My damn laptop is fucked. I can't even open firefox or download any programs including anti virus programs. I have been on the phone with microsoft for over an hour,

 

Did you try safe mode?

 

I got a virus last week that just locked up my computer. It was awful I did a system restore and lost everything.

Try safe mode. Too bad I didn't learn about safe mode until after I did the restore. FML.

 

Oh yeah I did, and tried the oldest restore point I have too and nothing works. I can't download or open any programs other then a few select microsoft ones. Im using IE right now which sucks ***. Trying to figure this out.

 

Good luck. **** viruses!

 

When you went into safe mode, did you run your anti-virus software? If not, try that. If you tried everything...
you could re-install the OS without losing any data. Just choose 'Upgrade Install' If I'm correct.

 

lay off teh p0rnz

 

I've always used IE. Tried firefox for a week or two but it just sucked.

(Knocks on wood) I haven't had any viruses in probably 2-3 years and all I use is AVG free and Windows Defender.

 

Windows defender works quite well. Been using it on my Vista laptop since I got it about 2 years ago. No viruses. Norton always seemed to be a pain to use. Good luck and no more **** or Limewire and all that ****.

 

Does this mean no Spike HID and detail supply website this week?

 

I could probably fix it and worst case scenario I'd have to reformat it and start from scratch.

But... I have a test Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week and Friday I'm leaving for Miami for the weekend and won't be back till Sunday night. The soonest I'd be able to work on it would be Monday.

Windows defender is only an anti-spyware/malware. It doesn't protect against viruses. Microsoft's free virus protection is found here: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

 

they have been infecting many pc's lately, try downloading a copy of a program called ComboFix and it should correct your problems.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/comb...o-use-combofix

I have had to run that on a few computers lately here at work, and it hasnt failed me yet.

 

try going to another computer and downloading ccleaner from www.ccleaner.com and putting it onto a cd and try installing it that way on your computer. You may not be able to open up the internet because the virus damaged files in the registry related to those programs. What this program does is locates those files and fixes them. Might help. worth a shot. Another program like this one is registryfix but you have to pay for that.

 

See with Macs you don't have this problem lol. But good luck Spike... I know the feeling. That's why even though I have a Mac and I've never had a single problem with it, I keep an up-to-the-day backup of everything on my computer to an external HD; something you should consider!

 

you better hope mac's popularity stops growing. I'm sure you already know this but Mac's are actually much LESS safe than PCs. The only reason that macs don't get any viruses is because these virus makers don't bother because PCs dominate the computer market. When people start making viruses for MACs, MACs are going to be screwed

 

That's actually very true. In Pwn2Own, the macbook running safari was the first computer to be successfully taken down. It lasted far less than any of the windows computers.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2917

 

i had something similar attack my PC...i ran safe mode with a anti-virus check. the damn virus scan took forever because i included my external hard drive that was full at 450 gigs plus my pc that was full at 150. what i found out after my scan was that i had another profile on my computer that made itself an admin and me a user. i couldnt run task manager to stop programs or processes. i took it to best buy so they could run their anti virus on my computer but my friggin disk drives werent working anymore and them **** wanted 200 bucks just to tear into it and fix it. my PC aint even worth that much.

i had to system restore it to factory. i lost all my software! im kicking myself in the *** now for not making backups.

 

Frag the HDD, format, and learn your lesson NOT to download from limewire.

 

the last virus I had was a nasty one too. I have system restore to an earlier date on my XP. but it locked me out of that function. I ended up going to safe mode, and system restore to an earlier date, and it let me back up a few days prior to that stupid virus. Before that nasty one I had another, and did a reformat. Gaaawd I lost a lot of stuff I had. Mainly copyright songs I failed to burn to a disc. But system restore is the best option, if you have it..

 

I don't use limewire, and who the hell does still?

Like I said though I can't even save any programs or run hardly any as its stopped that pretty much. I have microsoft tech calling me later on today to help me fix this problem. It will be nice not to talk to those idiots who run though prompts on a screen and actually have someone who knows more then me help me fix this.

As for my site I am screwed because all the data is on the laptop and that is what is screwed. I would of had it done already if it wasn't for this problem.

And I won't format this hard drive no need to yet, and most likely won't have to.

And whoever said run CCcleaner, I already have that and it will run that program but it doesn't fix anything virus and malwear wise.

 

I bet if you run ComboFix it will correct your problem, and then you should be able to run the normal anti malware apps of your choice.

