Virus OWNED my laptop *HELP*

Hi guys, need help. Mom puts USB flash disk into my vostro 1700 and it becomes infected, here are the anti virus log:

Problem is now, my whole pc has become really unstable. Everytime I load up firefox or ANY program it loads the window but it goes white and doesn't respond for around 5-45 minutes and then suddenly starts working. Same happens with msn messenger/ internet explorer/ word etc. all programs don't respond. When shutting down it hangs at the "logging off" screen. My systems really unreliable. System restore won't load, and new programs wont install (they just hang at the install screen). I've ran a full anti virus in depth scan (Nod 32) and it's removed the virus but I still have the symptoms? What can I do?

I have a recovery partition (D with factory settings but I've tried installing it at the boot screen (Ctrl + F11) but it doesn't work.

 

So, why don't you just backup all of your important documents, reformat the hard drive, and reinstall the operating system. Voila! Problem solved.

Lol. And I wanted to add that the virus PWND your system!

 

I don't have a copy of the Vista installation disc as Dell don't supply you with one. And the Recovery partition isn't working. I actually have backed up my important docs on an external hard drive but now I don't know what to do...

 

That's not true.

 

I worked Gateway Help desk for a while and for some time they never gave out disks as well.

 

Ok.. this is not a debate over whether certain vendors give out disks with their hardware I'm actually looking for some ideas on how to fix this situation? Should I *COUGH* obtain a copy of vista online *COUGH* and then use my product key to do a fresh install? Would this work?

 

I wouldn't recommend downloading Vista off the net other than from Microsoft, that's just looking for trouble. Are you able to burn backup discs at all? Or is the partition totally fried? If you're a student, for $70 you can download a legit version of Vista Ultimate for $70 here: http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-ca/default.aspx (see "additional products"). May be your best bet.

 

Lol, the partition is fine actually but to trigger it into recovery you have to press Ctrl + F11 at bootup and it doesn't work. I don't know any manual way to restore to factory settings using the recovery partition so I'm not sure what to do.

 

Yes.

 

There's nothing wrong with obtaining the media, if you have the right to install it. People seem to over-think these issues sometimes.

 

Morally there is nothing wrong with it.

Legally its wrong - i.e. criminal.

That is you downloading the code and the person who uploaded it.

Apart from that you never know what malware may exist on your ilegal copy...

If you are a student you would get MSDN access for free - that would give you Vista Business for free.

 

Are you holding ctrl and pressing f11 immediately after the computer boots, while the Dell splash screen appears? Have you installed any other operating systems on your laptop, or done something else to change the MBR?

 

And others over simplify it. There IS something wrong, it is called piracy, even if you DO have the license.

GAry

 

If you can manage to get it installed, the free version of malwarebytes ( www.malwarebytes.com) is about the best I've run across for ridding a system of near-crippling malware. Of course, you got to be able to install it, which sounds like it might be challenging in your case.

Good luck.

 

NO this is not Piracy! if you have a genuince product Key, all you are doing is grabbing the media from somewhere else! but you are using your own genuine key! get a life! you are overlooking into this so much you're not making any sense

 

And to the original poster, the solution is simple, browse around in the forums for a bit and do some searching, I was able to find a way to legally download the Vista image frmo Microsoft! yes from Microsoft, and then I burned that image using ImageBurner and installed using that DVD, legally, using my own product key.

You should be able to find the same by doing some searching, I think it was in one of the How to do Clean Install for SZ**** series thread.

 

Yeah mate I've ttried multiple times, at the black screen when you first press the power button and then the dell screen that appears 1-2 seconds later. Nothing happens. The virus must have corrupted my boot files or something.. even when I try to boot from my VISTA dvd I get this new error called

"windows/system32/boot/winload.exe the selected entry could not be loaded as it is missing or corrupt"

? I can't even install vista now because this file on my hard drive is corrupt or something. HELP

 

thanks, I've got a DVD with vista on it now, but even when I try to boot from it for a clean install I get the error message above and I can't get any further... stupid virus

 

Try to go into the BIOS menus and change the boot order so that the computer will boot first from the optical drive rather than the hard drive. As for how to go into the BIOS menus, I'm not sure...I don't own a Dell It must be one of the Function keys or the Esc key.

 

Maybe you shouldn't be networking your laptop with a laptop that dresses like that... do you have no sensibility?

 

Here's a post by DivineLogix from the link you pmed me with:

 

Ok stupid question, how do I do step 1?



"If you can get to a command prompt/DOS screen, go to d:\windows\system32"

When I type cmd in the start menu it loads command prompt with C:\Users\User> so how do I get to D:\windows\system32?

 

LOL even i don't know

But, I think you can get to it by right-clicking on "cmd" in the Start menu and selecting "Run as administrator". Also, don't forget that the "D" drive in the steps typed down by DivineLogix is where his Vista is installed. Yours may be different, e.g. it may be drive C.

EDIT: Found out how! Go to cmd and type the following: "cd C:\windows\system32". This is assuming that Vista is installed in drive C. The command "cd" instructs DOS to change directories. I learnt something new, hope you did too

 

thanks alot. Ill try it now

 

didn't work And I've had to wait 1 hour for explorer to startt responding so I can come here for more advice. Btw this is what I SEE

 

First, do not panic.

Do you have an anti-virus program installed?
If not, download/install/update free AVG (also, downloading/installing/updating Spybot 1.6.2 would be wise).

Restart the computer and go to Safe Mode of your OS.
That way, most of the command files will be inactive and the anti-virus software of your choice will have access to modify them if they are infected.

Scan the entire hdd with the anti-virus program and remove/clean any infections it finds.
Also using the updated Spybot after the anti-virus (still in safe mode) to scan your system (and remove any problems if it finds them) would be recommended.

It's quite simple.

If this method doesn't work (in most cases it does because if you do become infected with something, then you go into Safe mode and clean up the threats from there), then backup your most important data, get a hold of a copy of the OS you want to re-install and format the hdd.
Also, using a good anti-virus program would be advisable from now on.

 

When my laptop was infected even the safe mode was affected. The restore point was also affected. Finally had to clean install. You can try and ask Dell for a disk for a fee. Or get a disc from MS or download from their site.

 

Usually Safe Mode mode works even if other aspects become too compromised.
I agree that Safe Mode has a tendency of being compromised sometimes, but in my experience that's the last thing to go, which is why I didn't have to resort to clean installs when I had issues with viruses and such (which was rare to begin with).

Try the Safe Mode options I described before formatting.

 

Oh, so as well as being the self proclaimed expert on antiquated operating systems, you are now an expert on copyright law too? Wow, I am really impressed. Take a look at any Windows OS install medium, and tell me about the symbols you see there. Whether YOU think so or not, the media is all copyrighted and as such you are not legally allowed to make anything other than a personal backup copy of it. You may not make copies of it for anyone else. You may not copy it from anyone else's copy. Period. You may USE someone else's copy and apply you own genuine key, but you may NOT make a copy of the medium. Doing so is piracy and whether YOU think so or not is irrelevant. Microsoft will provide replacement copies for anyone with a valid license to the media. Note: replacement copies of media MAY not be available to holders of OEM licenses, it depends on the specific license.

Gary

 

If you are truly booting from the DVD and getting this message, it has nothing to do with a virus. When you boot from the DVD, nothing is loaded from the hard drive.

Make sure you are really booting from the DVD. If so you need to start looking at possible hardware issues, not a virus.

Gary