Comments for I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

Comment from Wanda Dunn on 2009-04-01

2009-04-01T08:02:44Z

I have a 2002 dell. I have had a lot of problems with freezes the last two months. It runs really slow, when it's been working anyway lately. I downloaded from service pack 1 to service pack 3, because Norton Antivirus 2009 required this, it wouldn't work otherwise. Tech for Norton gave me a website. It took 8 hrs to download pk.3 Also downloaded music on a walmart prepaid music card. Have a massive problem now. Computer read to run in safe mode and crashed. Now the screen is blue.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Dash on 2009-03-16

2009-03-16T14:50:49Z

While I agree that buying a new machine just to get away from the bugs(viruii, etc) in your machine is not appropriate, there is something else you have to consider.

Who will be doing the service on this machine? If you, the owner are, or a friend who will not be charging you a fee, then fine, spend as much time as is required to resolve this issue.

But, if you are like 80% of America who are affraid of their computer and will be forced to seek profession, fee based support, then purchasing a new computer might be less expensive than paying a company say $400+ to spend 30+ hours trying to remove the really bad nasties that are out there.

I'm posting this simply as a counter point.

Personally, I find it sad that so many people are afraid of their computer. (80% seems high, but I agree that it's certainly greater than 0).

- Leo
16-Mar-2009

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from vincent on 2009-03-05

2009-03-05T15:50:49Z

My 2 cents:

It is my professional experience that NO one program will rid you of massive malware/virus infections.

You're scanning tools themselves may be compromised. So even better is using startup scanning tools burned onto a cd or dvd.

Booting up in safe mode and then running your antimalware tools will often yield best results.

Registry cleaners don't fix any problems.

Don't restore backups you made after the first infection occurred without scanning the disks the backups are on.

Restore points can get infected too.

For me there is only 1 procedure that has always worked and that is the Majorgeeks malware removal guideline.
I keep recommending it because I use it all the time.

If you have a problem
If no one else can help you
And if you can find them
Maybe you can hire
Majorgeeks

Good luck!

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Eric on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T19:18:34Z

Downloaded ErrorFix 2wks ago. As of today I have 368 prob. If I don't subscribe will my p.c. eventually crash? Also have AVG8.0 free & Spybot. Registry Cleaner show over 600 prob. which I unistalled. P.C is 3 yrs. old.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Bill P. Godfrey on 2009-02-25

2009-02-25T13:02:31Z

If you (anyone) made a backup of data on an external disk before nuking the contents of the hard disk, make sure you disable autorun (see Leo's recent piece) before restoring the backed up files, in case the malware copied itself onto the backup.

(It would be annoying to go to the trouble of backing up and nuking, only to let the malware back on five minutes after you have a nice clean computer.)

For best results, boot up into Knoppix (or a similar OS-on-a-CD) to perform the backup, so the malware doesn't get a chance to run while you backup.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Dave on 2009-02-24

2009-02-25T01:19:17Z

Ray, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as you use the Windows Update in the Start menu you shouldn't have any problems. Just don't wander off anywhere else on the web without protection. Also make sure your Windows firewall is activated and working. Unless you're connecting through a router which has a hard firewall built in. Just make sure it's on.

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Comment from Ray on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T22:50:22Z

My PC Checks out "Clean", but it is slowing down noticeably, I didn't get a installation disk with the machine. Any tips from anyone about a complete reinstall using the windows set up data from the hard drive? I use Windows XP SP 2 home.My main worry is getting all current updates and protections without any protection. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Dave on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T20:21:45Z

Hey Bill, that is not true. I've downloaded from those sites and others and have never gotten infected. If you keep your anti-virus software up to date and keep your downloads in a secure spot away from system files and have your anti-virus set to scan all downloaded files BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING...you should be OK. Most viruses and other crap come from websites that download payload junk to your computer and by answering Yes to every pop-up that wants to scan your computer after it tells you your computer maybe infected. Oh yeah...toolbars are another gateway to infection hell...stay away!

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from bill on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T18:48:09Z

"I have downloaded much of my music from the piratebay and torrentspy using bittorrent."

Guess what, you are downloading things from dishonest people. They aren't honest in everything but stealing music or software.

Expect to get massive virus infections regardless of how often you clean your computer or run antivirus programs. You are inviting the most dangerous of the bad into your computer.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from George on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T17:42:39Z

I apparently caught a virus - when booting I got a strange pop-up saying something about registering. I restored the drive from a ghost image and the pop-up went away.
Seems to be an excellent way to backup for a no-hassle restore.

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from thomas christopher on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T16:29:26Z

get a good antivirus such as avast home. it doesn't cost anythiing and it updates itself. if you try to download anything with a virus or ago to a site that contains malware it will warn you of this. i use avast and i will not use anything else

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Rahul Mehta on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T23:06:16Z

In the point # 4 above please read "clean PC".

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

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Comment from Rahul Mehta on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T09:43:56Z

Saving data from a heavily infected computer is a bit of risky work. You don't want to carry the infected part of the data to the new machine. I have used the following steps several times to save friends' data.

1. Boot from a live CD - preferably a linux cd.

2. Transfer the data and only the data to an empty external drive.

3. Do not transfer any programs and its associated files. eg. do not copy EXE, DLL etc. You can reinstall them from clean source.

4. Take the external drive to a clean PS and scan it thoroughly with all your security software updated with latest definitions. Make sure that it is clean.

5. If clean, then you can take it to the new machine. If infection found in any of the files, let the security program delete it. Or delete it yourself. Take only clean files to the new machines.

Key here is to keep the data from the older infected machine isolated before confirming that it is clean.

- then Nuke the old machine -

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A comment on: I have a massive malware infection, should I just get a new machine?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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