serious virus problem

[X]

ok, something got into my pc, and is now causing windows installer to go batshit insane whenever i try to launch a program. anything, even ms paint it will pop up and say "preparing to install" but it never goes anywhere or installs anthing, it just crashes windows explorer and causes a fuckton of problems. any help would be apreciated.

 

[lilEmber]

Hmmm, well something like a anti-virus program might be able to help, I suggest AVG myself. You also might like something like Spybot Search & Destroy.

You should also list your Operating System and maybe the age of your computer/amount of time you've had your OS installed. basic things like defragging on windows is a must, but should never cause things like this....

If something like that doesn't work, or you can't get it to install, run, whatever properly then you can use the Hammer to help you out, or perhaps uninstall-reinstall.

 

[ToeClaws]

In addition to what Newf's recommended, I strongly suggest running this:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/RemoveIT_Pro_d5205.html

It's a low-level worm and trojan detection tool, and it has managed to find things that AVG, Symantec, Avast! and Trend have ALL missed. It's free for personal use and updates automatically whenever you run it.

 

[X]

Hmmm, well something like a anti-virus program might be able to help, I suggest AVG myself. You also might like something like Spybot Search & Destroy.

You should also list your Operating System and maybe the age of your computer/amount of time you've had your OS installed. basic things like defragging on windows is a must, but should never cause things like this....

If something like that doesn't work, or you can't get it to install, run, whatever properly then you can use the Hammer to help you out, or perhaps uninstall-reinstall.

im running vista home premium, this started happening after i downloaded Microsoft word 2007 trial from the Microsoft main site. the computer is just now a year old, i have had my os installed for 3/4 of a year without any problems, i had to reinstall it in the first 1/4 of last year because of an insanely chaotic virus infestation.

 

[Armaetus]

SpywareBlaster (from Javacoolsoft) would immunize you from unwanted crap but not remove anything.

 

[Pi]

That doesn't sound like a virus problem to me:

this started happening after i downloaded Microsoft word 2007 trial

try uninstalling it ?????

 

[ZentratheFox]

Agreed, sounds like a botched install...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
Run that tool.

 

[ToeClaws]

If that's the case, then I suggest using Open Office next time instead - better app than MS Office anyway.

 

[jayhusky]

If i remember rightly, the last time i had a message like that was after a interupted install of MS Access, Easily fixed. Uninstall the trial and try to re install it, make sure the computer doesn't go into standby during the install.

Or Simply get Open Office (openoffice.org)

 

[SnowFox]

Oh windows installer pisses me off. I just disable it unless I know I'm going to need it.

Go to start-> run type in services.msc. scroll down to windows installer, double click on it and set startup type to disable. This should stop it bugging you repeatedly when it decides it wants to install a random component of something. Just bear in mind that if you try to install something later and it gives you an error about windows installer just go back and set it to manual and click the start button.

 

[Tonk09]

If above fail try booting from your vista cd and run the repair utility, this does not sound like a virus problem to me.