User's computer is hosed
in [64 Bits Windows]
|
Prev: Odd Notification Area behavior Win7 Pro x64
Next: Hi, will Microsoft Shared View work in an XPSP3 virtual machine
From: Graham on 5 Feb 2010 17:41 Charlie Russel - MVP wrote: > But however it has to be done, the only way I > would touch this machine is to wipe it. Can't disagree with that! And preferably reload it without the standard crapware supplied by the OEM. Anything actually useful can be downloaded and re-installed seperately.
From: John Aldrich on 6 Feb 2010 09:57 On Feb 4, 9:43 am, "Charlie Russel - MVP" <Char...(a)mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote: > I would start by wiping the computer and reinstalling the OS, given that > it's a new computer. The OEM undoubtedly has a recovery DVD for the purpose. > Use safe mode to pull off any critical data files to USB stick. (do NOT > insert that USB stick into any of your own computers without thorougly > scanning and isolating it. ) > > Now, disable and remove as much of the crudeware as you can find on the > recovered PC. Especially Norton if it's there. (You may need to download > crudeware clean up tools for this. Norton is one of the toughest to > completely remove but some others may be problematic as well. But GIYF and > there are specific cleanup tools or instructions for most of this stuff.) > > Finally, since this is a home PC, install Windows Security Essentials for an > AV. It's clean and fast. > Thanks. I actually ran VipreRescue in safe mode and it cleaned one item. Then I ran MalwareBytes in safe mode and it found something else -- some sort of Desktop Hijacker or something. Then I reset the TCP/IP stack and voila! everything started working. I downloaded SpyBot S&D as well as updating Malware Bytes and neither of them found anything else. I did, of course, remove Norton and ran their cleanup tool. I installed Vipre Home for the user as we have a bunch of free 1-year licenses for that. :-)
From: John Aldrich on 6 Feb 2010 09:57 On Feb 4, 12:13 pm, "Peter B. Steiger" <see....(a)for.email.address> wrote: > On Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:20:43 -0800, John Aldrich sez: > > > If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. If you > > have a suggestion for a better group, I'm all ears. > > This fixes PC performance issues, even totally unresponsive OS problems, > every time:http://www.ubuntu.com/ > > Just sayin'... > ROFL! :-) I'm a linux guy myself. I just make a living supporting Windows. :-) I managed to clean the PC, though... it's all good. :-)
From: John Aldrich on 6 Feb 2010 09:59 On Feb 4, 1:09 pm, "Charlie Russel - MVP" <Char...(a)mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote: > Goes to show. I never buy OEM licenses, except if a laptop comes with it. > Then I get the lowest / cheapest one I can and use my own copies of Windows > 7 Ultimate or Enterprise, depending on which machine it is. > > The OEM has an obligation to provide SOME way to recover. Or media to do it. > Or the actual OEM media. (this last almost never happens.) Some of those > ways may require the user to have actually done something (like burn a DVD > or USB stick.) But however it has to be done, the only way I would touch > this machine is to wipe it. > The machine in question actually came with a recovery partition. Don't know if there's a way to make restore disks from that or not. But, now that it's cleaned and back in the user' posession, the point is moot. :-)
From: Peter B. Steiger on 6 Feb 2010 10:56
On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:01:18 -0800, John Aldrich sez: > Actually, Bob, it was clearly infested with something. VipreRescue > (http://live.sunbeltsoftware.com) cleaned something off it and then > MalwareBytes got rid of something else and after resetting the TCP/IP > stack yet again, everything was groovy again. MalwareBytes is great. It catches stuff that AVG missed. -- Peter B. Steiger Cheyenne, WY If you must reply by email, you can reach me by placing zeroes where you see stars: wypbs.**1 at gmail.com. |