I will do my best to describe the problems I am having with my laptop. I started my laptop and noticed 3 ____ Icons on my desktop and in the tray was Microsoft Antimalware that kept popping up with box to do scan, free trial etc and when I chose Cancel it kept popping up. In the tray also is Microsoft Security notifying me that I have no virus Protection. I have Microsoft Security Essentials installed but for some reason it was gone from the tray although it was still in Program Files. I went into Program Files and uninstalled Microsoft Antimalware (I don't know how it got there because I never installed it). I tried to do a Malwarebytes scan but it wouldn't open. I tried to do a System Restore in normal mode and Safe Mode but when I chose my restore point and clicked Next, nothing happened. I also tried running Microsoft Security Essential scan but that wouldn't open either. I uninstalled both Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Malwarebytes seemed to install ok, but Microsoft Security Essentials could not complete the installation wizard and gave ERROR CODE: 0X80070643. Installing failed in normal and Safe Mode.That Microsoft Antimalware kept reinstalling it seems because everytime I uninstalled and restarted it would be there and also appear in Program Files as a new program installed.System Info: HP Presario V5000 Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 X86-Based PCIf I had disks I would just do complete recovery but I don't. I just got it back from being fixed about a month ago and it was set back to factory default and it's been fine until now.Sorry this is long but one more thing. Is this Microsoft Antimalware some type of virus? It does the same thing that other virusus have done but seems like it's covering up over Microsoft to look authentic.PLEASE PLEASE HELP! Thank you!!!!!1 person needs an answerI do too

Hi there,you certainly have malware on your system,and from your description i would certainly suggest to simply reinstall the OS,as this cleaning process would be elaborate.Reinstall to factory settings again,and then reinstall M/softs Security Essentials,and the Malwarebytes program,and then please come back and i can give you some info on what you can do,to protect your laptop better.Also you should get into the habit of backing up regularly,we'll talk a lot more later after you reinstall the OS.Simply come back to this post of mine and click the Reply button,to alert me,and we'll go over all the essentials.Good luck.

Thank you mysoul for responding. I don't have any disks for that computer to return the system back to manufacturers settings. I did make back up disks a few years ago after we bought it but we're missing one so I know that won't help. I wonder if I could use back up disks that I made for my desktop Compaq Presario that I'm using now. I've never used disks to recover a computer as this one I just push F10 and can do a complete recovery. It has windows xp too but my concern is that my Compaq has more memory and I'm assuming it backed up all my files that I had at the time. My Compaq crashed a few weeks ago and F10 did my complete recovery, I was scared to even use my own backup disks because I've never done it and was scared that something might go wrong and make my computer completely useless.Thank you again for responding so quickly.

Hi, i am not sure i understand exactly what you mean,as it is a bit confusing.listen the best thing to do now is,to start a new thread,in the appropriate section,and put your issue in simple terms,ie 'can i do such and such?From what i know about this matter is, that you can't use back up discs made on a Desktop,for a laptop.t's due to the signature of the machine.However since i'm no expert in this matter,you should still ask in a new thread and see what is replied. will ask around myself to be sure.Talk to you soon.

Sorry i was very busy earlier,ok unless you can find a Windows XP copy from a friend,to reinstall the OS,and since using Recovery Manager,is not guarantied to remove the malware from your laptop,(A full recovery however with the proper discs would take care of it)i would suggest that we first try to remove the virus. googled the term you gave me,and drew a blank,therefore,(1)see in your Add/Remove Programs,if you find any entry you are not familiar with,then let me know.(2) Turn off System Restore (3) Clean your disc.Then please go to http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ make sure to place a check on 'scan archives' click 'advanced settings' place a check'scan for potentially unsafe apps'then turn your 'real time antivirus off(M/soft Sec Essentials) and run the scan.t will take a while to finish and will present you with a list at the end of the scan,with what was found,and ask you if you want them removed.Accept.After the scan turn your 'real time antivirus back on.Then scan with M/softs Malicious Software Removal Tool by clicking Start on your desktop click Run type mrt.exe and run a Full scan.That too will present you with a list at the end,write it all down,and let me know,and we'll take it from there. PS Delete the Malwarebytes program from your pc,and reinstall it http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and rescan with it,and let me know the results.Please do everything written in the order given,so if the first two scans succeed in removing the virus,then the malware bytes program may install succesfully.

Thank you again for the quick reply. Ok I'll forget about using any type of disks because I'm not comfortable with it unless it was Windows XP which I can't get unless I order one. So I will definitely try what you suggested. I wanted to let you know that I probably won't be able to do it until the weekend becaue of Christmas. I just wanted to give you the consideration of letting you know that's why in case you don't hear back from me for a few days, just as you've given consideration in taking your time to try and help and your quick responses. I'll let you know the results as soon as I can work on it this weekend. Thank you again so much!

You are welcome, let me know the results and we'll take it from there.By the way, i would suggest that you don't use the computer at all until then.

Well Christmas or not, I'm working on the problem. ok below are the steps I did in order and #4 is as far as I can get:1) Nothing unfamiliar in Add/Remove2) I turned Off System Restore3) Cleaned disc4) Went to http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ and here's the problem. After accepting terms of use, clicked Start and there's a plain blue box with a small white box in upper left corner as if there's supposed to be a picture or something to display. At the bottom it says Waiting for http: etc as it's loading up and the box pops up needing to install Active X, click it to do so and everything disappears. And that's the furthest I can get. I've tried a million times and sometimes it just disappears before I can click start or even click to install the Active X control. Out of desperation, I tried this in Safe Mode to and still won't work.

I just tried the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and 30 minutes into the scan I got an error that it encountered a problem and needs to close with option of Send Error Report or Don't Send. I clicked Don't send and another box popped up saying DrWatson Postmortem Debugger encountered a problem and needs to close. I'm not sure exactly what DrWatson is. This is very frustrating, everything I try seems to stop.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/howsafe.htm?s_cid=mscom_msrt I tried doing this scan also and as it downloads it disappears like every other thing I try to download to scan.

Hi again,yes what you report is not good,the malware on your system is protecting itself by blocking security programs from deleting it.That's why i suggested earlier that it would be simpler to simply reinstall the OS,as the cleaning up would be elaborate.Ok there are still a couple of things we can try,so 1.download the malwarebytes program,then access Safe Mode,and try and install it from there.Then try and update it and run the scan(from Safe mode).2.go to this site http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit?lng=en after you click for the download,(to the desktop of your good pc)scroll to the end of the page and accept the Licence agreement.This program is just an exe,therefore does Not need installing.Transfer it from your good pc to a flash disc,and from there to the infected pc,disable your 'real time'Antivirus, cut off the internet,and just double click on the exe.No need to update,just click Start.Hopefully,it will be able to run,and if so will automatically start a quick scan.Keep an eye on it,as if it finds malware it will stop midway through the scan and ask what you want done.Click delete.please come back and report the results,and tell me also: Can you access Task Manager? will await your reply.

why_meeee is receiving assistance at LandzDown Forum. mysoul, Please do not advise disabling or clearing System Restore prior to removing an infection. Malware stored in System Restore points cannot harm a computer unless the system is restored to an infected point. The first objective is to clean the computer, There are times when the process of removing the infection is more damaging than the infection. Should something go horribly wrong during the cleanup process, without a restore point, there may be no other option than a repair reinstall of the operating system. An infected restore point can be better in that case, particularly if the computer is an OEM install without a repair disk. Corrine, Microsoft MVP (Consumer Security). This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.