Disturbing Windows & Software Problems

Sounds like a rootkit virus. I once had such an infection, which AVG detected as a threat, but couldn't fix. Eventually had to buy Kaspersky, and built a rootkit killer which booted from a USB stick. If it's a new-ish machine (so and you don't have stuff on it you can't replace), it's easier to re-format and start again.

How do you expect me to re-format and start again without the CDs of Win 8.1? Or did you mean Linux or Win XP? I tried downloading a rootkill revealer, but it would not install even when I chose "allow" on AVG.

"How do you expect me to re-format and start again without the CDs of Win 8.1" - sorry, I've no idea - I was just relating my experiences. May be a "return to supplier" situation.

If M$ hadn't scrapped XP and distribution of install disks, many of our problems would be over. Ba$tards.

First think you should have done is:
System recovery disk and boot options
Create a USB recovery drive

It took all of a 32 GB thumb drive to make a recovery drive for my Win 8.1.

Go to the PCWorld web site and look for hints to make Win8.1 look more like a normal desktop.It's fairly easy to do and the crap 8.1 desktop is there if you need it in the background.

Three quick ways to ease your transition to Windows 8

I've got mine mostly usable now. I have transferred all my pictures and docs, over and have ordered a 1TB external hard drive to use for back-ups.

Not sure any of this will help you solve the current problems you have.

Are you saying that I should have done a recovery?

"System recovery disk" seems to imply a CD rom, but there was no talk of one there, only USB. The link says it should take 3-6 GB for recovery. Maybe it uses all of whatever size you have?

I'm not that familiar with W 8.1 as I just got it a couple weeks ago.

I had already transferred lots of pictures and files when I made my recovery drive, maybe that's why it used 30GB of memory.

I'll defer to someone who is more conversant in the details.

Go to Norton and get NPE.exe. it's Norton's Power Eraser. It will kill any rootkit viruses. I think it's free.

I'm having pretty good luck so far with Windows 7. Perhaps you can still download a copy of it.

I've had it on this laptop for maybe 18 months now with no major hassles. I also use Firefox for my browser and Advanced Systems Care for anti-malware.

Try installing MalwareBytes. It is quite good at removing malware & rootkits. It also has a 'chameleon' version with multiple install modes designed to dodge the problem you describe with your rootkit revealer not installing.

Thanks for all you comments. It turns out, that today it looks to be 100% back to normal. I went ahead and installed MalwareBytes. AVG did not appear to notice. MB found and quarantined 1 file: "pup.Optional.InstallBrain.A", that it said was type "registry key."

My installation of 8.1 looks very much like XP. A friend had sent me a link to an article about it, so I made informed choices.

When I installed AVG, I also went for "AVG secure search". Lo and behold, my old computer has it now too! The old one had a message that AVG had removed 33 threats from it in the last 30 days. It has been turned off for all but 1 or 2 of those days. Doesn't anybody tell the truth anymore?

Internet explorer used to come up with MSN news showing, and had a "featured on AOL" tab. That is still there, but MSN news has been replaced with "AVG secure search" (powered by Yahoo) and a tab with Yahoo search.

None of this changes my opinion that these problems were programmed by McAfee Antivirus to get me to buy it.

These things getting nasty. Have a look at this:

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/pup-optional-installbrain-a-removal/

I had to clean two computers recently and its full on. Registry, de-insatllation, reformating links the whole suite.

Some of this is drive by software but most comes with "free" software.

Beware anything that comes as free nowadays is spiked. Even downloads from CNET or other sources that I used to trust.

Havent tried to pay what I can get. Anyone with experience and whether or not this is free let us know.

We cannot run Google Chrome on any of our Win 7 & 8 machines due to incompatibility issues with many other programs and unwanted popups appearing continuously on the screen.

In order to stop infections from malware and other web browser hi-jacking threats we had to go with Kaspersky as AVG and Norton does not consider these types of software to be viruses and therefore their standard OS protection packages do not detect or remove them.

It appears there is some "partnering" going on between Anti-Virus software OEM's as often the Norton and AVG technical support "fix" recommendation actually refers the complaint back to the author of the malware byte that is causing the problem.

Apparently Microsoft is aware of most of the issues and have a "fix" for many of the issues if you go to their site or contact the tech support group.

Hopefully they figure it out soon as so far the issues are overwhelming.

Hang in there & Good luck

My Win 8.1 machine runs Chrome with no pop-up or other problems at all.

I have MacAfee® as anti-virus.

So did mine until I had it 28 days or so. Let me know what happens to yours.

OK.

Good! Maybe we will get access to Google chrome yet. I use it at home with no problem but at work it has not been allowed.

You may have to re-install a new Chrome browser? There exist a tendency for some other programs to somehow alter the Chrome settings? It happened to me 2X in the past an corrected the issue by downloading - reinstalling a new Chrome and defaulting it as the default..

I always have at least one Windoze and one Linux box at work and home. I don't recall why but I think that there was one time in 2014 where I was forced to use the Win box browser on the Internet for one activity. If I recall correctly I went through all of 2013 and 2012 without putting a Win box browser on the "outside Internet" (internal network still a little dangerous). Not exactly a good solution but since I assume I can't beat the bad guys I just try to keep my Win boxes off their playground.

Some activities, such as purchased software package updates did go out on the Internet but only for a short time window and not using a browser or email.

Kaspersky Anti virus 2015 and Malware btes are a formidable pair. Highly recommended....

A recent test by C'T in Germany, found Kaspersky to be the less infectable anti virus software of all.

Some others are totally useless, AVG for example,but AVG is not alone with this problem.....