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Virus filling up hard drive.

Anonymous
2010-01-17T18:13:00+00:00

Hi,

I'm having this problem where this virus keeps filling up my hard drive(only the C one) with invisible files. I've had this problem for a while now(probably around a year-ish and yes, I'm that lazy/careless of a doofus to start dealing with it now). Anyhoo, I did some research and found out a way to go back in time basically by system restore so I tried that but, my computer says it doesnt have any restore points, so basically I am screwed if that's my only resort.

Is there any way to get rid of this awful virus? Any help would be so very much appreciated because this is getting really tiring.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Steven

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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Anonymous
2010-01-17T18:25:24+00:00

Hi,

Do a thorough check for malware and do not assume that anyone program that found malware found it all.

These can be done in Safe Mode - repeatedly tap F8 as you boot however you should also run them in

regular Windows when you can.

Download malwarebytes and scan with it, run MRT, and add Prevx to be sure it is gone. (If Rootkits run UnHackMe)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Malwarebytes - free

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Run the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool

Start - type in Search box -> MRT  find at top of list - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN.

You should be getting this tool and its updates via Windows Updates - if needed you can download it here.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

(Then run MRT as above.)

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 32 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 64 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=585D2BDE-367F-495E-94E7-6349F4EFFC74&displaylang=en

also install Prevx to be sure it is all gone.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Prevx - Home - Free - small, fast, exceptional CLOUD protection, works with other security programs. This is

a scanner only, VERY EFFECTIVE, if it finds something come back here or use Google to see how to remove. 

http://www.prevx.com/   <-- information

http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp  <-- download

PCmag - Prevx - Editor's Choice

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346862,00.asp

If needed here are some online free scanners to help

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

Use other Free online scans as needed

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=antivirus+free+online+scan&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1

Also do these to cleanup general corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

Run DiskCleanup - Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

generates in Windows Vista cbs.log

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Run checkdisk - schedule it to run at next start and then Apply OK your way out then restart.

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

If any Rootkits are found use this thread and other suggestions. (Run UnHackMe)

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/InternetExplorer/thread/a8f665f0-c793-441a-a5b9-54b7e1e7a5a4/

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-01-17T19:47:21+00:00

    I've download the antimalware but, it says the files are corrupted when I try to open it(and I ran it as admin). I've also scanned it with norton anti virus and it didn't detect anything, any tips on that perhaps? I getting to the point where I think my laptop is doomed...

    Also, A lot of thanks for your elaborate post! It's much appreciated.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-05-20T18:13:02+00:00

    For those of you that have managed to stop the drive from growing...there are a couple of things you can do to get rid of the Temp files eating up the space. 

    What I did was ran a tool called WizTree v1.05 (google it) - this is a portable version so you can run it from a flash drive if you do not have enough space to download it.  It allows you to view the Temp files inside of the Content.IE5 folders which you cannot see (even if you view/show hidden folders).  Once you locate the folders that are hoarding these files use command prompt to delete the files.  It may take up to 2 days depending on how large your hard drive is.

    here is the command I used (win7)

    DEL /F /S /Q /A "C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\*.*"

    You may have to add the Content.IE5 in place of the *.*   -- just depends on where those massive folders are located. 

    Also, I would suggest running CCleaner afterwards.

    If you have any questions or need help reply back.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-18T09:04:35+00:00

    I had the same problem. It is the windows search service. Try this http://asghonim.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/the-case-of-the-shrinking-disk-space-on-windows/

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-01-17T20:02:08+00:00

    Try the others, use "many", do a thorough job as no one program detects and removes all.

    Run DiskCleanup first

    Run DiskCleanup - Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

    ======================================================

    Also sometimes using a process of elimination can help AFTER you use the malware checks above.

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    How to troubleshoot performance issues in Windows Vista

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950685

    Optimizing Microsoft Windows Vista Performance

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959062

    To see all that is loading bootup - wait a few minutes without doing anything - then Right Click TaskBar -

    Task Manager - take a look at Appplications - Processes - Services - this is a quick reference (if you have

    a little box on Lower Left - Show for All Users then check that).

    How to Check and Change the Startup Programs in Vista

    http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/79612-startup-programs-enable-disable.html

    A quick check to see which are loading is Method 2 there - using MSCONFIG then post a list of those here.

    Tools that should help :

    Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open, which DLLs

    they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each process.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

    Autoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you

    login. Autoruns also shows you the full list of Registry and file locations where applications can configure auto-

    start settings.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

    Process Monitor - Free - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

    There are many excellent free tools at Sysinternals

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx

    WhatsInStartUP - Free - This utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically when Windows

    starts up. For each application, the following information is displayed: Startup Type (Registry/Startup Folder),

    Command -Line String, Product Name, File Version, Company Name, Location in the Registry or file system,

    and more. It allows you to easily disable or delete unwanted programs that runs in your Windows startup.

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/what\_run\_in\_startup.html

    There are many excellent free tools at NirSoft

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html

    Window Watcher - Free - Do you know what's running on your computer? Maybe not. The Window Watcher tells all, reporting every window created by every running program, whether the window is visible or not.

    http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp

    Many excellent free tools and an excellent newsletter at Karenware

    http://www.karenware.com/

    Hope these help.

    Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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