Smart Security messed up Windows XP SP3

[joshworx]

Recently, I had downloaded a StarWars MMO, and was playing through it, until it crashed. I then force quit the application and a few "run/ Don't run" Pop-Ups came up, and as a noob, I clicked "run" thinking it was an update of some sort, afterwards, it installed a malware or whatever called "Smart Security" which made loud shrieking noises and popped-Up on the screen with false warnings of trojans and virus's. Anyway, I did a system restore, then tryed re-installing windows, the installation got a bit more than halfway through, when I saw that I was missing a .sys file, and the installation could not continue, and the computer shut down. Please help...

Also, whenever I search for anything on google, and click on a link, it states that "This document has moved" then takes me to an advertisement website, where I have to either close my browser and reopen it multiple times, or press the back button several times in a matter of seconds.

If I need to get my computer completely repaired, I would like that to be a last resort...

If I need to pay little to no money on this I would be very grateful.

Any means of adivce / help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Josh.

[-pops-]

Things don't look good - an illustration, possibly, of the dangers of downloading from, let's say, less than reliable websites.

The rogue program is described here: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-smart-security.html together with removal instructions.

As you have tried some methods of ridding yourself of this thing and altered the original Windows environment I think that the only remedy now is to do a fresh install of your operating system. That is to say overwrite the old install or, preferably, reformat the drive and start all over again. This, of course, depends on you having access to a suitable legitimate copy of Windows.

[andsome]

Do you not have a mirror image back up in ACRONIS or similar? If not, then as soon as things are sorted I recommend that you get a plug in hard drive and make a back up of the system.

[joshworx]

Things don't look good - an illustration, possibly, of the dangers of downloading from, let's say, less than reliable websites.

The rogue program is described here: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-smart-security.html together with removal instructions.

As you have tried some methods of ridding yourself of this thing and altered the original Windows environment I think that the only remedy now is to do a fresh install of your operating system. That is to say overwrite the old install or, preferably, reformat the drive and start all over again. This, of course, depends on you having access to a suitable legitimate copy of Windows.

Thanks, but I tried to reinstall windows, a .sys file was missing, and it could not finish, I've tried multiple times, with the same problem persisting... It seems as though I'm stuck...

[-pops-]

A simple re-install will most likely just install the new operating system on top of the old one - thus potentially leaving any rogue elements in place.

Rather than just a re-install, carry out a full format and install. This will need you to remove the hard drive and load in into another machine and format from that. You then replace the drive in the original computer and re-install.

Another approach would be to buy a new hard drive (they are not expensive these days), replace the original drive with the new one and make a fresh install of Windows on that.

The old drive is not wasted, you can get an external USB or SATA housing/case for it, make a full reformat and use it then for a full system backup/image as a safeguard for when something untoward happens again. Make sure you keep it up to date!