awww crap .. pc prob's

[nomadbkr]

.. darnit .. unless one of y'all can help me pull a rabbit outa the hat, I think this computer is on borrowed time ..
.. tried to watch a simple online movie from a site that usually has good links to newly released films .. (not porn)
... not only wouldn't it load, turns out this particular movie was some sort of virus ..
.. antispyware and anti-virus software showed it as a Trojan Horse ..
.. while letting my own software have at it, darn thing kept me busy trying to loose bogus "anti-virus/spyware" that simply pop'd up another window every time I tried to click the pop up's off ..
.. far as I know, it's gone .. or at least quarrantined ..
.. but before I could get rid of it, it seem that it re-wrote this XP a bit ..

.. few hours later now and I've got things to what seems like almost back to normal ..
.. 'cept defrag no longer works .. it won't even analyze ..
.. chkdsk will not work either .. no way no how .. as if something won't let go of the cpu and so chkdsk can't schedule and won't allow a shutdown before using "end now" .. which cancels the chkdsk ..
.. safe mode makes no diff ..
.. and a few other things are happening now that is just weird .. as if a bug is still at work ..

.. tried everything I know trying to get defrag and chkdsk back .. but the way things are now, it's just a matter of time till fragmented files add up to the point where this puter will be useless ..

.. any advise ? ..

thx
nomad

[HV]

what AV are you using?

[CraigArizona85248]

Nomad,

I ran into the same thing when I tried to use my photobucket account yesterday.  This stupid thing launched a window telling me I had a virus.  Everytime I killed it, it launched a new window... they even faked the microsoft logo.  Then they wanted me to install something (I have no idea what) that they called anti-spyware.  No way!  I hit ctrl-alt-del, then selected the task manager and killed all my windows internet explorer stuff that way.  I'll let photobucket clean up their crap.  I scanned my system using McAfee after this (a complete scan, not a "quick" scan).  It found nothing.

-Craig

[northbrun]

under thhe task managger, try looking at the performance tab thatl tell you how much of your cpu is being used. it sounds like there is something running te thing at 100% and not allowing anything else to opperate.  then look under the processes tab and find out what opperation is using all the recources.

[nomadbkr]

HV ..
.. running an anti-virus that now keeps dissapearing from the tray .. LOL ..
.. a freeware version that calls itself "PC Tools AntiVrus" ..
.. I went to it when AVG went pay ..
.. does appear to work and has caught and removed things in the past with no prob's ..
.. but maybe this bug is more than it can handle ? ..
.. also have SuperAntiSpyware free version that doesn't really do nuthin till I scan with it .. if it does anything more than find spyware, I donno ..

Craig ..
.. eyap .. sounds like the same bug .. you mighta lucked out and got rid of it before it could latch on ! ..
.. I notice this all happend on the heels of Microsoft's latest Service Pack 3 ..
.. I tried removing Service Pack 3 .. made no diff, but seemed to speed things up a bit ..
.. just more wasted time trying to fix this thing ..
.. put Service Pack 3 back .. still same prob's .. couple hourse of major clean up made no diff either and has probably added to fragmented files that I can't defrag ..

northbrun ..
.. yes .. I thought the same thing .. but the cpu usage looks normal ..
.. better than normal in fact .. like a squeeky clean puter with lots of room, which it ain't .. lol ..

.. darnit .. the virus seems to have all bases covered .. 

thx
nomad

[Big Dan]

Nomad,
]Try a System Restore.

[Faast Ed]

Need to find out the name of the virus, then google it.

Some of these viruses put a file in your computer that is a "fake virus" that prompts you to buy their remaval program.
They are hard to get rid of, but google almost ALWAYS has a link to someone else who has been bitten and will have clear instructions of how to get rid of it.

My kids computer goes thru something like this once every 6 months and so far I have always found a good answer on Google.
But you have to identify the name of the bad file.

[nomadbkr]

Dan ..
.. you just reminded me ..
.. forgot to mention ..
.. System Restore is also dead in the water ..
.. that's one of the 1st things I tried .. it wouldn't do anything at all past picking a date .. wouldn't even give me a pop up window explaining why ..
.. and .. to make matters worse .. in my efforts to get it working, I lost all my restore points ..  

