I would recommend downloading anti-malwarebytes from
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
It is free and usually can clean up this type of stuff. Had this issue with a co-workers computer and this cleaned it up. Took awhile to launch it after downloading as the virus did not want to allow it, but when we launched right after startup it worked fine and cleaned out the malware
My wife had the same thing happened to her lap top. I took it in to the computer guy to fix it. I tried downloading everything to fix none will work. Cost about $110 to fix and came with virus protection.
have you tried googling the exact message you are getting? chances are if it really is a virus, someone else has gotten it. Chances are also that someone has posted a fix for that virus. Follow the instructions for the fix only after you have seen that someone else has followed them with a similar set up and they have worked (for a similar setup).
Also, never wipe your drive because someone on the internet tells you to :)
Some of these malware and hijack programs leave things behind when they are “removed”. Nasty things, like programs that harvest accounts info and passwords for online banking. I would always reformat and reinstall.