Virus

[aromulus]

It seems that the pc I bought and left for Jet in Cebu last year, has picked up a nasty little virus.

Looks like that, Some of the kids after many warnings, downloaded some links from an internet game anyway.

So for the time being, until we find someone to fix the damn thing, Jet cannot really communicate with her family.

The "blue screen of death" is there.

I fear for all the photos and and all the rest of the documents stored in that hard drive.
Several times I did ask to back everything up.... But apparently CDs are expensive...

So guys, doesn anyone know someone skillful and reliable enough to go to my in-laws place in Talisay (Cebu) and fix the PC...??
If any charges are incurred I will paypal or xoom you the money.

Thanks

Dom.

[KeithD]

Download & install the Free GOOGLE PACK, the SPYWARE DOCTOR part, nothing else. That gets rid of 99.991%...better than Detol

It runs in safe mode, but needs to be download in normal mode, you do not say if the BSOD is always there, if so you need a windows disk.

I do hope they have a firewall & AV installed, otherwise anyone could be on there computer....

[aromulus]

Download & install the Free GOOGLE PACK, the SPYWARE DOCTOR part, nothing else. That gets rid of 99.991%...better than Detol

It runs in safe mode, but needs to be download in normal mode, you do not say if the BSOD is always there, if so you need a windows disk.

I do hope they have a firewall & AV installed, otherwise anyone could be on there computer....

I tried to explain on the phone, but I might as well speak Outer Mongolian...

Just recently I renewed the McAfee antivirus and firewall online for them, and mailed the downloads link.
They did that ok.

But who knows what the kids have been downloading, somehow something nasty slipped through.
As per doing any dowloading in normal mode, it is too late, the horses have bolted out of the proverbial "gate".
I cannot imagine why AVG didn't pick that one up...
I mailed "Thinking tools" in Cebu, I am waiting for an answer. Good job that the XP Home on that pc is legit.....
Thanks for your input.

[LEAHnew]

Hi kuya Dom, i guess the virus didn't got from internet coz of AVG installed maybe from removable device, right now here it's been famous using removable device such as mp3 player,MP4, phone memory card etc...there are virus spread out here in such devices that AV can't detect sometimes esp. when they forgot to update..So if they fix it advice them not to use some removable device that may harm the pc or teach the user to scan first before opening the device.
I hope it helps

cheers,
Leah

[aromulus]

Hi kuya Dom, i guess the virus didn't got from internet coz of AVG installed maybe from removable device, right now here it's been famous using removable device such as mp3 player,MP4, phone memory card etc...there are virus spread out here in such devices that AV can't detect sometimes esp. when they forgot to update..So if they fix it advice them not to use some removable device that may harm the pc or teach the user to scan first before opening the device.
I hope it helps

cheers,
Leah

It is a very good possibility.. Bloody kids...

Thanks

[KeithD]

AV will not pick up spyware, adware etc,

Email them this:

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_...gl=us&ciNum=11

Select ONLY 'Spyware Doctor'

Click 'Download Google Pack'

Wait for it to install. A new ICON will appear in the bottom right of the screen. Double click it and RUN SCAN if it is not already doing so.

[aromulus]

AV will not pick up spyware, adware etc,

Email them this:

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_...gl=us&ciNum=11

Select ONLY 'Spyware Doctor'

Click 'Download Google Pack'

Wait for it to install. A new ICON will appear in the bottom right of the screen. Double click it and RUN SCAN if it is not already doing so.

Thanks,

I will mail this as soon as they can get the darn thing back on normal mode.
Trying to explain over the phone is an absolute pain in the ...
Will have to try again when they wake up in a few hours time.

[JAMZ]

When it comes to spyware, adware, etc, HighjackThis.exe is tried and tested by me. It can be downloaded free online. I tried SpyDoctor and was not enough still to recover my laptop from Spywares,etc.

[KeithD]

Hijackthis.exe only lists entries, it doesn't tell you what the problem is, and deleting anything is dangerous.

Usually running Spyware Doctor, Adaware, Spybot, & AV does most clean ups.

[JAMZ]

Right, it was quite dangerous when deleting items.

Bingo! SPYBOT! Excellent Admin!

[andypaul]

If you use hijack this post the file on here i have helped mates loads of times using it.

I know now is not the time but this is why its best to make a ghost disk while over there and instructions on how to load with the IT savvy realtives or friends.

Also make sure you set up various users and don't allow people to log in with admin rights.

