if you want help from us then and then won't do what tasks are asked then there is no way we can help you. WE could send you to one of the support forums specific for clean up but you must run the scans and tasks that are asked for us to see what is on the machine if we don't know then there is no way to help clean it. If zep is asking you to run something you can rest assured it is NOT something to hurt you it is to see what you have lurking on the pc. There is a difference between antivirus programs and all the other things you mentioned. You can only have one Antivirus program running at a time you have MSE that is fine. You can have several other anti malware programs on the pc because they do not run till you start them up and run a scan you only do one at a time. Malwarebytes is great be sure you update it prior to running the full scan weekly, another is superantispyware also update prior to running full scan. The other thing you should have is spywareblaster you just open it weekly and hit the update button then hit enable all protection so the shield turns green that is it it sits there and does it's thing. I would also suggest putting WOT on your browsers so you are warned if a site has a bad reputation or is dangerous. Use this tool regularly to check for updates to other things on your pc , the majority of infections today are happening because of not updating your flash, java, adobe etc programs they must be updated and so must windows so do all those updates. Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI) run online virus scans occasionally to see if they find something your MSE missed ESET�s Free Online Scanner You want to quarantine because if it happens to be something that was needed then you can go back and get it, when they are in quarantine you need not worry about them just leave them alone. If you would feel better going to a support forum for help in examining what you are dealing with here is the link, you will need to register there and post your question in this forum area. I am there also if you need help let me know. Analysis and Malware Removal If you read through some of the posts there you will see how many people are helped and are thankful for that kind of free assistance.

First off lets get one thing perfectly clear I have NEVER claimed to be the ONLY person here HELPING, how absurd. I volunteer on numerous wonderful support/help forums with a multitude of absolutely wonderful knowledgeable people this one included. I never advise anyone to do or use something that I would not use myself and that will NOT change. And any time I see one recommended that I know has some problem I WILL with out doubt provide that info so that any person considering it will have full info to make an informed decision on that program themselves, with full knowledge. And I appreciate it when someone who knows something negative about a programs speaks up and provides that info, it is how we learn. IObit has been found guilty of several thefts of program material over the years this theft of malwarebytes is just one more. NOT the kind of people I want to entrust ANY ones pc to. Try reading the info provided about IOBit. I never mentioned you anywhere in my post, I simply referred to the program,(which I would have done no matter who posted about it, and have done in the past) no idea why on Earth you felt the need to slam me, but I am not the only one here you have done it to, it really does not surprise me. Done

Wow. So glad I posted. I didn't even realize the rootkit thing was a big issue (and I'm not sure that's what I saw). Avast was scanning - and it didn't even come up with the usual alarming "found something" screen. It just seemed to pause and said this had to be stopped/removed first. It never even showed up as an infected file. So it seems I have to deal with this rootkit issue first - before the possible device driver issue - or system restore. Is it possible that this rootkit issue is the only one going on? Thank you for the caution about not using my password. I didn't do any online purchases. The only password I would have entered was for my gmail account. Luckily I don't use that password for my commerce, banking, etc accounts. So I want to be sure the order of things: update and run malwarebytes first? then do the LzD removal? I'm not sure if that's an online scan program - or is there actually a company I will be asking assistance from? Don't know if this is related. Earlier today when I was using the computer (my main PC) do look at emails, it logged me out and said my gmail was locked and would be inactive due to too much activity (from pop accounts) - or browser compatibility issues (I have Firefox and have had some gmail/Firefox issues from time to time). As it happens, I can still access my gmail account from my laptop. I didn't try again from my PC - and itseems that I shouldn't for now. Now I had also used my gmail from my laptop, my daughter's pc and my smartphone - all just today. I assumed that's why I got logged off. But could this be a result of my gmail account getting hijacked (or whatever it would be?). Thanks everyone for your timely responses. I didn't realize it was quite this serious when I first posted - just that my PC said it was serious. Lynn. PS - used2bsane - I am not that knowledgeable so your instructions above were great and much needed. It seems that I have to address the rootkit issue first, however. I'll be posting back with my progress.

Dennis, thanks for a well laid out list of problems. It does help those who feel they can see some or all of your problems. AVG is by far the most popular free anti virus and I doubt that is your issue. I would not remove that one. Spyware Doctor I know nothing about. If you have the original CD or the download stored on your computer you could remove it entirely using the Add/Remove and see if that helps at all. Superantispyware and or Malwarebytes could be alternatives to trying Spybot Search & Destroy. If you use Spybot S&D be sure it is in fact that program and not a sound alike rogue program. Have you ran any cleaners at all? Not registry cleaners but the Disk cleanup in the Accessories/System Tools folder of XP. Try that and a defrag, it will help modestly. Do you have Google or Yahoo toolbars and are they allowed to run in the background? The Google Toolbar has either 3 or 4 entries in your Startup and using your resources. Click Start click Run type msconfig click OK click the Startup tab Now check each of these items and decide if they do in fact need to run. Google each entry before deciding to stop one because if you stop the wrong ones the computer may not start again. If you stop any you need to reboot. During the reboot you will get a dire warning, do not be alarmed, place a check mark not to see it again and continue the booting.