Hi mileigh8:

Judging by your symptoms, and the steps you have taken, it would seem you still have some malware to clean.

The only way to know if your PC is clean is to have it analysed by an expert, such as is found in a HijackThis forum.

You should download the free utility HijackThis according to the instructions here:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19240954.aspx

Run a scan, and copy/paste the logfile generated here:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/3521.aspx

Wait for instructions from the HJT experts on how to proceed. You might well have to obtain other specialised tools to clean your PC.

best of luck!

I understand your frustration when these things happen, I think your compter is clean because you used all the software you can. I will run dfrag and check disk. for your internet use Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/. when you are away from your computer try to disable the local area connection. after all these if you are still not happy I will reinstall the OS.

Hope this helps:emotion-21:

Hi Mileigh,

It's possible to have a Rootkit type virus, and all spyware apps & hijackthis can(and WILL) miss it.

I've been in this business for 25 years. I suggest, that you not use this PC for online banking! It's more then likely your PC is still infected, since it only locks up, when you are on the internet. I will never let a client use their PC for those purposes, once it has been infected, since identity theft, is so easy these days.

The sad thing is the apps to detect rootkits, haven't been writen yet for Vista. I have managed to get rootkit revealer to work, by running in in Admin mode, on vista, but that is a pain.

I suggest you start off with a fresh install, and get all those apps, you mentioned above, then install all of them, Ad-Aware, Spybot and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, and update your windows, before you start using the online banking

Regards,

Dakotajoe

Windows defender found one that prevented me from going online even though the connection was there.

 
mileigh8:

With all due respect to the previous posters, I would suggest that a re-install of your operating system is premature.

You might well have a rootkit, or not, but posting to the HJT forum as I previously suggested will sort this out. These experts are aware of this possibility, and will advise you correctly.

Hi Joe53

Yes, but HJT does not disclose Root viruses, I've been a diagnostician for years using even HJT, and every other app

known to those other forums.

When something as important as online banking is involved, doing anything less then a low-level format,

and zero write of the drive before a clean install, would leave him open to possible identity theft, and

 is not in his best interest.

dakotajoe

Hi dakotajoe:

You probably have me beat in malware diagnostics- I claim no expertise. But I have faith in the experts on the Malware Removal board I linked to.  Their expertise extends beyond HJT, and I think the OP would do well to seek their advice before resorting to anything so drastic as a reformat. Your solution is no doubt the "safest"- I just question its necessity.

I note the OP has posted in the Malware Removal forum, and leave him to their good care.