses or i recommend using AVG anti virus(free.avg.com) and doing a scan.

 

[isnms]

Do all of these steps.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

[Moy]

Just got here. Have it in safe mode and running MBAM. Waiting for scan results

 

[GrimJack]

Personally, I'm in the reformat camp. A reformat takes under an hour, and pretty much guarantees a clean machine at the end of the process. (Infections that can survive a format are extremely rare in the field.) Dicking around trying to repair the existing setup takes much longer - unless it's a very simple problem, or a single infection - and there's never a 100% guarantee that it's entirely clean.

Furthermore, the pain felt by the end user when they have to reinstall all their applications, restore all their documents and such from backup, and get the machine reorganized the way they like it helps train them to stop clicking links in emails from strangers.

 

[arknotts]

Personally, I'm in the reformat camp. A reformat takes under an hour, and pretty much guarantees a clean machine at the end of the process. (Infections that can survive a format are extremely rare in the field.) Dicking around trying to repair the existing setup takes much longer - unless it's a very simple problem, or a single infection - and there's never a 100% guarantee that it's entirely clean.

Furthermore, the pain felt by the end user when they have to reinstall all their applications, restore all their documents and such from backup, and get the machine reorganized the way they like it helps train them to stop clicking links in emails from strangers.

Furthermore, if you think she may get more viruses in the future, image the disk after all of the programs have been re-installed. Next time the restore will take less time than the reformat, and all of the programs will still be there.

 

[7Matt-GE]

but out yee old norton ghost and make an image of said pc so it will be even QUICKER to reinstall

 

[I6Boost]

Alot of times the sarundll will be disabled so it removes
every syntax of list-A1 but you can try system restore.

 

[MKIIINA]

pull the harddrive and run your standard suite from another computer. had to do this with my boss' laptop as a reformat was not an option and had it cleaned out in under an hour and a half. after that installed avg free and MB along with spybot. problem solved, more or less...

 

[supraman7mgte]

Douche it and start anew.

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Format.