Try running housecall in IE.

Can I at this point thank all you guys for the assistance you're trying to offer me to fix this problem - it's like having my own private helpline

Did you manage to get the trend scanner going?

Did you manage to get the trend scanner going?

No - it told me I had some issue with not running the correct java set-up.

Val put me onto malware though and I've run that and I've got Control, Alt, Delete back.

Google's still AWOL though :(

But I can get Google Images, Videos and Maps :confused::confused::confused:

Progress, of sorts, then. I did dearly hope it was something less serious than this. But at least it explains the odd behaviour you've been experiencing. (on the PC )

Re-format and re-install time. Then image your PC as Val suggests. You'll be back up quicker that way if/when it happens again...

Steve

Progress, of sorts, then. I did dearly hope it was something less serious than this. But at least it explains the odd behaviour you've been experiencing. (on the PC )

Re-format and re-install time. Then image your PC as Val suggests. You'll be back up quicker that way if/when it happens again...

Steve

I obviously have to copy all saved files/pictures etc before I reformat, or they'll be lost ? :(

Correct. You should have an up-to-date backup of everything anyway, in case the worse happens. But yes, a formatting the hard drive will wipe anything currently stored there.

Then image your PC . You'll be back up quicker that way if/when it happens again...

Steve

There should be a sticky the number of times people have problems with PCs, viruses etc.

I nominate Steve for candidate to write one

Seconded anyone

Oh, hang on, some mug sort of wrote one

http://briskoda.net/tech-shed/data-backup-solution/146611/

post 6

Edited 11 November, 200916 yr by anonymouse

As per my earlier suggesting, I'm fairly confident that is a root kit, because most AV tools hook into kernel space so they can't be disabled by software.

Don't just format and reinstall, you need to run a disk wiper so that it can't copy itself back out of the MBR or a similar area.

Once you've backed up your data to a read only media then download and use this:

Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing

Basically create the CD, power the PC down and leave it for a minutes then boot it up directly onto that disk without going into windows etc.

Tell it to wipe the whole disk and then leave it going.

Once you've done that then you can reinstall safe in the knowledge that the whole hard disk is clean.

I obviously have to copy all saved files/pictures etc before I reformat, or they'll be lost ? :(

You dont already have a copy of your data?. If this attack had been far worse, then your pc could have been rendered useless and you would have lost all your data.

I am currently working on a users PC that has virgin PC Guard on it, and the thing has a lot of rubbish installed that a decent AV product would have stopped.

While you're at it, be very careful about copying anything that isn't essential back, just incase the nasty is part of one of these.

I was running the Virgin Media PC Guard, so I'll be pretty p*ssed with them if it's let something through !

I don't know if they've improved it but a couple of years ago my sister was running that on her PC.

When she started having trouble with it I went around to investigate and ran some other AV software just to check, viruses everywhere! Needless to say PC Guard was removed very quickly and dedicated AV software was installed, along with a software firewall.

If I may be so bold as to suggest you download and run something like AVG or (IIRC) Avast AV software, both are free and both seem to work well.

While you're at it, be very careful about copying anything that isn't essential back, just incase the nasty is part of one of these.

TBH, I wouldnt copy anything back until you know what it is - as it could have infected docs, pics etc.

Get Java update and try the trend site again. Really need to know what you're dealing with. This will decide how much, if anything, can be salvaged from your personal data.

Agreed. I might consider fitting a new hard drive and installing back onto that.

If it were me I'd take the old drive over onto a safe, offline PC and inspect your data from there.

Steve

Agreed. I might consider fitting a new hard drive and installing back onto that.

If it were me I'd take the old drive over onto a safe, offline PC and inspect your data from there.

Steve

Problem with that is if infected, then it could infect that.

You could plug it into a linux PC and run Clam over it, but there isn't going to be an easy way to tell.

Yep, tis a tricky one. Which is why my method would be a protected, up-to-date system - then taking it offline, scanning through the files you need (My Docs, pictures etc) and when confident, backing those up and bringing them over to the main system again. Yes, it's a faff but I can't think of much better, where you can have confidence in the safety of the data?