 

My computer is fucked up as well. It started with it constantly restarting for no reason, and then it escalated to an overheating issue. Then it finally crapped out to the point where it will turn on but nothing else will happen . I've essentially been with out a computer for about 3 weeks. For the time being I'm borrowing my sisters computer because she also has a laptop that she can use.

 

Its booting up right now, and I am gonna give that a shot.

 

you beat me to it

 

Not gonna lie, I skipped the rest of the thread after you said you called microsoft support...You actually called them?!?! I didn't even know they HAD support lol!!! I've never actually heard of anyone who has even told me they thought about calling them, let alone doing it!

And shambles, that was a rather ignorant statement. If you actually know what you're doing in terms of downloads, you will virtually NEVER receive a virus from a p2p network. Neglegence of program types, file sizes, and open ports is what leaves "Hackers" the holes to go through to put malicious software on your computer.


After reading the thread, I'm not 100% sure what the problem is. But I do know of a very good online solution : Trend Micro's "Housecall"

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

This is a great way to remove viruses, and seeing as how you can't open any programs, it could be a possible solution.

So... I'm guessing the computer posts, the computer starts and runs but you can't run any programs... my solution would be considered invalid if internet explorer is included in this.
Can you give us a few more details of the problems, and/or updates of what you have been told by MS staff.

 

Ok here is the deal as of now.

Thanks to Microsofts help I finally got rid of the virus and malware that was on my laptop.

However there are still lurking problems. I am having problems downloading some programs like new versions of CCcleaner or even other registry cleaners. It will download them, but then I can not get them to open and it doesn't even give me the option to save to desktop. Weird I know right?

Also it constantly tells me I need to download new updates even though its the same update listed every time. And when I do install this update and restart my laptop, a few mins after booting back up it tells me I need to install a new update and what do you know its the same one I already did. So yeah I need help lol.

 

Um...limewire is NOTORIOUS for passing a corrupted file with a virus to people. Torrenting is safer, but a p2p network like that is how a LOT of stuff gets passed around. Not all users are computer savvy and know how to download safely.

Furthermore, dont ever call me ignorant like I dont know WTF I'm talking about. You have NO idea how many PC's I've fixed from people who have downloaded something off of limewire that fucked up their PC.

Here is a quote from the link further down in this post.

"Gnutella is one of the most virus filled networks. It is suggested to use alternatives such as bittorrent."

And you aren't too smart about how a "Hacker" gets into your PC. Downloading a file that has malware attached can normally open up ports that you dont even know about. It's not a matter of someone leaving a port open, its more along the lines of downloading something that opens your ports. Those programs are what opens the backdoors, its normally not a user leaving their ports open and someone just "hacking" their way in.

tl;dr: dont talk to me like I dont know what the **** im talking about.

http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Downloa...-from-Limewire

Now go back into your hole.

 

Who on here didn't see that reply coming.. Back in your hole.. LOL

 

LOL...I love my hole, its so dark and moist, and comfy.

 

Well, seeing as how I told you your statement was Ignorant and not yourself, I believe your attacks on my persona are a little uncalled for. I assume you may have fixed computers from attacks via limewire, and I can deffinately say there are thousands of viruses on every single P2P network out there, you just need to know how to sift through them, and again, you can tell if it's a virus just by looking at file type/size/bitrate(if applicable) - I will never, ever, ever, ever download a .exe from any source other than a torrent.

And furthermore, I don't care whether or not they are computer savvy or not. If they are using limewire, they should know how to check each file before use regardless of file type for viruses. If said user cannot, they should not be using any sort of p2p network at all.

Don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. In terms of ports, you have massive amounts of ports just wide open on your computer at all times, This is why most people hide themselves behind a firewall, which detects inputs via each port, stopping most hackers - but not all.
I agree with you that if you download an infected file it can open your ports, but you know as well as I that any one of those tens of thousands of ports just stay closed until you actually download an infected file. I digress - Here's what I have to say
1) Limewire is not bad. It has gained a negative reputation via 12 year old girls downloading a .exe music file, along with other non-informed computer users making bad decisions about downloads.
2) I really don't like it when people IMMEDIATELY blame p2p networks for "viruses" on their computers. Most of these problems are either registry errors or a virus that came through an open port in the form of a cookie via INTERNET EXPLORER. It is just as common to recieve a virus through internet explorer as it is to recieve it through a p2p network.