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need to take my computer in for work. advice?

s13sr20det

admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.
Veteran
hey everyone :tiphat:

my computer has a virus and i need to have it looked at. i am worried about bringing it in somewhere because i have about 11 gigs of cannabis related books, videos, and pictures in a hidden file. Even when scanning with the Avira Antivir it shows "hidden objects" so im worried they will be found...

so is there any place i should under no circumstances bring it? im worried about a business taking info from it and turning it over to the man.

should i just hire one of those "We come to your house" people to fix it and pay the extra price?

thanks,

S13

ps i cant fix it myself because it wont power on. i get a black screen with \windows\system32\config\system file missing/damaged
 

El Diablo

Member
hey everyone :tiphat:

my computer has a virus and i need to have it looked at. i am worried about bringing it in somewhere because i have about 11 gigs of cannabis related books, videos, and pictures in a hidden file. Even when scanning with the Avira Antivir it shows "hidden objects" so im worried they will be found...

so is there any place i should under no circumstances bring it? im worried about a business taking info from it and turning it over to the man.

should i just hire one of those "We come to your house" people to fix it and pay the extra price?

thanks,

S13

ps i cant fix it myself because it wont power on. i get a black screen with \windows\system32\config\system file missing/damaged

i would ask a friend to do it. or get a portable harddrive back up the data and reformat youreself.

-BTW what virus did you get might be able to help you out :tiphat:
 

s13sr20det

admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.
Veteran
i would ask a friend to do it. or get a portable harddrive back up the data and reformat youreself.

-BTW what virus did you get might be able to help you out :tiphat:

internet security 2010. i just moved and dont know anyone in this area.

:thank you:
 

Hovz

Active member
did you try starting in safe mode? i think on xp u just press f8 over and over before/while windows is starting up. You should be able to fix the problem yourself without too much trouble. Get a good anti virus and spy ware program and make sure you got the updates for them. I like spy bot search and destroy and avira anti virus.
 
I just found this, none of this is written by me, I take no credit. enjoy.

"Hello,

Internet Security 2010 is a tough one especially if it comes with Trojans.

1. Reboot your PC in [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Safe [COLOR=blue ! important]Mode[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] with Networking.
2. Download [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Spyware [COLOR=blue ! important]Doctor[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] http://www.pctools.com/downloads/afl_2-spyware/sdsetup.exe
3. Install it, update and run a full system scan.

If you can complete the above steps then you are lucky. That means there's only IS2010 without any additional [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]malware[/COLOR][/COLOR]. However, if you can't install or [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]download[/COLOR][/COLOR] Spyware Doctor then removal will be more complicated.

1. Download HijackThis from http://go.trendmicro.com/free-tools/hijackthis/HijackThis.exe
NOTE: rename HijackThis.exe to explorer.exe before saving it.

2. Launch HijackThis and click “Do a system scan only” button. Look for such entries in scan results:

F2 – REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe logon.exe
F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon86.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [winupdate86.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\winupdate86.exe

Select those entries and click the “Fix checked” button. Then close HijackThis.

3. Download WinSock XP Fix: http://www.snapfiles.com/php/download.php?id=107303
Launch WinSock XP Fix and click on "Fix" button. NOTE: I recommend backup the registry by clicking "ReG Backup" button before fixing registry.

4. Download Spyware Doctor. Install it, update and run a full system scan.
http://www.pctools.com/downloads/afl_2-spyware/sdsetup.exe

Good luck!"
 
K

kannubis

I have used the free version of AVG antivirus to remove that !@#$%^ poppinup program. Might have to download it to a disk and/or install on another box putting the hard drive into it as just a secondary though since you can't boot.
 
i would ask a friend to do it. or get a portable harddrive back up the data and reformat youreself.

-BTW what virus did you get might be able to help you out :tiphat:

+1

Completely removing a virus in windows is tough. Backup + Reformat/reinstall is guaranteed, plus you get that new computer feel (until windows bogs down again).

