Big computer problems

nothing on my computer works, at all, except internet explorer

For example, whenever I try to click on AIM, I get the message "Application cannot be executed, the file aim6.exe, is infected. Please activate your antivirus software".

When I click that, I get a page telling me I have to purchase this $40+ program to help my computer out. Thing is, about a year ago I already spent probably $60+ on a virus protection program called ZoneAlarm, but whenever I try to activate it, I get the same message only it says something like "zalarm" instead of "aim6.exe". I feel like the only option is to install this expensive virus program, but surely there is another, cheaper option?

download and install AVG, MBAM, or Avast!, then get rid of the viruses you get

That program is a virus, most likely.

Are those free? If so, thanks a bunch.

All three are

I'd recommend Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware; it's more unknown and will most likely be ignored by the virus you do have.

I just tried it and it gave me the same message when I tried to run it. ****.

I'm gonna try the other two, maybe I'll have some luck.

Avast! didn't work either. -_-

This post has been edited by Thunder on Aug 3 2009, 07:02 PM

I just got a message that says Internet Explorer has been blocked due to a worm that will be sending credit card information to people or something. So I'm gonna need this fixed and fast. :/

...are you serious

Sorry to break it to you Thunder but you got conned. HARD.

Any program that prevents other things from executing and says you have to buy X Antivirus to fix it is always a virus. Either reformat or take it to a computer repair shop.

Next time you get a new computer ( or at least reformat it ), download Avira, Avast! or Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware.

If you cannot run any virus scanner, it is pretty messed.
Save documents that you had before the problem arose and clean install.

To both of these:
You have been conned. If your computer tells you that you have a virus and you need to buy a specific Anti-Spyware to get rid of it, don't you think that you should look up that Anti-Spyware before getting it? Once you have tried all of the suggestions in this thread, if none of them work, you'll have to reformat. That means wiping your hard drive so it is completely blank and starting all over. NEVER fall for one of these scams.

..I know, that's why I don't want to install it.

I think I might just have to reformat my computer, I don't have anything too important on it, and whatever I have that I need I'll just save onto my harddrive or somewhere on the internet.

Try installing Avira in safe mode after you go to start->run->msconfig->startup tab and disable whatever the program is your having trouble with.

ZoneAlarm is a firewall, not antivirus.

A reformat will make sure you are free from recurring problems from this infection(particularly if its doing anything nasty like gathering passwords), and it'll save you a lot of time if you don't need to set up too much software on your computer again. If you do want to salvage it, you'll need to hop into safe mode, and try running some tools(Malware bytes won't install in safemode, but should run if you can get it to install. There's a portable version if you scour the net. Spybot can install and run in safemode.) in there. If you still get the same issues in safe mode, you'll be left with no other option but to reformat.

Make a partition, put Windows 7 on it, transfer files and clear the old partition.

After that, keep Windows 7 RC until you reinstall the old operating system or wait for the 'final' Windows 7 to come out.