Serious internet problem with Acer 8930G!!

[nerwnas]

Good afternoon

My notebook is Acer 8930G and my network adapter is an Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 and i used to have as a wired router a Dlink 524T, which i changed with a Netgear DG834 during my many attempts to resolve in vain my internet problems as i did with my ethernet cables.

About a week ago,suddenly my notebook ceased to have any internet connection and my status varied from local only to limited connectivity while both the green and orange lights on the adapter came and went continiously.

After a casual scan with Malwarebytez antispyware,it turned out that i had 9 infections from the trojan BHO,which turned out to origin from Acer itself,as it was part of the recovery hidden partition.This trojan appeared as Partner BHO that ran as an add on to Internet explorer and was part of the Acer-Google toolbar present at IE.

After innumerable efforts and formats,i somehow cleaned(so it seems without being 100% certain) my PC.The only thing is that the problem persists with the connection,while two other computers that share the network with me,didn't and still don't have any problems whatsoever.

My Atheros adapter functions as follows:The green light on the right is stable for a few seconds subsequently dissapears for an instance and then returns while the orange light beeps only at the presense of the green light.My network status vary from Local only to limited connectivity most of the times and sometimes it turns to no connectivity.The device manager indicates that all devices are working properly without any explanatory or question marks underneath any of them

Is it possible that my ethernet card was damaged by the trojan?If anyone could help me out or at least enlighten me,i would be much obliged!!!!

 

[Harvey]

I don't think it's likely that your network card was damaged, although it's possible. I think it's more likely that the driver and/or some other software was corrupted.

As a first step, I would suggest contacting Acer's tech support through their online chat (which I hope they provide). Have details of the problem written out so you can easily cut and paste them into the chat session. Be sure to note the specific problems with their own files. They may be (make that SHOULD be) aware of the problems and have the solutions at hand.

The only way to be 100% sure there is no lingering malware or corrupted files is to reload the OS from the ground up. Do you have a restore disk set? If not, your choices will be to buy one from Acer or to download all of the drivers for the various components in your machind and install your preferred version of Windows from a generic version. If you can get all the drivers, the latter option will allow you to install Windows without the problems or the added overhead of any of Acer's own software.

Acer shouldn't charge as much as a full copy of Windows because the license came with the machine so all you need is the means to re-install your licensed copy of Windows. I can't speak for Acer, but from my own experience, I know HP sells recovery disk sets in the $20 - $30 range, depending on the version.

Good luck. 🙂