Also good time to upgrade to 7 if you haven't already.
 

s13sr20det

admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.
Veteran
thanks for the responses everyone!

did you try starting in safe mode? i think on xp u just press f8 over and over before/while windows is starting up. You should be able to fix the problem yourself without too much trouble. Get a good anti virus and spy ware program and make sure you got the updates for them. I like spy bot search and destroy and avira anti virus.

it wont start in safe mode either because of a damaged file
\windows\system32\config\system file missing or damaged

Malwarebytes works wonders on that 2010 bullshit

the popup came up saying that security alert and the options were ok and cancel. dont press either of them! lol i pressed cancel and the computer started going crazy. i ran malwarebytes and then it found i think 6 errors... to complete it needed to restart, so i clicked restart and it hasnt powered on since :(
 

purple_man

Well-known member
Veteran
high,

if you have a win xp setup cd, and your pc boots from cd/dvd drive first (else make changes in the BIOS, so it does), you could re-install windows, worked for me last time i had a similar problem
 

El Diablo

Member
thanks for the responses everyone!



it wont start in safe mode either because of a damaged file
\windows\system32\config\system file missing or damaged



the popup came up saying that security alert and the options were ok and cancel. dont press either of them! lol i pressed cancel and the computer started going crazy. i ran malwarebytes and then it found i think 6 errors... to complete it needed to restart, so i clicked restart and it hasnt powered on since :(

That is the bad thing about that POS. it will block the install of Malwarebytes or an installed antivirus (that is out of date. had this happen to one of my users last week. missed an update and got hit with some that was released the next day.)

the best thing to do it get a USB drive and copy over all the data that you want to back up. then reformat the machine using the OEM disk and start fresh.

If by chance you have another PC. i would remove the drive and hook up the drive as a slave and scan the drive with a good antivirus. i recommend NOD32 "eset.com" really good AV picks up most of the junk that others won't. after that run Malwarebytes to be safe. and last thing i would change all your passwords.
 

s13sr20det

admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.
Veteran
if its going to cost $150 to get fixed should i just get a cheap laptop and try what you are telling me?

sorry, but alot of what you are saying i dont understand.... so if i can get a hold of that disk will my computer still have all the stuff on it or am i wiping it clean?
 

dtfsux

Member
If you reinstall windows, I THINK you can do a repair, where it should leave your data intact.

Do you have another PC you can use for a while? I would try using the bad drive as a slave, copying your files to another drive, USB etc, then reformatting the bad drive. Of course make sure the PC you use, has good antivirus software running.
 

!!!

Now in technicolor
Veteran
Get a Mac.

Is the hidden file password protected? Here's what I would do. Download TrueCrypt and create a giant encrypted folder, put everything in there and close the folder (the "folder" is actually a file which gets decrypted and mounted so it looks like a folder or a new disk drive as far as Windows is concerned).

Also clear browser cache and saved passwords and all that.
 

s13sr20det

admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.
Veteran
yea its password protected, but i mean its not really hidden because the antivirus has a hidden folder search and it finds it every time, so if i take it somewhere and they scan they will find it.
 

Janeymac

New member
You know who makes the laptop and what model it is ? ...
... get online on another computer and find out how to get into bios on your machine.
Its usually one of the F number keys or the ESC key . You tap it repeatedly at startup and instead of the machine booting up the OS it goes into bios and you can make some resets in there like booting into bios automatically at startup or choosing cd/dvd drive as first boot device etcetera.
If you can get into the bios i would try a Windows repair if you have the installation disc , you need to reset the machine in bios to boot from cd/dvd drive first though.
If you get that far you should find your way from there.
 
Last edited:

hkush

Member
Lets see....

If it was me, the first thing I'd do is stick a linux live disk in it. Boot to the cd, and move all the files you want to keep to a portable usb drive of some type,

Then, if its a newer laptop, they sometimes put the "master restore disk" on a hidden partition. Call the manufacturer and ask what sequence of keys you need to press at boot time to get to that partition and start the restore. If its an older laptop, it might have a physical restore CD. Stick that in and restore it.

Alternatively, if I had an extra few hundred dollars, go to Walmart and get a new laptop.

Easy. And much easier than rooting through a computer that has slowed to a crawl because of malware and badware infestation.
 

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