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C

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,306
3
81
Combofix can be helpful, it warns about potential serious damage but i've probably ran it on over 50+ pc's and never had an issue.

but usually malwarebytes & hijack this! will handle most things that aren't seriously out of control.

i do several a week and rarely are they bad enough for me to take them home to backup & restore. sure it can be faster SOMETIMES but not when you consider having to backup all their data, reinstall the programs they use, devices, etc.
if it was my machine id prefer a re-load but most people would rather not.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
It could be CoolWebSearch too - try CWShredder.

Depending on how bad the malware infestation is, I'll recommend a format and reinstall. Some people seem to click the ad in every single popup, either because they don't know any better, or because they love the stupid little animations that some of them use.



 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,794
5,965
146
I ran into a malware that I could not get out, the first one so far in many years of computing. It killed all the common repair tools like malwarebyte and hijackthis as they ran, safe mode or not. It locked out regedit. I could boot into a live tool CD and go edit the registry that way, but I looked at all the crap programs they had accumulated with multiple grandchildren wanting this and that and decided that a nuke was best.
 
NesuD

NesuD

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,999
106
106
I've run into tthis type of situation a few times. I don't really do in home work anymore bt when I did This was my rule. I would try my best to identify and dig it out for 1 hour. If I couldn't do it in that time frame then it was up to the customer where we went from there. If they wanted to pay me my standard hourly rate to keep trying I would do that with the understanding that there were no guarantees. My recommendation however was to attempt to backup as much as possible and do a complete wipe format and install. I took no responsibility for any lost data or applications. Those were the customers responsibility. If they didn't like those options they were welcome to let the geek squad take a crack at it.
 
B

Blunc

Senior member
Oct 4, 2007
268
0
71
give the lady her money back for the printer install and tell her you can't/won't install the printer till her computer is virus free (which you'll be happy to do for her for a small fee).
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,322
10,738
126
Originally posted by: Shawn
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Originally posted by: QueBert
Avast is not the best AV software, but Antivir isn't any better IMHO.
Click to expand...

http://www.av-comparatives.org...ndret/avc_report22.pdf
Click to expand...

That's only for viruses not in the database though. Avast is updating all the time.

This test is more like real life performance: http://www.av-comparatives.org...ndret/avc_report21.pdf
Click to expand...

Avira still scored a touch better. I would also argue that heuristic detection is more important these days than definition protection is. Virus' are rapidly evolving, and definitions rapidly go out of date.
 
KMFJD

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
33,173
52,927
136
Remove hard Drive, hook hard drive up through usb kit to your laptop, scan away.....no hasle with client crap hardware
 
J

JeffreyLebowski

Lifer
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
This is why I don't work on others computers. I won't even work on family members computers because all it does is drive a wedge between you when you tell them that their machine is infected and that you'll have to wipe it and start over.
 
S

spikespiegal

Golden Member
Oct 10, 2005
1,219
9
76
I tell the user I'll reformat and re-install their machine for a cheap rate. Screwing around trying to fix this junk only results in a big waste of time because the really sophisticated Malware embeds inselfs in so many system files that trying to remove it often results in the machine running worse.

Once the box is re-built, I lecture them on how to prevert this crap, which is to avoid the use of admin rights. At first they typically don't get it and are annoyed, but six months later when their box is still running as good as new I get a thank you.

"Annoy a Conservative - tell them Jesus didn't didn't worry about making a profit based on the misery of others"
 
rh71

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
avira still have the annoying popup? I changed to avast for that reason alone... tell me it's gone.
 
I

ivan2

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2000
5,772
0
0
www.heatware.com
well u went to fix printer but instead u fiddle with the anti virus stuff. you didn't accomplished what you were paid to do. she should get a refund.
 
T

thecrecarc

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2004
3,364
3
0
If she paid you to set up the printer, and you didn't make it work, shouldn't she get a refund? Or at least tell her what else you need to do/what else is wrong.
 
Kalmah

Kalmah

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2003
3,692
1
76
This is one of those icky situations that once you've discovered that the computer was completely crapped out you have to decide how to explain to her what needs to be done.

For me, it would basically go like this:

"I will install your printer, but because your computer is infected and basically unusable I can't guarantee that your printer is going to work. But the service of installing your printer is still 'work done' that requires payment regardless. Your computer needs fixed prior to this printer installation and it is not possible to do in the allocated time. I suggest we set up another time to do this."

This is like being hired to put gas in somebody's car but the engine is dead.. then they complain that their car still doesn't run.

The sad thing is people can comprehend the issue with the car easily.. but when it comes to a computer those things are just run on freakin magic and should work no matter what.
 
SparkyJJO

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
When I find out there is a virus, I tell them right then and there. Tell them what's going on and why it is doing what it is doing. Then ask them if they have time to take care of it now, or how they would like to proceed.

Communication is key.

 
Kalmah

Kalmah

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2003
3,692
1
76
Originally posted by: Marinski
did she have recovery or os disks?? Seems whenever i work on somebodys pc and it needs to be wiped they never have the disks
Click to expand...

"What..? You mean those discs that came with the computer? "

/facepalm
 
JoeBleed

JoeBleed

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2000
1,408
30
91
Originally posted by: KMFJD
Remove hard Drive, hook hard drive up through usb kit to your laptop, scan away.....no hasle with client crap hardware
Click to expand...

I was starting to think i was the only one that did it this way. Just wish the programs could scan the reg files remotely. They don't seem to anyway.

It is also my prefered way to back up thier files in the event of a reinstall or something goes very wrong.
 
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