I know very little about computers and am not even sure of the security software i use but I have never had problems with pops up however since last week I have been inundated with them, I have a pop up blocker on but still many are coming up, can anyone recommend what i should do, thanks

Download adaware or spybot search and destroy . Install firefox . Problem sorted

You will have accidently installed something, search on this site, loads on getting rid of such things and as Silver said, download adaware and avg, they should get rid of most stuff. Asquared is also a good one to run every now and again.

try unistalling everything and trying again

try unistalling everything and trying again
That's not helpful....there is no need, at this stage, to uninstall and reinstall.

Armadillo, click on the link in my siggie, where you will find a list of SF-members' recommended security software.

It sounds like you've picked up some malware/spyware somewhere along the line. Silver's recommendation is a good one, but if that doesn't work, try one of the others. I use Windows Defender, which is very user-friendly.

As you say you don't know much about pc security, do you have antivirus and a firewall installed as well? Don't rely on Windows firewall alone.

hi thanks for advice, I do have spyblaster and avast installed but i did no have an additional firewall so have installed zonealarm. I have had the same software for over a year with no problems at all so I was surprised when the popups started comding back. If there is such a thing as good quality pop ups I have them, they are all for m&S,lloyds tsb etc no dodgy adult ones. Thanks again

This advice applies to anyone with any kind of pop-up or virus problem, in fact most things which interrupt or slow down your computer.

If you like you can spend hours/days/weeks with all manner of anti-virus, spyware and adware type programs. In my experience you will save yourself a lot of time and heartache by ignoring them all and doing the following:

1) If you haven't got a backup hard drive, get one and install it.
2) Transfer all your precious photos and data (NOT programs or windows) to the backup drive.
3) If you use Outlook for email you will need to find 3 files in a hidden folder (outlook.pst, archive.pst and extend.dat) and make copies onto the backup drive in order to preserve your emails and contacts.
4) Learn how to boot from your Windows CD (loads of sites will walk you through this procedure) and do a fresh install of Windows XP on C drive. Don't just repair or re-install Windows - make sure you completely delete all partitions, so Windows will then be installed onto a freshly formatted partition and drive.
5) Re-install all your drivers, programs and transfer your data back (including the 3 Outlook files if applicable).

All of the above will take a couple of hours, maybe 3 or 4 if it's your first time. That is a lot less time than you will spend downloading all sorts of programs claiming to be your saviour and fiddling around with them, only to find a day or 2 later the pop-ups re-appear. Unlike any of them, this method works 100% GUARANTEED every time. Also, don't be surprised if your computer suddenly runs like a cheetah - a fresh install is like getting a new machine again.

As for #3, it's better to copy emails and address book directly into into a separate folder, rather than finding the .pst and .dat files. When it comes to restoring those types of files, I've found that it means paying for a program to access them.

Tbh Phaedrus, you have well over-complicated things. It's a pop-up problem, not a full-scale crash and, although I'm all for backing up data, what you're suggesting is rather extreme.

What you've suggested could become unnecessarily expensive, and the it's worthwhile trying the tried and tested options previously posted first. If things are as bad as you're suggesting, it would probably mean a complete recovery, and that doesn't seem to be necessary in this case.

Hello Armadillo.

I think Phaedrus route should be your last resort.

Try visiting malwareremoval.com ( sorry i cannot post a link yet, so just type in malware removal into your browser) and post your request regarding the popups,they are experts and will guide you through how to get shut once and for all of those annoying popups.

Cheers,
celtictiger.

Armadillo, not me, had the original problem, which has probably been resolved by now, anyway.

OOOOPS, sorry ann.

As for #3, it's better to copy emails and address book directly into into a separate folder, rather than finding the .pst and .dat files. When it comes to restoring those types of files, I've found that it means paying for a program to access them.


not really, there's a free and simple outlook express backup program out there that I use ;)