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Thread: Windows Question...

  1. #1
    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
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    Windows Question...

    A couple days ago my brother dropped off his computer... said he thought it might be infected with a trojan or virus. I fired up the machine and got a "blue death screen". I shut it down, fired it back up into "safe mode". I ran in "safe mode" at the command prompt level and tried running "chkdsk c: /F" but it balked because other processes are accessing the disc. So scheduled it to run on the next boot but it didn't seem to do anything. Then I decided to try a "system restore" back to the last known working configuration. That seemed to work, now windows boots up normally and you can access your accounts again. It seems a bit slow but, since it is not my machine it's hard to tell for certain if that is normal.

    In any even it seems to be working, so, for the most part it would appear my job is done.

    However, I am not very knowledgeable with Windows system. I am good with Linux and Unix systems but I am in the dark with a lot of Windows stuff. Is there anything else I should be checking BEFORE I return the machine as fixed ? Should I be running some virus scans or testing anything just to make sure ?

    Any suggestions appreciated.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  2. #2
    Conch Master KJ3N's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize
    Is there anything else I should be checking BEFORE I return the machine as fixed ? Should I be running some virus scans or testing anything just to make sure ?

    Any suggestions appreciated.
    Install, update, and run Malwarebytes. Install, update, and run Spybot Search & Destroy.

    If it has Norton, get rid of it. If it has (s)MacAfee, get rid of it.

    Install, update and run AVG.
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  3. #3
    Orca Whisperer N1LAF's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    AND the links to those programs are on HamIsland website too.

  4. #4
    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Right now I'm doing a full disk scan via "Spyware Doctor" which is recommended on the "bleepingcomputer" page. It has so far found quite a few viruses and Trojans, including at least two high risk Trojans. We'll see what happens once the scan is finished and those threats are liquidated.

    Now I seem to have another problem. My Dad's computer monitor won't turn on. I hope he has saved the receipt. It should still be under warranty.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  5. #5
    Coconut King n0iu's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize
    My Dad's computer monitor won't turn on.
    I just gotta ask...

    Is it plugged in?

    I have worked in various help desk capacities over the decades and this "problem" comes up fairly frequently. When we ask, "Is it plugged in?", 99 times out of 100 the response is, "Hang on, let me check." and a minute later "OK thanks, I think I see what the problem is. Thanks for your help. Buh-bye!" CLICK

    Yeah, I know its your dad and there is no way he would do anything like that, but...

    I'm just saying...
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  6. #6
    Orca Whisperer kf0rt's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Might also defrag the hard drive, de-install any unnecessary background tasks, run a registry scan, install any updates and and delete all his pr0n.

    'Course, if you give it the "full service" job, you know who will be in charge of it from now on.

  7. #7
    Whacker Knot WØTKX's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Since your gonna be systems support, a remote desktop capability is useful.

    VNC or something. Make sure it's secure.
    "Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
    of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman



  8. #8
    Orca Whisperer N1LAF's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Quote Originally Posted by n0iu
    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize
    My Dad's computer monitor won't turn on.
    I just gotta ask...

    Is it plugged in?

    I have worked in various help desk capacities over the decades and this "problem" comes up fairly frequently. When we ask, "Is it plugged in?", 99 times out of 100 the response is, "Hang on, let me check." and a minute later "OK thanks, I think I see what the problem is. Thanks for your help. Buh-bye!" CLICK

    Yeah, I know its your dad and there is no way he would do anything like that, but...

    I'm just saying...
    [youtube:236gmp6u]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmD_8cBqhW0[/youtube:236gmp6u]

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  9. #9
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    Re: Windows Question...

    There have been some bad trojans going around. Not condoms either. have fun

  10. #10
    'Grumpy old bastid' kb2vxa's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Question...

    Since nobody else has mentioned it, once other problems have been addressed you might want to check and see if it has sufficient RAM to avoid excessive disc caching. Many off the shelf computers have barely above the minimum installed and he may have one of them so it's like the ewe once told me, you can never have too much ram.
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