When last time when i was over in phill my Wifes younger sister was doing her uni work and a usb stick used on her college pcs had a number of viruses which thankfully the av picked up straight away.
You can use online av panda and kaspersky amongst others which are also very good.

The kids that use the pc is in phill are now forbidden from downloading anything i don't approve of as they felt they had to have manga screensavers and whatever they now know they need to keep it with a black background and only download approved stuff otherwise there will be trouble. If they want to muck about on pcs or play games they go to the web cafe the few pounds a week it adds to the money send over is far cheaper than the problems in not being able to chat to phill for free.

I hope you sort it out soon Dom

[KeithD]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!

That was the sound of Andy's post going over Dom's head

[aromulus]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!

That was the sound of Andy's post going over Dom's head

No s**t....

Although I am most grateful for the hints.........

Can you try in the Queen's English.....???

Ta...........

Got all that ok, cheers.
Bit late now, tho.
Trying to get hold of some hotshot cousin, overthere, to do just about everything legal to that pc.
Failing that, I will get professional help from the guys I bought the peripherals from.
Don't care about the cost, because it always be cheaper than a few phone calls.

[andypaul]

No s**t....

Although I am most grateful for the hints.........

Can you try in the Queen's English.....???

Ta...........

Got all that ok, cheers.
Bit late now, tho.
Trying to get hold of some hotshot cousin, overthere, to do just about everything legal to that pc.
Failing that, I will get professional help from the guys I bought the peripherals from.
Don't care about the cost, because it always be cheaper than a few phone calls.

Try to make sure they dont just wanna sell you a new hard disk, also do you have a win xp disc or recovery disc ( a lot of the big companies have a win xp disc made specially just for that pc) If they give you a quote let people on here check it out for you.

Many pc repair places i get told suggest the disk is corrupted (ie no good) and can't be used again ( occasionally happens but not as often as people suggest trust me)

If i was there i would first try to boot in safe mode (f8 on most laptops or pcs and gives a menu of options) if no good would try booting with a special disk (booting starting the pc from a disk) with antivirus and other software.

I would hope to recover the special files, depending on the virus this may or may not be possible.

The other possibilty is if you have a bsod then some hardware adding is causing the problem then disconnecting everything but the montior, keyboard and mouse may help if you try to load in safe mode.

If you can boot up and get to a windows screen

press ctrl+shift+esc this will display the task manager

this can show you various bits of info but will show what programs are running in many cases the easiest way to find a "bad program" is to see it running. Then just search for it in file explorer and delete.

A friend had a program eating up his hard drive space he let me on remote check his task manager we found a strange program we deleted it using hijack this and it was still there so belive it or not we did a search for it and found this huuugggee file which we simply deleted it. It never came back. He ran alsorts of programs in the end we did it the simple way.

If possible if you can ask the folks back home to tell you anything written on the screen code numbers etc.
See if this helps Dom po http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1647
Also the beeps it makes can tell you if there is a hardware fault.

http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/pc_hardw...eeps_mean.html


If the photos and other files are very important, ie no copies anywhere else.

Maybe worth buying a new hdd asking your tech guy to load the windows disk in and just get the skype up and running.
Setting up windows is not to tough and then adding on the other programs shouldn't be tough at all.

Like you say the money saved in calls over these special months particulary for Pinays abroad may be more important.

The hdd can then be worked on at a later date. The problem will not get any worse if you leave it a little while.

I hope the Pc is up and running soon for JET her family and your bank balance

[nigel]

Pick the computer up, take out the back, and then throw it over the horizon! It doesn't fix anything of course but it doesn't half feel good! haha

[andypaul]

Pick the computer up, take out the back, and then throw it over the horizon! It doesn't fix anything of course but it doesn't half feel good! haha

Over the horizon are you geoff capes in disguise

[LEAHnew]

AV will not pick up spyware, adware etc,

Email them this:

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_...gl=us&ciNum=11

Select ONLY 'Spyware Doctor'

Click 'Download Google Pack'

Wait for it to install. A new ICON will appear in the bottom right of the screen. Double click it and RUN SCAN if it is not already doing so.

Boss does it affect the system process slow? What's the advantage of having spyware? I have AV which is kaspersky but seems didnt detect some virus sometimes it healed but it's too late it was affected already my system mostly said system disabled (Task Manger, regedit)
I'm considering the idea to format but before i proceed I'm gathering info to protect it. Thanks in advance

[LEAHnew]

Try to make sure they dont just wanna sell you a new hard disk, also do you have a win xp disc or recovery disc ( a lot of the big companies have a win xp disc made specially just for that pc) If they give you a quote let people on here check it out for you.

