Virus Problems

[Peter H]

Hi all
I thought i had a virus on my computer so I was told about a program called Stinger which would clean it up. i installed it and yes it did find some and delted them. the problem that i haver now is that i thought it might be an idea to install some antivirus software, so I installed macaffe, but when i started it up after about a minute i closed itself down with no error message or anything. there were no signs of it in the task bar either. so i uninstalled it and installed a copy of norton, but the same thing happened. these were both 2003 version. i got myself a copy of norton 2004 but the same thing is happening it closes down without so much as a peep. can anyone offer some advice? i am running windows xp without any service packs.

Thanks

[stiltman]

Did you uninstall stinger after you finished and before you installed the full anti virus program? Stinger is not meant to replace a full anti virus program.

[thecoalman]

Some viruses are designed to disable your virus software...possibly what it is happening to you?

Next thing is any computer connected to the internet without critcal windows updates or a good firewall is going to get infected, no if and's or buts about it. Dial-up, broadband it doesn't matter it is just a matter of time. I've seen a unprotected machine on dial up get infected in less than 15 minutes.

[stiltman]

good point!