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#31
If you google "free anti-virus" most of the links take you to bogus sites
If you google "free anti-virus" most of the links take you to bogus sites
In this case, I would suspect something you put on your computer may have been the culprit ... If you were connected to the Internet before putting any anti-malware on it, then you most likely got 'had' before Avira even got installed.
BTW, stuff like explorer.exe and notepad.exe that looks normal, can also be malware, depending on it's location.
You can replace the explorer.exe and notepad.exe and other files from your XP CD. Just make sure you're disconnected from the internet while you install. Install Avira using a flash drive. Then connect.
Also, you can do a repair install, which automatically replaces all Windows system files with clean versions from the CD. Boot into your XP CD and then choose where XP is installed. Then choose repair install.
Also, is this a legitimate Windows XP disc? Because if it's not it could have been pre-loaded with malware. Just sayin'
It is a legitimate disk. My software too. If one does a repair install will the software not be erased?