Computer help please!

[niccia]

I am not very techy so if someone can help me with this I would really apreciate it!
I have a pretty new computer (2 years) with xp pro...about 2 months ago, I started to get a pop up whenever I turned it on called "windows genuine advantage" . I always just close it intead of installing it because I am nervous it will damage something, so it keeps popping up each time I reboot. Around that time, I also noticed that it is taking forever to open windows explorer. Once the browser is open, it works great; it only takes awhile to open a new window, not to change websites. My internet connection is very fast so I know that isn''t a problem (plus I have 3 different connections and it does this on all of them). Any suggestions, and could the two issues be related?
TIA!

 

[jet2ks]

The pop-up is malware of some kind. Definitely DO NOT click on it, that will most likely unleash a virus. This is probably also causing the slow down. You need to run anti-virus ASAP. Karl (strmrdr) likes to recommend www.malwarebytes.org Download and run that--it is a very effective free download. Try that first and see what happens.

If that gets rid of the pop-up, make sure to change passwords for any websites you have visited since it appeared.

 

[niccia]

Thanks for the quick reply...apparently it is a Microsoft anti-piracy program of some kind. I haven''t run it to see whether my windows is genuine or not, so that must be why it keeps popping up. I assume it is, as I bought the computer brand new.
I have run AVG and it detects no threats of any kind. I have also cleared out my cache. The computer works fine and is very fast once the browser window connects, it just takes forever to open initially.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 9/26/2009 10:19:17 PM
Author: niccia
Thanks for the quick reply...apparently it is a Microsoft anti-piracy program of some kind. I haven't run it to see whether my windows is genuine or not, so that must be why it keeps popping up. I assume it is, as I bought the computer brand new.
I have run AVG and it detects no threats of any kind. I have also cleared out my cache. The computer works fine and is very fast once the browser window connects, it just takes forever to open initially.

Only if legit. There is malware out there disguised as genuine Microsoft programs--many are specifically designed to get through Norton and AVG, as these are the most common anti-virus. Try the malwarebytes--you are out nothing but a little time if it finds nothing. I'll still place my bets on malware, though.

 

[niccia]

Hmm I didn''t think of that...ok I just realized my tech had already installed malwarebytes onto my computer for me when I bought it, so I did a full scan of my C drive and it didn''t detect anything. Does that mean it''s safe? Thx

 

[Regular Guy]

- I used to get this message, too, presumed it was Microsoft checking up on my through a Microsoft update.
- I knew my copies of Microsoft were legit, read the message to say it was optional to download, and I chose not to each time
- I did worry that by downloading it, I might be hassled unnecessarily in some way
- With your question, having googled the term, I believe I''ve confirmed it IS from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474

- Likewise, I think other articles that come up when googling this message suggest it is buggy enough that it''s coming up may be prompted by an inaccurate read, reaffirming my better thought to not download it.
- And according to the link above, since my copies are legit, the message really shouldn''t be coming up anyway...for you, Niccia, or me...
- Recently, I think my warning has stopped, and has gone away...
- Unless I downloaded it by mistake (potentially easy to do), but I don''t think that happened.
- So maybe an Microsoft update took it away? I don''t know...but it doesn''t seem to come up for me any more.

 

[jet2ks]

Glad to hear nothing bad was found. Hopefully someone else can add to RG''s advice and help you out with another of Microsoft''s buggy programs.

 

[niccia]

Thanks Ira and Jet! I realized my copy of malwarebytes is a bit old and it doesn''t seem to want to update, so I emailed my tech before I do anything else and potentially cause myself more problems. I am going to go read that link now

 

[strmrdr]

You can download the latest version here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
Just download install then scan.

Once that is done:
Find the windows update shortcut in the start menu and run windows update if the ms box pops up at that time go ahead and run it.

 

[sofi]

Niccia, you mentioned that your system is two years old. Have you checked your available memory lately? The newer software versions and add-ons really take up a lot, and what was sufficient memory when you got your system may not be enough now.
This can really slow down overall performance.

You can check total vs available from the Task Manager "Performance" tab.

 

[niccia]

Strmrdr - I am going to update it now, thanks!
Sofi - I use my computer for work so I make sure to never add any programs that I don''t need or would slow it down, so hopefully that is not the issue. The cpu usually says 2% but will run up to about 30 very rarely then go right back down again. I have 2.4 GHz and 3 GB ram if that helps.

 

[niccia]

Well I did the update and this time it found 5 infected files (3 trojans and 2 infected registry keys). I removed them , updated windows and scanned again; this time it didn''t find anything. The windows advantage pop up is still there however, and opening browsers is still slow. I read online that removing the google tool bar can help with this problem, but I am not sure exactly how to do that or whether it is a smart idea. Google is my default search engine, but in order to remove it you have to add something else

I also don''t know how that would affect opening the browser. I tried changing my homepage and using a blank one but that didn''t make a difference. My speeds are still normal the rest of the time (actually really fast). Maybe I should just leave well enough alone...is it ok if I just leave the windows advangtage pop-up where it is and just keep ignoring it?

 

[marcy]

Sorry you are having problems. I hope you get it working better. Yesterday I downloaded an update to Vista and between my husband and I we spent 5 hours trying to get our printers to print from my laptop again. I uninstalled the update and they worked just fine. AAAKKK!

 

[niccia]

Thanks Marcy...It is very frustrating isn''t it ? Esp when you don''t really know what you are doing like me lol !

 

[niccia]

Just thought I would update this in case anyone lese has the same problem. I finally verified my IE with the windows genuine advantage thing that kept popping up. I then updated my windows because my tech told me if I hadn''t verified it yet, then it may not have been updating properly. Once I had done that, my computer worked fine again and IE now opens as normal. Yay!

Thanks for all the help I received on here