Do you think this means I have a virus/trojan/worm?

Sandpiper · 09-24-2009, 03:10 PM

Hi. Here's the story.

I installed Norton IS 2009 some months ago. I found that once the idle time scan, especially, or automatic definition updates ran, my computer slowed down a lot. It was frustrating, and I found the only way to get back to normal afterward was to completely reboot the system, as Norton techs could not disable the idle time scans. Eventually, they claimed the problem was that I had too little memory on my computer (I think it is 250 MB or something like that. I never added memory since I purchased it about six or seven years ago, but I never had any problems with it as I do not add a lot of programs or save a lot of music or too many pictures, etc.). Eventually, I was so frustrated with Norton 2009, I had them uninstall it and reinstall 2005.

Uninstalling 2009, which I was told was a HUGE program, seemed to help. My computer's speed is much more normal again. However, my available memory has been steadily declining for weeks now, and I cannot defrag the hard drives completely, as I had always done for years. Now, I am down to 9% available space, and I cannot run defrag at all because it requires 15% space. I have not added any new programs or hardware to my computer in years, aside from Norton 2009, and I even deleted a TON of pictures I had stored in order to help free up space. It has not helped at all. I have watched my available space on Drive C slowly dwindle down from 37%--38% to 9%. Whence I was still able to run Defrag, at the end of the process I would receive a message which said not all files could be defragged (never used to get this message in all the years I have had the computer), but in the second window where it was supposed to show which files it could not defrag, there was nothing listed.

I have ordered two 512 memory modules from crucial.com, as I have been encouraged to add memory to the computer, but I think something else must be going on. How could my memory decline from 38% to 9% whence I uninstalled Norton IS 2009 and deleted a ton of photographs? My available memory should have increased. Drive C has 13.97 GB capcity with 1.16 GB available but only 9% memory left listed as available. Drive F(?) which is an "optical drive" that reads and writes CDs, plays CDs and DVDs, etc., has18.28 GB capacity with 17.98 GB or 97% available. It used to always be 100% available. There is nothing on that drive. There is no CD or DVD in the drive. It is empty.

HOLY COW!! I just checked the numbers on defrag for accuracy, and my available space on Drive C just dropped from 9% earlier today to 8%! I have not added a thing. I cannot imagine what is happening! The only hardware I have ever added to my computer was my printer. I added Norton 2005, Acrobat Reader, and software for my digital camera. I do not recall adding any other programs to this computer since I purchased it. Norton downloaded a pop-up blocker for me, but I have never installed it.

The only odd thing I can remember happening of late was browsing the web one day whence a pop-up occurred which said my computer was infected with either a virus or a trojan (I do not recall which). The pop-up wanted me to download something to fix it. I ignored the pop-up, but it would not let me close it. I finally had to shut down the computer and reboot to get back to my browsing. I did not download anything from that pop-up. I do not recall if this happened before or after my memory began to dwindle and the defrag stopped being able to defrag everything. I do not know if this pop-up did anything to my computer. I keep Explorer's pop-up blocker turned on always.

Do you think I have a virus/trojan/worm of some sort, or do you think this is just a problem occuring in XP? I have XP Home Edition. I contacted Norton back, and I was told they could not say if I had a virus for sure, but they wanted me to pay $100 for them to check the system, or $159 to check the system and "freshen up" the computer in the registry, etc. to help processing speed increase. I told them I would seek help and assistance from the tech site first. Please tell me what you think is happening. I am worried my computer is about to say 0% available. I am not being directed to unintended web sites or anything like that. I do not know what is wrong.

Thanks,
jt

Sandpiper · 09-24-2009, 05:58 PM

I know no one probably has had a chance to look at my post so far, but I just wanted to add that as of six this evening, my memory as now dwindled down to 6%! I doubt I will have any memory left by this time tomorrow....

Ried · 09-24-2009, 06:10 PM

Hi jt.

It would be reckless and irresponsible for any of us to give any opinion of what we think it may be, without more information.

Please follow the instructions in our sticky topic New Instructions - Read This Before Posting for Malware Removal Help and post the requested logs in your next reply.

**Please note this section of the forum is very busy, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the Bumping Rules also found in our sticky topic mentioned above. One of our Analysts will review your log as soon as possible.

