Computer woes
My home computer is very ill. Something has disabled my McAfee virus program and something keeps starting up internet programs (Internet Explorer and AIM, currently). I deleted all McAfee programs and reinstalled and ran a scan which indicated a “memory trojan” (file name mentions W32 and haijbb). It says it cannot be deleted. The virus program was then rendered inoperable once more. I woke this morning to find out that AIM had been opening and sending messages all night long. I’ve shut down the darn thing for the time being. I would like to swipe the machine clean, saving photos and some documents, and just reinstall what I want. I have moved beyond my knowledge, although I am a quick study on computer-issues. I am willing to pay for help, although a computer built in November of 2001 isn’t worth enough to justify much expense. It may be old, but it works very well with our fast internet connection. Any free advice out there? Any low-cost suggestions? If you can help, I can knit you a scarf or make a pair of earrings for you. 
Do you still have the install disks that came with the computer as well as the programs that you bought? Just as importantly, do they still have the serial numbers so that you can type the serial numbers in if/when you reinstall Windows?
I’ve got the Windows disks and serial numbers that came preinstalled with the computer. I should have most programs, although the internet programs were installed by downloading. I realize that it will take several hours/days to reinstall things.
Your home machine needs to be turned off or disconnected from the net until it is cleaned. Turned on and connected, it is a menace to everyone else on the net, but especially those in your neighborhood. (The typical setup for home high speed internet connectivity looks very much like a giant LAN, with each home being an endpoint.)
It’s also a hazard to you, because it may very well log keystrokes and send them to a secret e-mail address thus compromising every password you have. (It may already have stolen any stored passwords, so change everything after you take it off the net.
Microsoft has created a free tool that removes many known trojans, and it’s free. The URL is http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx if you are online. If you need to download it on another machine and then run it on yours, you can download it at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en
(It only works on Win2k, XP, and Server 2003.)
You mentioned McAfee. They have support services online, from free e-mail support that takes a couple of days, all the way up to paying about $65 to have someone remotely clean your machine. See http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/?siteID=1&resolution=1024×768&rurl=vrContactOptions.asp
(If you don’t have one yet, a USB Flash Drive (sometimes called a “Thumb Drive,” though that’s actually a brand name) is a wonderful thing for moving files between PCs that are not networked together.)
It sounds pretty much like you have one of the trojan types that messes with antivirus software. Often that sort won’t let you get to antivirus web sites either, so downloading it at a friends’ house or the office may be required. (Lots of companies have rules about misuse of company resources, including the internet connection. Be sure you know your company’s policy before using the PC and internet connection for personal use.)
Those are your main options short of reformatting. Windows machines tend to do better if you wipe them and start over periodically anyway, so you may want to do that. If you save anything (INCLUDING PICTURES) scan whatever you saved them to before putting them on your clean machine.
Once you have a clean machine, be sure to get all of the security updates for Windows and all updates for your antivirus program. Then be extra careful about clicking on links, even from people you know. Your address book was probably stolen, and everyone in it may well have gotten mail from you with a link or a script in it that will infest their machines. Likewise, everyone on your Buddy List may have gotten an IM from you with a link to an infestation point. If they haven’t yet, just turn your machine back on while it’s on the net before cleaning and they’ll get their turn for a trojan - The gift that keeps on giving.