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My computer had some spyware so installed spy catcher express. I had to restart and ever since the system will not run. I turn on and the windows XP login screen comes up normal. I can type my password fine, but then all I get is the loading personal settings..............message FOREVER........until I reset and try again.

I can run the BIOS its just after the windows login

try pressing F8 @ startup....then chose "Last known good config"

same result

Go to safe mode. delete the spyware files then search and delete entry on Registry that loading the spyware.

Or try using spyware removal tools like Spyware Terminator or Adaware.

good luck

AVG has a new anti spyware that works really well. As stated, boot into safe mode, uninstall the "spy catcher express" and install a decent spyware program (AVG, Spybot, Adaware) and scan while still in safe mode.

I installed the spy catcher express in safe mode, rebooted and now I am running again. ******* PC Magazine thanks for the recomendation on the program

Glad you got the spyware removed....

For those who have used both - what is your preference: Spy catcher or Ad-Aware?

I'm using AA now, but am wondering if there is anything better out there.

spybot for me. nice and fast.

I repaired almost 100 computers over the summer, and I do at least 20 a month at school. Microsoft Antispyware is by far the best to repair computers. Remember the best defense is a good offense.

are there any good free programs?

Microsoft Antispyware is free. Almost all the good tools are free. I only use free.

AVG also has a free version.

I actually put spybot and adaware on every computer I work on, but only run them manually (they find different things)
the MS AS works well too,
but I run McAffee 11(ComCast gives this for free) to run all the time on my own computers McAfee consistantly leads the pack in fastest to update definitions (2-3 times aday sometimes) and near the top in it's "catch" rate (accurate)
yet spybot and adaware still find a few things sometimes.

What is Microsofts program called?

I've tried the Microsoft one, and it didn't seem to catch half the stuff that Ad Aware does...........
I use Ad Aware (pro versio) Spy Bot anlong with the free versionn of Avast AV (which also catches spy ware).

T-Shirt wrote:I actually put spybot and adaware on every computer I work on, but only run them manually (they find different things)
the MS AS works well too,
but I run McAffee 11(ComCast gives this for free) to run all the time on my own computers McAfee consistantly leads the pack in fastest to update definitions (2-3 times aday sometimes) and near the top in it's "catch" rate (accurate)
yet spybot and adaware still find a few things sometimes.

I'd say McAffee is comparable to Norton ----> Bloatware!
Both cause nothing but problems!!!

DON: MS antispy is called Windows Defender

everyone is dead on with suggestions
spybot and adaware are nice to run manually on occasion. I run some mcafee barebones AVscanner and windows defender, both updating and scanning passively probably few times a week.

I'd say McAffee is comparable to Norton ----> Bloatware!
Both cause nothing but problems!!!

I concur! I have had Mcafee fail for me before and it takes up a lot of resources.

What do you run instead of Mcafee or Norton? Kaspersky? OneCare? AVG AV? I need to find a good Antivirus solution.

Aol offers a free AV, but it uses the Mcafee engine.

For malware, I run Windows defender, and occasionally scan with AVG 7.5 and Adaware.

I also install Spybot and Ad-Aware on every system, they are however scanners and are good to keep a system clean.
Norton i wouldnt wish on my worst enemy, its invasive, bloated crap.
I use McAfee Enterprise (way different than the retail) and have always had good luck with it. It also has a spyware scanning module that works well (except for deleting my VNC programs till i told it not to) Pretty much any of the AntiVirus programs will use a bit or Resources si i have the heavy stuff done during down times....

David

I've used both Adaware and Spybot and prefer Adaware. I too run MS Defnder, full scan time consuming though.

Mcafee, Spybot and Adaware did not identify the following trojans on a system I fixed:
(9) instances of Trojan.onlinegames.arg (most memory resident)
installed the file c\windows\system32\dllms.dll
(3) instances of Trojan.lineage (memory resident)
installed the file c\programfiles\microsoft\svhost32.exe
(1) instance of Trojan.GDIW2k (registry entry)

Only AVG 7.5 (previously ewido 4.0) found these!
Some of the AS's on the market only find cookies, and miss the more serious malware. This is why I run multiple AV's and AS's.