.. so .. I'm now stuck with fixing things so I can create a "New" restore point for the next time .. lol

thx
nomad

[Panzer]

Here in Pa. just yesterday I heard on the news that there is a worm/virus or both were spreading nationally & internationally.
The worst since 6 years ago.
They also said to just keep your virus protection updated & you should be ok.
Just relating what I heard.

[nomadbkr]

FaastEd ..
... eyea .. I didn't wanna go this route .. but from what I just read, the best way to get rid of it is to buy the crap they're pushing ..
.. the virus is called Trojan.DL.DR.Dilet.A ..
.. apparently a new and improved version designed to make yur puter life miserable till you buy their chit ..
.. supposedly, installing "Spyhunter" is the easiest way to get rid of it ..
.. eya .. riiiiiiiiight ..
.. I'll buy a new pc before I go that route .. LOL ..

.. looks like I got some reading to do and learn how to try and remove it manually ..
.. least I know what I'm dealing with now ..

thx
nomad

[nomadbkr]

Panzer ..
.. yea .. I was/am up to date .. I usually check a couple times a day beyond my reguarly scheduled anti-virus auto update ..
.. 'specially if I'm headed for unknown links ..

.. in this case, the anti-virus software didn't even slow it down ..
.. the name might sound tame .. but this is one smart bug I think ..

thx
nomad

[Faast Ed]

Buying their stuff won't cure it (bitter irony).  LOL

Yup, read-up and you'll solve the mystery.
Google is your friend.

[FXDBI]

Run it up on your windows disc,and format the hard drive and reload the operating system. Wipe it out and re-do it before it burns itself out....Bob

PS no antivirus will find a bug that isn't in there file definitions they cant find what they don't know.

[nomadbkr]

.. "Google is my friend" ..

.. yea .. but it just reminded me of something else that's been going on since this started ..
.. the bug seems to be re-directing some links that have anything to do with virus removal ..
.. clicking on what sounds like the place to go for info, and that'll get me a "re-direct" pop-up that goes to nowhere or a site that's totally unrelated ..
.. this is happening a lot while I try to search this thing out online ..

.. one smart bug I tellya ! ..

thx
nomad

[Faast Ed]

Yup.  It will keep doing that til the virus is gone.

It would be helpful if you have another clean computer to do your googling on (as was the case with me).

[nomadbkr]

FXDBI ..
.. no can do .. I have too much to back up .. way too much .. this is an antique 2001 xp home with no backup utilty .. I really really don't want to do anything approaching a destructive re-boot ..
.. to reload xp on this thing is a major drag with about a dozen discs  ..

.. I've been trying to put it off ,, but maybe a new pc might be in the cards ..
.. hate to give up on the ol girl .. how to get my files from one pc to a new without transferring the virus is something I'd better nail down though .. lol

thx
nomad

[Faast Ed]

Found this on google, might want to print it out before trying it.

It looks a lil complicated, but better than reformat.

Hopefully someone will chime in with an easier way.

[PC_Hater]

Are you able to burn CDs on your computer?
If you are, download version 5.1.1 of Knoppix and burn it to CD.
Then you have to boot your pc from the CD. That might have you pressing F7 or F8 to get into the bios to tell it to boot from the CD.

If you get that far you will be running Linux from the CD - so it will run a bit slow at times. But it will run.
The look and feel is deliberately made to be similar to Windoze so you should be able to find your way around without too many problems.
You should be able to rummage around your C:drive at will looking for stuff that shouldn't be there so you can delete it.
At the very least you will have a working web-browser so you can search the internet for more info.

http://www.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix/ is the place to go to download the 696MB file that you will burn to CD.
The file you want is:-
KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso

If you can burn DVDs then the later 5.3 version is the one you want.

AVGfree is still available, and don't use Internet Explorer. Use the Firefox web-browser.

[nomadbkr]

FaastEd ..
.. yea .. tried to find where it's hiding with both the name and dll .. search brings up nothing ..
.. tried to download AVG .. something won't let me ..
.. tried to download Spybot Search and Destroy .. something won't let me ..

