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Offline woody189

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I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« on: March 20, 2009, 06:49:15 PM »
Hi.  I'm running XP right now, and recenlty downloaded a virus (I think).

Starting yesterday, my computer would load normally, but after about 30 seconds after my desktop loads, everything would go back to windows classic view.  I try and change it in properties, but there is no longer an "xp" option. Another problem is I can hear windows sounds, but nothing else.  If I try and play a song, or video, there is no sound.  There are also various errors that pop up sometimes (mainly programs that shut down).

I run norton (which says it's expired, i'm not sure if it really is, it may have been 1 yr), but when I do a full system scan, it's complete in less than 5 mins.  It does a fake scan or something.  I tried all the programs, (malaware, antispyware, online virus scans, etc.) but none of them run properly.  My virus doesn't let me run virus scans.

I backedup all of my data, and tried to reformat, but this is where the other problem comes in:

For many months now, my computer won't restart.  If I shut it down, I have to wait about 5 mins before I can restart it.  OTherwise, the page will load, and freeze up at the TOSHIBA screen (when it does, the screen is deformed.  The screen is "squeezed.") EIther this happens, or the screen just remains blank. Either way, I have to hold the power button to reboot ( and wait a few minutes befor restarting).

I tried to reformat my whole computer, but when the system has to restart, it freezes. Everything would run fine if I the computer would remain off for a few minutes before restarting, but it doesn't.  I don't want to cause any problems while it's reformatting.

Does anyone have ANY suggestions?? Do I have to pay to get it fixed?

Thank you so much for your time.
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Offline GR@PH;<'S

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2009, 11:52:37 PM »
woody189 ,
As a first step can you please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
Now Reboot your computer in "Safe Mode" using the F8 method. To do this, restart your computer and after hearing your computer beep once during startup (but before the Windows icon appears) press the F8 key repeatedly. A menu will appear with several options. Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the option to run Windows in "Safe Mode".
once you are in Safe mode open MBAM once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location.
The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

How ever some times PC's slow down to a crawl for other reasons such as dust in side making the componants work that much harder  ie:

So you may want to see in side yours, more so if you have a dog or cat around .
Also you did not say much about your PC like how much RAM (Random Access Memory 256mb/512/1gig]
is there and so on.!!

GR@PH;<'S   
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Offline seti

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2009, 10:14:20 AM »
You could try trendMicro House Call which is a free programme that will tell you if you have a virus. However from the problems that you describe I personally would download and copy to a disk Active Kill disk from here: www.killdisk.com and then just kill the whole disk off and start again. By doing this you will know if it is a virus or hardware problem. Then Personally I would install Vista not XP. I know this will seem drastic to some but sometimes you have to take such actions :cry:
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Offline Basementgeek

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2009, 11:31:49 PM »
Wood189:

Hi and welcome  :hallo:  Do you still need help?  If so please follow GR@PH;<'S  directions.  There will be more to do.

seti :  Killdisk is a little over kill, if you will.  A format will kill their problem, if it is a virus and that is what they want to do a reinstall.  There will be a lot people that would argue with your advice on VISTA over XP.  VISTA is already on its way out.

BG
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Offline woody189

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2009, 07:29:27 PM »
Thank you for your suggestions (and the welcoming).

I got it to reformat my whole harddrive.  I backed everything I needed up, so it's not that bad of a thing.  My comp is faster and smoother now anyway, so I guess I'm kinda glad I got the virus.

My other problem is still there though.  On shutdown, it often gets stuck. But the main problem is restarting, I just can't do it.  I HAVE to wait at least a couple minutes before it'll work, many times longer.
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Offline Eric the Red

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2009, 10:58:50 PM »
This does sound like a heat related problem. Have you looked inside the case as suggested by GR@PH;<'S?  Ensure that the computer is earthed and check that all the internal connections are tight, the RAM modules are securely located and that there are no screws or loose bits of metal (blanking plates, etc.) floating about inside the case.
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Offline woody189

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Re: I Have a Virus and Can't even Reformat. Please Help.
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2009, 02:44:05 AM »
Quote from: Eric the Red on March 28, 2009, 10:58:50 PM
This does sound like a heat related problem. Have you looked inside the case as suggested by GR@PH;<'S?  Ensure that the computer is earthed and check that all the internal connections are tight, the RAM modules are securely located and that there are no screws or loose bits of metal (blanking plates, etc.) floating about inside the case.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I'll try it when I get a chancee
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