Viruses!

[joe501]

I have been given a friends laptop to fix, it is completely buggered, takes three minutes to load up "My Computer"!

Anway after a very loooong evening I managed to get Zone Alarm on it and set up a scan.
It has found viruses and although most have been deleted automatically, with quite a few it has given me the option of Quarantine or Remove.

Now why has it given me the option of Quarantine? Surely I want to remove the virus from the system, so what is the benefit of quarantine?

 

[bocadillo]

Thanks for letting us know!
:icon_wink



Can you access the internet on it? If so, visit the Trend Micro website and perform a free House Call online virus check.

Then download Ad-Aware from http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html and run it to get rid of adware, spyware and other nasties.

Then come back and tell us whether there is any improvement.


edit: just seen that you have added to your original post. Notwithstanding the fact that you have already used Zone Alarm, I would still run it through Trend House Call to see if it finds other things. And then through Ad-Aware - spyware can be every bit as intrusive as some viruses.

 

[bocadillo]

I have been given a friends laptop to fix, it is completely buggered, takes three minutes to load up "My Computer"!

Anway after a very loooong evening I managed to get Zone Alarm on it and set up a scan.
It has found viruses and although most have been deleted automatically, with quite a few it has given me the option of Quarantine or Remove.

Now why has it given me the option of Quarantine? Surely I want to remove the virus from the system, so what is the benefit of quarantine?

Files that are quarantined may be capable of being repaired by later editions of the program. Personally I prefer to remove them.

 

[joe501]

It was 493 viruses btw!
All the infected files are pretty useless anyway so should I remove the viruses?!?

 

[bocadillo]

It was 493 viruses btw!
All the infected files are pretty useless anyway so should I remove the viruses?!?

I would.

 

[Macky]

download Ad-Aware from http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html and run it to get rid of adware, spyware and other nasties.

I would also advise running these as well as AdAware (but NOT at the same time) :

spybot
crap cleaner
windows defender

 

[Yorkshire Vixen]

i read somewhere that microsofts own virus protections is just as good as any and it doesnt cost anything

 

[Matt_B]

i read somewhere that microsofts own virus protections is just as good as any and it doesnt cost anything

doesnt come with any I don't think?

 

[Han]

doesnt come with any I don't think?

I don't think she means the ones that are already installed.

There used to be a "microsoft anti-spyware" program that you could download. not sure if it's still available.

 

[joe501]

I have explained my problem in more detail in this post:

http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/533705-virus-problem-worst-laptop-i.html#post4337427

I would try all the anti virus/spyware software you have reccomended but now it won't let me copy/paste install files from my memory stick!

 

[Macky]

Presuming it is XP, click Start > Run, type: msconfig into the run box & OK it.
Sytem Configuration should eventually load up, click on the 'Startup tab' on the right-hand side, click on 'Disable All' button at the bottom, then 'Apply' button , then 'Close' button.
You will then be prompted to reboot. After it reboots it should respond a lot faster & allow you to install & run the apps that have been suggested.

To be honest though, if you can backup anything that your friend wants to keep off of the laptop & reformat/reinstall Windows because it sounds to me as if it is trashed.

 

[joe501]

Yep it is so trashed that I can't even use Run!! :icon_lol:

 

[Macky]

Yep it is so trashed that I can't even use Run!! :icon_lol:

I think it is fair to say then it is beyond help. :icon_bigg

 

[Han]

I think it is fair to say then it is beyond help. :icon_bigg

complete uninstall? reinstall windows and start from scratch...

 

[joe501]

Thats one option but on the Tech Support Thread I posted we are making progress!!

 

[Macky]

Thats one option but on the Tech Support Thread I posted we are making progress!!

Progress? Are you sure? :icon_wink
Joe, it is fuct, well & truly bolloxed.
The most helpful post on that thread is post #27.
Even IF you managed to get rid of all of the junk that show up in the HJT logs, windows itself is most likely beyond repair going by what you have described.

If there is a non-destuctive repair option, that will repair Windows without losing any data, then run it. If there is one, it will be listed in the startup options by pressing, usually, F8 or F10 on bootup, depends on the manufacturer.
After this, backup anything that your friend wants to keep & then reinstall Windows.

If there isn't a repair option, then you are going to have to bite the bullet, try & backup whatever you can & reinstall Windows.

You really are wasting your time trying to do anything else.