Computer help

[runespoor]

I tried to download something and, yep, virus. So now my computer tells me it's blank of all and every files, programs, etc (I'm going to cry so hard when that sinks in), and have sent Avast running after the problem.

I'm going to spend an amazing night, aren't I.

Comments

[salinea]

yikes. Best of luck with the virus hunting, I hope you can recover your files.

[runespoor]

Un des seuls points positifs là tout de suite, c'est qu'avast me dit qu'il est en train de chercher dans certains des documents/fichiers en question. - et que l'espace sur mon disque est toujours aussi plein. Donc logiquement, tout doit être là, juste... avec un virus. :( et mon ordi qui plante quand il surchauffe et qui n'est plus sous garantie depuis un an. :((((

vdm.

[matt_doyle]

I had a similar virus a while ago -- have you checked to see if the folders are still there, but hidden? The virus I had simply hid EVERYTHING and tried to convince me it was really gone.

If you want, I can recommend a couple of antivirus programs that seem to me to be a little more robust at rooting out the problem than Avast.

Best of luck!

[runespoor]

Yes please (I am embarrassingly bad at computer stuff.). It does sound like a little what I've got - mine also pretends to run a system check to help with the issue. I tried to open the folders, but when I do, through the 'most recent' function of the windows [not knowing the technical words in English is quickly becoming a bother here], it still tells me they're gone.

[matt_doyle]

Okay! That actually sounds like it may be EXACTLY what I had (and in the end I kicked it's ass!). What's the virus program calling itself?

Looking up antivirus programs now, will comment in a minute. In the meantime, DO NOT download or install recommended antivirus software -- I googled a solution, DLed a reputable looking program, and got a second virus.

[matt_doyle]

Last time, I used:

SuperAntiSpyware; then Malwarebytes Anti-Malware; then CCleaner. All three should be easy to locate online; all three are reputable programs that work well, and are pretty good at telling you what to do.

Using all three may or may not have been overkill, but when I used only one some problems remained, so it can't hurt.

After I had used all three and had a clean bill of health, I un-installed the antivirus programs, because multiple antivirus programs kept running sometimes interfere with one another.

If you have problems seeing the hidden folders (if they were hidden and not deleted, which I suspect but cannot prove from over here), let me know.

And if you get advice from any really heavily computer savvy people, check with them before following my advice, XD, because all of the above is just stuff my own savvier buddies told me to do.