.. one smart bug .. not only is it hiding well, it won't let me download possible fixes that it ain't pushin !! ..
.. the only place I can find it on this puter, is in the quarrantine of the PC Tools AntiVirus program that supposedly removed it ..
.. if it truely is "removed", it sure did some damage while it was here ..
.. beginnin to look like I might have to put the darn thing back just to get rid of it complete ..


PC_Hater ..
..... can burn CD's, but no DVD burner .. reader but no burner (antique puter) ..
.. I'll reserve what you suggest as a last ditch effort .. would much rather werk with what I'm runnin to try and fix this thing, without resorting to what for me is an unknown ..
.. got enough "unknown" on my plate right now .. LOL ..

thx y'all
nomad

[nomadbkr]

.. forgot to mention ..

........ look out for this bug !! .........
.. it's proving to be a real PITA and is formatable ....

.. it dropped my windows firewall with ease and took over ...

.. I'll update if and when I find the fix ..

thx again
nomad

[92Fatty]

Sounds like it is killing most of your AV. I had this with windows security alert popping up. I found malwarebytes.org and it fixed me right up.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[Faast Ed]

Thanks 92Fatty,
I saved the link for next time I get bit. Always good to have some options!

I hope this works for you Nomadbkr!

[truck]

This might help.

You must also delete the virus  which is most likely in the System Restore.

There are two ways to get there:

1 - Go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore, or

2 - Go to Start, Control Panel, System, System Restore.

Once in System Restore, put a check mark in Turn off System Restore and click on Apply. Click on Yes to the System Restore Message. Wait a few seconds or minutes depending on how many restore points have accumulated. Keep in eye on the HD light in front of your PC. When it quits flashing quickly it will be done.

Next, remove the check mark on the Turn of System Restore. click on Apply. Again give it time to install a new restore point. While there, decrease the Disk space to use to 6% (more than enough) and hit Apply. Close everything.

The point to this is that many times people will be hit by a virus and the virus seems  removed in the file it affected, it is kept in the back up if a restore point was created after the infection.

[Panzer]

Good luck Bro, hope you find it and kill it.

[Faast Ed]

[FSG]

My sons PC had a similar problem a few weeks back.

You need to do the Scan and Delete in Windows Safe Mode.

[Faast Ed]

One of the times on my kids puter, I had to download "vundo fix" and repair in the safe mode. Same symptoms as yours, but one of the identified files had "vundo" in the name.

I was hoping that the link in 92fatty's post would be an easier fix for Nomad.
I hope he let's us know what worked for him.

Sir G, do you have a link for the "moved" Community Feedback?
There were folks over there that could have talked him thru a fix.

[dohmixer]

Nomad,

I ran into the same thing when I tried to use my photobucket account yesterday.  This stupid thing launched a window telling me I had a virus.  Everytime I killed it, it launched a new window... they even faked the microsoft logo.  Then they wanted me to install something (I have no idea what) that they called anti-spyware.  No way!  I hit ctrl-alt-del, then selected the task manager and killed all my windows internet explorer stuff that way.  I'll let photobucket clean up their crap.  I scanned my system using McAfee after this (a complete scan, not a "quick" scan).  It found nothing.

-Craig

The same thing happened to me yesterday at photobucket. I also ran a complete scan using kaspersky and was clean as a whistle. i used my laptop later at photobucket and everything seemed ok there. I've been a little leary to take this pc back to photobucket but will have to do it when I'm ready to post some pics on another forum since most of my pics are in this pc.

[FSG]

http://www.community-feedback.com

[Faast Ed]

Thanks Sir G. 

[Sin]

Nomad,

   The symptoms you described looks to me like you have some how gotten a nasty root kit installed on your puter.
It is a good possibility that's not the only problem, as you stated your AV has already quarantined a trojan.
Here's a link to a forum where I found someone with a problem similar to yours but do not try and repair your computer following that persons instructions. Link> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21710577-HJL-Log-possible-root-kit-cry-for-help
What you need to do is follow the mandatory steps here> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup (I believe you already have or cannot run some of the software due to the infection) Then post a new thread giving all the information as requested in the mandatory steps and someone or myself will request a diagnostic log to see exactly whats going on.

Sin,

[nomadbkr]

...... Update .........

