Let's start with this one - I don't seem to be able to do a system restore. I go into the menu, select a checkpoint to restore to, then I get to the screen that says 'clicking next will restore your computer...'. I click next, and nothing happens. I've tried with several different restore points, and it's always the same thing. Anyone have any ideas?
Heh, no, I already tried system restore for that little disaster. I think that I downloaded a trojan or something around the middle of last month. I will click on a link sometimes, and it will open a random google search. And sometimes when I do actually google for something and click on a link, it will redirect me to some random page. This type of thing has been happening more and more frequently lately. I've tried to download some apps like spybot s&d, but either I can't connect to the download page, or I'll download the installer, but then not be able to connect to the server to complete installation.
Incidentally, I am using NOD32 antivirus (which has always worked quite well for me in the past), and uniblue programs for stuff like anti-spyware and registry cleaning.
Unfortunately the viruses will usually bury themselves deep into system restore. It works against you in that sense. I tend to just completely disable it to begin with, because it's a great way for viruses to keep coming back.
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at www.malwarebytes.org
the second link works, but the page is all weird looking, and there's no download link. I got the malwarebytes installer from download.net, but when I double-click it, nothing happens(same thing in safe mode).
This is kind of a symptom of the problems I've been having though. I don't seem to be able to connect to any site where I could download something that might help me.
That may work. At any rate, I have to go out and pick up my paycheck(I feel a bit rude, asking you guys for help and then logging off... ), but I'll be back on soon.
I have thought about reformatting, but I'm seriously such a noob(this is the first computer I've ever owned, only had it for 3 years), I'd have no idea how to go about it.
Anyway, here's where I'm at right now - got malwarebytes emailed to me, went into safe mode, and installed it. But when I double-click the icon, nothing happens. It's there in my process list, but it doesn't seem to be actually doing anything.
Ugh. You've got yourself a toughy. It's blocking Malwarebytes from running.
Alright, so it comes down to two options. If you don't feel comfortable doing this next step, I can just walk you through a reformat.
What you can do is use this AntiVir Rescue System. Again, you'll have to download it on another computer or something and make the disk. I suppose you might be able to do it by booting into safe mode with networking to download it, but then you'd have to boot back into normal mode to actually run the .exe to make the disk.
Then you can boot off the disk. Using the space bar to select and the Enter key to hit ok (arrow keys to manuver), you can switch the language to English (unless you want to do it in German). Then it will load the drivers. Once that's done you want to select scan. Leave everything default, except that you want it to try and fix any problems it finds. You can hit yes to rename files it can't delete.
The scan will run for at least an hour unless you have a small amount of files or a really fast processor.
Once the scan finishes, reboot into safe mode and try to run Malwarebytes again.
Oh, and of course don't forget to move all your important data (ie: your manips) to an external hard drive or burn them to DVD. When my PC pootied out on me, the virus was not attached to any of my personal images or documents... so once I got them moved, I really didn't worry so much about the PC any more. I could pretty much break it trying to fix it and not worry about loosing anything important. Of course... after two days of trying to remedy my situation, I simply erased the demon's mind and reinstalled. And like John117_MC said... "its nice to have a fresh install". That it is.
Oh, or you could buy a mac and not worry about it. ;-) HAHA.
Good luck Dar, I hate to hear about computer problems.... which reminds me... do you know a good Epson service center... my printer coughed and shot me the bird this morning..... stupid printer.
Eh, Jr's just bustin my nuts. Anyway, AntiVir is in the process of downloading now, here's hoping it works. I've run a few deep system scans with nod32, and it can't find anything. Can't thank you guys enough for taking the time to help me out with this.
So just a quick update - I've run a full system scan with antiVir a few times, but I always have to leave before it's finished. When I get back to the computer, it's rebooted, and sometimes is showing a 'system has recovered from a serious error' message. There was one time that it found a trojan(didn't catch the name of it) hidden in one of my photoshop plug-in folders. Also, I tried to visit a certain video site *cough cough* and got the following message -
Your computer (IP: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (btw, the ip it gives is not actually mine) generates an attacking DOS requests at our servers caused by the spyware/virus named 'Troj/Rustok-N'
Don't know how legit it is, since it then gives a link to 'recommended software' called winiguard, which seems to be a trojan itself. But it may at least be a clue. Anyway, I'm running another AntiVir scan now, we'll see what it turns up.
Okay, damn thing just froze up and restarted on me, again, in the middle of the scan. Got this error message during the restart, seemed like it might be important -
), but I'll be back on soon.