Many pc repair places i get told suggest the disk is corrupted (ie no good) and can't be used again ( occasionally happens but not as often as people suggest trust me)

If i was there i would first try to boot in safe mode (f8 on most laptops or pcs and gives a menu of options) if no good would try booting with a special disk (booting starting the pc from a disk) with antivirus and other software.

I would hope to recover the special files, depending on the virus this may or may not be possible.

The other possibilty is if you have a bsod then some hardware adding is causing the problem then disconnecting everything but the montior, keyboard and mouse may help if you try to load in safe mode.

If you can boot up and get to a windows screen

press ctrl+shift+esc this will display the task manager

this can show you various bits of info but will show what programs are running in many cases the easiest way to find a "bad program" is to see it running. Then just search for it in file explorer and delete.

A friend had a program eating up his hard drive space he let me on remote check his task manager we found a strange program we deleted it using hijack this and it was still there so belive it or not we did a search for it and found this huuugggee file which we simply deleted it. It never came back. He ran alsorts of programs in the end we did it the simple way.

Nice post kuya Andy very informative thanks

[DonyaPepay]

AV will not pick up spyware, adware etc,

Email them this:

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_...gl=us&ciNum=11

Select ONLY 'Spyware Doctor'

Click 'Download Google Pack'

Wait for it to install. A new ICON will appear in the bottom right of the screen. Double click it and RUN SCAN if it is not already doing so.

Very good idea, I just tried it last night. Thanks for the informations.

[KeithD]

Boss does it affect the system process slow? What's the advantage of having spyware? I have AV which is kaspersky but seems didnt detect some virus sometimes it healed but it's too late it was affected already my system mostly said system disabled (Task Manger, regedit)
I'm considering the idea to format but before i proceed I'm gathering info to protect it. Thanks in advance

Spyware, Adaware, Malware, etc are not classed as 'viruses' so most AV's will not find them. They are usually heavily embedded in the system, hence requiring specialised tools to get rid of them.

[LEAHnew]

Spyware, Adaware, Malware, etc are not classed as 'viruses' so most AV's will not find them. They are usually heavily embedded in the system, hence requiring specialised tools to get rid of them.

I'll take note of thatSalamat po

[aromulus]

Well...

This morning I managed to speak to a bloke that will do the jobby... my relief was immense because the guy is a yank, owns a pc repair business in Cebu and does house calls.
And sounds cheap.... But how cheap it will be in the end, we will have to see....
To me is better this way, rather than having some friends of friends botching the job and asking for money every ten minutes for this that or the other... You know what i mean....
I am going to xoom a few bob over, to make sure that the funds will cover the cost of the repairs.
Even if it comes to having to install a new HDD, it doesn't matter. I also asked the guy to back everything up on disks.
Communication is the most important factor here.

[LEAHnew]

Well...

To me is better this way, rather than having some friends of friends botching the job and asking for money every ten minutes for this that or the other... You know what i mean....

I agreesounds familiar to my experience

[andypaul]

Well...

This morning I managed to speak to a bloke that will do the jobby... my relief was immense because the guy is a yank, owns a pc repair business in Cebu and does house calls.
And sounds cheap.... But how cheap it will be in the end, we will have to see....
To me is better this way, rather than having some friends of friends botching the job and asking for money every ten minutes for this that or the other... You know what i mean....
I am going to xoom a few bob over, to make sure that the funds will cover the cost of the repairs.
Even if it comes to having to install a new HDD, it doesn't matter. I also asked the guy to back everything up on disks.
Communication is the most important factor here.

Great news always best to offer continuing business and they are less likely to try and give you a better rate and a quicker response when you really need assitance.

Maybe couple of hundred pesos every month to back up the HDD for you? Nice little earner for him great insurance for you. You can have it automated but if you have no really tech savvy family, better to pass a few quid to a guy who knows to save heart break imo.

You don't need to back up everything just have the basic windows and all the neccessary programs (skype, av, antispyware,firewall,adobe acrobat)
So if all hell breaks out you can load this back on so its basically working asap.

Then a seperate back up of all the photos, videos, music, karoake lyrics etc as and when needed. A huge set of blank cd or dvds doesn't cost much in our terms.