Hi, about 20 minutes ago I got a LOT of messages saying various programs were running malicious processes on my computer... the programs I can remember are: CMD.EXESpoolsv.exe There were about five messages in total. About 10 minutes ago, my start bar and desktop icons vanished. I tried starting explorer.exe but it said it couldn't be found. I'm wondering if there is any way to fix my computer VERY fast as it's gradually getting slower and I'm sure it will stop working entirely soon. I'm running Windows XP, Service Pack 3. If you need more information PLEASE ask! I really need help. I use Rising Antivirus for Real Time Protection (this gave me the messages) and MalwareByte's Anti Malware for scanning (I'm scanning at the moment.) Thank you in advance!

Oh, sorry, I automatically got redirected here. Just realised it is the Vista forum. Sorry for my mistake! Can it be moved or do I have to repost?

Just repost it:XP Forums:http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsxpAbove link is to XP Forums.There is a list of the various XP Forums at above link to help you.You will get the assistance that you need there.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~You can Scan with these Programs, including Malwarebytes, which you have already started ( do a FULL scan):If necessary, do all the work inSafe Mode with Networking. To get intoSafe Mode with Networking, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow key to get toSafe Mode with Networking from list of options, then hit ENTER. Read all info below before starting: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!Download the Free Version from the link above.Download, install, update and scan once a fortnight. How to use Malwarebytes after it is installed:1. Open Malwarebytes > Click on the Update Tab across the top> get the latest updates.2. On the Scanner tab, make sure thePerform full scan option is selected and then click on theScan button to start scanning your computer3. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while.4. When the scan is finished a message box will appear5. You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the Malwareremoval process.6. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on theShow Results button.7. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown8. You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.9. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.10. You can now exit the MBAM program. If neccesary, also scan with this Program http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.Download, install and update it.Once installed > Right-click on its Desktop Icon > Run as AdminThen SCAN with it.Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight. Important re: Safe Mode If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot the computer, and go into Safe Mode.To get into Safe Mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D while in Safe Mode. If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating Programs to remove them.If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking (from F8 list of Startup Options), and install, update and scan from there. Cheers.Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

Hi, Thank you so much for your advice. I have installed Spybot and it has already detected a number of things, including one instance of malware and a security issue. I've also currently found five trojans- I'm sure there will be more showing up. When it's finished, I will restart my system and see if it's cleared up. Thanks again! Just a quick question: Does Spybot have a real time protection feature? I've been needing a good Antivirus with Real time protection.

You're welcome.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Spybot S & D is NOT an Anti-virus.For an AV:http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html Avast Anti-Virus is XP, Vista and Windows 7 compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions), FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any one time.Conflicts, System crashes and freezing may occur if you have more than 1(one). Thi is one of the better AVs with a Resident Shield, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Spybot S & D info:http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.htmlhttp://www.safer-networking.org/en/tutorial/index.htmlCheck section 8 at the Tutorial..All the info about its real time protection and more is at the above links.Cheers.Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner