ugh, what did i do?

[parabola]

Basically I wanted a new antivirus program -- nod32 antivirus. I downloaded it through a torrent, and installed it exactly how the readme instructed me. After installing, my PC required a reboot. While the computer was loading back up, it seriously took like 15 minutes for it to load up -- which is not normal.

After the computer would finally boot up, the resolution was all jacked up so I couldn't even see the start menu. I went into the task manager and checked what was going on; the processes seemed normal to me. But, when I went into the "performance" tab, it showed through PF usage something crazy like 88MB....I was really confused at this point. I wasn't able to go into any programs or anything; I'd have to go through task manager by hitting ctrl+alt+delete, and then "new task" through there. Even then, no programs would work. I decided to try to uninstall nod32 since it wasn't working..

this was unsuccessful; so I turned off my computer -- and i kept getting blue screen errors. I went into Safe mode, where my computer was actually responsive and normal again, and uninstalled nod32 yet again; this time it was successful.

I then booted up my computer in normal mode -- no luck again, same problems.

Then, I went back into safe mode, inserted my windows XP cd, and reinstalled windows. However, I selected the option to "upgrade", so my hard drive didn't get reformatted apparently...

So now, I just finally got my computer back online and am posting this, and am wondering what the fuck happened? Is it OK to just reinstall windows XP over an existing copy without formatting? All of my music, programs, and settings are still the same except that my resolution was on like 1024x768 which i changed to the normal widescreen one I use..
also, I should note that before I fucked up my computer, my internet explorer was version 7.xx and now it's 6.xx Weird... i *still* have SP2 though

everything seems to be running perfectly fine now...
I know this is extremely long winded, but I'm bad with computers and tried the best I could to explain..

I have to install all of the windows updates now too theres like 76 security updates

 

[PurdueRy]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
Basically I wanted a new antivirus program -- nod32 antivirus. I downloaded it through a torrent, and installed it exactly how the readme instructed me. After installing, my PC required a reboot. While the computer was loading back up, it seriously took like 15 minutes for it to load up -- which is not normal.

After the computer would finally boot up, the resolution was all jacked up so I couldn't even see the start menu. I went into the task manager and checked what was going on; the processes seemed normal to me. But, when I went into the "performance" tab, it showed through PF usage something crazy like 88MB....I was really confused at this point. I wasn't able to go into any programs or anything; I'd have to go through task manager by hitting ctrl+alt+delete, and then "new task" through there. Even then, no programs would work. I decided to try to uninstall nod32 since it wasn't working..

this was unsuccessful; so I turned off my computer -- and i kept getting blue screen errors. I went into Safe mode, where my computer was actually responsive and normal again, and uninstalled nod32 yet again; this time it was successful.

I then booted up my computer in normal mode -- no luck again, same problems.

Then, I went back into safe mode, inserted my windows XP cd, and reinstalled windows. However, I selected the option to "upgrade", so my hard drive didn't get reformatted apparently...

So now, I just finally got my computer back online and am posting this, and am wondering what the fuck happened? Is it OK to just reinstall windows XP over an existing copy without formatting? All of my music, programs, and settings are still the same except that my resolution was on like 1024x768 which i changed to the normal widescreen one I use..
also, I should note that before I fucked up my computer, my internet explorer was version 7.xx and now it's 6.xx Weird... i *still* have SP2 though

everything seems to be running perfectly fine now...
I know this is extremely long winded, but I'm bad with computers and tried the best I could to explain..

I have to install all of the windows updates now too theres like 76 security updates
</end quote></div>

There's your mistake

 

[Palomar]

my only advice is: backup all important data and format your harddrive... Or at least try to run a web based virus scanner like http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ to see what virus it was.
I think it's seriously f*cked up by some virus or spyware.....

also don't install virus scanners downloaded from p2p... Especially when you don't even have one installed.....

 

[parabola]

What steps should I take now?

Now when I try to access windows updates they all fail...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: parabola
What steps should I take now?

Now when I try to access windows updates they all fail...

I would either try to install a well known virusscan from a companies website and see if it can clear the mess up(if you can access the internet) or F-O-R-M-A-T

 

[parabola]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
What steps should I take now?

Now when I try to access windows updates they all fail...
</end quote></div>

I would either try to install a well known virusscan from a companies website and see if it can clear the mess up(if you can access the internet) or F-O-R-M-A-T

I can install a free antivirus through my university...I'll do that now.

Also, what can I do about these darn windows updates that keep failing?

 

[Palomar]

Maybe soms sort of virus is blocking updates. That also explaines why windows crashed when trying to install a virusscanner. Some virusses can detect that you are running a anti-virus tool and block this by fucking up your windows installation (i.e. deleting system essential files).

