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Ryan F.
Guest
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 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:46 am |
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Ugh, a computer virus.. i HATE these things. 
okay.. so my computer has been running sluggish lately, and programs and/or files open very slowly when double-clicked, sometimes not opening at all. also -- forget about gaming.. like I said, it takes forever for FS9 to even open.. if it does. and I know it's a virus because ctrl + alt + delete doesn't even work. ahh! so frustrating. and I don't even know where i got it because i have antivirus running.
any suggestions on how to get rid of this thing? i did a system scan and repair twice (the one by Norton antivirus)
please don't say "system recovery" ... those words haunt me... i've had to do that once before because someone messed with system settings and everything was screwed to hell and back. it's such a process.. with re-loading all the games and all...
any suggestions at all? i'd appreciate any help
thanks in advance  |
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Tailhook
Chief Captain
Joined: Oct 12, 2005
Posts: 8480
Location: El Dorado |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:53 am |
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This won't rid you of whatever virus(es) you have. But for future peace of mind I would upgrade to a properly working antivirus such as Avast!
It's FREE!! |
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brownbox
Captain
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 921
Location: nzhn |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:53 am |
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i had that same thing! used 98% of the cpu all the time 
how i fixed it? i noticed that the programme takes about 30 seconds to start when the computer gets to the desktop. so you can used control alt delete in those 30 seconds  in the task manager go to processes and you will see a programme running called win update.exe
this is the problem  so simply change the programmes that start up using
the msconfig menu. thats all i know i did. dont have too many more details  |
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Greekman72
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 15, 2005
Posts: 7055
Location: Hellas |
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BigFish13
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:01 pm |
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It is likely although not certain that you don't have a virus. You probably have some form of adware or many versions. They are simply little files that generate ads on your PC and when you get enough of them, your PC simply slows down and locks up.
If you are running Norton (and have paid for updates) you should be fine but adware is a different story.
You can go to any company (mine included) and get a free adware scan. Stopzilla is a very good product and it offers a free trial. To clean up your headaches you are going to have to pay for the product in the end.
http://www.stopzilla.com
Arthur
http://www.pcsecurityshield.com |
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CRJCapt
Chief Captain
Joined: Sep 12, 2005
Posts: 4281
Location: Ohio,USA |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:41 pm |
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Type msconfig in the Run prompt, then select start up tab. You should keep an eye on the programs that start with Windows. You should know what each entry is, do a google search of an entry if you don't. Too many entries will slow your computer.  |
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nottobe
Captain
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 509
Location: KBOS |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:00 pm |
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I recommand you use Acronis True Image to back up your system. It will restore your system to the condition when you backed up. It's just like cloning from the saved image. I find it extremely handy when you make your system filled with drivers, programs, addons.......
Now I dont even bother with anti-virus, whenever I find the system running crazy, I just restore the system, it only takes a few minutes......
Acronis True Image costs 50 bucks, but it gives you peace of mind, and no more money on anti-virus |
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Greekman72
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 15, 2005
Posts: 7055
Location: Hellas |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:02 pm |
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I agree that Acronics as Norton Ghost are very useful programs but you need to make an image of your system when it runs properly.If you have problems you make an image with the problems including.
My opinion is that you have to make an image of your system just after format and finish the installation of all the programs you want.Only this moment the system is fresh and clear.
The best way is to create often some restore points and roll back to them if you have problems.
Also if you have to install something you are not sure what it will cause to your system ,or you are suspicious about it, is to before installation to create a restore point.
Of course restoration doesnt mean that the program you install deleted from your system.It is just putted in, lets say...carantine, and it cant effects anything(in most of times)
My opinion of course.  |
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Ryan F.
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:43 pm |
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Thanks for your help guys.. now I just gotta try all these different options. |
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CrashGordon
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 4668
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:05 pm |
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brownbox wrote:i had that same thing! used 98% of the cpu all the time
how i fixed it? i noticed that the programme takes about 30 seconds to start when the computer gets to the desktop. so you can used control alt delete in those 30 seconds in the task manager go to processes and you will see a programme running called win update.exe
this is the problem so simply change the programmes that start up using
the msconfig menu. thats all i know i did. dont have too many more details
Yes, you sure don't want to have to worry about those pesky security updates that Windows might need.
