virus got my pc

fbm211

Another one of those damn companies hit my pc with the buy our software to fix your pc.

It looked as though win7 was taking care of it by scanning and fixing the problem but after it was done I got the buy our virus protection and repair your pc message/popup.

I lost all my favorites in IE and my raptor D drive is showing up as empty even though it says 1.77GB free of 34.4GB.

I cant see why IE favorites is gone since I opened google chrome and was able to import them over.They just dont show up in IE.
I was able to go into safe mode and do a system restore but I am still missing the favorites and drive d is still showing as empty and windows says I need to format it to use it.Damn I had a-lot of info on that drive I cant replace either.Another wierd problen is I keep getting these internet radio commercials just starting up on thier own without starting anything to open it.
Time for a win 7 fresh install.....Later.

Sherardp

If you have a spare computer or HDD, you could run that corrupted drive as a slave and attempt to recover some data that way. I would try safe mode without networking and see if you can get in that way as well ( though you mentioned it without saying which you mode attempted). Not sure what else you can try other than running CCleaner, MS Security Essentials, Malwarebytes and attempt to remove any correction via those apps . If those end up working for you, I would recover the data you want saved via CD or thumbdrive. Afterward go for the fresh install of W7. External HDDs are your friend, always keep a back up of your system .

markmarc

Personally, I'd do a complete "nuke and repave" of your hard drive. I do it twice a year on my wife's desktop to keep it fresh and speedy.

inspiredsports

markmarc wrote: »

Personally, I'd do a complete "nuke and repave" of your hard drive. I do it twice a year on my wife's desktop to keep it fresh and speedy.

Unfortunately, that's a great idea. I say unfortunately because there should be a better (less time consuming) way. The Windows registry is an abomination and begins growing and slowing performance about 1 second after you install Windows.

BeefJerky

markmarc wrote: »

Personally, I'd do a complete "nuke and repave" of your hard drive. I do it twice a year on my wife's desktop to keep it fresh and speedy.

You're doing it wrong! No, seriously. If you have to re-image a computer on a regular basis with a modern OS, you have a real problem. When I say modern OS, I'm referring to WindowsXP (SP2+), Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Mac OS X. Even though Windows Vista had its issues with the RTM version, none would have necessitated a re-install, just an overlay of SP1. Also, even though not modern, Windows 2000 was rock solid as well.

If you are re-installing that often, your likely candidates for problems are:
1) Bad hardware - this happens more often that one may think, and depending on the exact problem and severity, it can cause a slow corruption of files.
2) Incompatible hardware - it shouldn't happen in this day and age, but it still does, and can mimic the same symptoms as bad hardware.
3) Improper initial install
4) Bad drivers - obviously, the problem here is the particular manufacturer, but it is still a real issue. If you can't find reliable drivers, then get different hardware.
5) Bad software - blame the developer, not the OS. It is pretty rare that a piece of software will ruin an OS install nowadays, so this should be low on your suspects.
6) User problem - this includes viruses and spyware since it is nearly always a stupid move by the user that lets the infection occur. This is very common.

inspiredsports wrote: »

Unfortunately, that's a great idea. I say unfortunately because there should be a better (less time consuming) way. The Windows registry is an abomination and begins growing and slowing performance about 1 second after you install Windows.

Back in the Win95/98/Me days, the registry was a big culprit in terms of problems. However, that isn't a real issue anymore, despite the inaccurate claim that many users make. If your OS install is having problems, there are other actual issues that are the real cause, and they are listed above.

WilliamM2

As stated above, if you are unable to clean it up, try to get the data by connecting to a different computer. If you do end up re-installing, use the built in utility in Win7 to create a disk image, in case you have the same issue in the future, or a hard drive failure. Also use the built in backup feature on a weekly basis to back up data to an external storage device.

Win7 action center actually warns you, and asks you to create these backups. Too bad most just ignore it. Microsoft can only do so much to make the OS fool proof.

nadams

FBM - your raptor drive is NOT empty. Go to Tools - Folder options - View - and check the box for "show hidden files and folders". I've seen this many times... the software goes through and hides all your files so you think that the drive is empty. Cleanup can be done with a mix of MalwareBytes and your favorite virus scanner. Sometimes these can get more involved than that, though. I often have to hook drives up to my PC and scan them there, as the fake antivirus software blocks installation of MalwareBytes, etc. Once MB cleans off the main fake av executables, I pop the drive back in the original PC, and can usually then install and run MB there. That takes care of the registry hooks and other nastiness.

Rivrrat

Malawarebites and Combofix.

Sometimes you need to reload IE after Combofix, but I've always had my stuff come back.

Good luck

billbillw

Doesn't anyone use the backup features in Windows 7? Weekly backups!!! I also store all my videos, photos and downloads on separate drives/partitions from my C:drive. Worst case, you restore from 1 or 2 weeks ago and maybe loose a few few emails (and usually not because I have my servers keep messages for 30 days, so they repopulate once I sync again).

dee1949

...did you try this. i know i removed it from a friends computer a while back. Forget exactly how, but required Malwarebytes. Read "post replys" on site below too...they also have tips.

http://www.howtogeek.com/57837/how-to-remove-win-7-anti-spyware-2011-fake-anti-malware-infections/

Removing Win 7 Anti-Spyware 2011

Download a free copy of MalwareBytes, copy it to a thumb drive, and then install it on the infected PC and run through a scan. You might have better luck doing this in Safe Mode.

fbm211

Ive got my main rig back up and running.I used my XP disc to format the VelociRaptor drive and then installed win7pro.
So would it be OK to plug the raptor back in? I downloaded the microsoft virus protection software they provide for free but I just dont want any virus remaines to reinfect the rig.My other rig does not have sata support so I cant use it.

fbm211

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
5 minuites after installing security essentials it caught a trojan while I was at the bioware site to download patches.

