Member Avatar for sandybeach

I think I have the motherload of all viruses. I loaded Norton2004 and am unable to get updates or go to symantec for any help. my computer occasionally goes black and pops back on. i cant get intelligent updates and i was told by msn that i have corrupt files. i removed IE and reloaded but no help. I was told to remove all and reload Xp. can any one help?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by dlh6213

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Short, practical recovery plan that won’t rely on the infected Windows session. Scans and removal tools (as recommended) are the right instinct, and is correct that a CD burner can hold backups — but when the machine blacks out or blocks update sites, a clean boot environment (bootable rescue CD/USB created on a healthy PC) is the safest way to copy your data off the drive before any reinstall. A USB flash drive is just a small removable stick that plugs into a USB port; if you don’t have one, burn to blank CDs/DVDs in batches.

Step-by-step data rescue (do this from a clean boot environment):

  1. On a clean PC create rescue media (bootable CD or USB).
  2. Boot the infected PC from that media and use the file manager to copy only personal data to external media. Priorities: Documents, photos, Desktop, browser Favorites (C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites), My Pictures (under My Documents), Windows Address Book (.wab in Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book), Outlook Express message files (.dbx in Local Settings\Application Data\Identities{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express) and any Outlook .pst files (often under Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook or My Documents\Outlook Files). Also save license keys and any irreplaceable files. Do NOT copy executables (.exe/.scr/.pif) or unknown installers. When complete, verify a few photos/mail files on a known-clean machine and scan the backup with up-to-date antivirus before restoring.

Wipe and reinstall advice: once backups are verified, a clean reinstall from the XP CD (delete/format the Windows partition during setup for a true clean slate) is the most reliable cure for heavy infections; a repair/in-place install can work but is less certain if system files are corrupted. After reinstall, install service packs and security updates and an antivirus BEFORE restoring email or reconnecting to risky sites, then re-import mail or copy .dbx/.pst into the correct locations.

Note: persistent black screens even when using rescue media or after reinstall point to hardware (power supply, overheating, GPU, failing drive). Keep at least two copies of critical photos/mail on separate media and always validate backups on a clean system before trusting them.

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Member Avatar for Pimp Daddy

I think I have the motherload of all viruses. I loaded Norton2004 and am unable to get updates or go to symantec for any help. my computer occasionally goes black and pops back on. i cant get intelligent updates and i was told by msn that i have corrupt files. i removed IE and reloaded but no help. I was told to remove all and reload Xp. can any one help?

First of all, I don't know how you managed to remove IE - infact, I don't think you will have totally. Internet Explorer is integrated into the source code of Windows XP.

I helped my grandad with something similar recently so hopefully I should be able to help. What you will probably need to do is go to the Symantec website and download the newest version of LiveUpdate instead of it happening automatically. Once you've installed that (just to be sure) run a virus scan of your hard disk. While this is happening it will be wise to be connected to the internet to see if the new version of LiveUpdate is working properly. If it finds a virus, it will be cleaned and if it doesn't then you probably won't need to reinstall the OS.

You might want to reinstall IE before you do all that, just in case you have actually corrupted it.

Hope this helps.

Member Avatar for crunchie

Go here to TrendMicro for an on-line scan & set it to autoclean for you.

Try this scan at Panda as well.

Once you have done that, Download & instal Adaware from
& update it before scanning.
In settings under 'scanning,' have it set to
'scan within archives,'
'scan active processes,'
'scan registry,'
'deepscan registry'
'scan my IE Favourites for banned URL's,'
'scan my host's file.'
In 'tweaks' under 'scanning engine' set it to 'unload recognised processes during scanning.'
Also in 'tweaks' under 'cleaning engine' set it to 'Always try to unload Modules before deletion' & 'let Windows remove files in use at next reboot.'
Select 'activate in-depth scan' before starting scan.
When the scan is finished select 'next.'
Remove what it finds by placing a check in the box to the left of the object. Reboot

Download & instal Spybot S&D from Update it before scanning.
After the scan is complete, have spybot fix everything marked RED.
On the page that first opens when you start Spybot there is an option to immunise, you should do this. In the immunise section there is also a link to download Spywareblaster. This program will prevent the install of bad activex controls that it has knowledge of. Download that & you can keep it updated by selecting the same link that you use to download it. Reboot

If you are still having problems after doing that, Download HijackThis from & unzip it into it's own, permanent folder, (Not a temporary folder or the desktop (in a folder on the desktop is fine) & not directly on your hard drive). If you prefer an executable file, then download from
If you have anything disabled in MsConfig, please re-enable it/them.
Start HJT & with all browser windows closed, press the scan button. When the scan is finished the scan button will change to save. Save the log to a text file, copy the entire contents of the text file & paste it into the body of your post. DO NOT FIX ANYTHING YET. Most of what is there is necessary for the running of your system.

Moving this to security. Hold on..............

Member Avatar for crunchie

First of all, I don't know how you managed to remove IE - infact, I don't think you will have totally. Internet Explorer is integrated into the source code of Windows XP.

I helped my grandad with something similar recently so hopefully I should be able to help. What you will probably need to do is go to the Symantec website and download the newest version of LiveUpdate instead of it happening automatically. Once you've installed that (just to be sure) run a virus scan of your hard disk. While this is happening it will be wise to be connected to the internet to see if the new version of LiveUpdate is working properly. If it finds a virus, it will be cleaned and if it doesn't then you probably won't need to reinstall the OS.

You might want to reinstall IE before you do all that, just in case you have actually corrupted it.

Hope this helps.

Must have been answering together :). Hope you had your cyber belt on :).

Member Avatar for dlh6213

If you have corrupt files, before you go through the trouble of reinstalling XP, try In-Place Upgrade, instructions are at this link:
&Product=winxp

(You need to have the XP CD)

You can get a free virus online scan from trendmicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

LOL :lol: all three of us!

Member Avatar for sandybeach

thanks for trying to help me. I am unable to get to any symantec updates of any kind. the virus wont let me. i went to the neighbors computer and went to the site and downloaded it to disk and loaded the updates on to my program. ran the scan and found a virus too k all the steps to remove ti but didnt work i guess. now i jsut want to start all over on a clean slate and reload my programs how do i erase my hard drive and reload xp? . How do i save some of my pictures and mail?

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Is your computer working okay other then IE? Do you have a CD burner? Or a USB flash drive?

Member Avatar for sandybeach

Is your computer working okay other then IE? Do you have a CD burner? Or a USB flash drive?

It works ok but does not let me visit any sites that deal with virus removal . it flashes black every 10 to 15 min or so. I am ding the microtrend virus schan now and it came up with Malware.worm_ so far. I have a cd burner and dont know what a usb flash drive is. i am ready to remove it all and reload if i could figure out how. thanks for helping me. i really appreciate it.

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Have you used the CD burner before? If so, you can use it to backup all your pictures, mail, favorites, and other data you have. If you're not sure how to use the burner, go to Start, click on Help and Support, and in the Search text box, just type in burn. You should find instructions there for using it. If you need more help, feel free to post again.

AFTER you back up everything you wish to keep, read this for instructions on reinstalling XP:

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread6632.html

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