View Full Version : I need to wipe my computer, could use some assistance
scoopy_loopy
09-06-06, 22:42
I need to wipe my computer because its infected by trojans. I have at least 3 :S
So i would like some assistance of how to go about this without doing harm to my computer. Thanks.
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 00:37
Hello???? anyone....
What?! You want to ' wipe' (format and reinstall Windows) to get rid of trojans?
Do you have installed a good antivirus application at all?
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 00:47
yeah norton '04. And it gives me these charming messages saying it cant fix it.. :@
Norton '04 is far outdated (2 years!). You will have no recent definitions. :rolleyes:
Blade Runner
10-06-06, 01:06
Windows Updates have 'malicious software removal tool' which might solve some of your problems. Search for free versions of antivirus/firewall/antispyware software and then perform a scan. That's another way to go. ;)
**edit** it seems you don't have to search far...see next post.
Time you delete the baddies from your PC. :(
Download and Install Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) , first check for updates then let it scan your system. Quarantaine everything it finds. Delete the found items you are sure of they are malware.
Download and Install Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition (http://www.lavasoft.com/) , first check for updates then let it scan your system. Quarantaine everything it finds. Delete the found items you are sure of they are malware.
Download and Install SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/). Check for updates, enable Full Protection. This program prevents malware to enter your PC in the first place.
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 01:14
oh ok thanks. And if this doesnt work?
Blade Runner
10-06-06, 01:20
oh ok thanks. And if this doesnt work?
Clean install of Windows.
But there's no reason why it shouldn't work especially if you follow Joseph's instructions.
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 01:24
I get an error message when trying to run the first one. spybot search and destroy. but its running anways
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 01:31
hmm... how can i tell if sybot has finished searching? lol, it doest have a prgress thingo anywhere. and its not even telling me if its started..???
And it keeps saying : "user abort, scan not finshed properly" when I havent pressed cancel once!
"user abort" only happens when you cancelled. Study this all properly, take ur time before posting back please. ;)
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 02:03
would I post if I knew!
I havent cancelled it at all. But it happens everytime. Ive never cancelled it! lol
Hybrid Soldier
10-06-06, 02:09
If you want to wipe your computer completely you will need a memory disk or something like that. I had to wipe my computer as well and start from scratch for the exact same reason.
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 02:14
oh screw it.. ill just continue with the other programs. thanks joe for posting them
thaiexodus
10-06-06, 07:27
Time you delete the baddies from your PC. :(
Download and Install Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) , first check for updates then let it scan your system. Quarantaine everything it finds. Delete the found items you are sure of they are malware.
Download and Install Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition (http://www.lavasoft.com/) , first check for updates then let it scan your system. Quarantaine everything it finds. Delete the found items you are sure of they are malware.
Download and Install SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/). Check for updates, enable Full Protection. This program prevents malware to enter your PC in the first place.
Joseph, which of those programs removes viruses/trojans/worms?
May I suggest Avast, for a free, high powered, easily downloaded anti-virus program? www.avast.com.
Also, before you get started, you need some program to scan your memory. Else you might end up doing the infamous circlebird.
there once was a stupid virus on my pc that blocked everything and i wiped it too, i didn't knew it would delete all my files too :mad:
oh well, i"ve learned someting new back then :D
Lara Lover
10-06-06, 08:46
Yup :tmb:
Remember, Don't just think you need to reinstall Windows? You know? Just do virus scans and stuff like that to wipe all the nasty stuff off. I'd recommend updating your Norton to Norton Anti-virus/Firewall 2006.
It's alot more safer :tmb:
scoopy_loopy
10-06-06, 09:04
well I dont have 200$ to buy the new norton with, sorry. lol.. And whats the "infamous circlebird" ??
Lara Lover
10-06-06, 09:09
well I dont have 200$ to buy the new norton with, sorry. lol.. And whats the "infamous circlebird" ??
It doesn't cost $200!
