Yeah, thumb drive is just a another name for a USB flash drive thingy. It's good to keep one around loaded with all those programs in case things go hinky. You just gotta make sure to download the latest definition updates every few weeks or more so the programs can nail the more recent viruses.

All those scans are going to take a loooong time so be sure you have something else to do while they run. Good luck.

Bob, thanks man. I dont really have another comp at my disposal as such so Ill try these other options first, thanks.

I always thought as free antiviruses go AVG was certainly up there and I never found it over resourceful but guess not (I suppose it is free!!), well norton is free too, but man is that thing annoying.

Beepster, I think ill stick with chrome if possible, I think that browser is very quick, efficient and modern (Its a bit careless to say, but anything made or powered by google these days is gonna be top of the list in terms of quality and compatibility IMO).

No music for me tonight so! thanks all

If you download those programs on the infected computer the virus might interfere with them. If you can download them at work or at a friends and toss them on a drive or even some discs it will avoid that.

Chrome is fine. I just don't like that Google tracks everything in it. However you can still get AdBlock for it but I don't think they have NoScript for it yet so Ghostery would be the next best option. It's a little less of a pain to work with after you get it set up.

As far as Microsoft Security Essentials you have to download that (it's not included with Windows) but I would say if you surf a lot on that computer and it is not your DAW Avast is a better free AV. It's more powerful. However MSE is lighter and won't interfere with audio production.

If you need any help with this stuff just update the thread or PM me. I'm not a pro so I can't answer everything but I can point you in the right direction. Cheers. 

This order for basic stuff:

SuperantiSpyware    quick scan first

Malware bytes    quick scan first

SpyBot Search and destroy   install, immunize, run

Emisoft emergency scanner

Kaspersky scanner is good. Change settings to dig deep.

 
Each scanner finds different stuff. 'Tis why it is important to use them all.

I am unhappy that windows 7/8 do not create daily restore points.

Been looking for a script to do this on boot each day/power on.

Last Viri that got my main computer came from a banner ad on Yahoo. Had to use a restore point to fix the registry damage.

Always install all the windows updates.

Another possibility is that he has picked up a "root kit" virsus that hides way down deep in the system.  Kaspersky offers a free root kit scanning tool.  Google kaspersky root kit and the link will pop up.

All of the above are why I plug infected drives into a separate system - yes I know that is not an option for the OP.

Whoever said it above is correct that you need to download software for fixing your computer on a different computer, or you will likely load viruses onto the flash drive you are counting on to fix your computer.  I have seen that happen before.

Bob Bone

There's some good recommendations here so far - just make sure you don't have more than one anti viruses running simultaneously - you're ok with the adaware stuff, but a/v's don't play nicely together

Malawarebytes has been a life saver for me on more than one occasion on several old pc's, and it's free in it's basic format.

One question, I don't think this has been mentioned - have you got a recent system image to restore?

If you haven't, I highly recommend you do one once this current mess is sorted out and establish a good backup routine.

 whack: in order to remove a virus you must turn off system restore and runn ANY scanner in safe mode.....re-run AVG and post the results , I should be able to recover you.. !!

If you take an infected drive and plug it into a clean system, there is a good chance the virus/spyware will infect the clean system. 

Same way all previous System Restore points should be deleted.  Clean up the garbage and then re-enable System Restore. 

As this is an Adaware bug, Malwarebytes should clean it up.   I do part-time PC support and like Bristo Jonesey, it has never failed me.

I use the Microsoft Security Essentials.  It is rated (in most ratings) up at or near the top of the heap in AV software.  Its called Windows Defender in Windows 8 and built into Windows 8.

I second Malwarebytes .. see you scann in safe mode !!