Bugs eating up the screen..WTH 0_o

Hey guys,

My niece is down for the thanksgiving holiday and she tells me that her computer has a REALLY bad bug in it. Like if her computer goes idle there's bugs(little cookies) that'll eat up her screen saver and then her computer will just shut down, and she'll have to reboot. Can anyone tell me wth this is?.. I know it's a virus but i can't think of what type it could be.. And yes she downloads music, & i don't think she has up to date antivirus software on her comp. She's not that computer savy just to let you know, hell she doesn't even know the brand of her computer:f6:..She says her comp is about 4-5 years old..So i told her to just get a brand new computer or just replace the HD..

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
thanks, gracias, shukran, merci

You know this is a quite old prank, lol?

http://www.webmasterworld.com/foo/3638040.htm

download spybot, install, update it.

Then, Go into Spybot > Mode > Advanced mode > Settings > Settings > look for "System start" (located half way down the page). Pick Run program once at next system startup.

After that download hijackthis: http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-Hija...27353.html

download it and post a log on this forum.

Well considering that she lives out of state and has no real knowledge of this stuff i can't really do anything about it except to tell her to get a new PC or hopefully guide her through it.. and Devil's Sunrise, this isn't a prank if it's SHUTTING down your COMPUTER & slowing it down immensely & not to mention making your files inaccessible within 10 minutes or so!.. Thank you XTOTHEL for your input...I'll post further info when she & I have time to tackle the situation.

Edit: And she says that there's pop ups galore when this happens, and this is all at start up time! Bugs eat at the screen and BAM pop ups..-_-

Alternate solution would be backing up important information on to some sort of removable media then format the computer and install a fresh copy of windows on it.

Alternate solution would be backing up important information on to some sort of removable media then format the computer and install a fresh copy of windows on it.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, but then she doesn't know how to do that:f6:..But seeing that xmas is right around the corner she'll probably get a new PC anyways.

Wipe HD, reinstall Windows

Or just get a new computer

Alternate solution would be backing up important information on to some sort of removable media

Now, I'm no expert, but wouldn't the virus get on the removable media while backing up?

Now, I'm no expert, but wouldn't the virus get on the removable media while backing up?

depends on what files are infected with the virus...it's possible, yes lol XD

Could you then explain more exactly what's happening when her comp's going idle? The screensaver's getting eaten up by bugs/cookies?

Could you then explain more exactly what's happening when her comp's going idle? The screensaver's getting eaten up by bugs/cookies?

cookies from what I know don't eat screens.

*goes to check the cookie jar*