If you fail activation, then you may have acquired an evil piece of malware which means this procedure that follows. And yes, regardless of what AV software you have installed, the only reliable and thorough solution is presented by an offline removal tool such a provided by Microsoft.
HOW TO USE MICROSOFT'S OFFLINE MALWARE REMOVER
Windows Defender Offline
· performs an offline scan of an infected PC to remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware.
· is a
free standalone,
bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
Download Windows Defender Offline (about 785 kB)
You will have the choice of downloading the 32bit version (x86) or the 64 bit version (x64).
The link will help you determine whether you are running a 32 bit version or 64 bit version of Windows
NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 32 bit version using a 64 bit version of Windows
NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 64 bit version using a 32bit version of Windows.
You run the 32 bit version on a 32 bit version of Windows.
You run the 64 bit version on a 64 bit version of Windows.
The 32 bit download file name is:
mssstool32.exe
The 64 bit download file name is:
mssstool64.exe
For the curious, this program was originally name
Microsoft
Standalone
System
Sweeper.
INSTALLATION:
· Requires an Internet Connection.
· Insert 512 mB or larger USB stick into a usb port.
· Run the downloaded program--
mssstool64.exe or
mssstool32.exe
· NEXT button
· Choose the option
On a USB flash drive that is not password protected
· NEXT button
· NEXT button
.
The install program will:
· format the usb stick using the NTFS format.
· download less than 230 mB.
· name the USB stick
WDO_Media32 or
WDO_Media64
· use less than 300 mB.
How to UPDATE the Windows Defender Offline USB stick:
· reinsert the usb stick
· run the installation program,
mssstool64.exe or
mssstool32.exe, again.
· the update will download less than 65 mB.
Since the malware database is sometimes updated several times in a day, always update before running.
PERFORM AN OFFLINE SCAN
Bootup your computer from the USB stick
Windows Defender Offline will automatically perform a
quick scan.
After the quick scan finishes,
Choose Full Scan
Select
all of your drives
The initial,
full scan can easily take several hours, but
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.
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I have no magic wand, but I do know how to get rid of malware.