Now, I'll wait to see how many people call me rude for pointing out how truly bad your advice was. CrashGordon
CEO, Omega-Air Virtual airlines |
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nottobe
Captain
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 509
Location: KBOS |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:07 pm |
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Greekman72 wrote:I agree that Acronics as Norton Ghost are very useful programs but you need to make an image of your system when it runs properly.If you have problems you make an image with the problems including.
My opinion is that you have to make an image of your system just after format and finish the installation of all the programs you want.Only this moment the system is fresh and clear.
The best way is to create often some restore points and roll back to them if you have problems.
Also if you have to install something you are not sure what it will cause to your system ,or you are suspicious about it, is to before installation to create a restore point.
Of course restoration doesnt mean that the program you install deleted from your system.It is just putted in, lets say...carantine, and it cant effects anything(in most of times)
My opinion of course.
Greekman, Acronis can do differential backup, meaning making separate backup image files after the first backup image. So you can always choose which image to restore to. When restoring to the previous stage, the program deletes the patition, then restore the previous backup after it creates a new patition on the harddrive. so virus cannot survive when the patition is erased and re-created. |
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Greekman72
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 15, 2005
Posts: 7055
Location: Hellas |
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:12 pm |
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nottobe wrote:Greekman72 wrote:I agree that Acronics as Norton Ghost are very useful programs but you need to make an image of your system when it runs properly.If you have problems you make an image with the problems including.
My opinion is that you have to make an image of your system just after format and finish the installation of all the programs you want.Only this moment the system is fresh and clear.
The best way is to create often some restore points and roll back to them if you have problems.
Also if you have to install something you are not sure what it will cause to your system ,or you are suspicious about it, is to before installation to create a restore point.
Of course restoration doesnt mean that the program you install deleted from your system.It is just putted in, lets say...carantine, and it cant effects anything(in most of times)
My opinion of course.
Greekman, Acronis can do differential backup, meaning making separate backup image files after the first backup image. So you can always choose which image to restore to. When restoring to the previous stage, the program deletes the patition, then restore the previous backup after it creates a new patition on the harddrive. so virus cannot survive when the patition is erased and re-created.
Thanks for the info my friend  |
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CrashGordon
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 4668
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:19 pm |
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Ryan F. wrote:Thanks for your help guys.. now I just gotta try all these different options.
Trying to cure a problem without knowing what it is, is going to waste a lot of your time. You might be lucky and nail it the first thing, but you might not.
Close all the regular apps you have running. Then RUN taskmgr.exe and look through the running processes. List the one(s) that appear to be eating up your CPU time. Google them to see what you can find out or list them here so anyone familiar with them can identify them. Also let us know how many processes running and what the average CPU and memory useage is.
Once you know what the problem is, you can then decide if the program should be kept or not.
Also, are you seeing an unusual amount of disk or modem activity? CrashGordon
CEO, Omega-Air Virtual airlines |
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Ryan F.
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:43 pm |
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Actually guys.. it was the Lampsy Trojan virus. This I found out because I checked under "running processes" before the virus shut down my ability to use "ctrl + alt + delete" (thanks to brownbox's advice.. 2nd comment down ) It was there I found one process that wasn't normal... "b.exe"
I thought "wtf is b.exe??"
so I looked it up and found it to be a low-risk virus called the "Lampsy Trojan" virus. Although it doesn't do major damage to your hard drive (thank god).. it does use up almost half the system resources while it's running... just by itself (which explains the sluggish computing).
Anyway.. i found the bugger.. it was hiding in C:\WINDOWS\b.exe
i deleted it, and everything checks out normal now. thanks for your help everyone.
just one more thing.. anyone got advice on backing up your system.. and all the files? because i learned a lesson here... if it were a much more destructive virus I'd be in a lot more trouble right now.
thanks again guys. |
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Greekman72
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 15, 2005
Posts: 7055
Location: Hellas |
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Ryan F.
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:48 pm |
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Ryan F.
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:23 am |
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ah.. nevermind that last post. it was a firewall issue. |
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CrashGordon
Chief Captain
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 4668
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:50 am |
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Ryan F. wrote:ah.. nevermind that last post. it was a firewall issue.
Glad you found the problem. CrashGordon
CEO, Omega-Air Virtual airlines |
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