Our Windows 7 laptop has a big problem!

Hubby went to do an Adware scan, and it goes online and downloads new data, before it scans. Then he hit scan...and poof...internet gone, many icons don't work...but some do.
My documents, my pictures and Word work...but any of the antivirus software won't start. Avast won't start.

We thought two solutions:

Uninstall Adaware
or
Restore to 2 days ago.

We are afraid to do anything without some input. Our son is out of town, but on the phone he suggested the restore. (there is nothing we will lose by this because nothing was saved in those 2 days.

Any other thoughts? It must have been a poor download or corrupted download creating a conflict?

He does not go to dangerous places and does not download games or other stuff.

Restore will not work. He gets a flag saying an antivirus software is still running! Yet he cannot click on anything to turn it off. None of the icons work!

Rebooting for the second time.

Do you know how to do the CTRL/ALT/DEL combo buttons to open the task manager?

then click on processes to see what is running on the system?

then if anything looks overly suspicious google that process name to see what it might be.

this is a safe link for looking up processes-
http://www.processlibrary.com/

If the AV is showing as running and you recognize the name - you can end that operation by highlighting and clicking the End Process button at the bottom of the task manager page.

I'll check back later -working on the barn project...before rains hit

Nothing running in desk top on the Win 7. I had to go to bed early since we did alot of yard work, and I am stressed out about Oreo.

Son called to say move Malewarebytes onto a flash and try running it on Win7.....didn't work, wouldn't open.

Hubby is trying safe mode now, to remove Ad-aware.
Ad-aware reupdates itself on the net before scanning. This is where the problem comes from we think since the scan had been ending after 5 minutes sometimes.

He is also going to remove McAffe which we don't use anymore and just don't open.

I guess it is the GeekSquad next! I hate having some strange person in our system. Son comes home from Calif Tues night.
We may go there Weds and see if he can fix it.

I rarely use that laptop...I hate Win 7.
At least my stuff is safe for now...knock on wood.

Today is the big Vet appt for Oreo...she is not a happy kitty being fasted and cannot go outside! This is very stressful for me..too.. I really hope it is not bad news for her.

Thanks Jo... we could still use your input... if you have any other ideas?

I won't be back until after noon from the vet.

I should have mentioned the Hijack this for you also.

you can download it from cnet or other safe sites
or here-
http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/

just run the scan and see what shows as running - there is an info section near the bottom to highlight each thing & check it - or I open a browser and google them if I don't get enough info.

also there's a Hijack this forum where you can learn more and/or share your list if you want to.
many of the top pc security sites have various free prgms to scan/clean etc..

a few -
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses
http://www.bitdefender.com/freetools/
http://www.comodo.com/business-secur...essentials.php

We cannot get on the internet with our crash. Whatever this problem is is blocking the internet completely.

Can we download Hijack and run it from a flash drive?

I'm pretty sure you can use it that way.

Is it wireless or plugged in for internet?

If wireless I wonder if the wireless driver got scrambled or removed. if you have a cable to plug in to the modem or router you could try that option to check.

We'll try that! Good idea.

Son is coming on Sunday with a rescue disc he made from a Microsoft website. He called to find out if it is 32 bit or 64 bit etc today.

He is almost positive it is a virus--blocking access to the net and to all the scanning programs. He knows a way to get around it and open things and hopefully remove it.

I have stopped using all the adaware etc and only use the free Microsoft Security Essentials now, which has everything needed all in one (Firewall, anti ad/malware and antivirus etc etc)
Computer has been running better than ever!

sure hope you manage to get all restored. It does sound like a virus got in somewhere...I actually got one once from a Norton automatic update!!