ps3cheats

Question: (1) which category should virus/spyware questions be posted in?

(2) Of the following (or other) links to online virus/spyware scanners -- WHICH ones can are you SURE will both detect AND remove bad stuff WITHOUT requiring payment or anything beyond the scan?
Free online antivirus. ActiveScan. Panda Software
Trend Micro™ HouseCall
ewido - anti-spyware and anti-malware solutions
BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan
Active Shield free download. Active Shield is an ultimate heuristic screen that actively protects your computer from trojans, spyware, adware, trackware, dialers, keyloggers, and ...

ps3cheats

windowsxp is fine if your ruuning windowsxp
windows 98 if running windows98
Linux and so on

Often times stand alone programs scanned in safemode will provide a higher cleanout outcome.
All of the above you have listed are actually just trial versions except for Trend maybe.

Free:
hijackthis is a good starting point
download HijackThis 1.99.1,from the direct link top right corner
HijackThis Logfileauswertung
save it to a folder on your desktop and then install to that.
run the scan and save a log but dont fix
copy the entire log and paste it there as well>> HijackThis Logfileauswertung
below the panel hit analyze, now just scroll down to
have a look at the results of the analyzed log.
at the bottom of the page>> save the analyzed log
then copy that URL back here if you need any assistance,
if it finds anything re-run and fix it.

Then if you still have problems Use Housecalls online scanner
Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan this needs to download its AV so that it can scan offline incase you have lost.
Also it provides a good detail of what and to fix them
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For safemode I like sysclean
Damage Cleanup Engine / Template
If you are not a Trend Micro customer please download the following file.

Sysclean Package 3.2MB

MD5 checksum: d1162c5984bcbdcf5ca8c153ce0910d6 *SysClean.com
NOTE:
For instructions on how to use this package, consult the "How to Use" section of the readme file, readme_sysclean.txt. This file also contains the description and the different features of this package.

Note that for the Trend Micro Sysclean Package to be effective, you must download and place the latest pattern file in the same folder as the Trend Micro Sysclean Package.
DCT CONTROL RELEASE
Download Latest DCT Control Release

The Damage Cleanup Template (DCT) Control Release is a pre-release version of Damage Cleanup Template (DCT) and is updated by TrendLabs almost as often as new samples come in. Since it is designed to clean registries and system files from 'in-the-wild' malware infections, DCT Control release receives only preliminary testing. DCT Control Release also must be deployed manually to your product.

Click the link above for additional information and deployment instructions. Users are advised to read the succeeding disclaimer carefully before downloading the current DCT Control Release.
Damage Cleanup Engine / Template
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and finally ccleaner
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!
|MG| Free Download - CCleaner Slim (No Yahoo Toolbar, English) 1.37.456
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Get spyware blaster to prevent spyware
|MG| Free Download - SpywareBlaster 3.5.1
keep yoru AV always up to date and scan every day after the update
and update windows updates it has maliscious software remover and several others updated every month.
Good Luck