WilliamM2

fbm211 wrote: »

Ive got my main rig back up and running.I used my XP disc to format the VelociRaptor drive and then installed win7pro.
So would it be OK to plug the raptor back in? I downloaded the microsoft virus protection software they provide for free but I just dont want any virus remaines to reinfect the rig.My other rig does not have sata support so I cant use it.

Why didn't you just use the Win7 DVD to format the disc? To answer your question, after a format, there will be no remnants left, of course all your data is gone as well. And you didn't have a virus, you had malware.

gmcman

If you don't have a 2nd HD, then a 1TB Caviar black would be great as a backup.

As stated above, go into safe mode, move all your keeper files like pics, movies, etc onto the new HD, then if you have to reinstall your OS then so be it.

Not sure what AV you are using, but since I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) I have not had one problem, crash, etc..and it's free. Best AV I have used, go figure...they have a name to protect.

fbm211

I tried to use the win 7 dvd to reinstall but every time I clicked to install it would not go ahead.It would hang for a second or so and then ask to choose upgrade or custom install again.Every time.
I have three drives and two were connected at the time the malware hit.Im just wondering if it got onto the 2nd back up drive.
It certainly affected my majic jack.Windows reported it had a couple problems when I hooked it back up but scanned and fixed two problems it found.

gmcman

I had a virus on my last pc before I built this one....really dug in deep. I went into safe mode and condensed one of my drives to another to allow for a format then transferred all of my documents, pictures, music, videos, favorites, all back onto the clean drive.

Then I just went ahead and did a fresh install of Win 7 and had no issues since.

I was using Avast AV at the time but this rig has MSE. Zero issues for 1 year so far, last build was Win XP....never would I mess with Vista but that's just me.

If you have precious memories on your HD then I would get them to a safe place now.....you never know what has buried itself in there.

Mr. Sharpe

fbm211 wrote: »

It looked as though win7 was taking care of it by scanning and fixing the problem but after it was done I got the buy our virus protection and repair your pc message/popup.

I was able to go into safe mode and do a system restore but I am still missing the favorites and drive d is still showing as empty and windows says I need to format it to use it.

Another wierd problen is I keep getting these internet radio commercials just starting up on thier own without starting anything to open it.

I have some experience here, I hate those damn asses pop ups etc. they suck. before installing something if the internet works google it and it'll say if it's a virus or not. Restore worked for me one time but it sounds like it didn't work all the way since you're getting that radio station thing come up and your drive is showing it's empty.

The fresh install will fix your computer, Good luck with all that.

and the missing info can be restored but I don't know they do that. my hard drive completely died one time and the guy that was going to fix it asked for the dead drive to get the Drivers off of it so if he can do that somebody can get that info off your drive for you.

mantis

I'm so sorry you have to deal with all that. I gave all that up years ago. Do yourself a favor and get a Mac. I have yet to have any of those problems.
Only thing now is rumor has it people have been trying to hack into Mac and give them virus/Malware etc. Doesn't anyone have anything else better to do with ones time?

BeefJerky

mantis wrote: »

I'm so sorry you have to deal with all that. I gave all that up years ago. Do yourself a favor and get a Mac. I have yet to have any of those problems.
Only thing now is rumor has it people have been trying to hack into Mac and give them virus/Malware etc. Doesn't anyone have anything else better to do with ones time?

Well, since the market share has been increasing for Apple, it is no surprise that there is interest in creating viruses/malware for it. It was bound to happen really.

However, a Mac isn't the end all be all of problems. Modern Microsoft OS's are perfectly stable (XP SP2, Vista, Win7); we are no longer in the awful Win95/98/ME days. I haven't had a virus infection in many years on any of my Microsoft OS's, however, I take precautions. I run a virus scanner, and avoid visiting sites and downloading things that are likely to bring about a virus. It's really just common sense; however, I realize that it is not something that is actually common anymore.

Mr. Sharpe

Hackers sit in front of the computer all day everyday 24/7 and hack stuff. like you said Mantis, they don't have anything else better to do.

this guy on Yahoo! said "hackers can steall all the money you make in a week in 5 minutes, I'm pretty sure they have lives". Yep, I guess if you enjoy being a thieving **** I guess it's okay then.

WilliamM2

Keiko wrote: »

Awwww...sad liitle man living off the government's teet, can't take his own medicine. Bummer.

WilliamM2

Keiko wrote: »

Awwww...sad liitle man living off the governments teet, can't take his own medicine. Bummer.

Sherardp

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

Hackers sit in front of the computer all day everyday 24/7 and hack stuff. like you said Mantis, they don't have anything else better to do.

this guy on Yahoo! said "hackers can steall all the money you make in a week in 5 minutes, I'm pretty sure they have lives". Yep, I guess if you enjoy being a thieving **** I guess it's okay then.

This not true at all. Not all are evil. It's like having a Super Power, some use it for evil , I use it for good. See post 2, it was spot on with the fix. OP glad your in the clear.

Mr. Sharpe

Ah I see.

bigaudiofanatic

One word

ESET