computer people: HELP!!

[p0ink]

my other computer has a fucking virus, and i dont know what to do.

i have a lot of good stuff on my computer i want to save, but this virus isnt letting me use my god damn cd-r to burn them. windows xp is taking a shit on me and not even letting me run a bunch of shit, because many executable files have changed in size (ie infected).

i cant even use the god damn thing to get on the internet, since i previously uninstalled my ISP software and even took out some hardware.

since i cant run/copy anything off of a cd, i cant even install a fucking anti-virus program to clean my shit up.

what can i do? i know im going to have to format the damn thing, but i have a shitload of files i want to save (i hope they arent infected).

 

[revexrevex]

Ok bro listen. DO NOT execute any files on that computer, DO NOT, because they will get infected since the virus is in the memory.

You have several options.

1) Restart the computer in safe mode and try to get on internet. If you do get on internet you can transfer the files you need to save to an FTP account, and then scan them and download them to a new hard drive.

2) Take out the infected hard drive, and put it into a new computer. SCAN that hard drive with an antivirus program, and then transfer the files you need to a new clean hard drive

3) Use zip disk, or maybe even a floppy for very important files to transfer the files off of infected hard drive

4) Put a new clean hard drive into the infected computer. Restart the infected computer in the DOS mode. Use the copy command to copy whatever files you need to a new hard drive. Take out the new hard drive, put it into a new computer, SCAN it for viruses, and then transfer the files you need.

This is all i can think of right now

 

[p0ink]

what about if i created a new partition and moved all of my important files to the new partition?

 

[revexrevex]

Won't help you.

Remmeber that partition is physically the same hard drive.

There is a tool to scan for viruses right off the net, but you can't even use internet!

If i was you, I'd connect a new hard drive (take out the hard drive you are using right now if you are desperate), create a folder called "INFECTED" on this hard drive, and transfer all the files you need from bad hard drive to good hard drive. Also copy one file that you know 100% is infected.

Take out the good hard drive, connect it to the computer you are using now, and SCAN the "INFECTED" folder, with atleast 2 antivirus programs with the latest virus definitions. If it finds virus in that infected file, then you know that the antivirus program is capable of dealing and removing the virus. Then format the infected hard drive. And youre done.

 

[p0ink]

my thinking of going the partition route is if i create a new partition and just move the files to their new drive (F, i could format C:\ and still keep the files i want to save. once i formated c:\, i could re-install windows xp, reinstall an anti-virus, scan F:\ and go from there.

 

[revexrevex]

You can give it a try, I didnt think of that. Watch out for few things though

1) Use partition magic because it allows you to do partitions without formatting the whole hard drive, and use it FROM DOS mode

2) I am not sure if partition magic will allow you to partition the hard drive once there are files already on it, but you could try

3)When you install windows XP all over, and if the virus is memory resident, it will infect all files that will be executed all over again

But you could give it a try, but im telling you, copy the files you need to a hard drive or some other media for back up

 

[revexrevex]

Bro, borrow a hard drive from someone else, or even buy one! a 20 gig hard drive goes for $40 now, and u can get it shipped in 2 days. If the files are important do not rush!

 

[p0ink]

You can give it a try, I didnt think of that. Watch out for few things though

1) Use partition magic because it allows you to do partitions without formatting the whole hard drive, and use it FROM DOS mode

2) I am not sure if partition magic will allow you to partition the hard drive once there are files already on it, but you could try

3)When you install windows XP all over, and if the virus is memory resident, it will infect all files that will be executed all over again

But you could give it a try, but im telling you, copy the files you need to a hard drive or some other media for back up

the problem is, the computer that is infected is my 'good' computer. my other computer does not have enough HD space to save the files i want on it.

 

[§äñît¥ Pôí§ðñ]

http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

online virus scanner

 

[audiophyle]

hey man, dont put a second drive in. You dont want to copy files while the virus is active! Take your drive and plug it in as a slave on a second computer (borrow a friends computer). The virus is now dormant because the new os wont load it, unless you
re-execute it manually. Copy all the files you want to the other computer, dont run anything that you copied. Check with virus scan, get rid of anything thats infected, burn the stuff you backed up and format the drive.

 

[MaGilicuti]

whenever i get a virus i just clean out the hard drive completely. for me i just don't think its worth the risk of working on a computer that still might have a virus.

 

[p0ink]

whenever i get a virus i just clean out the hard drive completely. for me i just don't think its worth the risk of working on a computer that still might have a virus.

yeah, i hear ya, but i have a *shit-load* of mp3's i dont want to lose.

 

[The Whole F/N Show]

I'd the the slave drive option but if I really thought it could be a real problem I'd just delete everything and start over. You may not want to loses the MP3 but do you want to lose several more gigs of new stuff after a couple of months? This is why you back shit up. Chalk it up to a lesson learned.

 

[audiophyle]

there are no virii that infect via mp3, at least not any that i am aware of. So you should be safe backing up your mp3's. There is a lame trick thats been spreading around lately to make executables appear to be mp3's. they name the music something like music.mp3.exe
Then of course windows is configured by default to hide extensions for known file types, so the .exe gets hidden and the song looks like music.mp3

To tell the difference you have to shut off the feature that causes the .exe to be hidden.
open up explorer, go to tools /folder options. Click the view tab. there will be an option that says hide extensions for known file types. Make sure thats unchecked. Now you can safely copy all of your mp3's and all the virus will show the .exe or some other extension at the end.

 

[WarriorPL]

Your best bet would be to hook it up to another computer and scan it from there. Just remember, scan it befor eyou move a damn file. LOL

 

[oubeta]

I think you have a form of the WM/32 or bugbear virys. I had is a while back. It really fucks things up. Can you run your anti virus software? If not I'll send you a Stinger program that will detect the virus and get it to where you can run and update your anti virus. Let me know

 

[spentagn]

I think you have a form of the WM/32 or bugbear virys. I had is a while back. It really fucks things up. Can you run your anti virus software? If not I'll send you a Stinger program that will detect the virus and get it to where you can run and update your anti virus. Let me know

I've got that right now. The clean that norton has on their website won't run on my comp, even in safe mode. Apparently it self terminates on the 14th or something.

 

[p0ink]

i brought my HD to a friend's place and transfered all of my mp3's to his HD. we are now in the process of burning them.

thanks for the ideas/help.