Virus on my laptop - help!

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  • Epic, epic fail on my behalf, but that's water under the bridge: my virus-protection software lapsed, I was lazy, yada yada. Anyway, I got the ominous "your entire data is being dumped, you cunt" message so I rapidly switch off. Switch on and it's still telling me the same thing. Most of my stuff is backed up, but not some recent photos from a trip to Berlin and some new writing stuff. The laptop itself is a 2 year old Dell, certainly not high-spec, running Windows XP.

    So, I'm aware that a few of you know a thing or two about computers. Can anybody do anything to rectify this? I'll pay. Cheers.

  • not being a cunt, but, get a mac.

    Try this
    http://free.avg.com/

  • Download a live linux disk such as Knoppix or puppy linux (I think puppy link will fit on a usb drive) then use that to back up any of your files e.t.c to a cd / usb stick, then reinstall. Good luck.

    http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

  • not being a cunt, but, get a mac.

    Try this
    http://free.avg.com/

    Or use linux and be part of the free world.

  • yep good time to install linux or buy a mac.
    My kitten threw a cup of water over my laptop last year. Best thing he's ever done

  • http://www.hijackthis.de/
    Download this client (trust me its perfectly safe)
    after installing run the program, using the save logfile method,
    Copy the log file (the notepad document that will pop-up) and paste it onto the same website (http://www.hijackthis.de/) and it will tell you what processes you need to end.
    After ending a virus process, it is easily removed, but thats the job for the anti-virus.

    Any other problems PM me.

  • shit, you remember that conversation we had on wednesday? hope i didn't jinx you mate.
    I can take a look but not till thursday evening - is that ok for you?

  • Has you not got a firewall set up? anti-virus software are useful at finding and destorying viruses, a firewall usually try and prevent viruses from entering the computer from the interweb.

    I hasn't got a virus or any infection for 2 years straight on my computer, and all I have is Windows Firewall running, ran AVG once a year and still appear clean and smooth as ever.

    secondly, the fact the Macintosh have a lack of viruses and such doesn't mean it's secure, that's a false sense of security, especially considering that it's not even that secure as Windows XP (latest one), it just people can't be arsed to write viruses for mac - why would you when there's only 6% of Macintosh user in the world? it's as simple as that.

  • download a live linux disk such as knoppix or puppy linux (i think puppy link will fit on a usb drive) then use that to back up any of your files e.t.c to a cd / usb stick, then reinstall. Good luck.

    http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

    +1

    or use linux and be part of the free world.

    +1

  • you use a mac, whore

  • In conjunction with avg as suggested above get this free firewall:
    http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm_free_firewall.jsp

    That is the combo I use on my laptop and I have never had a virus over the life of it. Nor on my other PCs.
    I have a mac but I only use that for watching movies.

  • Thanks for all the replies, and sorry for not replying myself - I wasn't clear in the OP that this virus has stopped Windows from functioning, so I am not posting from my computer. On switching mine on I have about 30 seconds before the screen goes blue and it tells me that Windows is closing to save my computer further damage etc. But, on the up, during that 30 seconds I have enough time to check that my files are all still intact.

    Anyway, it looks like (and I am a computer retard) I should take the hard drive somewhere to get rescued. Wipe my laptop clean. Install new OS. Download everything under the sun to protect it and not be a lazy fuck again. Then start saving for a mac. Right?

  • Oh, and I'm also moving house today, so chances are I won't be on here much to reply, but I'll check in later on whenever I can steal my gf's laptop again, and see what the collective wisdom suggests.

  • You don't really have a choice... wipe the computer and re-build and this time buy and install NOD32 Antivirus.

    You cannot salvage data in any way, as:
    1) It may not be there (deleted by the virus)
    2) It may be infected and will further infect other things when you attempt to copy data off
    3) It may be corrupt (random deletes by the virus off the disk)

    So either it's fucked already, or if it's still there and you can swap the drive elsewhere to copy the stuff... you would risk whatever other data is on that drive/computer.

    So wipe your machine, start again.

