I think I have a serious PC virus...PLEASE HELP!!

[OnTheWarpath15]

All of a sudden, my PC running Vista Home Permium began "flaking out."

I have no access to the start menu, my widgets are flashing on and off, and when I am able to open a window, it only allows me to see part of it - until I mouse over it.

I finally was able to get into Norton and run a scan, only to have it flake out and split up the window again.

Here's a pic of what I'm looking at - the terxt is backwards, I had to use my cam in my MacBook to snap the pic.

What can I do? I know very little about computers.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Pic:

[Ultra Peanut]

Have you checked to make sure the power cord is plugged in?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Have you checked to make sure the power cord is plugged in?

Thanks.

:spock:

Now I just tried to reboot in safe mode, and it won't even boot up. Power is there, but not booting OS.

[Sure-Oz]

Is there a way you can do a 'print screen' and make a pic and attach it here, that picture is very hard to see

Maybe it is spyware

[chasedude]

Quit surfing pron sites.

[chasedude]

Seriously if you can get to the point to download and install try this

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

[OnTheWarpath15]

Seriously if you can get to the point to download and install try this

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

I've already scanned with Norton, though I'm not sure how effective it was. The screen kept flashing off and on.

The Mrs. and I have a FCA dinner tonight, so I won't have a chance to screw with it until tomorrow.

Please keep the suggestions coming, though.

[orange]

It could actually be a hardware problem. I've had a monitor, a harddrive and a motherboard fail on me in the last six months.

I commiserate with you. Good luck.

P.S. Yours sounds a bit like the motherboard. Sorry.

[ZootedGranny]

It sounds like hardware, but when I get bamboozled into trying to rid someone's comp of malware, I always use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php).

It has picked up things every other program has missed.

[OnTheWarpath15]

It could actually be a hardware problem. I've had a monitor, a harddrive and a motherboard fail on me in the last six months.

I commiserate with you. Good luck.

P.S. Yours sounds a bit like the motherboard. Sorry.

If that's the case, the tower is under warranty. I just bought it in February.

The problem is, I can't keep a program stable long enough to troubleshoot the problem...

[orange]

I had to take mine to the shop. They couldn't boot it, either. They had to connect it to another computer to run diagnostics.

It's good that you're still under warranty. If any hardware is going to fail, my philosophy is "NOT THE HARDDRIVE!" The rest is just money; in your case, you may not even be out that.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

If you can't boot, you have some pretty serious problems. Are you getting a particular BSoD message?

If so, post it here.

Secondly, if you can boot up, run this program and post the logfile here

http://www.hijackthis.de/

Click analyze, and once you have a logfile, post the text on here, and I'll tell you what may be fucking your world up.

After doing this, run this program:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/

After you have done that, you should completely remove Norton from your computer. It's a horrible program that is basically a rootkit and resource whore.

Google "Norton Removal Tool".

Then buy this program for your A/V needs:

http://www.amazon.com/Kaspersky-KIS803121-Internet-Security-2009/dp/B0018EI3I8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1226188276&sr=8-1

Good luck, sir.

[Sure-Oz]

Do you pay for kapersky every year? ive had mcafee 2008 vscan plus and it expires soon and i havent put my new CC # on their site so they cant auto renew it...should i go with this Kapersky program?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Do you pay for kapersky every year? ive had mcafee 2008 vscan plus and it expires soon and i havent put my new CC # on their site so they cant auto renew it...should i go with this Kapersky program?

Oh God yes. It normally runs 80 bones, but you can get a 3 license version from that link for 40-45.

It has higher detection rates and takes up fewer resources than McAfee, Norton, or Trend.

It's the best program out there.

[Sure-Oz]

Oh God yes. It normally runs 80 bones, but you can get a 3 license version from that link for 40-45.

It has higher detection rates and takes up fewer resources than McAfee, Norton, or Trend.

It's the best program out there.

Appreciate it, i think ill have to purchase it esp after seeing solid reviews.

[xbarretx]

If you can't boot, you have some pretty serious problems. Are you getting a particular BSoD message?

If so, post it here.

Secondly, if you can boot up, run this program and post the logfile here

http://www.hijackthis.de/

Click analyze, and once you have a logfile, post the text on here, and I'll tell you what may be ****ing your world up.

After doing this, run this program:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/

After you have done that, you should completely remove Norton from your computer. It's a horrible program that is basically a rootkit and resource whore.

Google "Norton Removal Tool".

Then buy this program for your A/V needs:

http://www.amazon.com/Kaspersky-KIS803121-Internet-Security-2009/dp/B0018EI3I8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1226188276&sr=8-1

Good luck, sir.

i love my kaspersky :) :hail:

[xbarretx]

Appreciate it, i think ill have to purchase it esp after seeing solid reviews.

it also searches for route kits... not many of the mainstream scanners search for those SOB's!

[Sure-Oz]

it also searches for route kits... not many of the mainstream scanners search for those SOB's!

What is a route kit?

[xbarretx]

All of a sudden, my PC running Vista Home Permium began "flaking out."

I have no access to the start menu, my widgets are flashing on and off, and when I am able to open a window, it only allows me to see part of it - until I mouse over it.

