Download
Hijackthis. This program is most effective at getting important startup information where Trojans tend to hide out.
Actually, while you're at it you'll want to download the install/setup files and update files for
Ad-Aware a recent AntiVirus program (
AVG is excellent), and
Spybot.
Then, boot into Safe Mode:
At your Windows desktop, go to your Start menu and then select Shutdown. Select Restart from the pop-down menu. Your system will then restart. Before the operating system starts to load ("Welcome to Windows! Please Wait"), hit the F8 key. You will be shown a menu with choices, one being Safe Mode (do not select Safe Mode with Networking for now); choose that one. Wait for your computer to finish its booting process.
Login as the administrator user if you can.
Install all of the above software.
Run Hijackthis and save the log file. Restart your computer in safe mode with networking. Log into TFP and post the contents of your Hijackthis logfile. We will help you with the things that you'll need to click to remove in order to begin removing this trojan horse. <-- important, you do not want to screw up your system by deleting lines you shouldn't, so let the technical-type people tell you what to do here!
Restart into Safe Mode (without Networking).
Run another Hijackthis scan and remove all the items that you were told to remove. Run Ad-Aware, Spybot and then run a virus scan with your anti-virus software with all the updates (You did remember to download the individual updates and install them
while your computer is not connected to the Internet did you not?). After all is said and done, restart into safe mode again and do the above once more. Post your Hijackthis log file, wait for our response and then run Ad-aware, Spybot and your virus scanner again. Once you're sure things are OK, boot into normal mode and do it again (Yes, this is annoying, but well worth the time and effort).
The best advice I could give to you is to make sure you have a hardware firewall sitting in front of your computer(s) while all of this takes place. That way, viruses that are making their rounds on the Internet have a very difficult time of infecting your computer while you're trying to save it. They can be purchased for $50-200 at most business/office supply stores, Radioshack, or computer outlet. To scare you even more, I believe I read that the average infection time for a brand new Windows PC connected to the Internet directly (ie no hardware firewall) is about 2-3 minutes!
After all is said and done, make sure you visit
Microsoft WindowsUpdate and update your operating system.