Computer woes- yech!

McCall St. Brewer · 08-14-2008, 12:23 PM

Well, I wish I didn't have to go into to work today. When I left yesterday, my computer had been attacked by a virus or trojan or something like that. Whatever it was kept trying to install some sort of fake anti-virus app and it has also screwed things up so that the computer won't fully boot anymore.

It gets all the way to the point where the desktop is up, all my icons are there, but when the icons down next to the clock start appearing it keeps starting over. Everything disappears but my wallpaper and then it tries again, only to have the same thing happen over and over.

I'm self-employed so there's no IT department to call.

I'd like to be able to fix this myself if I can, but am not sure of the best way to approach it. Any suggestions?

**EdWort** · 08-14-2008, 12:28 PM

My favorite way is Fdisk, format, reinstall the OS, and update the OS, then take a snapshot of the system onto a uSB hard drive using R-Drive Image.

I then install everyday applications and take another image.

Be sure to store your data files on a separate partition and back them up. I just bought a 16 GB USB Thumb drive at Fry's for $39. Great for data backup.

This way, I can restore my computer to pristine condition any time in a matter of minutes.

**brauhaus** · 08-14-2008, 12:28 PM

if it will allow you to get onto the web, download the free version of AVG

or IT kid doesn't believe in Anti-Virus software and when my computer caught a virus, he had me "restore" the computer to when my last restore point was....

see if you can restore it, if not try to download AVG, if that doesn't work then I'm out of suggestions.

Brew-Happy · 08-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Dip it Star-san!

I would bet this is the time to reformat. If you have the operating system disk, you can put it in the CD drive and reboot. It SHOULD autostart, unless the malicious ware has disabled that.

This means you will lose all of your data.

2nd thought. Reboot and press F keys until you get into a start up menu that has the option of Start in Safe Mode. If this works, you could try to run a virus scan of the harddrive and try to remove the virus.

Edit: Wow quick responses today !

**brauhaus** · 08-14-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brew-Happy

Dip it Star-san!

I would bet this is the time to reformat. If you have the operating system disk, you can put it in the CD drive and reboot. It SHOULD autostart, unless the malicious ware has disabled that.

This means you will lose all of your data.

2nd thought. Reboot and press F keys until you get into a start up menu that has the option of Start in Safe Mode. If this works, you could try to run a virus scan of the harddrive and try to remove the virus.

Edit: Wow quick responses today !

Dunkin Donuts coffee, got it free today so I'm ready to go.

MrManTX · 08-14-2008, 12:57 PM

Dude, we had the same problem. Download and run ComboFix. That fixed it for us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCall St. Brewer

Well, I wish I didn't have to go into to work today. When I left yesterday, my computer had been attacked by a virus or trojan or something like that. Whatever it was kept trying to install some sort of fake anti-virus app and it has also screwed things up so that the computer won't fully boot anymore.

It gets all the way to the point where the desktop is up, all my icons are there, but when the icons down next to the clock start appearing it keeps starting over. Everything disappears but my wallpaper and then it tries again, only to have the same thing happen over and over.

I'm self-employed so there's no IT department to call.

I'd like to be able to fix this myself if I can, but am not sure of the best way to approach it. Any suggestions?

**GilaMinumBeer** · 08-14-2008, 01:10 PM

F8 at boot up and then select "Safe Mode with Networking"

That should at the least get you to your Destop and out of the loop. From there you should be able to download the softwares everyone speaks of or maybe just find a fix online for the virus you have.

billtzk · 08-14-2008, 01:24 PM

Ditch Windows, install Linux. It's the best virus protection you can get.

ohiobrewtus · 08-14-2008, 01:25 PM

You can try some virus/spyware apps, but sometimes they don't get rid of everything. If they don't, you're left with what EdWort suggested. Blow the thing out and start over.

FEARDIZ · 08-14-2008, 01:30 PM

hit F8 before windows starts and select safe mode
when windows starts.. you have a few things to try
1st update your antivirus/spyware program if it exists, and run a full scan
What Windows version do you have? XP or Vista?