New user needs help; numerous issues with Windows 7

s0c9 said:

Ann,
general word of advice [since its been 5 yrs since your last new PC] on obtaining "free" software. There are MANY sites that have programs like AVG, Avast and other such free [versions of] software available to install... for a FEE !!! That may be where some of your confusion is coming from.

Make sure that when you obtain these install packages, that you get them from the original vendors web site. They should be safe and virus free.. after all their reputation depends on it being so :)

This may have been your issue with Thunderbird ... only get it from Mozilla site.
for example.. the free version of AVG is here..
AVG Free - Upgrade Free Antivirus

but strangely enough NOT here !!
http://www.avg.com

Apologies if this is old news to you, but the internet world is now fraught with traps for the unwary.. like the popup window that says your machine is infected with everything under the sun [its really not] and and click here to clean.. That actually installs what we call malware... REALLY ANNOYING software that essentially forces you to their website to buy a key which will turn off those annoyances - like being unable to browse.. 'cus the site your are going to is "infected" and you are blocked for your own safety. Yeah, like microsoft.com has viruses.!!???? These programs re very difficult to remove, and the average person will NOT be successful in doing so.. requires a level of tech skill available to those who work in the industry ["geeks"]

I never said Microsoft had viruses. It was Mozilla. Attempting to DL Thunderbird from the Mozilla site caused virus warning pop-ups, apparently from the site itself, as I had not DLed any security software yet. And no, these pop-ups did not have any visible links that said "click here to clean," they appeared to actual legitimate warnings since the second time I went back to Mozilla, I got the warning, and then another window opened an started to DL Thunderbird all by itself, without me having selected run or save. Until I can get some clearer information on which A/V is the most advanced with the most comprehensive virus database in comparison to the normally paid CA Internet Security Suite that my broadband monopoly was supposed to provide free as part of the contract, unless you have W7, then you're screwed and left on your own, and Mediacom did not tell me until after the installation that they are not technically compatible with W7.

According to the info video for MS Security Essencials, all other A/V programs must be removed, giving the impression that MSE is not compatible with any other A/Vs; implying to me that you can only run one A/V at a time. If anyone can please tell me which *one* of the free A/Vs is the most advanced and comprehensive, I'd really appreciate it.

I am scared to go back to Mozilla, or to attempt to DL any other email clients and try to figure out which, if any, email client is compatible with W7 and Mediacom, until l I know for sure that I have an A/V that will stop Thunderbird's virus, as well as any others that might be hiding in other email clients.

I had to turn the TV off last night for a while when half of the commercials on nearly every channel were advertising either Mediacom Internet or W7, so I wouldn't end up losing my temper and end up throwing something at the TV. Mediacom kept claiming how advanced their [monopoly] service is, and how all Mediacom internet customers could log into their website to download the free security software, CA Internet Security Suite, which is not compatible with Windows 7.

W7 commercials: "I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea." Really? After all these problems, I wouldn't think that is something that they would actually want to brag about.
Over 62 hours now, and without my Blackberry, the only way to check email on the Thinkpad is to keep a seperate WIE window open to one of my email providers and keep refreshing the page over and over to see if I have any new emails. I guess I got "spoiled" by AOL (1996-2005) and my Blackberry actually having an audio-visual notification every time an email came into my inbox, so I knew right when it got there, and could respond in a timely manner.


Seriously, does anyone know if the scaled down Windows 7 on a mini-netbook is capable of downloading and running Flash Media on websites? Since Flash is the ONLY significant feature that my Thinkpad has over my Blackberry, I just can't justify to myself allowing my mom to spend 20+ times the cost of the BB, for one feature.
Thanks

gregrocker said:

I think you should uninstall Avast in Programs and Features, then restart your computer and download/install again..

When it brings up the box to insert activation key, just click on Register there.

They will email you a key to cut and paste in the box. Then you can forget about it.

Already did that; second time the registration button was gone and replaced with buttons for open and cancel under the text box; please refer to the 6th post on the 6th page for further explanation.
Thanks

Ann:

The fact that you get warnings when going to a known legitimate Thunderbird download site indicates to me that your system is probably already compromised.

I would concentrate on getting that resolved first.

Before email, etc.

Normally, I would suggest malwarebytes, but you apparently have problems with getting the free version to operate properly---which may be another indication that your system is compromised.

See if you can download and run Threatfire:

ThreatFire AntiVirus - Behavioral Virus and Spyware Protection

Use the big green circular button.

Have it scan for rootkits and whatever else is on its menu.

