How to completely get rid of Gator?

[Blondie]

Just noticed that it's installed on our computer...and we didn't put it there! It seems to somehow be involved with Windows, and it won't allow us to delete it.

We just used Tax Cut for our tax returns....could it have been with that?

I think we are stuck with Gator now....aren't we?

 

[phamton]

I don't do Windows as I have a Mac but I did a search on removing Gator and got these sites that gave a step by step guide to removing it.

http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/howto/story/0,24330,3389395,00.html

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20349958.html

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Applications/Q_20370684.html

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/r1013974799

It seems that all the sites recommend downloading "Ad-aware" to get rid of Gator. Gator is a spyware and is bundled it lots of software packages so it could've been in your tax software.

Bev

 

[adamak]

Try to get Ad-aware.exe from this site - http://lavasoft3.element5.com/support/download/
They are free and catch lots of those annoying spyware. I learned about this program from DIS, and since them I've been running them every time after I go online.

You can also read this -
http://pub53.ezboard.com/fuhelpcanhelpforumfrm28.showMessage?topicID=75.topic

 

[Blondie]

This is what we just did:

"....The CMEII file is installed when you install the Gator program. The reason the file cannot be removed is because it is in use.

By default, Windows does not allow you to delete a file while it is open or in use. There are a few methods you can use to remove this file. Open the Task Manager by using the key combination CTRL-ALT-DEL. In the Processes window, look for a process called CMEsys. Highlight the process then choose End Task. Once this is completed, you can browse to the file and delete it.

It allowed us to remove most of the Gator related files.

However, when we got to GatorRes.dll, we got an error that said "Access Denied, file may be in use."

So....now what?

 

[adamak]

Is there a Gator icon on the lower right corner (the Windows system tray)? If so, see if you can right click to end the program first. The program is still running, that's why it's not allowing you to kill the DLL file.

Try AdAware if that doesn't work.

 

[Blondie]

No Gator icon...we'll have to try the AdAware.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Rajah]

We use Adaware and it works great.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

try rebooting, start tapping the F8 key as the computer starts. Choose "safe mode" from the menu. Once you are in safe mode you should be able to delete it