Is the Help Desk open?

[Persephone]

How do I get rid of a program using XP if it will not show up under Add/Remove programs?

I've been inundated with hundreds upon hundreds of pop up ads the past couple of weeks. I installed a pop up ad killer, but they were still coming through.

So I've just installed Norton Internet Security, only to discover that I had a buttload of programs on my computer designed to generate pop up ads. Surprise, surprise. They, suspiciously enough, appeared on my computer at a time when I was not home and a teenager was hanging out at my house. No doubt they are a bonus feature of some game or chat program or some such that she was sure I'd never even know she'd downloaded.

Anyhow, I've gotten rid of most of them now, but there is this one...winservn.exe...the absolute worst of them all...it doesn't show up under programs in the add/remove thingie. It does, however, show up under System32 if I do a search for it.

Help. And please remember to explain this in terms that a three year old or a grandmother or someone like that could understand.

How do I get rid of a program using XP if it will not show up under Add/Remove programs?

I've been inundated with hundreds upon hundreds of pop up ads the past couple of weeks. I installed a pop up ad killer, but they were still coming through.

So I've just installed Norton Internet Security, only to discover that I had a buttload of programs on my computer designed to generate pop up ads. Surprise, surprise. They, suspiciously enough, appeared on my computer at a time when I was not home and a teenager was hanging out at my house. No doubt they are a bonus feature of some game or chat program or some such that she was sure I'd never even know she'd downloaded.

Anyhow, I've gotten rid of most of them now, but there is this one...winservn.exe...the absolute worst of them all...it doesn't show up under programs in the add/remove thingie. It does, however, show up under System32 if I do a search for it.

Help. And please remember to explain this in terms that a three year old or a grandmother or someone like that could understand.


It's a two-step process. Go through the add/delete program as you normally do and the first screen you get looks like it's not a delete screen, but after you get over your frustration, you will notice a remove command.

Upon further reading, you need a Win Clean program to get rid of "orphan" files...

or you can bite the bullet and go in and play with your registry....in which case...I sure hope you've backed up everything.

[Persephone]

Upon further reading, you need a Win Clean program to get rid of "orphan" files...

or you can bite the bullet and go in and play with your registry....in which case...I sure hope you've backed up everything.


Huh?

So instead of just installing itself in my program files without my knowledge or consent, it installed itself amongst Windows shit that I will be too afraid to screw around with...is that about the size of it?

I have it blocked in Norton, but I am still getting script errors and things of that nature from sites I have not been to...I'm sure it is this program that is doing it.

I will wait for brandon's expert advice. If he can't help you, and you have XP, you can go back in your accessories/system tools/restore and back it to the point where it "corrupted" you computer.

[Persephone]

If I can't actually uninstall it, how can I at least keep it from running?

[wendy]

If I can't actually uninstall it, how can I at least keep it from running?


How long ago did the problem start occuring?

[Persephone]

How long ago did the problem start occuring?


About two weeks ago.

[wendy]

About two weeks ago.


Have you tried Bad's advice and used system restore?

System restore will work. I've done it on this other Tosh I've got here about a bazillion times. The kid's downloading everything that moves and it's FUBAR'd.

Suth, just back it off a couple of weeks...use the calendar and you can see when it was installed. Problem is, any other programs you've installed since then will be eliminated.

[Persephone]

Have you tried Bad's advice and used system restore?


Not yet...I was waiting for a second opinion. ;)

I just found something that suggested removing it from the start up menu and rebooting.

I don't remember if the "data" remains intact. Read it.

[wendy]

Not yet...I was waiting for a second opinion. ;)

I just found something that suggested removing it from the start up menu and rebooting.


I thought it wasn't in the start up menu.

Not yet...I was waiting for a second opinion. ;)

I just found something that suggested removing it from the start up menu and rebooting.


What prompt is that?

[Persephone]

System restore will work. I've done it on this other Tosh I've got here about a bazillion times. The kid's downloading everything that moves and it's FUBAR'd.

Suth, just back it off a couple of weeks...use the calendar and you can see when it was installed. Problem is, any other programs you've installed since then will be eliminated.


I might try that. I know the exact day and time it was installed. I checked that first. And I was incredibly happy to have a teenager to blame. :)

[wendy]

I might try that. I know the exact day and time it was installed. I checked that first. And I was incredibly happy to have a teenager to blame. :)




Suth, I've done the system restore as well. It does work.

[arod]

If I can't actually uninstall it, how can I at least keep it from running?


If it were me, I'd find the winservn.exe file and put it into the recycle bin, but also copy it to another location in case it's a shared file. The point is to get it out of the directory it's in so that when windows goes looking for it, it can't find it.

Norton should have a registry repair module that you can try to clean up the registry with somewhat.

I've edited the registry in WIN2K a few times because of bad uninstalls and haven't had a problem; but like bad says, definitely back up the registry before you do that.

REAL men don't back up no stinkin' registries....

which explains why REAL men are off line most of the time, I suppose.

[Persephone]

Okay...I have successfully moved it to the recycle bin by following the advice of some guy name psycho fred who claims the same thing happened to him. Everything looks fine on the reboot. :)

Okay...I have successfully moved it to the recycle bin by following the advice of some guy name psycho fred who claims the same thing happened to him. Everything looks fine on the reboot. :)


I had a Porsche pinstriped by some guy named "Shakey Jake" a long time ago.

[Persephone]

I had a Porsche pinstriped by some guy named "Shakey Jake" a long time ago.


Was this during your white jeans phase by any chance?

Was this during your white jeans phase by any chance?


As a matter of fact...platform shoes, too. I was quite the John Travolta getting out of that unit.

[beegees]STAYIN' ALIVE...STAYIN' ALIVE!!![/beejees]

[Persephone]

As a matter of fact...platform shoes, too. I was quite the John Travolta getting out of that unit.

[beegees]STAYIN' ALIVE...STAYIN' ALIVE!!![/beejees]


Ah...no wonder you thought a little makeup was in order. Can't have a pasty face walking around in that get up. :)

My computer is running so smoothly now that it is driving me crazy...no pings, no pops, no error messages, no attempts by Norton to tattle on any other programs. It's so quiet it's spooky. I think I might have to go watch Stargate.

[tileman]

A program called adaware plus got rid of all mine...

A program called adaware plus got rid of all mine...


adaware corrupted the hell out of my computer :)

[tileman]

:P....no shit?

It wanted to get rid of a couple of things I didn't agree with, but other than that worked great for me..