Shoot the computer - Or buy another?

[Kimber]

I'm not a techie,

One or two hijackers are embedded in my machine.

Spybot slows them down or keeps them at bay.

Yet, I've spent 4 hours trying to regain control of the dang machine.

The virus is something that re-sets my browser to bestse.net (or something like it) I won't go back to the prior setup to give a correct link.

I think I really need to go into the microsoft files and fiddle. Something I don't wan't to do.

Or, it could be that the PTB finally found me.

Advice? Anyone?

David

 

[FireDance]

I vote for shooting it - but only if you catch it on tape and post a link!

Actually, dunno. I have a machine that's hosed up like this. Yesterday I was burning backup copies of a CD and I think it was hijacked during the burn as it took twice as long to do the copy than it should have. I'm seriously thinking of killing the machine and reloading the OS, but I'm way lazy. I dispise waiting on a machine to load. On the other hand, I dispise waiting a zillion years for it to pull up "my computer". I just need to do file backups and bite the bullet.

Anyone have advice on finding instructions to do this and of course tweaks? XP pro here. sigh. I've never loaded a machine and I'm skeered! Haha, actually, the thing is so bad that I've been adding hardware and crap to it because I figure I can't break it. So far, I've done better than my tech guy in choices. Sheesh, bless him, he gives me all sorts of stuff and it doesn't work more than a month or two before I have to pull it. I've just started buying new without telling him... He's VERY frugal but I'm just looking at the time I've spent trying to get something to perform with no results. Sometimes bits and pieces are NOT the way to go. Of course, if you have a million bits and pieces at your feet, then I guess it's okay. But I always have to wait to acquire one and it stinks...

 

[Dennis Olson]

Ultimately, you wouldn't have to buy a new PC anyway (as long as your current one is adequate). Just buy a new hard drive for about $75....

 

[ChainedLightning]

Turn System Restore off (some things hide there)
Spybot, Adaware, CWShredder, AVG.
Reboot into safe mode
Repeat, and then reboot again into regular mode
See if everything is okay, if it is, turn System Restore back on.

This fixes *most* everything. Just make sure you update all of the programs.

 

[Kimber]

You guys are all very clever.

It's one of the reasons I appreciate this forum.

Here's my promise.

$400 in cash for the first person to risk going into my basement and implementing the above advice.

Dennis - If you swap the hard drive and can find and re-install my Office works cd: I'll double your out of pocket cost.


Yeh, I know, I'm ranting, but stuff like this really annoys me.

David

P.S. NBC coverage of GWB is talkin about why we should be happy GWB has "faith." No mention of Skull and Bones.

 

[suzy]

Humm $400 huh! Ok, seriously, are you wanting somebody to do a reinstall for you, or are you wanting directions to do it yourself?

Do you have any of the software, like a disk for your operating system, one for your MS Office, the printer, etc.? Important before you start to do a wipe.

suzy

 

[chipster]

Wow! 400 bucks. Just add $99 and get yourself a Mac Mini. No more viruses. And no, I am not trying to start a Mac vs. PC war. We haven't had a virus ever.

 

[Zander]

Kimber, first two posts here should help.

 

[NC Susan]

every virus that AVG picks up is my temp internet files. PC>Start>Programs> Accesories>Tools>Disk Clean-up)

and all the spyware that SpyBLocks locates are in cookies.
(go to:IE>Tools> Internet Options> Delete cookies)

Delete Delete Delete everyday

LavaSoft Ad-Aware (free) saves us everytime we have problems with spyware.

and if I can do IT, you can do IT!!