HP laptop won't let me in without repair?
HDMI
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I can't get into BT internet this morning I get a warning my pc may be infected and I need a Microsoft 8 repair kit. I can't get this notice off the screen is this genuine or a scam? Advice please
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If you can, download MalwareBytes to see if that can remove it.
https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/
Also, what exactly does it say on the screen. I've Googled but not found any malware with a similar description.
If you do, download a copy of Ubuntu
Burn it onto a CD, and use that to boot up your infected laptop and have a dig around in Documents and Settings folder and look for any dodgy looking long filenames.
Windows 8 or 8.1: Hold shift and tap F8 on boot up
http://www.howtogeek.com/107511/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode-on-windows-8-the-easy-way/
So the best way is to press the F8 key several times ensuring that you hit it at least once when the computer is in a state to respond.
Turn it on
Hold down the left Shift key
Keep tapping F8 about 3 times per second
If you have a laptop, the F8 key might require a function key to be held down too. Often the F8 label is in a different colour.
If you can access the Start screen at all, you can keep your finger in Shift while clicking the Restart option on the screen.
Also, I previously asked you to describe exactly what the 'repair' screen says.
See the sticky, "Unsolicited calls about your computer" at the top of this forum. It is a scam, ignore them if they call again and whatever you do DO NOT under any circumstances whatsoever give them remote access to your computer. In fact don't even speak to them just put the phone down on them as soon as they call.
It's pure coincidence you have had this call. They have absolutely no way at all of knowing that you even have a computer much less that there is a problem with it. That is not why they are calling. The only reason they are calling is to scam you into paying for some totally useless software to fix non-existent faults on your computer or possibly to secretly load a bit of malware onto your computer to scan for personal data like banking log ins.
That sounds like you have some malware on your computer. It might be this
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-computer-health-alert-virus/
But do not call that number as it is could well be a scam.
That guide looks really good. I suggest that HDMI tries it.
Get an ad blocker; I recommend Adblock Plus.
Don't install any software off the Internet until you are 100% sure it is genuine, and read the installation screen very carefully.
Hard as it may be to contemplate but I suspect the greater cause of the problem is not Avast but the operator of the computer.
A lot of this crap gets onto computers by being bundled with other bits of software that you did want. It relies on the computer user being too eager to install the software that they pay little to no attention to what they are actually installing. ie just blindly clicking Next on all the installer screens without even looking at anything else on the screen.
So it is absolutely vital that you read carefully what is on the download website and deselect any extras that may be pre-selected. Then during installation pay careful attention to what it says on every single screen of the install routine.
If you are offered the choice of "Typical" and "Custom" install never select "Typical" as that will install all the crap without necessarily giving you the option to avoid it. Always select "Custom" and carefully review all the options offered and make sure you only select the stuff you really want.
And whatever options you are presented with always read what each screen in the install routine says and deselect any options that you don't want. You will hardly ever see some bundled crapware with the option to install it unticked, they are nearly always ticked so that if you are not paying attention you get the crapware whether you wanted it or not.
Your AV may well be sitting back and letting all this crapware onto your machine simply because you have let it be installed. Unless the crapware is actually malicious chances are Avast or any other AV will simply sit back and let it be installed because YOU said it was OK.