[Guide] How to clean your computer with 3 Programs. Without Formatting.

[#ClumsyWizard]

Ok. Please note that this will only work for Windows 2000, XP and Vista

First download: Malwarebytes.org along with http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exe. I also prefer http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html for checking for a smooth cleaning computer system..

Now first download and install Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, ComboFix, and HiJack This. Set it for a full complete scan. During this time peroid do something else, it takes between 45mins to about 2 hours depending on how much space on your drive.

Let it clean the detected stuff (If found). Then reboot.

Next step. Run Combofix.exe from where you downloaded it to / installed (Preferablely Desktop.) Let it do its thing and wait, and again do something else that does not use your computer. Then restart your computer.

Congratulations! You just cleaned your computer without having to format anything.

Oh. If you really want to.

Extra Step, Run HiJack This and send me the contents of the created log via PM. I'll debug it and see if your computer is running smoothly and is no longer sick.

[Kaevex]

Does this clean your computer as in removing anything except your windows, or does it just clean the mess you make? (virusses, fragmentation etc.)

[2dgreengiant]

Extra Step, Run HiJack This and send me the contents of the created log via PM. I'll debug it and see if your computer is running smoothly and is no longer sick.

Sounds a little risky, may contain personal information.

[#ClumsyWizard]

2dgreengiant: Actually, it doesn't contain any personal information. Other then your log in name for your Operating System.

DarkLeon: The programs remove Spyware, Malware, Firewall Bypasses (Pretty nasty stuff), Backdoors, Trojans, Worms and the like. It does not remove your OS (Windows) for sure.

[Nitewolf]

Thank you so much!! I really really need this lol.

[Nosferattu]

HiJackThis logs are safe they contain no personal information. The HiJackThis program is a very powerful tool and if you aren't knowledgeable about the processes running on your computer then I wouldn't recommend doing anything except creating the log file and sending it to someone who is more experienced in analyzing the log file. HiJackThis doesn't determine what is good and bad on your system so you can accidentally delete core windows functions if you don't know what you're doing. If you don't feel comfortable sending it to someone on Mmowned there are many online forums, including one run by TrendMicro that you can submit your logs to for analyzation. Below is a short snipet of whats in my HiJackThis log to prove no personal information is shared.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:22:33 PM, on 12/16/2008
Platform: Windows Vista (WinNT 6.00.1904)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16575)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAAnotif.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QLBCTRL.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\WiFiMsg.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\ApMsgFwd.exe
C:\Windows\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Windows\System32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\egui.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apntex.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexStoreSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\HpqToaster.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe
C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...lion&pf=laptop
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...lion&pf=laptop
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: FDMIECookiesBHO Class - {CC59E0F9-7E43-44FA-9FAA-8377850BF205} - C:\Program Files\Free Download Manager\iefdm2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAAnotif] C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaanotif.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QPService] "C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QlbCtrl] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QlbCtrl.exe /Start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Health Check Scheduler] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\HPHC_Scheduler.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpWirelessAssistant] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WAWifiMessage] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\WiFiMsg.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\Windows\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\Windows\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\Windows\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [egui] "C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\egui.exe" /hide /waitservice
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RemoteControl] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AppleSyncNotifier] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleSyncNotifier.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [Launcher] %WINDIR%\SMINST\launcher.exe

Then it goes on to tell what Windows Services are running, didn't add that because Vista has a lot and I didn't feel like spamming the post anymore than I had. Again safe, no personal information.

[#ClumsyWizard]

Yeah. I accidently deleted on my first time of using it.. a major Windows function. That went over well.

Thats why I suggested to PM me your log so I can see what bad stuff you might have before you delete it.

Just for proof that the log doesn't show any personal information, Heres mine.

[ShaLo]

http://www.heidi.ie/node/6 Eraser is an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. Works with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 2003 Server and DOS.

[Gritts]

Eh, I reformat my computer like every year because I collect TONS of random junk and whatnot, and see a noticeable slowdown after all that time even with all startups disabled in msconfig.
If your gonna take 2 hours you might as well just pop in the XP disk and do a format, then watch tv while it finishes and Windows reinstalls. God I love a fresh system... *Glances at XP disk*

As for security/paranoid wiping, ive been using a free program called BCWipe, it can do some insane wiping methods like "Peter Gutman", (35 passes if your REALLYparanoid and have a small eternity to wait). It even adds an option when you right click a file to "delete with wiping" too. and can "clear free space" etc.

[RohitSen]

Thanks I have been searching it from several months but could you just tell me all those software are free for lifetime. Thanks in advanced for reply.

[#ClumsyWizard]

Thanks I have been searching it from several months but could you just tell me all those software are free for lifetime. Thanks in advanced for reply.

Holy thread necro batman!

All of the programs are free.