PROBLEMS with virus riddled laptop FOLLOW-UP

[Guest Richard]

Well..... :-)

 

108 viruses and trojans removed from C: drive

3 more removed from external USB drive

4 more removed from USB memory stick

4 more (again) removed from another USB memory stick

 

Tools->Folder Options... menu and task manager restored to working order.

The laptop even connects to the internet now!

 

Several incomplete pieces of software dis-installed, including the remnants

of no less than 3 other antivirus/firewall programs!

 

The only outstanding issue was the failure of double-clicking on Local Disk

drives in My Computer to work. Tried two solutions to this problem (regsvr

/i shell32, and http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm), but neither

had any effect at all - let alone fixing the problem.

 

Double-clicking on Removable Disk drives works, just not the Local ones, so

circumvented using shortcuts to drives on desktop.

 

Friend left with a recommendation to backup all his data to the removable

disk, and then completely reformat the C: drive, reinstall Windows plus all

the other software, and then restore his data. Whether hel'll bother doing

this, Idon't know - doubt it.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: PROBLEMS with virus riddled laptop FOLLOW-UP

 

> Friend left with a recommendation to backup all his data to the removable

> disk, and then completely reformat the C: drive, reinstall Windows plus

> all the other software, and then restore his data. Whether hel'll bother

> doing this, Idon't know - doubt it.

 

It's the only sensible option.

[Guest Bill H]

Re: PROBLEMS with virus riddled laptop FOLLOW-UP

 

 

 

"Richard" <(none)> wrote in message news:48e4e2d0$1@newsgate.x-privat.org...

> Well..... :-)

>

> 108 viruses and trojans removed from C: drive

> 3 more removed from external USB drive

> 4 more removed from USB memory stick

> 4 more (again) removed from another USB memory stick

>

> Tools->Folder Options... menu and task manager restored to working order.

> The laptop even connects to the internet now!

>

> Several incomplete pieces of software dis-installed, including the

> remnants of no less than 3 other antivirus/firewall programs!

>

> The only outstanding issue was the failure of double-clicking on Local

> Disk drives in My Computer to work. Tried two solutions to this problem

> (regsvr /i shell32, and http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm),

> but neither had any effect at all - let alone fixing the problem.

>

> Double-clicking on Removable Disk drives works, just not the Local ones,

> so circumvented using shortcuts to drives on desktop.

>

> Friend left with a recommendation to backup all his data to the removable

> disk, and then completely reformat the C: drive, reinstall Windows plus

> all the other software, and then restore his data. Whether hel'll bother

> doing this, Idon't know - doubt it.

>

>

I have done three of these in the past year. In all cases, college student

daughters of Attorneys in the firm I work at he IS guy for.

In my experience, it's a ton of work with less than stellar results. Far

better to wipe the hard drive using the Debug routine and starting over.

Less headaches and a far better working system.

[Guest Cameramonkey]

RE: PROBLEMS with virus riddled laptop FOLLOW-UP

 

as said by others, "nuke it from orbit" and reinstall.

 

one critical step missing though...

Step1 reinstall

Step2 install COMPREHENSIVE security (including anti spyware not just AV).

my suggestion is Avast home (free to home users).

Step3 patch patch patch.

Step4 copy the user data.

 

if you only follow the other directions, you are likely to end up in the

same boat after copying the potentially malware laden files.

 

 

"Richard" wrote:

> Well..... :-)

>

> 108 viruses and trojans removed from C: drive

> 3 more removed from external USB drive

> 4 more removed from USB memory stick

> 4 more (again) removed from another USB memory stick

>

> Tools->Folder Options... menu and task manager restored to working order.

> The laptop even connects to the internet now!

>

> Several incomplete pieces of software dis-installed, including the remnants

> of no less than 3 other antivirus/firewall programs!

>

> The only outstanding issue was the failure of double-clicking on Local Disk

> drives in My Computer to work. Tried two solutions to this problem (regsvr

> /i shell32, and http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm), but neither

> had any effect at all - let alone fixing the problem.

>

> Double-clicking on Removable Disk drives works, just not the Local ones, so

> circumvented using shortcuts to drives on desktop.

>

> Friend left with a recommendation to backup all his data to the removable

> disk, and then completely reformat the C: drive, reinstall Windows plus all

> the other software, and then restore his data. Whether hel'll bother doing

> this, Idon't know - doubt it.

>

>

>

>