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Malwarebytes is EXCELLENT and helped me to rebuild my uncle's computer that
was infected with a worm, viruses, and malware!
Here are two places to go to ask the questions you have. Someone will tell
you which programs to download and use: http://www.majorgeeks.com (go to http://forums.majorgeeks.com/ and access the Malware Removal section). Read
the README section under Malware and Viruses and then post your questions
and the symptoms to the message board.
And http://www.bleepingcomputer.com under http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/. DO NOT fill in the boxes at
the top that say Just Answer. That is a fee service. Scroll down to the *Start
Here* link and check that out first. Usually there are people online who can
help you real time, but be patient.
I have revived at least three computers (and mine too) that were infected
with all kinds of nasty things by using the advice on those sites. It will
probably take you several days, but it beats losing all the data. If you can
get the PC all cleaned up, you can get a free backup service with Mozy.com,
back up the computer, then format and reinstall the operating system. Mozy's
network also scans and cleans the backups, I believe.
Good Luck!
PT
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 3:30 PM, Pinkham, Jim <Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com> wrote:
> If you've got a good backup, or can back up the files you deem truly
> essentials (documents, photos...your daughter might add music to the list,
> etc.), I'd second Ed's approach. It's probably the best, and ultimately
> fastest, way to get things spic 'n span.
>
> If Richard's right and you don't have and can't get a decent backup, then
> take the path he outlines. The only thing I'd add is run both a good AV scan
> **AND** run a malware detection and removal tool, too. I've heard good
> things about Malware Bytes, FWIW: http://www.malwarebytes.org/.
>
> Jim
>
> . If you're already able to boot up
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> techwr-l-bounces+jim.pinkham <techwr-l-bounces%2Bjim.pinkham>=voith.com@
> lists.techwr-l.com] On Behalf Of Ken Poshedly
> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 2:48 PM
> To: Techwr-l
> Subject: anti-virus removal question
>
> My 15-year-old daughter is _almost_ perfectly responsible with her 2- or
> 3-year-old Toshiba Satellite laptop (with Vista). Her maturity level is
> more like 18 or 19 years old (in a good, well-grounded way). But she
> occasionally does still have those "teenager knows everything" moments and
> now, it's caught up with her.
>
> I recall how she was always too busy with the laptop and it was a real
> uphill battle getting her to let me install antivirus protection (AVG Free)
> and Spotbot Search & Destroy on her terminal, but at least it was done. But
> then she never updated them with new virus or antispam definitions, etc.
> Instead, I did when I could get access to the laptop.
>
> Then AVG stopped offering updates for her version of the "free" product, so
> that's as far as that went. The result: expired (i.e., little or no)
> protection for who-knows-how-long.
>
> But earlier this past week, her terminal wound up with the nasty pop-up
> that announces that the terminal is infected and to click on the onscreen
> box to upgrade to some unknown bogus antivirus program (not Norton, not AVG,
> not anything I've ever seen mentioned anywhere).
>
> And cancelling out of the warning window doesn't mean the end of things.
> Instead, every program she tries -- no matter what it is -- results in the
> onscreen window notifying her that this file (or that file or the other
> file, no matter what) is infected and she should purchase this "unknown"
> antivirus program.
>
> Can't run Spybot, or download even a new AVG -- can't do nuthin'.
>
> My good friend Tim (who is also a member of this list) advises me that if I
> can somehow come up with a bootable Vista CD, I should be able to use it to
> get up and running and then run AVG from a thumb-drive (data-stick, whatever
> you call it). (My own desktop Windows XP computer is well-protected, so I
> can prepare the thumb-drive that way.)
>
> But at my office, the IT guy tells me that my plan won't work. And another
> guy says the best thing to do is remove the hard drive from the
> Toshiba laptop and cable it directly to my desktop and then run my own
> scanning software on it as it will be recognized as another drive.
>
> All of this is logical, but now I don 't know which way to turn. Is Tim
> correct?
> Or it my company's IT guy correct? Or is the last guy correct? School
> starts here in Gwinnett County (near Atlanta) next Monday, so getting this
> done in the next day or so is the plan.
>
> -- Ken in metro Atlanta
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