Antivirus xp has installed itself and I can't get rid of it. Help!

[Arbuthnot]

Something called antivirus xp has appeared on my computer. It tells me I have 1500+ viruses that I need to get rid of and sends me to a page which wants me to pay £49.99. When I try to uninstall it I get the error message that says it has to close down. It makes it hard to get onto the internet and is generally pissing me off. How do I get rid of it, or disable it?

By the way, I run AVG and have no viruses! At the moment I am cursing Microsoft as I assume it is linked to them.

Ouch thats a nasty! I had it last week and then downloaded a supposed antivirus thing to get rid, which turned out to be a hoooooge virus, whch then wouldn't allow me to turn on my computer. I suggest you reformat your puter. I now have a new computer!!

Its nothing to do with MS btw. I tried emailing the address on the bottom of the webpage and it is a fake. Seriously Re format.

By reformat do you mean reinstall everything? God only knows where all the discs are.

Having done a bit of reading it does seem like a bastard of a thing to get. I may be calling the computer shop tomorrow to see if they can kill it!

By the way what did you download so I can avoid it? Aaargh! V sorry you got the little blighter too.

There seem to be a couple of removal tools

This page refers to Spyhunter.

This page refers to Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

I have not tried either tool.

I decided to take it into a shop and am using DHs laptop in the meantime! Thank you for your help and advice.