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Computer Whiz needed!

  • goosebumps
    My girlfriends computer is completely trashed. She doesn't maintain virus protection and she downloaded something p2p. Of course its a virus, or better yet Ricky Lakes' Bakers dozen virus'.

    I can't do anyting to get them off the computer. I can't open a website to get anti-virus for her. Everything I click on just tells me that theres a virus and tells me to buy "antivirus" which of course is malware or spyware or underwear or whatever ware.

    I'm fresh out of ideas. Any help?
  • GoChiefs
    Just reformat the computer..best to start from scratch in my experiences..then you have nothing to worry about. If you have access to everything..just back it up first so you don't lose it.
  • wes_mantooth
    Buy a new computer and donkey punch your girlfriend.
  • slide22
    if its a dell there is a way to regress back to the image on the hard drive when it was shipped from the factory... saves the hassle of a full reformat
  • goosebumps
    Actually everything I click on says its corrupted.
  • wes_mantooth
    Can you start up in "Safe Mode"....and run malwarbytes or combofix?
  • goosebumps
    I can't reformat bc she doesn't have the original cd that came with it... and yes it is a dell but its like 5 years old
  • goosebumps
    wes_mantooth wrote: Can you start up in "Safe Mode"....and run malwarbytes or combofix?
    I'll try
  • goosebumps
    I'm sorry Wes, everytime I look at your avatar I laugh, its making this whole process very difficult lol
  • ts1227
    slide22 wrote: if its a dell there is a way to regress back to the image on the hard drive when it was shipped from the factory... saves the hassle of a full reformat
    Formatting it gets rid of all of the useless, dumbass software Dell insists upon adding to their machines though. There's ups and downs to both ways!
  • goosebumps
    ts1227 wrote:
    slide22 wrote: if its a dell there is a way to regress back to the image on the hard drive when it was shipped from the factory... saves the hassle of a full reformat
    Formatting it gets rid of all of the useless, dumbass software Dell insists upon adding to their machines though. There's ups and downs to both ways!
    Can I format without the Driver cd that cam with the computer?
  • gut
    You'll need SOME cd to re-install the operating system. Borrow or steal, or I suppose you could buy one (but if the computer is 5 years old good luck finding the old Windows to install). But you should be able to get by without the driver cd (provider you have the op system cd) as you can then just go online and download current drivers.

    I think there are other options. If you don't want to spend the dough to have a Geek Squad guy fix it, you could download virus/spyware removal stuff to another computer and create a boot/rescue disk that you could then boot from to scan and fix the computer (basically what Geek Squad will do).
  • gut
    ts1227 wrote:
    slide22 wrote: if its a dell there is a way to regress back to the image on the hard drive when it was shipped from the factory... saves the hassle of a full reformat
    Formatting it gets rid of all of the useless, dumbass software Dell insists upon adding to their machines though. There's ups and downs to both ways!
    AMEN! After trying to get rid of their useless garbage (and multiple crashes as a result), I finally did the old format c:
  • joebaseball
    Check this link. 2nd one down.

    http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Cannot-run-anti-virus-malware-removal-programs-t255598.html

    I followed these steps to help a friend get rid of the same virus you are dealing with or something similar.
  • ernest_t_bass
    Buy a Mac!
  • TedSheckler
    wes_mantooth wrote: Can you start up in "Safe Mode"....and run malwarbytes or combofix?
    This
  • alwaysafan
    You should clean it up, then reformat. Computers should be reformatted about once a year.
  • eersandbeers
    Reformatting should be a last option. People always try the hardest method first.

    Here are my steps...

    1. Download HijackThis
    2. Download Malware Bytes (might need to transfer these programs to the infected computer via USB, but do not put the USB back into your clean computer once you transfer the files. You will need to format the USB once your computer is fixed)
    3. Go to www.geekpolice.net and register a username (you'll probably need to do this on another computer)
    4. Go to the Virus, Spyware & Malware Removal forum, and post the name of your virus in the topic title
    5. Follow whatever instructions they give you

    They are able to remove nearly every virus. If that doesn't work, then reformat and lose all your info.
  • slide22
    goosebumps wrote: I can't reformat bc she doesn't have the original cd that came with it... and yes it is a dell but its like 5 years old
    my dell was made in late 2004 and I can do it. Just get rid of all the useless stuff they ship with it and you'll be good. Here's the instructions...

    http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=181316
  • tk421
    slide22 wrote:
    goosebumps wrote: I can't reformat bc she doesn't have the original cd that came with it... and yes it is a dell but its like 5 years old
    my dell was made in late 2004 and I can do it. Just get rid of all the useless stuff they ship with it and you'll be good. Here's the instructions...

    http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=181316
    All that useless stuff would be on the original CD, wouldn't it?
  • ts1227
    The OS reinstall CD/DVD should not have that. Dell puts all of those programs together on another CD.
  • GoChiefs
    eersandbeers wrote: Reformatting should be a last option. People always try the hardest method first.
    What's so hard about reformatting? You pop in a disc and you're good to go. :huh:
  • dlazz
    ts1227 wrote: The OS reinstall CD/DVD should not have that. Dell puts all of those programs together on another CD.
    We end up doing this stuff at work all of the time, and I can vouch for this post...

    Partially...

    Sometimes Dell's have images on another partition of their hard-drive, and when you restore the machine it will have all of the worthless Dell applications on it when its finished.

    80% of the time if you're installing from a disc, it won't have the applications.


    To the OP: Try downloading/running these (in order) on the infected machine:

    1. http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.com
    1b. (If first doesn't run) http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.pif
    1c. (If first and second don't run) http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.scr
    2. Download Combofix and run that
    3. Download Malwarebytes and run that

    You will need to run these in NORMAL MODE. The first one kills the virus in the background. If you run it and it quickly flashes and goes away, try running it a few times. We've had to execute it up to ten times before it actually "works".

    Also, in my experience Combofix tends to work better in normal mode than it does safe mode.

    I'd say if you cannot get #1 to run and it will not boot up into safe mode at all, you might as well just wipe it. It won't be worth the time to try and clean it.

    You can, however, download an Ubuntu Live CD and run off of that. It's a Linux build that will let you get access to the hard drive without actually booting into Windows. It will run entirely off of the CD, and will let you pull files onto a USB drive or some other form of removable media.

    Also, cocks.
  • eersandbeers
    GoChiefs wrote:
    eersandbeers wrote: Reformatting should be a last option. People always try the hardest method first.
    What's so hard about reformatting? You pop in a disc and you're good to go. :huh:

    The fact you lose every piece of information on your computer. Then you have to reinstall every program and change all your settings.

    If you don't do a lot with your computer I suppose its easier.
  • jmog
    I'm surprised no one has suggested system restore yet.

    All you have to do is know what day she downloaded this crap and restore to the most recent restore date prior to that.