HELP! MAJOR COMPUTER SCREW UP!

DeadLogic · Post by **DeadLogic** » Sat May 01, 2004 6:09 pm

Just yesterday my computer started messing up. I run on windows XP. Here's the thing....

I went out yesterday for a few hours. Everything on the computer worked fine. Then, when I came back, I found that I could not switch desktops. All of a sudden the computer demanded I input my Admin password, but the thing is, I've never, EVER made one. Well, I turned off the computer, restarted it, and this is what I find.

When I first log on, everything works normally (albeit it goes rather slow). After about 7-10 minutes, web function is lost. I could be in the middle of surfing the web, and all of a sudden all links and URLs I input do nothing, Mozilla just sits there. Then, maybe 3 minutes after that, programs like musicmatch, AIM, and windows explorer all shut down. I lose contact with aim service, blah blah blah. It's attributed to a C++ runtime error or something. Then, when I click on the start bar a few minutes later, the "programs" tab says "empty" on it. Then, pretty much everything is defunct and I lose all control, and am forced to pull the plug.

I have no anit-virus software, mainly because norton did jack s***. It would tell me I had all sorts of bad stuff on my computer like trojans, but would never fix them. It would also automatically restart my computer after loggin on, so I uninstalled it a few months ago. Pretty soon, it's all gonna happen all over again, and I'll need to restart just to see your responses.

HELP ME!!!! HELP ME!!!!

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Sat May 01, 2004 7:12 pm

Just recovered a machine for one of our instructors with similar symptoms. go to www.grisoft.com and download the AVG freeware version and run that. Then after cleaning up virri/trojans, go to www.lavasoft.de and download the freeware version of adaware and run that. Then GET ANTI-VIRUS software. If Norton couldn't clean the infections I would guess you didn't have auto updates runing, so therefore it was encountering variants It could identify, but not safely remove. Anti VIrus software must be updated regularly. We update at work every day...

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Sat May 01, 2004 10:57 pm

I've posted a response on my forum, DeadLogic. And just Raptor I said Get Antivirus!

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon May 03, 2004 1:32 pm

or you could go to

www.antivirus.com

GO there and scan for free from the internet, totally safe...Otherwise looks bad

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Mon May 03, 2004 1:38 pm

Mcafee offer some great anti-virus software, and a feww scanning facility. Depending on the virus you have, you may be able to download an antidote from them free of charge! They'll also send you virus warning updates - all this free!

Of course, if you want better protection, and catch the viruses as they enter the PC, rather than after they have struck, you'll need to buy some virus software.

Also folks, take note: If you're making backups, do a virus scan first! Last thing you want to do is backup contaminated data, and re-infect your system again in the future! It costs nothing to scan your computer, so DO IT NOW!

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon May 03, 2004 1:53 pm

Also, go to your local best buy or comp usa store, they sell norton antivirus 2004 + 1 year free subscription to live update for like 19 bucks (it might be 24$ one or the other)...But well worth it

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Wed May 05, 2004 3:44 am

Identified these same conditions on a server today infected by w32\assera.worm. First of all, you will need access to an uninfected machine with a cd burner. Got to www.syamntec.com, support, find the sasser info, there is a link to the symantec removal tool for download. This file will fit on a floppy. Go to Microsoft and download the patch for the sasser vuln for the appropriate version of Windows. This is like 6 meg and will need to be burned on a CD. Now you're ready to kick this little buggers a$$... disconect the infected machine from the internet ( Pull the phone line or network cable from teh PC ) and reboot. This will prevent the LSASS .EXE crash that causes the reboot. Insert the floppy and run FXSASSER.EXE - this will take several minutes to scan and remove the entries. After that finishes, insert the cd and run the patch, then reboot the machine. Back in service.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Wed May 05, 2004 6:34 am

From what I hear, DeadLogic's system had a major case of the data minor.