Norton Anti-Virus cost me £20! Thanks to Greenkey2. She suggested an eBay user. A great one, who sells cheap Nortons :tmb:
hello has anyone used windows defender from microsoft?
www.microsoft.com
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
You can download an image (.iso) and burn a CD that will reformat your hard drive....if your PC is really riddled with trojans and viruses and such, you might want to just back up irreplaceable files, create a set of system restore disks if you don't have them or the Windows disks, and just reformat and reinstall...
tha_mattster
10-06-06, 18:18
when I saw this thread title, I thought you had got too excited playing TR :D
Hello scoopy_loopy! Now reading the developement in this thread, i think you DO have a trojan (or 3 as you said), and it blocks you from installing scanning software.
The fact that you were still running Norton 2004 shows your bad habit of not maintaining your PC properly.
Let's not waste anymore time and just reinstall Windows. No you don't have to use a special tool to first wipe your hdd. You just reinstall Windows, selecting 'New Installation', in the process your disk gets formatted for you. But you have to follow the right path.
When all is done, you either install Avast, or better: buy Norton antivirus 2006 (recommended). I payed in the shop €43,-, that's the normal price. It is better than a free antivirus because the updates are daily, very accurate, userfriendly and reliable, does the job excellently.
First, i'm assuming you use Windows XP. If not, which Windows do you use?
hello has anyone used windows defender from microsoft?
www.microsoft.com
yes i have
Blade Runner
10-06-06, 18:33
when I saw this thread title, I thought you had got too excited playing TR :D
LOL!
thaiexodus
11-06-06, 12:44
You really should check out Avast AV program. I ran it side by side Norton for a month to compare.
1. Avast has a better virus database.
2. They update as frequently as Norton.
3. They update their entire program very regularly.
4. About 1/10th the system resources.
5. Basic AV prog is free.
I got maximum fed up with Norton slowing down my computer and causing several irritating problems. What really sold me with Avast was two downloads got flagged by Avast and put in quarantine. Norton missed them. It took Norton about 10 days before it's DB was updated and it listed those two files as containing a virus. That was the day I bought the full version of Avast.
Oh yes, as Norton user since 2002 i know the irritating side-effects of the program. Norton embeds itself deeply into the operating system and controls everything, in the past causing slowdowns and errors. But since version 2006 most issues seem to be solved.
The last i had was: a certain Norton-involved error (i forgot what it was exactly, some conflict with another program) was on my system and impossible to solve it: following Symantec's instructions to uninstall Norton 'completely' and then delete even more remains (!) and then reinstall Norton, proved the error was STILL there; only thing that worked was format and reinstall Windows. This 'dark' side of Norton i can live with, knowing that it does its job thoroughly.
I don't doubt the payed version of Avast is just as good. I would be mad noticing Norton would come a week late with an update but luckily i never had such issue.
I will never claim Norton is the best, but it still satisfies my expectations as reliable and the user interface is friendly and understandable, i am used to it and trust it. In tests i read, it always comes as an 80 - 85% finder of the (lab-injected) viruses, which is the score of most of their competitors, rarely one scores 100%. And when there is one, it slows the system down the most.
Bottomline: everybody MUST have a mature, reliable and automatically updated antivirus application on their PC, as well as a firewall and anti-spybot and adware scanners.
McAfee, Kaspersky, Norman, Norton, Panda, Avast, AVG, and more, they all are professionals, and many make use of the services of the same freelance antivirus programmers worldwide.
It is down to the user. Who must understand that a 2004 version is dead. Always use the latest version (payed version recommended) and keep it updated.
Blade Runner
11-06-06, 22:02
It is down to the user. Who must understand that a 2004 version is dead. Always use the latest version (payed version recommended) and keep it updated.
I think you are mistaken Joseph. If someone buys a 2002 version of Norton today and installs it, they will still get their years free worth of subscriptions.
Infact, I installed a 2002 version of Norton on one of my computers last year and it still gave me a years worth of free subscriptions.
So unless something has changed in the last six months, or there is something different about Norton 2004, you are labouring under a misconception. ;)
Besides, as long as you pay for a new subscription once your free one runs out, you will always be up to date. So the program version does not really matter. The only difference you will find in newer versions is an improved user interface and less problems (hopefully).
You are mistaken. Each newer build of Norton contains of different sub-parts working together for total protection against the latest threats. A 2004 version of Norton installed today, does not contain many crucial parts of the renewed program (against latest threats) so those won't be updated and 'protection' will be an illusion. However you may receive new virus-updates, Norton 2004 itself installed in 2006 will be so far outdated that it can't guarantee hardly any protection.