    In future:
    1) Run a decent anti-virus package, NOD32 is the best. Free ones don't quite cut it when it comes to time between an in-the-wild virus being discovered and the virus signature being detectable.
    2) Backup often, keep multiple backups... and make sure 1 of those is disconnected from the machine 99% of the time.

    Ignore those going on about Mac, *nix. Viruses, worms and flaws do exist for those machines too and are only not as prevalent because their platform represents too miniscule a percentage of the market. I'm a Linux guy myself but I do not kid myself that should Linux reach ubiquity that there will be some very nasty rootkits and viruses targetting us more often. The safety those platforms offer is their niche coupled with a tougher barrier to entry (Windows is easier to develop for due to the prevalence of dev tools and examples).

  • PC = single speed

    MAC= fixed

    Long life for MAC!!!

  • Uh-uh.

    PC = Hybrid.
    Mac = OTP Singlespeed.
    Linux = Fixed.

  • You can rescue files via Knoppix http://www.knoppix.com/ (a Linux OS that runs direct from directly from CD/DVD), as suggested above. There are others, and even more specialised, such as SystemRescue http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

    Locate your files and save them to USB keys; as it may takes several USB keys to do the job. Once all files and folders have been saved, wipe your hard-drive and re-install your previous OS. Make sure you have a firewall that is strong and flexible/customisable, then install a potent Anti-Virus program. NOD32 as said before (VB knows), is excellent, and so is Kaspersky. The best of the free AV programs is probably AVG. But that is slightly resource-heavy, even if it is very effective.

    Next, update the Anti-Virus software, so that BEFORE you re-install your old files and folders, your PC is absolutely up-to-date in its protection. Some other good security software I have installed (and I don't get more than one issue per day on my laptop) are - CCleaner (a good Registry cleaner, but always use the "back-up" option first), Spybot: Search and Destroy (a bit slow, but very effective), and Ad-Aware SE/2008 (a stand-alone, run-when-you-like AV program; always keep updated).

    Sorry if you already knew all this. Then you can re-install the old files and folders, and immediatly run your Anti-Virus software. After that, you should be ok. Its hours of work. And still, it can all go Pete Tong. Hope it works out though.

  • My PC - Fixed
    My Mac - Fixed

    Sometimes the problems with a system can be its users.
    A modicum of care, common-sense and good anti-virus/firewall programs will steer you clear of any trouble.

    Reminds me of a funny IT anagram:

    P.I.C.N.I.C.
    Problem in chair, not in Computer.

  • Tomasito, I can give you a hand, maybe no the best, not may work.

    take the HD out of your machine, put it on a cady and connect it to mine. then try to save your files, this with luck and God help, put the HD back to yours, format and reinstal OS.

    we can do this friday or sunday aftermoon.

    PM me

  • do pc's not have a target disk mode like on a mac? that way you don't even have to remove the hard drive and put it in a caddy?
    target mode is 2 computers linked by a firewire cable start up the second computer holding down the T key and it appears as a HD volume on the other mac, the OS never gets started on the mac you want to drag files from.

    one of you pc geeks must know if this is possible?

  • do pc's not have a target disk mode like on a mac? that way you don't even have to remove the hard drive and put it in a caddy?
    target mode is 2 computers linked by a firewire cable start up the second computer holding down the T key and it appears as a HD volume on the other mac, the OS never gets started on the mac you want to drag files from.

    one of you pc geeks must know if this is possible?

    nope - I think this is a HW (ie. mac) based thing.

  • i thought P.C's could do everything a mac could do and more? :-)

  • A pc can do that... providing you have a bootable image on a second drive.

    All you need do is go into your BIOS and change the boot device. Simple as.

    PC's have been able to do this since 1982 guys.

  • Hey tom,

    If all this Linux malarky is a bit daunting for you you can come over to my place (E3 5AT) and I'll sort you out. Remember though what VB said, if the virus has fucked with your data it is probably unsafeable. Still worth a try.

    Oh, and don't forget to bring your chainring bolt tightener. :-)

  • I am a total picnic! Shit this makes me think, if I didn't work somewhere where I had people to do things like this for me, I would be absolutely f***ed.

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Virus on my laptop - help!

Posted by Avatar for tomasito @tomasito

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