Need help to get back on forum

[xantiagreen]

Before a format, I would back up "My Documents " and "My Pictures " to an external hard drive if you have anything of sentimental value. Certainly not anywhere on your PC. Afraid you should dump most other stuff . You should have your "Windows" platform info under Microsoft a sticker beneath your Laptop (If it is a laptop) so you can reload at any time. Would definitely dump the video and music downloads as many of them are well known for sneaking TH virus onto your machine.

Oh yes was on it like you wouldn't know, I spent that long staring at the screen all I could see was formatting drive and copying.

[xantiagreen]

I would also add that, once you have got Windows up and running again (assuming you are going to use Windows), and it is Windows 7 or better, you can get Microsofts' own AV package for free. It seems to work, and my cousin (who is a professional programmer) uses it and finds it does not get in the way. You must access the downloader program from the PC in question, as it will look at it and send you the correct one for the version and bitwidth of the O/S it sees.

Cheers James, think I used Microsoft's AV but it wasn't updating regularly sometimes I had to force download them if I missed them aa day or two later not sure what its like now but it was a pain 2011/12. May give it a try if its stable enough now once AVG comes to an end.

[Hell Razor5543]

I do normally do a Microsoft update check every time I turn on the PC, as Windows sometimes takes a while to look, and will (on occasion) want to do a restart (which could be awkward if I am in the middle of something). Just a habit I have got into.

[myglaren]

^ One of Windows most annoying traits.

[qprdude]

Agree. Why is it always "Windows is updating, please do not power down or switch off your computer"

"Windows is downloading 1 of 18 updates"

Just after you hit the shut-down button , and don the jammies!

Yes, I have it set for automatic updates, but not at bloody bedtime.

[myglaren]

I can't think of anything that would induce me to use Windows again.

Just having to deal with my son's laptop occasionally motivates me to steer well clear.

[demag]

Yes I dumped Windows years ago and am an avid Linux user. Peppermint 3, Peppermint 5 or Linux Lite depending on how the mood takes me!
Xg if you have any other way of downloading stuff then get a copy of Bleachbit from scourceforge. It will clean allsorts of crap from your pc. It's a bit scary first time as it usually wants to dump a couple of gigs worth of rubbish but I've never had a problem with it. You have to get the right version, Win, Mac or Linux.

I've had lots of problems with Avg in the past when running Windows. It would let viruses in then warn you that they were trying to access the internet! A bit like missing horses and open stable doors. I swapped over to Antivir from Avira which was a lot more secure in my case.

[Zelandeth]

Good on you for sorting it! I didn't mean to sound alarmist, but have spent too much tkme working amongst and advising folks (my father included) who know just enough about computers to get themselves deeply into trouble but not nearly enough to get themselves out again. Therefore if I don't know both the person and the system, my advice is to seek a professional as that way lies the lowest possibility of data loss. Plus probably the berating about the importance of a proper backup regime in this digital age! ...especially given how cheap storage is these days.

Really glad to hear you got it sorted!

This is one situation where if you're not a pretty confident user, I would suggest stopping right there and asking for outside help. Backing up could do more harm than good at this point as you will probably back up the virus. Do you have a regular backup regime?

I'd probably suggest seeking the help of a reputable computer repair shop at this point. They will have access to the specialised tools to at the very least recover most of your data and wipe the system clean, probably for a pretty sensible fee. Last time my father had to go down this route it cost him about fifty quid.

It's such a minefield trying to recover a system that's been crippled like this even when you do know the ins and outs of the OS like the back of your hand. Reinfection is also a massive risk if you don't specifically know where the original infection came from. Especially so if we don't know *what* it is, boot sector viruses seem to be something that you hear a lot more about these days, and if that's what we're dealing with nothing short of a full, low level format of the drive will get shot of it. I have only encountered one of these so far, which was luckily on a SCSI drive that I could easily low level format from the BIOS setup screen for the adaptor card.

Afraid I can't really offer much other advice...haven't used Windows since 2007, and last time I crossed paths with it (Windows 8) I had to resort to Google to work out how to shut down the computer! I used to be quite a power user, making both my Amiga 1200 and Windows 3.11 install (on a 486 DX4/100) do all manner of weird, wonderful things, including many that they shouldn't have been able to according to the system requirements boxes. These days though, not so much. Linux I do better with because the underlying structure hasn't changed so massively I guess.

Cheers Zelandeth, I've never trusted to take any of my machines to pc repair shops unless it was under guarantee, I've used advice from forums and the net and I've always fixed the problem. Pc is up and running just need to copy all vids/photos over.

[xantiagreen]

I do normally do a Microsoft update check every time I turn on the PC, as Windows sometimes takes a while to look, and will (on occasion) want to do a restart (which could be awkward if I am in the middle of something). Just a habit I have got into.

I've turned off auto updates and decide whether to install or not and it gives the option to reboot or postpone, have you had the windows 10 free offer to upgrade.

[xantiagreen]

Agree. Why is it always "Windows is updating, please do not power down or switch off your computer"

"Windows is downloading 1 of 18 updates"

Just after you hit the shut-down button , and don the jammies!

Yes, I have it set for automatic updates, but not at bloody bedtime.

Mines on auto and I choose which ones to install, there's updates that aren't needed and once you hide them you hope they don't pop up after an update
(bog off Silverlight).

[xantiagreen]

Yes I dumped Windows years ago and am an avid Linux user. Peppermint 3, Peppermint 5 or Linux Lite depending on how the mood takes me!
Xg if you have any other way of downloading stuff then get a copy of Bleachbit from scourceforge. It will clean allsorts of crap from your pc. It's a bit scary first time as it usually wants to dump a couple of gigs worth of rubbish but I've never had a problem with it. You have to get the right version, Win, Mac or Linux.

I've had lots of problems with Avg in the past when running Windows. It would let viruses in then warn you that they were trying to access the internet! A bit like missing horses and open stable doors. I swapped over to Antivir from Avira which was a lot more secure in my case.

Seems you and Steve are on the right OS, I've got a spare pc (need to snatch it back from Romanian chap) all being well it will still fire up and I'll try Linux as OS and see how easy it is to get to grips with. I've used Norton that was terrible, Panda Virus, avast and for past 3 years AVG and it seems good doesn't slow pc down and picks up stuff that malwarebytes misses now and again, my amiga never got infected

I got asked this question a while back, if I go wifi then there's no chance of getting infected coz there's nothing for the virus to travel down!!

[xantiagreen]

Good on you for sorting it! I didn't mean to sound alarmist, but have spent too much tkme working amongst and advising folks (my father included) who know just enough about computers to get themselves deeply into trouble but not nearly enough to get themselves out again. Therefore if I don't know both the person and the system, my advice is to seek a professional as that way lies the lowest possibility of data loss. Plus probably the berating about the importance of a proper backup regime in this digital age! ...especially given how cheap storage is these days.

Really glad to hear you got it sorted!

Cheers Zelandeth, I was worried that this time I would lose a photo directory or videos, but I stuck to the plan so job done. Countdown to the next virus attack...