Need help removing Malware
Need help removing Malware
Try removing the virus manually in safe mode as suggested. If that fails, it may indicate a broader system issue. Since your Windows setup could have been compromised, consider creating a new user account and deleting the affected one or performing a full reinstall for the safest solution. Install Malwarebytes first if you're starting from scratch. Be cautious with downloads and avoid any actions that seem risky.
Thank you for the guidance. Restarting windows won’t be my first choice. But I need to keep many crucial files on my windows, so moving them isn’t ideal. @tkitch I also ran a full scan, but it’s stuck at “Estimated time remaining 00:00:00” and shows “0 files scanned.”
By generating a fresh user account and transferring your files from the previous setup to the new one, you can remove the old profile without needing to reinstall Windows. Still, there remains a chance that any existing virus or malware could compromise the system, making a profile change ineffective—then a complete reinstall would be necessary.
I understand your point. I think I'll opt for a clean Windows setup just in case. Appreciate all the help!
I don't recall beginning the reinstallation, but I had a comparable issue that was even more severe. My computer would restart after just one minute, and nothing functioned—even safe mode didn’t help. Eventually, I reinstalled Windows, but I’d suggest checking for anti-malware tools from reputable companies such as ESET, Norton, or Avira. They provide image files you can boot into and run scans on. Some let you move files around from your PC, which was useful when I saved important documents before formatting the C drive and reinstalling everything. After installing Windows, perform a full scan. Simply download their software, use Rufus to create an image file on a USB drive, and boot from it. This might assist you or others facing a similar situation.