... ok .. I did a slightly major clean up of useless old files and then took most everyone's advise and made some changes that I'm confident has at least gotten rid of the bug and in the process found a chitload of crap pluggin things up I didn't know 'bout and/or thought was long gone ..

... had to get sneaky 'bout it, but was able to download some software with Avant browser that for some reason wouldn't download with IE 7 ..
.. lost the PCTools AntiVirus and installed Avast ..
.. lost SuperSpyware and installed Spybot-Search and Destroy ..
.. added to the mix Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware ..

.. ran'em all .. took the short "fast scan" route and it still took most of the day ..
.. might do the complete scan overnight ..

.. still can't do a defrag, 'cept now it tells me to do a chkdsk /f instead of telling me it can't start ..
.. of course, there's still something running that won't let chkdsk schedule .. lol .. and System Restore is still useless, but that's part my fault for loosing all my restore points .. still won't start though ..

.. but .. I'm fairly sure that this pc is 'bout squeeky clean ..
.. not suprizingly, other than the virus that caused this mess, a lot of the spyware/adware and malware the new programs removed comes from good ol Microsoft themselves .. go figure ..

.. anyhow; my guess is that I've just got to hunt down what settings the virus changed while it was here and put them back how they need to be for things to run right ..
.. for the most part, except for a couple of glitches like tray icons hiding; it seems to be runnin ok and even seems a bit faster ..
.. 'cept it's still just a matter of time till fragments pile up to the point where it shuts this pc down for good ..

.. so the hunt to find the settings I need to put back in order is still on ..
.. mighta at least bought some time .. or maybe made a truckload more fragmented files .. LMAO ..

.. anyways .. that's as far as I got ..
.. thx for everyone's .02 ..
.. I'll update IF and when I stumble on the final fix ..
.. maybe the other forum's y'all posted might be a help ..

thx again
nomad

[kik]

nomadbkr,Try this Download. Make sure you follow the direction exactly. Once it's done, you should be back to normal.

  http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button

Kik

[still_on2_wheels]

Vundo is some bad stuff, I just battled it last weekend and now have a clean bill of PC health.

These guys rocked!!

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?    <--read around a bit to get comfortable with the site.

This is where you will start:   (as I did)

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Granted, it took 6 dedicated hours, and is pretty tedious, (follow the directions to a T) but was well worth it.

Jeff

[BJaxn]

I have been fighting this same issue. I've gotten rid of the popups (for now), and the computer is faster than ever, however unable to run any updates or deefrag, and am still being re-directed to misc websites. I will check out the suggestions above, and post what works for me.  Thanks!

[88-fxr]

Take my word for it, you'll have to save your documents that you can't live without, format the hard drive and re-load operating system & programs in order to get rid of it completely (that is unless you're a software programmer with lots of spare time & knowledge, which most of us are not).  I've been through this very same thing dozens of times with different people in the past six months and unless you've already downloaded a program that will get rid of it (malwarebytes is a good example) it will not let you download and use anything that will wipe it out even in safe mode.  If you try to clone your current hard drive onto a new computer, should you be successful, it will show up on your new computer!  It's also in the windows restore files.  Too bad we can't hang people who come up with this type of crap.
dj

[92Fatty]

Did you turn off the system restore? You stated it didn't have any so it will not hurt for cleaning the pc. Right click My Computer, choose Properties, Click on System Restore tab and make sure System restore is off. Then reboot in to safe mode run full scans with malwarebytes, Spy Bot Search and Destroy, superantispyware.  When you are done. Restart then choose Start, Run and type chkdsk /r to see if you get the ok then restart to get chkdsk running on reboot.

[Phu Cat]

This have anything to do with it?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/25/google-drive-gdrive-internet

(Ya can tell I know little about 'puters.)

PC

[nomadbkr]

 ... found the fix !! ..

.. gave it it's own thread ..

http://harleytechtalk.net/htt/index.php?topic=5091.0

thx
nomad

[HDRDR]

I just got a pop up the other day from (windows) stating I had a problem with a virus so like a dumb a&& I tried to do the install....took 3 hours to fix the problem, because I am a dumb a&& when it comes to computers.

I finally did a restore and it save my dumb self, and all is ok! I saved a few of those links just in case for the future,  I want to thank you folks for that!