Starting In Safe Mode

[secsee1]

I was on a website when a message appeared on my laptop saying "your computer has been locked, to unlock click on pay" I have malware bytes
but how do I start up in safe mode? Win XP

[emeritus]

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

[boxtops]

Sounds like spam to me, asking you to pay for something - did your laptop still work?

[Debbie83]

I got this yesterday. It said that illegal images were found on my hard drive and my browser and OS were locked until I paid a fine of £200. I know that there's nothing dodgy on my laptop so a quick CTRL-ALT-DEL and an END TASK later it had gone and I had laptop back.

[secsee1]

I have now tried everthing, even when starting in safe mode after a few seconds
the computer still locks up the "pay now" message.

[SlackAlice]

Sounds like a version of the UKash virus

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-police-trojan/

[VHG]

When a relative of mine got this type of malware I downloaded the Kaspersky Rescue Disk code for free.

I then had to make a bootable CD with this Kaspersky code on it (fairly easy to do).

Then I booted from this CD, downloaded the latest virus files, ran the anti virus and it fixed it.

I am not saying it is the only way to fix it, but it worked for me.

Some of these "pay up or else" viruses are very nasty and are hard to get rid of.

[VHG]

one extra thing. It is always worth having a "spare" Windows logon on your PC that you never use.

Then if you "normal" logon gets this type of "virus" then you can logon to the other spare id and at least run your various security programs and try to get rid of it.

[secsee1]

A massive thank you to everybody that answered my question regarding this
particularly nasty virus (it totally blocks your computer, even in "safe mode") especially SlackAlice who got it spot on with the UKash
virus and a link to get rid of it which worked like a dream, once again, big thanks to everybody.

[SlackAlice]

Only glad it worked.