OS internet practices

[Xfire Keenmike aka cull]

Hi, I was wondering what or how this might have happen to me. I reinstalled xp professional on to this crazy desktop one month ago just about. I didn't install any antivirus programs and surfed the internet with regular windows explorer I know was outdated. Downloaded not to many swbf1 mod maps and a stand alone dedicated server from lucasarts. I also ran my swbf1 software dedicated server and left if for about four hours, and when I came back the pc was unresponsive. Soon after restart my pc state was held hostage. A anti virus software forces it self for me to install it. If I remember correctly it will be free but then will tell me to get the full version and pay about 40 dollars. On this second partition I installed avast and am thinking of trying to rid the other partition of what ever there might be. I might just reinstall xp over it to be safer. Any thoughts on this happening. I hope to learn anything you can provide.

[Soap Mactavish]

maybe you shouldnt use Windows XP....

[Xfire Keenmike aka cull]

For that pc all I have is windows xp home professional version.

[Soap Mactavish]

maybe get windows 7?

[Xfire Keenmike aka cull]

The xp software I have for that pc is fine. I don't want to buy windows 7 as a solution. I got a huge tip few days back and all I could think about was buying two 20 foot drag nets to connect together and see what kind of fish it would get. Imagine a 40 foot radius from the beach. But that is off topic not helping my situation. Still looking for some one that might have ideas.
For my second partition I installed avast and hope it will keep any other antivirus hostage takers at bay.

[Xfire Keenmike aka cull]

Red confirmed what I stated earlier and I like that line of thinking. Feel free to close topic unless someone else has had this exact problem before.

[vf501]

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-antivirus-vista-2010

All the info you need on what you caught.  Variants of it exist for all XP, Vista and 7 versions and it uses several names of a similar nature.  It is removable but you have to go through more trouble than its worth.

I do computer repair for people and if they have this. I only go through removal to preserve a CD Key activation (if it's winXP).  Other than that, I just pull the data to save using a linux live CD and wipe it for a reinstall.

After a reinstall, first thing to do is install all your protection software and update windows fully, and don't use the default Internet Explorer installed from the Disc.

[Xfire Keenmike aka cull]

Thank you all. Here are some screen shots of what I learned. I am just glad that now with a better start on this partition all is better going.
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/firstaftersecond.jpg
See the two folders on that second row. I opened them up looking for clues.
As soon as I opened them up the next screens popped up.
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/ph-1.jpg
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/second-1.jpg
Next, on my partition I noticed some updates. Here are the screens shots of them.
The next screen shots tell the whole story of what happened to me.
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/update.jpg
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/update3.jpg
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww253/keenmike/update2.jpg

If you see any of these screens it would have to be the third one up from here.
Update and nice to learn. Thank you all.