Before You Begin:
As in all of my tutorials, if I ask you to type something, do not type the single quotes. Example: If I write Help, you type Help.

This tutorial assumes you are using Windows 2000, Windows NT, or Windows XP. You must also have administrative privileges.

If you are unsure whether or not you have these privileges click Start >Run, type in control userpasswords2, and click OK. You will see your account listed under the User Name column. If in the Group column it lists Administrators then you are okay (it may also list other things such as Debugger Users, you can ignore this).

You will need the following FREE software:
Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal (Installed in default directory)
Spybot Search & Destroy (Installed in default directory)
CWShredder CoolWebSearch Trojan Remover (Placed on desktop)
X-Cleaner (Installed in default directory)
AIMFix (Placed on desktop)
VundoFix (Placed on desktop)

For more information about how to download and install these programs, visit http://www.johnmag4u.com/blog/category/software/

Step 1:
Turn off your computer (if possible, do this properly by clicking Start > Turn Off Computer > Turn Off). Turn your computer back on and hit the F8 key on the keyboard every few seconds. You will be brought to a menu titled Windows Advanced Options Menu. Using your keyboards up/down arrow keys, highlight Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Press enter.

Step 2:
If you are normally required to log into Windows you will be asked to do so here. If not, you will go right to Step 3.

Step 3:
When the computer finishes loading you will be left with a black screen which reads C:Documents and SettingsUserName>. Type cd C:Program FilesLavasoftAd-Aware SE Personal and press Enter. Type Ad-Aware.exe and press Enter. In the bottom right corner of the new window, click Start. Make sure Perform Smart System Scan is selected and a check mark is next to Search for negligible risk entries and Search for low-risk threats. Click Next. In the top right corner of that window click the minimize button (this is the little button that looks like a line). You will be brought back to the black screen.

Step 4:
Type cd C:Program FilesSpybot Search & Destroy and press Enter. Type SpybotSD.exe and press Enter. In the new window, click Check for problems. In the top right corner of that window click the minimize button (this is the little button that looks like a line). You will be brought back to the black screen.

Step 5:
Type cd C:Documents and Settings. Type cd (there is a space after the letter d). Press Tab on your keyboard until you see your username displayed. Press Enter. Type cd Desktop. Press Enter. Type AIMFix.exe. Wait a few seconds and the program will ask you to press Enter. Do this.

Step 6:
Type cwshredder.exe. In the new window click Fix. The program will ask you if it could shut down any open windows, click OK. Wait about a minute until the program is done and click Next. Click Exit. You will be brought back to the black screen.

Step 7:
Type VundoFix.exe. Press Enter. In the new window, click Scan for Vundo. This process will take about 5 minutes. If the program doesnt find any problems, it will alert you, click Done. If the program finds any problems they will be listed, click Remove Vundo. When it is done, it may close itself. Otherwise, click the X in the top right corner of the windows. You will return to the black screen.

Step 8:
Type cd C:Program FilesX-Cleaner. Press Enter. Type XCleaner_free.exe. Click the Select All button at the bottom of the new windows. Click Start Cleaning!. This process will take about five minutes during which you must stay at your computer. If this program finds a problem it will display an alert window. It is very possible this program will give you a false alarm. Review the details of the alert window. If it does not look like a program you, or someone else with authority, installed click Remove It. If it is something you want on your computer, click Ignore. When this process is finished a message will appear asking you to restart your computer, click No. Click the Exit button in the bottom left corner. You will be brought back to the black screen.

Step 9:
Press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard (some keyboards have multiple Alt keys, pick any one of them). Press the Tab key on your keyboard and release the Alt key. Ad-Aware SE should be on the screen now. If it isnt on the screen then press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard press the Tab twice key on your keyboard. Press Next in the bottom right corner. You will see a list of items in the middle of the window, at least one of which will read MRU List. Right click any of these items (this means clicking an item with your right mouse button), and click Select All Objects. In the bottom right corner of the windows, click Next. You will be asked if you want to continue, click Yes. You will see a status bar on the screen, when it is done, click the X in the top right corner of the window.

Step 10:
Press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard and press the Tab key on your keyboard. Spybot Search & Destroy should be on your screen. If it is not, repeat this process. At the bottom of the window it should read # problems found if it does not then wait for the green bar to reach the end of the screen. If it says 0 problems found skip the next three sentences. Click Fix selected problems at the top of the window. An alert will appear asking you if you want to continue, click Yes. When the process is done, click OK. Click the X in the top right corner of the window.

Step 11:
Press and hold the CTRL and ALT keys on your keyboard. Your keyboard may have more then one of these keys, pick one of each. Press and release the Delete or Del key. Release the CTRL and ALT keys. In the new window, click Shut Down and then click Restart. Your computer will turn off and reboot into windows like it normally does.

Notes:
Although this may not completely rid your computer problem(s) it should make a dramatic difference. If problems persist, you may want to contact a professional.

Contact Author
If you would like more information or wish to request a tutorial, feel free to visit http://www.johnmag4u.com/blog