Antivirus/files (stuff) help (PC)!!!!!

[xmichikox]

Hm, I think this would be the right subsection of the forum.

Anyways, I'm new to PC's and just windows in general. I've used them at school and stuff, but I don't really care about the school's virus protection. Anyhow, I have a few questions, because I am technologically-retarded. No, seriously.

Specs:

Um, I'm not sure what to put here, so just ask me what you need. I'm running a Toshiba Tecra M7 (used, if that's significant?) on Windows XP with 80 gigs memory and 2 gigs RAM. English.

Anyways, on msconfig, if you find a file that is NOT supposed to be there, how do you locate the file, as well as determine it's name? It would seem neither of the four programs I've used so far have detected anything in their scans, but I want to make sure.

On the topic of this, if you've researched the potential threat and located where it's *supposedly* located (if it was the virus and not the correct file), and it's not there, am I to assume the file in question was not a virus?

Also, another of my concerns would be if running Avira (Free) and Malwarebytes (Free) at the same time is too much, because I know if you run too many anti-virus programs they'll just mess each other up. And what about Prevxcsi? Would adding that to the mix (disabled but installed) be too much? I think it would, but again I'm not sure.

And lastly, the absolute NOOB question, if I delete files from quarantine, nothing bad happens, right (assuming the detection wasn't a false-positive or whatever you call them)

Thanks so much!

Oh, lastly, do any of you know what the TOSDCR.EXE and Launcher.exe is in startup? I'm kind of concerned, because I have no clue what they are, and they both can either be good or bad, but I don't know how to tell the difference... I'm convinced Launcher.exe is the bad one, but none of my antivirus programs are picking it up. Not bad then? Help? *Dies*

I know I'm being stupid, but please don't say stuff like "google it." Because I have spent the last 5 hours googling all of this stuff! I am still unsure on some of it though, and you help is greatly appreciated!

[akibastyle]

Unfortunately, I'm no help when it comes to this (*surprise!*)
The last time I tried to use 2 AV programs simultaneously, they ended up canceling each other out and all viruses I had quarantined ended up being free and I was out a CPU for 5 months until I could afford the repair...

[Quirk]

intead of trying google the problem, find a forum like this but on computers, tech and stuff. One way to delete files permanetly is to use the registry editor. BUT always save a backup file, because if you delete a file you need, it is a big hassle to get it back.

For viruses just deleting the file it came in or its own may not always work, I know you said you've been googleing, but find the name of the virus, sometimes its in the process and applications tabs of the Windows task manager (crtl+alt+delete). Type the name into google and if it is a virus they should be a page somewhere to help you get rid of it, but don't do it automatically, cause the program isn't freeware and you have to pay for it.

[xmichikox]

@ akibastyle, it's fine.

@ Quirk -- I read through computer forums a lot, too. But thanks for the advice and explanation.

I already know the name of what I'm looking up, and I found some stuff on how to delete it and stuff, but I was wondering if there's a way to find files that are listed in the msconfig window, since it tells you the action of the autostartup, but it doesn't tell you where it is located. I thought that if I could find that particular file I could see if the location matches where the file would be if it were a virus and then deal with it from there.

And by "deleting the file it's in" does that include deleting from quarantine?

[Quirk]

some times when you download a .rar, zip or program it has hidden files set to extract or install with out you knowing. So if you delete that first file it won't have deleted the virus that tagged along. Have you tried that regedit? That should be able to tell you the name and the location as well as deleting it.
Go to run-type regedit- opens up the registry editor-file-export and save a backup-then press crtl+F and type in the virus name. Just remember to be careful of what you delete.

I don't know if you knew that already but good luck wuth the virus busting, just had my comp swept clean of 40 little buggers

[xmichikox]

oh, thanks. wow, 40? I thought I had a lot. I think I've only got like 7 in quarantine right now.

Okay, um, hypothetical question; if you have a .rar file and say it has one of those hidden file thingies, could you scan it and, assuming it is a virus your scan is capable of detecting, would it detect the virus in the .rar file?

Second hypothetical question with .rar file, do these files only extract/install AFTER you've extracted the .rar file?

EDIT: I HAVE used regedit before...wow.

[Quirk]

1st. just checked on hardforum.com, off of google and it says you can detect some viruses with an antivirus, though with some of them you will have to enable the fuction. They can't search password protected ones though, even if you have the password.

2nd. A rar or zip files is just the same as a box, the virus can't get out until it is opened.

I had to get my comp fixed by a friend, One virus made it impossible access anything because they were all "corrupted", it was anti-spyware scan soft or something. But it pretended to be a anti-virus and said install me and everything will be fine, luckily I didn't. Hope you computer gets well soon.

[xmichikox]

1. what function?

2. oh, okay. Thanks.

Yes! You should never download those things! They are most likely a scam.

btw, I never got my question about quarantine answered. Can I just delete them? Or will they still be on my system? Should I do anything else? I'm running malwarebytes right now.

[Quirk]

1: the function is just an option to turn on or off to check inside the rar files, so if you go into options on your AV program there should be an option to scan the inside of rar or zipped files.

As for the quarantine deleting them from it will permanently delete them. The best thing to do is to wait a week or so to see if you comp is running any good. Because once as file is in quarantine it is seperated from your comp, so if it is needed you will notice problems with out it. But no problems means you can safely delete it.

[xmichikox]

oh, okay! Thanks for the help. It's really appreciated.

Yeah, I've been running fine with about 10 of the buggers in quarantine for a month or so. Die viruses/trojans/malware, dieeeeee!!! RAWR! lol.