09-24-2009, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sandpiper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 30 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Do you think this means I have a virus/trojan/worm? Hi. Here's the story. I installed Norton IS 2009 some months ago. I found that once the idle time scan, especially, or automatic definition updates ran, my computer slowed down a lot. It was frustrating, and I found the only way to get back to normal afterward was to completely reboot the system, as Norton techs could not disable the idle time scans. Eventually, they claimed the problem was that I had too little memory on my computer (I think it is 250 MB or something like that. I never added memory since I purchased it about six or seven years ago, but I never had any problems with it as I do not add a lot of programs or save a lot of music or too many pictures, etc.). Eventually, I was so frustrated with Norton 2009, I had them uninstall it and reinstall 2005. Uninstalling 2009, which I was told was a HUGE program, seemed to help. My computer's speed is much more normal again. However, my available memory has been steadily declining for weeks now, and I cannot defrag the hard drives completely, as I had always done for years. Now, I am down to 9% available space, and I cannot run defrag at all because it requires 15% space. I have not added any new programs or hardware to my computer in years, aside from Norton 2009, and I even deleted a TON of pictures I had stored in order to help free up space. It has not helped at all. I have watched my available space on Drive C slowly dwindle down from 37%--38% to 9%. Whence I was still able to run Defrag, at the end of the process I would receive a message which said not all files could be defragged (never used to get this message in all the years I have had the computer), but in the second window where it was supposed to show which files it could not defrag, there was nothing listed. I have ordered two 512 memory modules from crucial.com, as I have been encouraged to add memory to the computer, but I think something else must be going on. How could my memory decline from 38% to 9% whence I uninstalled Norton IS 2009 and deleted a ton of photographs? My available memory should have increased. Drive C has 13.97 GB capcity with 1.16 GB available but only 9% memory left listed as available. Drive F(?) which is an "optical drive" that reads and writes CDs, plays CDs and DVDs, etc., has18.28 GB capacity with 17.98 GB or 97% available. It used to always be 100% available. There is nothing on that drive. There is no CD or DVD in the drive. It is empty. HOLY COW!! I just checked the numbers on defrag for accuracy, and my available space on Drive C just dropped from 9% earlier today to 8%! I have not added a thing. I cannot imagine what is happening! The only hardware I have ever added to my computer was my printer. I added Norton 2005, Acrobat Reader, and software for my digital camera. I do not recall adding any other programs to this computer since I purchased it. Norton downloaded a pop-up blocker for me, but I have never installed it. The only odd thing I can remember happening of late was browsing the web one day whence a pop-up occurred which said my computer was infected with either a virus or a trojan (I do not recall which). The pop-up wanted me to download something to fix it. I ignored the pop-up, but it would not let me close it. I finally had to shut down the computer and reboot to get back to my browsing. I did not download anything from that pop-up. I do not recall if this happened before or after my memory began to dwindle and the defrag stopped being able to defrag everything. I do not know if this pop-up did anything to my computer. I keep Explorer's pop-up blocker turned on always. Do you think I have a virus/trojan/worm of some sort, or do you think this is just a problem occuring in XP? I have XP Home Edition. I contacted Norton back, and I was told they could not say if I had a virus for sure, but they wanted me to pay $100 for them to check the system, or $159 to check the system and "freshen up" the computer in the registry, etc. to help processing speed increase. I told them I would seek help and assistance from the tech site first. Please tell me what you think is happening. I am worried my computer is about to say 0% available. I am not being directed to unintended web sites or anything like that. I do not know what is wrong. Thanks, jt

09-24-2009, 05:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sandpiper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 30 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Re: Do you think this means I have a virus/trojan/worm? I know no one probably has had a chance to look at my post so far, but I just wanted to add that as of six this evening, my memory as now dwindled down to 6%! I doubt I will have any memory left by this time tomorrow....

09-24-2009, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ried Assistant Manager, TSF Academy; Moderator/Analyst Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,938 OS: WinXP and Vista	Re: Do you think this means I have a virus/trojan/worm? Hi jt. It would be reckless and irresponsible for any of us to give any opinion of what we think it may be, without more information. Please follow the instructions in our sticky topic New Instructions - Read This Before Posting for Malware Removal Help and post the requested logs in your next reply. **Please note this section of the forum is very busy, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the Bumping Rules also found in our sticky topic mentioned above. One of our Analysts will review your log as soon as possible. __________________ Member of ASAP since 2005 Member of UNITE since 2006 "It is one life whether we spend it laughing or weeping." "Take the time to laugh--it is the music of the soul."