The safest way is to format and reinstall a clean windows. Now you will never know the virus is still present somewhere (and waiting to attack ).

 

[parabola]

Originally posted by: Palomar
Maybe soms sort of virus is blocking updates. That also explaines why windows crashed when trying to install a virusscanner. Some virusses can detect that you are running a anti-virus tool and block this by fucking up your windows installation (i.e. deleting system essential files).

The safest way is to format and reinstall a clean windows. Now you will never know the virus is still present somewhere (and waiting to attack ).

What is the best way to format? Shoudl i just right click on the C drive?

Also there are several options, such as Allocation unit size, quick format, enable compression, etc.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Palomar
Maybe soms sort of virus is blocking updates. That also explaines why windows crashed when trying to install a virusscanner. Some virusses can detect that you are running a anti-virus tool and block this by fucking up your windows installation (i.e. deleting system essential files).

The safest way is to format and reinstall a clean windows. Now you will never know the virus is still present somewhere (and waiting to attack ).</end quote></div>

What is the best way to format? Shoudl i just right click on the C drive?

Also there are several options, such as Allocation unit size, quick format, enable compression, etc.

I would just format when I was reinstalling windows. Also, since you already used the drive I would use the long, not quick, format

 

[parabola]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Palomar
Maybe soms sort of virus is blocking updates. That also explaines why windows crashed when trying to install a virusscanner. Some virusses can detect that you are running a anti-virus tool and block this by fucking up your windows installation (i.e. deleting system essential files).

The safest way is to format and reinstall a clean windows. Now you will never know the virus is still present somewhere (and waiting to attack ).</end quote></div>

What is the best way to format? Shoudl i just right click on the C drive?

Also there are several options, such as Allocation unit size, quick format, enable compression, etc.</end quote></div>

I would just format when I was reinstalling windows. Also, since you already used the drive I would use the long, not quick, format

I actually got the windows updates to work.

Everything is working 100% normal now. And i also did a virus scan and none came up.
Do you still think it's necessary to reformat, since I never did?

I feel like if it's not broken, don't fix it...And i will be sure not to download any antiviruses off torrents anymore

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Palomar
Maybe soms sort of virus is blocking updates. That also explaines why windows crashed when trying to install a virusscanner. Some virusses can detect that you are running a anti-virus tool and block this by fucking up your windows installation (i.e. deleting system essential files).

The safest way is to format and reinstall a clean windows. Now you will never know the virus is still present somewhere (and waiting to attack ).</end quote></div>

What is the best way to format? Shoudl i just right click on the C drive?

Also there are several options, such as Allocation unit size, quick format, enable compression, etc.</end quote></div>

I would just format when I was reinstalling windows. Also, since you already used the drive I would use the long, not quick, format</end quote></div>


I actually got the windows updates to work.

Everything is working 100% normal now. And i also did a virus scan and none came up.
Do you still think it's necessary to reformat, since I never did?

I feel like if it's not broken, don't fix it...And i will be sure not to download any antiviruses off torrents anymore

What did you do to get it to work?

Is there anything odd still happening...if not then I would say don't format.

 

[parabola]

Well on the microsoft site, a pop up came up and recommended a solution for me ; which I executed through cmd >> run> and executing like 7 .dll's

It fixed the problem; the computer is running perfectly now.

I guess I"m just wondering if it's OK to install windows XP over itself? that doesn't cause any problems, does it? I think the reason it worked, is because the nod32 antivirus required a "fix" so that i wouldn't have to pay for a subscription -- and in turn, I had to click on a file that "edited" the windows registry somewhere. And perhaps the Win XP "upgrade install" simply rewrote the registry...? Also I deleted all the nod32 files so...who knows

 

[parabola]

BTW, I really appreciate all the help everyone.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: parabola
BTW, I really appreciate all the help everyone.

Try running CWShredder to see if any major trojans are still around.

 

[parabola]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
BTW, I really appreciate all the help everyone.</end quote></div>

Try running CWShredder to see if any major trojans are still around.</end quote></div>

It found one..CWS.Msconfig

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
BTW, I really appreciate all the help everyone.</end quote></div>

Try running CWShredder to see if any major trojans are still around.</end quote></div>

It found one..CWS.Msconfig

run it again after a restart. If it detects the same one or another one then run the program in safe mode.

 

[parabola]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PurdueRy
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: parabola
BTW, I really appreciate all the help everyone.</end quote></div>

Try running CWShredder to see if any major trojans are still around.</end quote></div>

It found one..CWS.Msconfig
</end quote></div>

run it again after a restart. If it detects the same one or another one then run the program in safe mode.</end quote></div>

will do

yeap -- it came back

I ran it in safe mode, and just checked CWshredder again - its gone now