Okay, I think I might have messed up terribly.

So, I downloaded a DLL that I needed to make a freeware game work, and when I got it things started to get weird.

My browsers get a lot of ads, and "esearchult" is my search engine for some reason (Most likely a virus.), and now I get random installations started for no reason at all.

Already tried scanning with MalwareBytes, and nothing came up. What should I do?

EDIT: Fixed, thanks everyone for your replies!

9 years ago*

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What should I do?

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Format your PC you doodoo head
You doodoo head.
Scan with MalwareBytes

Browse your computer for all recent files that have been installed, go to your extensions and check out if you got any unwanted extentions. Further, make sure you don't download stupid crap of the internet. :D

9 years ago
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True :P.

No unwanted extensions by the way.

9 years ago
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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - download, install, scan your system. It will get rid of all browser extensions, malware, etc. You can do it manually, as Nopzor suggested, but why bother if you can have it all automated. Tested by me on my hapless brother's laptop :P

9 years ago
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I just like to do it manually to make sure there's nothing left off. xD

9 years ago
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Then it's kinda weird you're getting ads I guess. Search your pc for all recent files being installed/moved recently, that's the way I usually deal with unwanted crap. Also, check your programs from control panel and delete any recent programs from 'Uninstall a program' if they look suspicious. Best of luck. :D

9 years ago
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Do you use an AntiVirus or just MWB?

Try HitMan Pro
Also I recommend MSE
For AV I really have always been a Kaspersky guy here

EDIT - It sounds like you have bloatware/malware on your system but not a virus. I would imagine that unwanted programs have been installed and hijacked some settings, make sure you have updated MWB and run it from within Safe Mode if you get no positive hits under your regular log.

9 years ago
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I use Microsoft Essentials, I just use MWB whenever I think there might be some malware in my pc. Will try those three.

9 years ago
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Kaspersky isn't a free AV, for that I would recommend AVG or Avast. Both have their +/- to them, go with whatever you choose.

9 years ago
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Not a fan of Avast nor AVG, to be honest.

9 years ago
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Panda free antivirus was voted best antivirus of the year. Its pretty good

9 years ago
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I like Panda, I have for years, they were the first company to allow on demand scans without software installing on your system. Another nice option here.

However you have to be careful about saying "the best antivirus"

There is no governing body that rates or ranks them, they are all tests that are done by different people and reach different outcomes:

PCMag lists the best free of 2015 so far here if that's what you are talking about.

However, we aren't even halfway through 2015

Toms Guide lists Avira as the best free here

PC Advisor in the UK goes for Norton here

The biggest thing to remember is to always download from a verified and trustworthy source. If something is telling you to install this to make it work that should set off a red flag and hopefully the OP has learned from their mistake.

9 years ago
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one of those steam.dll for "freeware"? ...nevermind, maybe a system restore point could solve the problem...not 100% solution but worth a try

9 years ago
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It wasn't steam.dll, it was dss.dll.

9 years ago
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Adwcleaner should work

9 years ago
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Trying it out now. Hope it works.

9 years ago
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It helped, thanks!

9 years ago
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Now go and givaway some game

9 years ago
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I'd work a bit to see if I could fix it myself (check programs and uninstall anything fishy, remove browser toolbars/extensions you know you didn't install, etc). If that doesn't work, try a system restore (assuming you have a semi-recent restore point)...

But if none of that works, it's probably format hard drive time.

9 years ago
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I'll try.

Haven't formatted in a while. That should be fun (assuming nothing else works).

9 years ago
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Check if you have auto backup enabled. if yes, check if you have fresh backup from before you applied dll file and use it.
In future use sandbox or virtualmachine to test unknown source files before applying to production system.

May the quote of the day be with you:
" There are two groups of people. One that do backups and the other.. that will start to do them."

Kind regards
Anteroot

9 years ago
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If using Firefox:

  1. Type this in your browser's URL bar: about:support
  2. Click Refresh Firefox
  3. Note: This will remove all of your addons and current setting, resetting Firefox to default.
9 years ago
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Fixed it! Thanks everyone for your replies!

9 years ago
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Have you tryed deleting System32 folder ?

9 years ago
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10/10 works everytime.

9 years ago
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Yes, it worked!

9 years ago
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Not cool.

9 years ago
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Just go into CMD prompt and type deltree /y C:*.* then hit enter, it will bring it right back up for you.

9 years ago
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Don't.

I understand that most people know better than to gut their operating system in this manner, but some don't. I spent far too many years working as a computer consultant and having to deal with people who followed such "advice" to take such a thing lightly. While I am willing to give you all the benefit of the doubt that you intended this as a joke, keep in mind that there are people in the world who might peruse this thread for "future reference" and think you were being serious. At the very least, you all should have included something to indicate your instructions are not to be taken seriously.

I apologize if my response isn't as diplomatic as I'd like it to be, but thoughtlessly harmful posts really piss me off.

[Edited for clarity.]

9 years ago*
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Thoughtlessly harmful huh, so telling someone to delete their System 32 folder which any idiot can find and do...just gets a nice little Don't.

PS - You should know that the Deltree command was stripped out of Windows starting with Windows 2000 and replaced with RD/RMDIR

9 years ago
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My comments were directed at all four of you. My bad for not being clear.

9 years ago*
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It usually solves every issue :c
Almost as good as turning it off and on again :p

9 years ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 6 years ago.

9 years ago
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