• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Laptop Crashed.

B

bgreenlee

Junior Member
In normal surfing last night I happened upon a link at my favorite filth website and its assortment of daily links. One was labled "do not click this" which I promptly clicked when I had reached it.

Instantly my computer locked up. I was able to power down and power back up. Once powered up my internet explorer would no longer work, so I pulled up system restore and restored the system to a couple days earlier and all seemed well.

However a couple hours ago I decided to do a little cleanup so I downloaded the latest microsoft critical updates, updated my spyware blaster software. Then I attempted to run Adaware. As soon as I clicked scan my computer once again locked up and then turned off.

Now when I turn it on it ever so slowly boots up (you can here the laptop harddrive clicking very slowly). After about 5 minutes it gets to the windows login screen then the screen goes black and it just sits there until I hold the power button down for 5 seconds to turn it off.

Any help?

Computer is a Compaq Presario V2000z AMD Turion 64 - WinXP SP2
 
SAFE Mode.
Disable system restore.
CTRL-ALT-DEL - Taskmanager - see if you can disable any dodgy looking processes.
START RUN type 'MSCONFIG' - startup. Disable all dodgy startup items.
Run everything you got - all the zappy software to kill and maim malware.
Then, go to a mate's place, download Kaspersky trial and the update.
Install in SAFE, (I think you can) update.
Scan and zap.
Reboot into normal.
SCAN using ALL the yoots, one at a time, and NOT connected to the interspak.
If it comes up clean, well done,
If not, make a note of what was found, and you may have to dl some specific fixes ON SOMEONE ELSE's computer. Don't connect yours to interspak, as your system is now compromised and maybe you are getting more crap installed on there while you are reading this.
 
You have picked up a bug from that site. The first clue is Adaware's inability to function and the machine turning off. Do a complete virus scan. You may be looking at a format and clean install.
 
Hey,

Thanks for the responses!

This morning I was able to log in through safe mode and safe the only two files that I really wanted to keep off of the computer onto my ipod.

I then did a format (not quick) and reinstalled xp and my drivers.

Am I pretty safe now or is there a good chance that the trojan or whatever lived through the format?

Thanks
 
It seems there are a small amount of nasties that can live through a quick format, as they reside on the MBR.

If you can, do a proper virus scan, and see if there is a problem.
Do you know what virus caused this?
 
I am downloading avg now. I plan on putting it on my ipod and transferring it back over to my laptop and scanning.

If it does reside in the MBR do you think this will be able to find it?
 
I would prefer the trial ver of Kaspersky - 99'% v around 70% detection rate for AVG.
Also, put the cumulative update (unzipped) on the drive.
 
Well I just scanned with AVG, Kaspersky, and Adaware. Nothing was found. I think I feel pretty safe now.

BTW the site was actually saait.net - just a daily links kind of site. Not really a porn site, but just as stupid at times.
 
I suppose just windows firewall. :S

I've heard it isn't that great, but is ZoneAlarm really much better?

It always seemed like such a resource hog on my old system.
 
Where on the site is the link you triggered?
I can't be arsed looking thro that shite, although a couple of the jokes are ok.
 
Ok, this is really starting to get me....


My internet explorer just stopped working again. The first symptom I experienced last time.

If I open up my computer and then type an url into the address bar it will go, but if I just click on IE it won't load any site.

I am currently running an AVG scan and I will follow it with kaspersky and adaware, but I'm really wondering what it could be???
 
Well I finished both AVG and Kaspersky scans and they found nothing. I've also restarted my computer several times as well as attempted to reinstall ie.

I'm really nowhere right now. The computer doesn't seem to be having any other issues other than this. I'm still waiting on gotogeeks.com to get around to helping me. In the meantime is there anyone here proficient at looking through hijackthis logs?
 
I'm typing this post from my laptop!

I ran hijackthis to no avail. Everything on my system came back as safe. I also attempted reinstalling Internet Explorer twice also with nothing different.

Finally I started to think that this wasn't being caused by a trojan at all?? So I started to uninstall everything on my computer that I thought could have interefered with IE at all. First to go was winamp, but it didn't help.

Next was a download accelerator called Freshdownload. The lightbulb went off instantly here. I went under its settings and started disabling everything about browser integration. As soon as I hit apply and opened up IE - EVERYTHING WAS WORKING!

Now I've used this program for years and am 99.9% sure its free of spyware ect. However, I believe it's attempt to integrate itself into my browser was being blocked by one of the many antivirus/antimalware programs I have running since the trojan hit a couple days ago. The link between Freshdownload and my loss of broswer functionality was hidden by the fact that I never restart my laptop - I only hibernate it. So it was a couple days before I actually attempted a shutdown and Freshdownload attempted to integrate (because I never restarted my computer as stated after its installation.)

I went ahead and uninstalled FreshDownload and all really seems to be running fine.

I'd like to thank everyone who attempted to help me here especialy montag!

Thanks Again!
 
Just as an afterthought, can you dl a firewall - don't use the windows one.
Zonealarm is ok (free)
Sygate is ok (AAAHHHHHHHGGGGGHHH Just found it has been invaded by symantec Oh no.)
Agnitum Outpost (free)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top