Devon TRF Group Forum

XTC · Clubman B

Computer HELP

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Bring it to me with a large cake !!

Phil · Clubman B

Lorn you should only format harddrive if you have OS software and drivers to put back on the notebook after formatting

brownie · Expert

see pm.

Lost · Expert

ahhh doug forgot your up to speed in the dark arts of I.T our abs laptop has a problem virus in the shape of a anti virus sales web page popping up not allowing her to access the web ? i cant sort could you some time pls very big cake as bribe on offer !!!

Pete · Devon's Best

The task manager will tell you the name of the application causing the problem(control/alt/delete pressed together starts task manager)

Windows explorer will tell you the location of the folder containing the application when you tell it to search your C drive for the application of this name

Safe mode will allow you to delete it

Alternatively you could use system restore when in safe mode to restore your computer to it's pre infected state

XTC · Clubman B

Pete wrote:

The task manager will tell you the name of the application causing the problem(control/alt/delete pressed together starts task manager)

Windows explorer will tell you the location of the folder containing the application when you tell it to search your C drive for the application of this name

Safe mode will allow you to delete it

Alternatively you could use system restore when in safe mode to restore your computer to it's pre infected state

This virus prevents you opening task manager, anything done in the admin part of safe mode doesn't affect it, it wont restore to a previous safe point and I cant re format it as it keeps itself open all the time so when you tell it to format it cant because a program is running! Tis a very nasty Bugger. Wi;; have another go at it, have looked up all the relevant sites on the internet about it but it's adapting and blocking the antimalware devices you can download from loading. It is also changing it's name so you dont know what to look for in your application list. Very, very nasty. I'll let you know how I get on, though I might leave it till tomorrow as I spent four hours plus on it last night and right now I would dearly love to hurl it through the window!

Hoops · Elite

Only three hours? I sorted someone's virus infected laptop over the weekend, all in took me nearly twelve (there was an underlying hadware problem too, but I did get paid smile

). What virus is it? That will help in identifying a solution, and what OS are you running (I only know it's a version of Windows)?

Formatting will fix a lot but not all problems, some viruses can survive formatting depending on how it's done. You will need either the (not necessarily) original Windows CDs and serial key. Go into BIOS, set the netbook to boot from the CD drive, then follow the Windows instructions. That said, your netbook may not even have an optical drive, so you may have to use an external drive or you may have a recovery partition on your hard drive (which you will most likely erase if your format the drive) which you'll use - the netbook documnetation should tell you this.

When booting from the CD - if you can - you should also get recovery options, that may also be worth trying. In any event install, update and run some AV software, AVG free is pretty good.

Hope that helps.

XTC · Clubman B

cheers hoops. It's running xp I think, has no disc drive, the virus is called antimalware doctor, and it seems to adapt fast, she has AVG which runs an update every day, however having looked on several websites, it seems this virus is working it's way around most of the main security software.The computer has a recovery drive but at the moment it's looking pretty dire.

Hoops · Elite

OK. Have you tried manually removing it? There are instructions if you search and you're confident messing around in the Windows Registry. Also, this appears to be a tool to remove the malware infection you have, might be worth a go.

One thing, once you have it sorted, turn off Windows restore, then run all your scans to be double-sure, then turn restore back on. Windows Restore can restore the virus/malware, so when removing junk like this it's best to have it turned off.

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Lost wrote:

ahhh doug forgot your up to speed in the dark arts of I.T our abs laptop has a problem virus in the shape of a anti virus sales web page popping up not allowing her to access the web ? i cant sort could you some time pls very big cake as bribe on offer !!!

Yeap, you know where i live, so when passing drop the offending item off.

phil400 · Clubman A

i have absolutely no idea of what any of the above means

Slick · Clubman A

Hey D&L, let me know if you need software, I'll get it through work for you.
B

Pete · Devon's Best

Do you have more than one hard drive in your computer?

If you have a copy of windows and a serial number you could install windows and antivirus onto a second drive.You may only install windows on one computer but there is no problem with having the operating system installed and activated twice on the same comptuter.

Use the antivirus on the drive containing the second operating system to sort the bugs on the other drive by selecting the second drive as a boot drive by using the Bios to change the boot sequence.

Sound too complicated?Press delete as your computer boots up to enter the Bios.
This method circumvents the malware's self defence mechanisms implanted in the infected drive's operating system.

The advantage is that you will not lose any data or settings,and even if you buy another drive to do it you gain extra storage space.

If the virus proves virulant enough to prevent it's deletion thereby,
Format and reinstall windows,
saying goodbye to all saved data and settings along the way.

xtriple · Champion

Thanks for all your help guys. The netbook doesn't have a cd drive and it's all getting too bloody complicated so it's gone to the computer shop down the road where they charge a flat fee of £25 for removing viruses and no fee if they fail!

£25 is cheap if it keeps Lorns sanity as she was a bit 'difficult' to be around after 4 hours of faffing with the ****ty thing!

Bloody daughter then cried 'cos she didn't have her netbook to play with - she's 15 for Gods sake!

Phil · Clubman B

Was considering getting my three girls one of these net books for christmas but having second thoughts now.

xtriple · Champion

Well what a result! Bloke rang earlier to say it was all done and it was sooooo easy he only charged £20 for doing it.

Lorn should be chuffed........

Until the next time as this is the second!

Hoops · Elite

Glad you sorted it. Any idea on what he did?

Slick · Clubman A

If anyone needs Anti Virus software or indeed any other software for that matter let me know by PM. I work for a software reseller and will make sure you get best prices possible. We can sometimes be out done by box shifters, but usually we know and can advice if you're better off purchasing elsewhere.

Eset NOD 32 AV seems to be highly regarded at the moment, excellent value and not huge in terms of memory requirements, but performs as well as the most expensive corporate systems.

gaschef · Devon's Best

Is your daughter using LIMEWIRE, recently had to take my daughters laptop in to get it fixed, the guy in the computer shop said is she using limewire, I said yes to which he replied put in that heap over there. He must have had a pile of 20 plus kids computers all with viruses picked up from limewire.

Now fixed, Limewire removed, and daughter threatened with a slow and painful punishment should she go back on the site again. Seems it is one of the worst sites for picking up something nasty

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Yeap, limewire the gateway to file and virus sharing not really worth it really ! just finished fixing kerry's daughters laptop, guess what was installed on it ?

Hoops · Elite

doug9270 wrote:

Yeap, limewire the gateway to file and virus sharing not really worth it really ! just finished fixing kerry's daughters laptop, guess what was installed on it ?

Indeed, there are much better and safer p2p clients for legitimate use.

XTC · Clubman B

No she doesn't use limewire, or download anything, or click on links cos she'd already had to have her netbook formatted once. Guy in the shop said she was just unlucky, could have come from anywhere as it's a nasty one.

Thanks for all the advice and offers of help. Had to get it sorted quickly as she's just started GCSE's and she already had problems trying to finish computer based French homework as I don't have the correct software. Looks like a lot of her homework is going to be set via computer!

-- Edited by XTC on Thursday 9th of September 2010 06:19:34 AM