PC troubles

[ericgomes]

Well, I feel like I want to break this PC. My girlfriend's laptop, approximately 5 years old, is infected out the wazoo with trojans, viruses, spyware, etc. Her laptop is so horribly slow and doesn't recognize any external devices that are attached to her laptop. I tried to upload anti virus and anti spyware software through my flash drive, but her laptop doesn't recognize it. When I brought it home, I plugged my ethernet cable right into the jack. The laptop picked up on a signal. However, I can't get onto the internet because Internet Explorer or Firefox can't load because it's so badly infected, there is nothing that she can do.

I've ran scans on her pre-existing copies of her anti spyware. The kicker is that she can't receive updates to her anti spyware program because she can't load up Internet Explorer or Firefox. Thus, resulting in bad and flawed detections.

I've done this in Safe Mode.

I don't have a Windows CD.

I can't system reformat because the laptop won't allow me to.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how I can connect to the internet? Her laptop is horrible. The last resort would be to buy a Windows CD, but she'd rather purchase a new laptop. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy holidays!

 

[Tyrant222]

Have you tried ClamWin portable? It is antivirus you can run from a flash drive.

for anti-spyware, Ad-Aware will run directly from a flash drive, so install it on your computer, then copy the files from the folder to your flash drive, then run it on her PC. (no install needed)

Hopefully these actually do something. if they don't you may not have a choice but to reformat.

 

[ericgomes]

Yeah the thing is, the USB ports aren't functional. They don't recognize my flash drive. Thanks for the help though. Happy holidays!

 

[Slugbait]

Five years old? You could spend $120 on MCE 2005 at the 'egg, but I wouldn't waste the money...get the new laptop. And image it before she goes online again.

Don't bother trying to clean it up...I did that once with a machine very similar in compromise to your gf's. If your time is worth more than $25/hr, you'll lose a ton of money. It would be cheaper to buy an external enclosure, wipe the drive, and buy the new disc.

 

[Tyrant222]

You can try burning a CD with clamwin and ad-aware. Pretty sure that would work too. Never done it that way but desperate times...

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ericgomes
I don't have a Windows CD.

I can't system reformat because the laptop won't allow me to.

Her laptop is horrible. The last resort would be to buy a Windows CD, but she'd rather purchase a new laptop.

* Does anyone you know have a restore CD that you could borrow?
* The "laptop won't allow" you to reformat and reinstall?
Why in the world won't it "allow" you to perform basic tasks like reformat and reload?
* If she doesn't want to spend a few bucks on a restore CD, tell her to spend hundreds on a new laptop.
In an effort to save money, I bet she buys one without any restore disks.

Basically at this point in the game, it's over. Mentally, you need to accept that fact and focus on reinstalling Windows, Ubuntu or help her shop for a new laptop.

 

[DSF]

Whatever route you go, perhaps some stronger security features and some education on keeping a computer protected are in order?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: DSF
...perhaps some stronger security features and some education on keeping a computer protected are in order

> Sandboxie for 32bit <

 

[ericgomes]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: ericgomes
I don't have a Windows CD.

I can't system reformat because the laptop won't allow me to.

Her laptop is horrible. The last resort would be to buy a Windows CD, but she'd rather purchase a new laptop.

* Does anyone you know have a restore CD that you could borrow?
* The "laptop won't allow" you to reformat and reinstall?
Why in the world won't it "allow" you to perform basic tasks like reformat and reload?
* If she doesn't want to spend a few bucks on a restore CD, tell her to spend hundreds on a new laptop.
In an effort to save money, I bet she buys one without any restore disks.

Basically at this point in the game, it's over. Mentally, you need to accept that fact and focus on reinstalling Windows, Ubuntu or help her shop for a new laptop.

No, I don't know anyone who has a spare CD. She can just purchase an OEM copy from Dell. Windows is missing files in order to system restore. Yeah, she just told me to not spend any money on her laptop, as she was planning on getting a new one in the near future. I just wanted to try and work my mojo, you know?

Originally posted by: DSF
Whatever route you go, perhaps some stronger security features and some education on keeping a computer protected are in order?

Yep. I know, trust me. She didn't even know what a "disk cleanup" was. I told her to always take care of it. Unfortunately, she told me way too late. She's just very nieve and she can finally see what happens when she doesn't take care of her PC. She was planning on getting a new laptop in the future months so she just let it rot.

 

[NoStateofMind]

You need this: http://www.ubcd4win.com/

 

[ericgomes]

I'll check that out. I appreciate it. Anyone with first hand experience ever use this product before?

 

[DSF]

The UBCD? I've used it. I haven't used everything on it, but it's pretty easy to use.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
You need this: http://www.ubcd4win.com/

It requires a Windows OS disk to build. :roll:

"2. Insert your XP CD with SP1/SP2 into a CD Rom drive"

Originally posted by: ericgomes
I don't have a Windows CD.

My advice...
Dell machines are as common as dirt. Someone you are in contact with every day owns one.
Ask around to find someone that will loan your their Dell restore CD.

Are you following me camera guy? :laugh:

 

[jae]

yeah u have to know somebody, anybody with a dell computer. Or just throw Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS on it if all shes doing is browsing and emailing.