Besides, as long as you pay for a new subscription once your free one runs out, you will always be up to date. Why would you buy, in 2006, a 2002 version? A shop that sells you such version is fooling you.
Blade Runner
11-06-06, 22:45
Why would you buy, in 2006, a 2002 version? A shop that sells you such version is fooling you.
Lol I have a 1999 version of Norton somewhere too. I wouldn't buy an old version in 2006. I would already have it.
On my laptop, I have Norton 2002 with one years free subscription. Everytime I restore the original image (from system recovery disks) for whatever reason, I always get a free years subscription with the latest virus definitions (after I update). :)
Yeah, that trick used to work up untill version 2004. Everytime you'd reinstall (or restore image) your account would be 'refreshed' as if new, and prolonged.
That no longer works (Since version 2006 they use 'activation' just like Microsoft for Windows).
i have trend mirco PC Cillian 2005 and its really great,i got Norton 2006 and i installed it but i didn't like it and it REALLY slowed down my computer,lucky my computer had to be reformated again:)
thaiexodus
12-06-06, 01:09
Do not forget, virus programs are sometimes written to defeat anti-virus programs. The older versions of most if not all AV programs have been compromised by the newer viruses. The same applies to the various security updates Microsoft puts out as new viruses exploit newly discovered weaknesses.
With Avast, and all other properly functional AV programs, the program is updated frequently. I believe Avast has replaced their entire program at least 4 times this year and updates their descriptor files every 24 hours or so.
As for viruses, identification of a virus requires the virus descriptors, 'fingerprints', be known. When an AV program runs doing a thorough sweep it compares every block of data in your computer to the known fingerprints of viruses. If the virus is newer than the fingerprint database, it will be missed.
Presently, one significant new virus is surfacing every few days. As of this morning, the consortium of virus researchers and institutes report 15 new active viruses have surfaced in the past 30 days. In other words, if your AV program and it's database is older than 30 days, you can become a victim of 15 viruses, even if your program is nearly new!
For further information on viruses in the wild, visit http://www.wildlist.org/WildList/
Keep in mind as you peruse that list:
- Those are only the active viruses presently being found. By no means all the viruses, worms and trojans out there.
- That list does not include spyware, adware or phishing scams.
Remember, many of those viruses have been carefully programmed to steal information, cause destruction of your data or even damage your computer. Quite a few of the viruses have built in safeguards that attempt to defeat your virus protection. Many can block your access to anti-virus companies on the internet. Some can even redirect your web browser to fake internet sites, even emulating anti-virus program web sites.
The bottom line is, if you do not run an updated anti-virus program constantly, you should not connect to the internet and should only run programs from companies that have a solid respectable reputation.
thaiexodus
12-06-06, 02:14
When you are attempting to remove a virus, trojan or worm in your computer that is active, especially ones that are in memory. They reinfect your files as fast or faster than you can de-infect them. If it is in memory, each deinfection causes a reinfection. Eventually, every file in your computer gets infected.
To put it succinctly, you fly in ever smaller and smaller circles until you fly up your own :cen:
Blade Runner
12-06-06, 12:41
Yeah, that trick used to work up untill version 2004. Everytime you'd reinstall (or restore image) your account would be 'refreshed' as if new, and prolonged.
That no longer works (Since version 2006 they use 'activation' just like Microsoft for Windows).
Well that trick worked on Norton Internet Security 2005 too, until recently. I think they may have updated the way their servers update. ;)
scoopy_loopy
13-06-06, 02:57
ok, sorry. Ive been away from the thread. OK Joesph, I wanna reinstall windows. I have windows Xp service pack 2 im pretty sure.
Take me through it please... (And how can I keep certain files, not possible?)
and will this fix my "random crashing" problem?
Check this thread (http://www.tombraiderforums.com/showthread.php?t=66732)... :tmb:
scoopy_loopy
13-06-06, 03:25
ill do that now. cheers
This page (http://www.socrtwo.info/cleanxpinstall.htm)is explaining step by step.:)
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