I got a virus

[drewlowe]

I'll be gone for awhile not quite sure how long. The damn computer at home caught a nasty virus and we have to completely wipe everything out and start from scratch. So i'm not quite sure how long this will take. Since i'm having to do it myself and all the damn IT guys i have talked to give me the wrong advice, i don't know how long it's going to take me. I'll be stopping in from time to time when i'm at work but other than that i can't do a thing.

Jamie

[Derrick]

It takes 3hrs to install windows, all the updates and the essentials, Ive been doing it 3-4 times a month for the last 2 years for people.

First thing you should do after you instal windows and connect to the ne is instal and configure a virus scanner and firewall. Ive had some of these newer self proliferating virus' hit systems within 10 of connecting to the net.

[drewlowe]

I have to delete the whole system first. I've been trying to make a boot disk but all the IT techs i've talked to don't give me the right info. And my boyfriends parents want me to do it and i don't know how, and i've told them that several times. I've tried 3 differnt things so far and they don't work. Now a forth IT guy told me i have to go on the internet to make a boot disk so i'll be tring that i guess. If i can't get it "crashed" within the week i'm going to chuck it out the damn window lol.

Edit: I'm working with Windows 2000 professional (upgrade disk). We have a windows 95 (original disk) and a windows 98 (upgrade disk).

[Derrick]

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm get your w2k disk there. Its a 4 disk set.

If you need any more help let me know

[Derrick]

also heres a good FREE virus scanner (they ask for your email so they can send you the serial #)
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

And a decent FREE firewall
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=zadb_zadown

[Vengeance]

#1 Get rid of the upgrade disk, and get a full version of Win2K Pro or winXP. The Upgrade disk isn't going to help you becuase yo have to upgrade from an OS you can't do a fresh install. Also throw out your Windows 95/98 Cd's or use them as costers because that is about hom much they are worth.

Most Win2K cd's are bootable so all you will have to do is throw the CD in the drive and boot of the CD, much easier. If you need a copy of the CD let me know I'm sure I could throw an image of the Cd up on an FTP site somewhere.

[drewlowe]

It's been a pain the whole way though.

It's not my puter but it's the one i use all the time. I told them back in september that they needed to renew nortons and they didn't listen to me. So they ended up with a virus. Then i couldn't do the boot disk cause their floppy drive was out (They just got a new one Sat.) Now i'm going to be doing the boot disk (thanks for the site BTW). They also download from Kaaza (which i advised against it (thats where they got the virus from) Then i told them about kaaza lite (but they didn't listen to me). I also have a router that has a firewall and a program for a firewall that came with a spyblocker program they bought. Anyway, this has been a great week for me and hopefully it will be over soon. Thanks for your help if i have anything else to ask i'll try to get to a pc to ask.

[drewlowe]

Vengeance- I know they will not go out and buy another version of windows 2000 they spent 200 for the upgrade cd. I know about the 95/98 but this is their system and they want to keep them. All i can do with them is voice my opinion that doesn't mean they always listen (if they did we wouldn't be in the spot we are now).

If there is a possiblity of you getting the 2000 disk please let me know. Thanks again.

[Derrick]

you'll still get virus' with klite just no spyware that all

[daver676]

I know the situation you're in drewlowe. My mother kept bugging me to look at her computer because it was sooooo slow. So I installed and updated Norton Systemworks, and guess what! It found 15 viruses! She was still using an old McAffee virus scanner from like '98, and god knows the last time she updated her definitions! I would recommend picking up some good virus scannig software. The online scanners just don't catch everything, IMO.


For whoever said Windows 98 CDs are only good for coasters well...you could um....hang it from your ceiling. :p

[Vengeance]

Originally posted by drewlowe
Vengeance- I know they will not go out and buy another version of windows 2000 they spent 200 for the upgrade cd. I know about the 95/98 but this is their system and they want to keep them. All i can do with them is voice my opinion that doesn't mean they always listen (if they did we wouldn't be in the spot we are now).

People pay for software?????!!! Gee who knew, I'll send you a pm later on.

[Lisa]

when i was using an upgrade version of an os i would boot off of the upgrade disk, and install fresh. at some point it would ask for the proof of a previous windows disk, pop in the older media for it to verify, then it would spit it out and continue installing.

[reptilesalonica]

The problem with me is that i am getting many attacks from someone from a single site.
I have Windows ME, i formatted with quick format, i put pestpatrol for trojans and worms, Norton antivirus and ZoneAlarm Pro 4,5 as a firewall to stop him from attacking and controlling my pc.
Yesterday we had war :(
For 2 hours he was trying to break through the firewall.
I think he made it :(
He maybe inserted a nuke (spyware)
How can someone be safe?
My God i will go crazy!!! :(
Any help from someone who knows?
~Greg~

[mykee]

It's funny, I've had 3 viruses in as many months requiring me to run the comp. into the shop. I'm just gonna lay off the albino midget porn sites I guess...

[Lisa]

The best defence against viruses is education.

