How to Get Rid of Blue Screen Joke Virus
If your computer is showing a fake "blue screen of death," the chances are good that it is infected with the Joke-Bluescreen.C virus. This tricky bit of malware can be difficult to remove and requires multiple security sweeps as well as a bit of registry editing to ensure that the virus has been completely removed, but luckily does not cause any irreparable harm to your system.
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Instructions
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Load Windows in Safe Mode
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Download and install the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool using the link provided in Resources. MSRT is a free program provided by Microsoft to assist in keeping your computer safe.
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Restart your computer. You can do this by pressing the CTRL, ALT, and Delete keys simultaneously and selecting "Restart," or by clicking the Start menu and choosing "Shut Down."
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Press "F8" repeatedly as your system reboots. This will load the Windows Advanced Options menu.
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Select "Safe Mode with Networking." This protected Windows mode will allow you to make edits to the operating system but will block harmful programs from running.
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Press Enter to load Windows in Safe Mode
Remove the Virus
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Open MSRT by double-clicking the icon on your desktop. Click "Next" on the main application window.
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Select "Full Scan." While a quick scan may take less time, the Joke-Bluescreen.C virus infects multiple files and a full scan is recommended.
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Click "Next" to begin the scan. Remove any harmful files detected by MSRT by either manually deleting the files or allowing MSRT to delete them. Empty your recycle bin to make the changes permanent.
Fix the Registry
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Click the Start menu and select "Run." Type "regedit" and hit Enter to load your Windows registry editor.
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Click "Edit" and scroll down to the "Find" option. Search for the phrase "joke-bluescreen."
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Right-click the highlighted registry key and select "delete." This registry entry was created by the virus and will help it re-install if not removed.
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Open the "Find" option and again search for "joke-bluescreen." Delete the entry then repeat the process of searching for "joke-bluescreen" and removing the entries until the find feature no longer shows results for this phrase.
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Restart your computer to load Windows in normal mode. Run another search with MSRT and remove any remaining bits of malware. Your system should now be clear of the Joke-Bluescreen.C virus.
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Tips & Warnings
MSRT is intended to assist in the removal of harmful files and will not prevent future attacks. Be sure to protect your system with a strong anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware program. While these instructions should result in the successful removal of the Joke-Bluescreen.C virus, MSRT may not be able to completely fix an out of control virus problem. If you find that you are still having issues, it may be best to consult a professional.
Always be very careful when editing the Windows registry. These files are critical to your system's operation and making a mistake here could cause serious harm to your computer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit laptop with blue screen image by dim@dim from Fotolia.com
