Blinkx

[Jux]

Blinking thing. It's on dd's computer (Vista) and it won't go away. I've uninstalled it - well, it doesn't 'uninstall' as such - but I've deleted it and all the bits of it I can find, and it keeps coming back.

Even when the m/c's been shut down it will start it up again. Don't ask me how it does it, but it kept waking me up last night (I was on the sofa due to illness).

Help!!!!!

What is it ? Virus ? Malware ? Only reference I had was about a video facility.

What browser do you use ?

We're all on Firefox.

It is a video thing. Otherwise, I know nothing else. TBH I've given up. At least it isn't showing inappropriate stuff - just the sort of things you see on that TV prog, the Framed one (can't for hte life of me remember the name).

I made her unplug the laptop before she went to bed last night as we can't shut down and guarantee it'll stay shut down (ridiculous isn't it?).

The laptop won't run for long if the power's off as the battery is old and doesn't run for more than half an hour. I was going to get a new battery for it, but I don't think I will!

A shifty through Google throws up the suggestion of running something called "hijack this" and I've seen this recommended on MN before for persistant stuff.

Yes, HiJackThis is good, but it can be awkward to know exactly what you need to do to get rid, and you can 'get rid' of something important, quite easily with it.

Am checking for sites with hints on getting shot of Blinkx but have also got a chicken and mushroom pie in oven, to heat up, so will be back upstairs in a little while :)

There's a suggestion for removal

over on CNet :
forums.cnet.com/7723-6132_102-509879.html (in case link above is sluggish or fails)

You're brilliant, I'll do that. Looks quite complicated so I'll do it tomorrow morning when I'm not getting tired. Am getting those files onto a cd on my m/c now though.

Thanks a lot.

Depending on what else is on the machine (eg any games or software you have bought) another option would be to save any important documents, photos, and so on (onto a CD) and replace Windows Vista with a version of Linux called Ubuntu (which would be less likely to get any malware on over the next year or three).

After that you might be looking to replace the machine anyway, seeing your comment earlier about not replacing the laptop battery... I assume to put the cost towards a replacement machine instead.

Ah, therein lies a tale.

It's my brother's old machine. Vista is absolutely dreadful so we put XP on it. Then the machine crashed when it tried to install one of hte updates (can't remember which one, it was one of the service packs) and we couldn't get it up and running again (and it wouldn't reinstall Vista either, not that we wanted to then). Took it to my wonderful computer man (who is now unavailable as he's having a sex change op) who put XP on but couldn't get the drivers for the sound card or the touch pad. In fact, it simply didn't work (after much googling I realised that this was a common problem and that Vaio weren't interested and nor were Microsoft so no patches). In fury I rejected them all! I downloaded Ubuntu on my machine, got it on a disk, loaded it onto dd's m/c. Sadly, it still didn't work. I think I came on here asking for advice and I suspect you gave me some suggestions then too!

We will replace it at some point, but as it has to be hooked up to the mains to work, it is a deterrent to dd taking it up to her bedroom and staying up all night so she reads instead! I am happy to keep that going for a while

I have made the disk with the antimalware etc on, and will have a proper play tomorrow. Thank you for your help.