1 - Turn off the preview pane in your email reader. Many viruses come in via email and will automaticly run when you look at the email. It's like getting sent straight to jail with out passing go. You don't get a chance. It will also cut down on the spam you receive.

2 - Do not open every attachment that you get. Delete emails from people you don't know with out opening them (this will also cut down on spam).

3 - Turn off hiding of known file extensions (this is important!). Many viruses come via email with names like mypicture.jpg.bat. When you have the known file extensions hidden you don't see the .bat and think it's a picture file. Microsoft enables hidden extensions by default (it's almost like Microsoft WANTS you to get viruses).

4 - Get a good antivirus, but don't rely on it to protect you. Think of antivirus like the flu shot from the dr. When you get a flu shot from the Dr it protects you from a certain number of strains of flu but there are new flu viruses that can still make you sick. Same with the antivirus, there are new viruses for the computer released every day and there's times when your antivirus provider can take a week or two to write a detection pattern for that virus.

5 - Update your virus patterns daily. As I said before, new viruses are released everyday.

6 - Don't be affraid to cross check your computer with competing antivirus vendors. Many have free online virus scanners (such as trend http://housecall.antivirus.com ).

7 - Know your source. Software you've downloaded off of kazaa, imesh, edonkey and any of the other sites is worth what you paid for it and is often a source for viruses, trojans, worms and other malware.

8 - Consider switching to a non-windows operating system. Linux, Unix and MacOS have fewer viruses combined then you can count on your fingers and toes. Macs are known for being easy to use and now with they're latest release have the stability of unix. Windows also copied Mac on it's interface and mouse and has been playing catchup in usability for years. Heck, there's only one mouse button so there's no remembering to right click or left click or stand on your head and wave a pinapple while trying to navigate through menus. If a Mac is too complicated for you then maybe you should switch to "WebTv" You can't get viruses on that either. Linux and Unix aren't that hard from a user stand point and are getting easier every day. The operating system is free and there are support packages available out there to give you the same technical support you can get with certain name brand PCs for windows. There may not be as many games, but there are games out there for all platforms.

I could go on but I think that's more then enough for now.

[shaggybill]

Where are you guys getting all these viruses from? The only virus I've had is the one that the entire United States got a couple of months ago, and I download tons of crap!

[drewlowe]

I believe mine came through Kazaa. I had 4 viruses but i managed to get 3 of them out before any damage was done, but that damn 4th one wouldn't budge, and caused it's damage now i'm suffering the repercusion.

[justinO]

Even the most consciensious people can get virii. I've currently got that damn blaster 32 worm and it just wont budge.. oh well, i'm due to reformat my laptop soon anyhow.. just waiting to see if i got that new hard drive for christmas!


anyways, sorry to hijack the thread.. good luck! I know with windows 2k and XP, the Install needs to be done in a 32 bit environment.. (i.e. no installing from DOS).what I usually do is blow away the whole hard drive, then throw on a copy of windows 95 or 98, basic install which only takes about 5 minutes, then once in the windows environment, put in the win2k disk and install the OS overtop win9x. Hope I don't sound too complicated.. Also, someone tell me if there is an easier way to install XP on a blank hard drive.

[jim mcallister]

Can you get a virus from downloading songs off kazaa? or do you have to download software to get it???? thanks JIm

[Lisa]

Originally posted by justinO
Even the most consciensious people can get virii. I've currently got that damn blaster 32 worm and it just wont budge.. oh well, i'm due to reformat my laptop soon anyhow.. just waiting to see if i got that new hard drive for christmas!


The blaster virus should be fixed automaticly by patching the bad file, formatting won't fix it. i'd do a search for "blaster" in the forums.

Originally posted by jim mcallister
Can you get a virus from downloading songs off kazaa? or do you have to download software to get it???? thanks JIm


You can't get a virus from a music file, but who knows what's being installed with the p2p software/

[jim mcallister]

You can't get a virus from a music file, but who knows what's being
installed with the p2p software/ [/B][/QUOTE] .......Yes Lisa this is scary......I only download songs once in awhile but it's about all i really download and spyware seems to find all sorts of stuff on my comp. It's gotta be coming from kazaa....maybe i'll switch to k++ or xolox??

[drewlowe]

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My comp is completly wiped out now!!!! I'm so happy now i can finally get everything programed back and hopefully no more viruses.

[Lisa]

Yay!!!! don't forget to do your service packs

[drewlowe]

The first thing i did when i got it up and running was install nortons and then all the windows updates. I didn't open another thing until all that was done. Now today my job is to install all of our programs back into the system, yea so much fun.

[marisa]

I am with Shaggybill on this one! How are you guys getting all these viruses? I download probably more than a gig a week of crap, if not double that. We haven't ever had a virus. My boyfriend is a computer geek so he knows what he is doing which helps but we just simply use Norton and have never ever had a thing.

Marisa

[drewlowe]

i got mine when they didn't renew their subscribtion to nortons for 3 months. Don't know if it would have helped having nortons of not, but i'm glad it's back!!!!