I finally was able to get into Norton and run a scan, only to have it flake out and split up the window again.

Here's a pic of what I'm looking at - the terxt is backwards, I had to use my cam in my MacBook to snap the pic.

What can I do? I know very little about computers.

if it still wont boot into the OS, do you have the backup disks that your system tells you to create upon the initial setup? try those and see if that helps you get into it long enough to run some stuff. or get into it long enough to do a system reinstall. as in reinstalls windows and makes your pc like the day you bought it.

[xbarretx]

What is a route kit?

sorry, rootkit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_kit

A rootkit is malware which consists of a program (or combination of several programs) designed to take fundamental control (in Unix terms "root" access, in Windows terms, "Administrator" access) of a computer system, without authorization by the system's owners and legitimate managers. Access to the hardware (e.g., the reset switch) is rarely required as a rootkit is intended to seize control of the operating system running on the hardware. Typically, rootkits act to obscure their presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security mechanisms. Often, they are Trojans as well, thus fooling users into believing they are safe to run on their systems. Techniques used to accomplish this can include concealing running processes from monitoring programs, or hiding files or system data from the operating system.[1]

Rootkits may have originated as regular applications, intended to take control of a failing or unresponsive system, but in recent years have been largely malware to help intruders gain access to systems while avoiding detection. Rootkits exist for a variety of operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Solaris. Rootkits often modify parts of the operating system or install themselves as drivers or kernel modules, depending on the internal details of an operating system's mechanisms.
****

so my 2 cents is its a virus that runs behind your OS thus making it a biznatch for a run of the mill scanner to catch.. or for you to detect.

[Sure-Oz]

sorry, rootkit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_kit

A rootkit is malware which consists of a program (or combination of several programs) designed to take fundamental control (in Unix terms "root" access, in Windows terms, "Administrator" access) of a computer system, without authorization by the system's owners and legitimate managers. Access to the hardware (e.g., the reset switch) is rarely required as a rootkit is intended to seize control of the operating system running on the hardware. Typically, rootkits act to obscure their presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security mechanisms. Often, they are Trojans as well, thus fooling users into believing they are safe to run on their systems. Techniques used to accomplish this can include concealing running processes from monitoring programs, or hiding files or system data from the operating system.[1]

Rootkits may have originated as regular applications, intended to take control of a failing or unresponsive system, but in recent years have been largely malware to help intruders gain access to systems while avoiding detection. Rootkits exist for a variety of operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Solaris. Rootkits often modify parts of the operating system or install themselves as drivers or kernel modules, depending on the internal details of an operating system's mechanisms.

LOL, that's better, i was assumg it was that. Do you pay a yearly charge

[Hammock Parties]

If you ask me it's a video card issue.

[xbarretx]

LOL, that's better, i was assumg it was that. Do you pay a yearly charge

yeah just like any other (norton etc..) its for the sub fee. but it updates dam near constantly! only bad thing is if it finds a virus a really loud squealing pig noise come up to altert you .... LMAO (p.s. no im not joking)

[xbarretx]

If you ask me it's a video card issue.

which would have WHAt to do with not being able to boot into the OS? :hmmm:

[Sure-Oz]

yeah just like any other (norton etc..) its for the sub fee. but it updates dam near constantly! only bad thing is if it finds a virus a really loud squealing pig noise come up to altert you .... LMAO (p.s. no im not joking)

ROFL that's awesome, does it scare the shit out of you?

How much is it a year? I have wanted a new one, since mcafee kinda sucks

[Hammock Parties]

which would have WHAt to do with not being able to boot into the OS? :hmmm:

Actually if your video card is fucked up, you can't boot into the OS.

It sounds like his PC is powering up but won't post because the video card is fucked. Is the PC posting, Warpath?

[xbarretx]

ROFL that's awesome, does it scare the shit out of you?

How much is it a year? I have wanted a new one, since mcafee kinda sucks

um, i think 41.97 for 1 year, like 63 for 2 and 80 something for 3 . but id suggest checking their site

http://www.kaspersky.com/


and yes it does scare the crap out of me!

[xbarretx]

Actually if your video card is ****ed up, you can't boot into the OS.

It sounds like his PC is powering up but won't post because the video card is ****ed. Is the PC posting, Warpath?

well then safe mode should work. right? as doing so disables the card thus giving you your crappiest resolution.

[Sure-Oz]

um, i think 41.97 for 1 year, like 63 for 2 and 80 something for 3 . but id suggest checking their site

http://www.kaspersky.com/


and yes it does scare the crap out of me!

thats about the same as it costs for my mcafee virus scan online, thats good, sounds way better

[Hammock Parties]

well then safe mode should work. right? as doing so disables the card thus giving you your crappiest resolution.

It sounds to me like he's not even getting to the part of the bootup process that allows you to enable safe mode.

If the PC won't post, there's not much you can do except find the hardware problem. Considering his screen went all garbled and now he can't even boot, it sounds like a heat issue on the video card killed it.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

yeah just like any other (norton etc..) its for the sub fee. but it updates dam near constantly! only bad thing is if it finds a virus a really loud squealing pig noise come up to altert you .... LMAO (p.s. no im not joking)

I almost shit myself the first time I heard it.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Actually if your video card is fucked up, you can't boot into the OS.

