Remove Spyware from an XP or Win 2000 PC
There are a few ways to remove spyware from your computer. These instructions are intended for windows 2000 and XP and broadband internet users. They require a blank CD and some downloading. They've been tried and tested by an IT professional, and all programs are free.
Contents
[hide]Steps
- Get a hold of a few programs on your computer or on CD-Rom: Microsoft Windows Defender, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Ad-Aware SE, Firefox and Thunderbird are a good start. Do not install any of these yet.
- Restart the computer and boot into safe mode by pressing F8 repeatedly as the computer starts up. Choose Safe Mode with Network Support from the menu that appears.
- Install and update for Spybot and Ad-Aware when your desktop loads. The programs will prompt on install to run updates if they are needed.
- Run both programs' scan ability one at a time in any order you wish.
- Spybot will come up with a 'Fix' button but AdAware will require you to right click on the list and choose select all objects from the menu that pops up before clicking to 'fix problems'.
- Restart the computer into regular Windows.
- Install Firefox and Microsoft Windows Defender BETA 2 and update them both fully. Microsoft Windows Defender BETA 2 requires you to run it for the first time before it becomes active, choose all the default options and click 'Run Quick Scan' to finalize.
Tips
- Get Firefox - http://www.GetFirefox.com
- If you still have problems try visiting one of the free online forums such as "Geeks to Go", http://www.geekstogo.com
- It doesn't hurt to visit www.free-av.com and do a quick, free virus scan to sweep up any trojans or viruses lingering around. Spyware removal does not remove viruses.
- Get Spybot search and destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
- Get Microsoft Windows Defender BETA 2
- Get Ad-Aware - http://www.lavasoft.com
Warnings
- Be sure not to disable any programs under the 'Startup' tab that are for anti-virus software you use. Disabling things in the menu does not delete it, it simply stops it from auto loading when windows is first starting. When in doubt, get help from an expert.
Related Articles
- Remove Spyware Manually (Windows)
