Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 2/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: when i switch on my system i get this error code
windows script host
script: c\windows\system32\virusremoval.vbs
line  :1
error :  invalid character
code  :   800A0408
source:   microsoft VB script compilation error
I AM USING WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL SP 2 , AND TREND MICRO OFFICE SCAN ANTIVIRUS. PLZ HELP!!!

ANSWER: Here's what Trend Micro says about this virus.

Description:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=VBS_SMALL.JOY&VS

How to remove:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=VBS%5FSMALL%2EJO

Next, it wasn't clear from your question whether you are ablt to boot up your computer when this error occurs. If you can't boot up, while booting, hold down F8. This gives you a boot menu. Choose Safe Mode with networking. With any luck you should be able to get your computer running well enough to solve the problem.

If this doesn't work, please let me know and we can explore other ways to solve the problem.

Now for how to avoid theses sorts of infections in the future. The most likely way that your computer got infected was by using Internet Explorer. You will be safer if you use either Firefox, free from Mozilla.org or Opera, free from Opera.com. Another common source of infections is using Outlook for email. Instead, you cna use Eudora, free from Eudora.com.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yes i am able to boot my system ...
all this solutionu provided is very technical ,i donot know how to deal with registry entries and process managers, please tell if their is a simpler solution ?????????//

Answer
Here's what will almost certainly work.

1) Download F-Secure's Complete Internet security suite, which offers a free thirty day trial: https://store.f-secure.com/cgi-bin/dlreg/ml=EN?ID=FSISTB&desid=TRIAL

2) Disconnect from the Internet.

3) Uninstall your current antivirus. To do this, click Start --> Control Panel --> Add or Remove Programs. From there you should be able to uninstall your antivirus. This is absolutely essential because otherwise it and F-Secure will fight each other and might crash your computer. It isn't good enough to just turn off your old antivirus because it probably has been crippled by your virus infection.

4) Install F-Secure.

5) Run a complete scan of your computer. Follow any instructions F-Secure might give you. Normally it is easier to use than Trend Micro.

6) Reboot.

If this works, you can either keep F-Secure or uninstall it and reinstall your old antivirus from either a download of the latest version from their website (if that's how they sell it) or from the disk it was on when you bought it. Be sure to get all the latest updates right away. Usually antivirus companies are pretty good about updating their programs whenever some new virus figures out how to evade or cripple their product.