damn malware, busted pc

[saladtossser]

ok stupid me download some file and opened it, it:

1st wiped my windows theme, leaving me with the classic one and i cant change it back

2nd, made my ip disappear

i just ran system recovery. now i can get on the internet and my old silver theme back, but explorer wont run, which means i cant see desktop taskbar and do other shit, i bet norton is busted too...

i havent rebooted after the restore but i'll try after this post

if all hope is lost, this hp computer has a complete recovery that basically automatically formats and reinstall windows xp and other stuff that came with the computer, but i lose EVERYTHING i worked so hard for, probably over 20 gigs of software that i NEED, and 5 gigs of music (which i never listen too), and i got some of those games that never grow old but can never be found again, + 3 dozen firefox extensions i need

i dont know if i can burn my shit on a dvd, maybe if the virus or whatever didnt mess with my dvd burner in anyway, i have a stack full of dvd-r, or i got one 128mb mp3, one 256, one 512 ipod shuffle, one 512 memory stick, and a 256 usb key

my dad is gonna FREAK

any advice on fixing it? this loyal computer has been absolutly trouble free for 3 years... at least tell me how to get explorer and norton to start, they are showing in the processes in the taskmanager, but i dont see it. all i really need is for windows to run normal and norton to protect it, hold up for a while then get it restored

oh btw, norton down means i cant go on spudtech (parental control on weapons)

[Pete Zaria]

Boot into Safe Mode. From there you can run your antivirus programs.
To access safe mode, shut down. Boot up, and right after the BIOS loads (but before you see the Windows logo) start tapping F8. When you see the boot options menu, select Safe Mode with Networking. It may take a few tries to get into Safe Mode if you're not familiar with the process.

Once you're in safe mode, download the latest updates for norton and do a full system scan. Hopefully your AV takes care of it.

You can also try Avast antivirus (free, and in my professional opinion, better than norton).

You should keep backups incase stuff like this happens

By the way, if you have to reformat, you can get the data off the hard drive one of several ways. In Safe Mode you could put the data onto an external drive or probably burn a CD (I don't know if XP's burning module works in safe mode though). Worst case scenario, pull the broken machine's drive, put it in a working machine as a slave, virus scan it, backup the files, and put the drive back in the original machine for formatting. After you format, download *all* windows updates and install your AV/firewall software before you get online.

I'm a professional network administrator, by the way.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

- PS - mods, forgive me if this is advertising...

If you really can't figure it out, you could ship the drive to me and I'd fix it (backup your files to DVD, reformat/reinstall and configure windows) for you at a reduced rate (20% off just because you're a member of spudfiles). My company is licensed and all that good jazz. Let me know if you want help.

[POS]

You shoold use hitman pro. It is free and uses all sorts of anti spyware and anti maleware programs on the net. Just install it and let it doe it's bussines. It wil download severel progs and uses them. I use hitman pro, and it work very well. Best to use it, when you go to bed, cause it takes a very long time. It auto shuts off your PC.

Here you find it.

[saladtossser]

i rebooted last night after the restore, things ran fine for 5 min, then that same thing happened.

i am posting from school...

[jrrdw]

What in the heck is malware, some kind of free program? I'm pretty much computer illiterate, just sent drac a pm asking how to rename/name links, he edited 2 of mine, i like the idea of doing that, saves room. Hope you get yours straightend out salad, good luck.

[POS]

looks like got some bastard virus or something. Try hitman pro though, it is a very good program.

jrrdw, maleware is some parasite sort of program, like spyware and virusses and shit. Bad stuff ....

[MrCrowley]

did the same thing as tosser,i used zonealarm but i still get pop-ups so i use winguard pop-up remover

[saladtossser]

im pretty much out of commish for a few days
virus scan only found 2 adware, 2 joke program, and 1 called IRC Trojan, all of which have been deleted. did not solve the problem
i cant really download anything else to use, so i'll start backing my junk...

[MrCrowley]

if your getting pop-ups another thing to do is to disable the internet with zonealarm. other then that use Xoftspy or Spybot

[POS]

im pretty much out of commish for a few days
virus scan only found 2 adware, 2 joke program, and 1 called IRC Trojan, all of which have been deleted. did not solve the problem
i cant really download anything else to use, so i'll start backing my junk...

Trust me man, use hitman pro, let the program run on your PC, and all that shit is gone. I mean it.
At first I couln't believe that, since I had used a lot of progs, and non of them worked perfectly. Then I used hitman pro. All parasite progs are gone. Use it, what do have to lose man.

[MrCrowley]

i used hitman pro all it does is install other spyware software and run them.its a POS

[POS]

Indeed it does that, it usen the best programs, installs them and run them all. In the right order that is.

It works for me well.

[saladtossser]

my friend is bringing a linux on a cd, hopefully it has some sort of antivirus with it

all my stuff got burnt on 4 dvds