After that, try this virus scanner; download and install the 64 bit version, update it, and run a complete scan.

HouseCall - Free Antivirus Scan

Malware can prevent virus and malware scanners from running properly and that may be your problem.

If you can't get to the bottom of this, you can't progress.

If either of these applications run properly, let us know what they find.

gregrocker said:

Annastasia said:

gregrocker said:

I think you should uninstall Avast in Programs and Features, then restart your computer and download/install again..

When it brings up the box to insert activation key, just click on Register there.

They will email you a key to cut and paste in the box. Then you can forget about it.

Already did that; second time the registration button was gone and replaced with buttons for open and cancel under the text box; please refer to the 6th post on the 6th page for further explanation.
Thanks

I was responding to that post, because you seemed to not be sure it was fully uninstalled.

<H2 align=left></H2>Uninstalled again, but now when now when I click on your link, I keep getting:

<<The webpage "download.cnet.com" cannot be found

DNS error occurred. Server cannot be found. The link may be broken.>>

Could this mean that someone at CNET realized that there was a problem with the Avast file, so they deleted it from their servers?
I still don't know if it actually did fully uninstall, because I didn't get the notice that the file already existed and did I want to replace it, until I tried to DL it the second time, even after restarting after finally getting a (apparently false) notice that the uninstall was successful.

ignatzatsonic said:

Ann:

The fact that you get warnings when going to a known legitimate Thunderbird download site indicates to me that your system is probably already compromised.

I would concentrate on getting that resolved first.

Before email, etc.

Normally, I would suggest malwarebytes, but you apparently have problems with getting the free version to operate properly---which may be another indication that your system is compromised.

See if you can download and run Threatfire:

ThreatFire AntiVirus - Behavioral Virus and Spyware Protection

Use the big green circular button.

Have it scan for rootkits and whatever else is on its menu.

After that, try this virus scanner; download and install the 64 bit version, update it, and run a complete scan.

HouseCall - Free Antivirus Scan

Malware can prevent virus and malware scanners from running properly and that may be your problem.

If you can't get to the bottom of this, you can't progress.

If either of these applications run properly, let us know what they find.

Threatfire won't let me cut and paste the results, but it says: "24 infections were found: Cookies: Cookies may be used to track your web browsing habits or to display unwanted advertisements" and then has a long list of 24 cookies.
Sounds like another "false positive" to me. Will try Housecall and get back ASAP.

Housecall reports: No threats found

I did notice when downloadin Threatfire and Housecall, that in the folder that downloads automatically go into, there was still an Avast file in there. Need to try to figure out how to open the DL folder and delete it, since the unistaller missed it.

Delete all those cookies that Threatfire found. I don't expect it to resolve anything, but it can't hurt.

Go to control panel/programs and feature and uninstall malware bytes if it shows as installed.

Try again to download and install a fresh version from this known good site:

|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.44 Download

Poke "Major Geeks USA" just below the bright yellow "Downloads" and wait a few seconds. The download link to save should appear.

If it downloads, install it, go to update tab and update, go to scan tab and do a full scan. If it finds anything, report back.

ignatzatsonic said:

Delete all those cookies that Threatfire found. I don't expect it to resolve anything, but it can't hurt.

Go to control panel/programs and feature and uninstall malware bytes if it shows as installed.

Try again to download and install a fresh version from this known good site:

|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.44 Download

Poke "Major Geeks USA" just below the bright yellow "Downloads" and wait a few seconds. The download link to save should appear.

If it downloads, install it, go to update tab and update, go to scan tab and do a full scan. If it finds anything, report back.

I went back to Threatfire to try to delete the cookies it found, but I couldn't find the scan results. So I ran another scan, and this time it found no threats. So I searched in the Windows Help and Support files and used that to get to the computer's delete cookie function; but don"t know if that has the same effect as, or more or less effect, than doing it through Threatfire?

I thought I had uninstalled Malwarebytes right after uninstalling Avast, but when I was able to find the DL folder to delete the Avast file I had noticed while DLing something else, I also found a Malwarebytes file that the uninstaller had missed as well. I deleted them and restarted. Major Geeks was the first place I was told to DL Malwarebytes, but that site said it cost $24.95 for the license, so I ended up DLing it from CNET, but all the function tabs except "Scanner" were disabled unless I purchased a license. I went ahead and followed your advice, and DLed from Major Geeks anyway, ran the scan, found the exact same report that I posted previously, that I was told was a "false positive." Again, running into same issue of all the function tabs except "Scanner" being disabled, so I can't add the result to the "ignore list" as I'd been advised to do previously.