ossipena | # 31 | 2010-02-08, 06:05 | Report

what about buggy packages that gives remote user root access?

don't get fooled into false feeling of security...

azz | # 32 | 2010-02-08, 06:29 | Report

if you are having this much trouble fixing this issue, it's almost guaranteed that you won't be able to properly clean it. It is best to backup all your personal files and do a full wipe then install. The problem with "antivirus 2010" is that it isn't really a virus so antivirus doesn't properly delete them. You need a spyware clearn program such as spybot, adaware, antimalware, etc. Even if you got rid of this spyware, your system will still be too damaged so I honestly suggest you do a clean install to remove all traces of the bug.

I usually use a program call "combofix" which works quite well for me. I think the problem with "system restore" is that it never really deletes a virus because some virus can actually hide itself in your restore files so that when you restore, it comes back. Anyway, goodluck.

aironeous | # 33 | 2010-02-08, 06:56 | Report

No but other people have.
http://www.eset.com/products/compare...ompetition.php
This matches my personal experience. Eset found about 8 or 9 malwares and a rootkit on my pc that Norton and trend micro missed.
It wasn't able to get rid of the rootkit but gave me enough info to google it and find a programmer that wrote a special program to get rid.
I remember it was one program called unhook which removed it's connection to exe files then the virus killer program was run second and that was it.

mrebanza | # 34 | 2010-02-08, 07:07 | Report

If this is a personal computer used for music, movies, email/internet access and the occasional word processing I would like to suggest reformatting it with Ubuntu a FREE Open Source, Linux Basic Desktop Alternative to Windows.

It is fast as hell, secure and if you are having problems with your wife / kids installing viruses accidentally all the time you can kiss those days good-bye. Win viruses .exe file wont run in linux . . . problem solved . . . . I reformatted my girlfriends computer with Ubuntu and she loves it. Fast and best of all no more Mal-ware and virus FREE!!!!

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Farooq | # 35 | 2010-02-08, 07:26 | Report

I am using trend micro office scan but this is installed by my organization in which i am currently working.(personally i dont like it the antivirus not the organization ). Avira provides a free antivirus and its working perfectly on my personal system.

born2wonder | # 36 | 2010-02-08, 15:07 | Report

I understand that you are not allowed to execute .exe but I suggested renaming the executables to winlogon.exe which is the name of a vital process responsible for loging on to windows and most likely is allowed to run by the malware or XP wont login; but I am assuming you dismissed it as it has a .exe extension.

If that doesnt work you could try this .reg fix for EXEs which is number 12 from http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

If you are not even allowed to open .reg files then a boot cd with a registry editor and a virus scanner can fix your issue.

If that doesnt work, you can use rkill.com and follow the guide here
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/viru...-security-2010

Since you did a backup though and if you don't care about software installed and settings saved, the cleanest and fastest way is to reformat (like you did)

Also, if your wife doesn't use any windows specific software, ubuntu will be a welcome change. You can try wubi which allows you to install ubuntu like any other application through windows.

This is a bad attitude which can only discourage you from achieving the required solution. Formatting is not an option on many computers I service. Among computer specialists (not Geeksquad ), formatting is usually the last resort. There is always a way if you know what you are doing or have the time to learn.

Shaq

bunanson | # 37 | 2010-02-08, 15:13 | Report

I am thinking about to change it to a ubuntu box, to her, it makes no difference, as long as she can pay bills and chat with friend. The only concerns is, with the windows, me and my wife add up to be a half blind user, with ubuntu, now it will be totally blind

I probably will change it and see how a ubuntu box works in a window family....

bun

born2wonder | # 38 | 2010-02-08, 15:45 | Report

You don't need to change it to ubuntu since both operating systems can coexist happily using a boot manager (e.g. grub). Refer to my link on wubi above to dual boot ubuntu on your machine without messing with windows or bootmanagers yourself. This way you can start using linux while still having the option to load windows when you restart.

A good page to start finding the software you need is https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Sw...tu/FromWindows Specifically the link to Windows Applications Equivalents

Nobody is good at everything but everyone is good at something If you have any problems installing or running ubuntu, let us know.

Shaq

bunanson | # 39 | 2010-02-08, 16:30 | Report

Yes, I have a ubuntu/window dual boot box in the past, and in fact, I wrote a tiny instruction how to do it, and it worked flawlessly for 1 and 1/2 year, then it quitted. Interesting, not the ubuntu quitted, but the window booted up and stay booting, back to boot menu, then boot, and backed to boot menu. I still have that computer and have not done anything to it yet. It has my pet project WorldTV99 on it, so........It booted to ubuntu, but window is dead, I guess I will leave the dead dead window alone

That was the windows infected with a similar virus 3 months back and I was able to bail out by just doing a retore to previous date, I guess it was lucky or it was not good enough?

Thanks for ALL the suggestions and offerings. I felt so warm that the virus does not matter any more, thank you.

@shaq, thanks for the offer to help, I surely will need it, with 2 blind users in the house

bun

born2wonder | # 40 | 2010-02-08, 17:30 | Report

You can fix that by using an XP cd and loading the recovery console. Once there, you should run fixboot then run fixmbr. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314503

That will get your windows loading again but grub will not load.
The next step is to restore your own grub bootloader using this guide and an Ubuntu cd. (which is always handy to have)

Now you should have dual booting working again.

Shaq