It sounds like his PC is powering up but won't post because the video card is fucked. Is the PC posting, Warpath?

If he really wants to get down to brass tacks, he needs to remove everything but one stick of ram, the HD, and the motherboard, and the fans.

Fire it up and see what happens.

Disconnect all optical drives, and secondary HDs, etc.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

OH, and word to the wise on KS 2009. If you have a LAN, you have to manually go in and add it to the trusted zone, otherwise it will fuck up your file and print sharing.

I got to fuck with that the other day. It was awesome.

[xbarretx]

I almost shit myself the first time I heard it.

yeah it sucks man... heaven help you if your speakers are cranked way too high :deevee: LMAO

[Shaid]

Does everything work ok in safe mode?

run a system restore back to a few days ago when it was running fine.

If you can't even get a start menu in safe mode, do a ctrl,alt,del to pull up your task manager. Then go to File, Run, and type in msconfig. When it pops up, launch system restore and choose an earlier date. Also from within msconfig you could disable potential problems on the startup tab by simply unchecking them.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Fucking weird...

I'm posting from the PC right now.

It booted up with no problems. Once I got to the desktop, there was a period of about 10-15 seconds where I had this really odd pattern of what looked like "snow" or a bunch of the squiggly symbol that goes over the "N" in a last name like PENA.

Oddly enough, it only lasted 10-15 seconds, and things seem to be back to normal.

I'm going to do what Hamas suggested, and post the results here.

Thank you all for your help.

[Psyko Tek]

i'm wondering about your power supply
you got voltage or heat sensors on you machine?

if it heats up and dies again it's hardware

[Baby Lee]

Sounds like your video card is overheating or otherwise failing on you. Make sure the fan is spinning freely, then check to make sure your power supply is sufficient.
Is it onboard [ie, the video is on the motherboard] or a separate card?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Sounds like your video card is overheating or otherwise failing on you. Make sure the fan is spinning freely, then check to make sure your power supply is sufficient.
Is it onboard [ie, the video is on the motherboard] or a separate card?

I have an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT video card.

I'm starting to wonder if it's an overheating issue, as it hasn't been a problem at all this morning...

[irishjayhawk]

Appreciate it, i think ill have to purchase it esp after seeing solid reviews.

As far as paying for anti-virus goes, that's definitely your best bet. Of course, I've run Avast and AVG on my computers at home for years without any problems. And they're free.

[Sure-Oz]

I've thought about going with Avast, do you have both??? or just 1 of those...

[irishjayhawk]

I've thought about going with Avast, do you have both??? or just 1 of those...

I have just one. I've gone between both at different times. Most recently, I've used AVG.

I just don't like paying for security that should be in the operating system. So I don't.

I also run: Spybot and Adaware on automatic scanning and cleaning at like 3am. I run SpywareBlaster which protects against spyware. Though, honestly, if you use Firefox, you don't run into much spyware unless you're just really stupid. Like opening sjhskjs.exe or something. :p

[OnTheWarpath15]

Just spent an hour and a fucking half online with Dell.

Had to install new drivers for my video card, and now all my fonts and page sizes/resolutions are all screwed up.

[joesomebody]

It sounds like hardware, but when I get bamboozled into trying to rid someone's comp of malware, I always use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php).

It has picked up things every other program has missed.Yes it is terrific, I usually run CCleaner first, but that's just me.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Well, it happened again about an hour ago.

Talked to a Dell rep over the phone, and they are sending out a tech to replace the motherboard and video card.

Good thing I have this laptop.

Should have bought another fucking Mac....

[orange]

Well, it happened again about an hour ago.

Talked to a Dell rep over the phone, and they are sending out a tech to replace the motherboard and video card.

Good thing I have this laptop.

Should have bought another ****ing Mac....

I feel vindicated!

(Sorry. Going to sit in the corner...)

[OnTheWarpath15]

So the tech installs the new VC and motherboard, and now the operating system won't boot, even with the reinstallation disk.

The tech on the phone this morning was able to get me in somehow, and I'm currently backing up my files, and the plan is to restore this MFer to factory specs.

What a pain in the goddamn ass...

[Fish]

It may be too late, but if it's a system issue, and not a hardware issue, M$ DaRT is a very handy tool for situations like these. This used to be ERD Commander before it was bought by M$, if you've heard of that. It's a bootable disk image that has utilities to attach to a Vista file system and repair problems that would prevent you from booting to the OS. It's similar to BartPE, but made by M$ with tools specific to Windows systems. I've brought back many systems thanks to this. There's also a version 5 for WinXP too.

M$ Data and Recovery Tool Set 6.0 R2: http://rs449.rapidshare.com/files/155717669/MS.DaRT.6.0.R2.rar

Keygen: http://archiveviewsoftware.com/get/8xxx3913555/Keygen.Microsoft.Diagnostics.and.Recovery.Toolset.6.0.R2.exe