- Joined
- May 16, 2006
- Messages
- 849
- Location
- In The Junge, The Mighty Jungle
- Main Job
- Secondary Job
- Server
- Quetzalcoatl
- Linkshell
- Machina
So, my computer was absolutely owned by a virus that leaked a whole bunch of Adware and Spyware onto my computer (over 4,000 files ranging from cookies to spyware were found). Mind you, I have Windows XP, so I should have seen this a mile away.
I literally had 50 billion different virus programs up (AVG, Spybot, SUPERAntispyware, Mcaffe -piece of crap-, Norton Antivirus, Stopzilla, Microsoft Diagnostics, etc). I am 99.9% sure I have gotten rid of most of the virus (there are still a few Adware pieces hanging around, such as the "VIRUS ALERT!" next to the clock on the lower right hand corner of the screen).
So, what did the virus do? It deleted most of the shortcuts on all desktops for users. It deleted the "All Programs" option under the Start menu, along with all the options on the right hand column of the Start menu (Run, Control Panel, etc.). The only thing I can currently run from the column is Run, which I have to use the shortkey for (Window button + r). Also, I can only open files from My Documents and the C: drive, which doesn't include things such as Final Fantasy XI or Warhammer 40,000: Soulstorm. The Microsoft Auto-updater was also turned off during the virus, which also wreaked havoc, along with the Task Manager being turned off by the "administrator". What is weird, however, is that when I went to turn the Auto-updater (it eventually worked after a while), I was re-directed toward the option under Control Panel for 'Add/Remove Programs'. I saw that the files were still in existence, and blah blah blah.
So, I was severely pissed off that I couldn't get onto FFXI last night, but no matter, I called Microsoft this morning, but was re-directed to Dell. The technician I talked to was nice and all, and he told me that the entry files for the programs were most likely corrupted because of the removal of the foreign softwares (adware, etc.), and that to fix the windows I'd have to reinstall it. I tried explaining to him that the files were deleted before I scanned it, but it didn't seem to click in his head for whatever reason. So I don't think that the scans are what did the entry files in, but it could've been the virus--I guess I will never know.
However, my question is: How the Hell do I solve this situation without having to reformat my computer, if at all possible? And if I do need to reinstall windows, how can I go about it without having to try and find the XP disc or pay the $40.00 service charge from Dell?
I literally had 50 billion different virus programs up (AVG, Spybot, SUPERAntispyware, Mcaffe -piece of crap-, Norton Antivirus, Stopzilla, Microsoft Diagnostics, etc). I am 99.9% sure I have gotten rid of most of the virus (there are still a few Adware pieces hanging around, such as the "VIRUS ALERT!" next to the clock on the lower right hand corner of the screen).
So, what did the virus do? It deleted most of the shortcuts on all desktops for users. It deleted the "All Programs" option under the Start menu, along with all the options on the right hand column of the Start menu (Run, Control Panel, etc.). The only thing I can currently run from the column is Run, which I have to use the shortkey for (Window button + r). Also, I can only open files from My Documents and the C: drive, which doesn't include things such as Final Fantasy XI or Warhammer 40,000: Soulstorm. The Microsoft Auto-updater was also turned off during the virus, which also wreaked havoc, along with the Task Manager being turned off by the "administrator". What is weird, however, is that when I went to turn the Auto-updater (it eventually worked after a while), I was re-directed toward the option under Control Panel for 'Add/Remove Programs'. I saw that the files were still in existence, and blah blah blah.
So, I was severely pissed off that I couldn't get onto FFXI last night, but no matter, I called Microsoft this morning, but was re-directed to Dell. The technician I talked to was nice and all, and he told me that the entry files for the programs were most likely corrupted because of the removal of the foreign softwares (adware, etc.), and that to fix the windows I'd have to reinstall it. I tried explaining to him that the files were deleted before I scanned it, but it didn't seem to click in his head for whatever reason. So I don't think that the scans are what did the entry files in, but it could've been the virus--I guess I will never know.
However, my question is: How the Hell do I solve this situation without having to reformat my computer, if at all possible? And if I do need to reinstall windows, how can I go about it without having to try and find the XP disc or pay the $40.00 service charge from Dell?
