help, i think a virus got me

[adomastwebmaster]

I've got a computer here, windows 2000, outlook 2002, this things
acting up like a troubled child on crack.

It won't let you type anything in internet explorer, or outlook, and
on top of that the add remove programs list just shows icons, no
names, no details. I wanted to run a spyware can or something but the
windows installer just gives an error, (yes the actual install sheild
thingy it won't even run any setup programs)

I've tried restoring any corrupted files from the original windows cd
but no luck, hijack this yeilded no entries that might have caused
this, it was working fine this morning and then all of a sudden.....

I think it's gotta be a virus, but my antivirus software (sophos)
didn't even flinch and it's got on access scanning activated.

Help me Obiwan kanobi, you're my last hope.

 

[K. Orland]

I would download and install ccleaner.exe latest version and run that. Also
run antispyware, both AdAware and SpyBot (latest updates). They may catch
things your antivirus won't.

If you have a virus, this really isn't an Outlook question and you should
visit the website of your AV software. They may have an online scanner (like
Trend does) that you can use or you can at least research your symptoms. If
not, then post in a Windows 2000 group since instead of a virus you may be
suffering from file corruption or other issues.

Have you checked your application and system event viewers for errors?

 

[John]

Sorry to hear that but I seriously don't think this is the right place to
ask. You may want to try microsoft.public.security.virus group. Btw, my
solution for virus infection is format and reinstall (after backing up user
related files). No craps ever survive a format .

 

[adomastwebmaster]

I would download and install ccleaner.exe latest version and run that. Also
run antispyware, both AdAware and SpyBot (latest updates). They may catch
things your antivirus won't.

If you have a virus, this really isn't an Outlook question and you should
visit the website of your AV software. They may have an online scanner (like
Trend does) that you can use or you can at least research your symptoms. If
not, then post in a Windows 2000 group since instead of a virus you may be
suffering from file corruption or other issues.

Have you checked your application and system event viewers for errors?

i can't install anything, that's part of the problem

 

[adomastwebmaster]

Sorry to hear that but I seriously don't think this is the right place to
ask. You may want to try microsoft.public.security.virus group. Btw, my
solution for virus infection is format and reinstall (after backing up user
related files). No craps ever survive a format .

the setup disk for microsoft office is broken, otherwise i would have
at least tried to reinstall it.
full system restore is more of a last resort for me though cause it
isn't my computer, it's a work computer

 

[K. Orland]

If it's a work computer, is there nothing in place to enable you to simply
reimage it? It's alot faster to reimage than to spend valuable time
troubleshooting something that's so quickly resolved by using Symantec's
Ghost or something similar.

 

[John]

I agree. It's so hard to get rid of infections these days. I just had a look
at a PC infected with Vundo crapware (I think it's infected with a rootkit
as well). I removed the infected HD and installed it on a clean system.
Installed and scanned the infected HD with the following AV (trial) software
(not a the same time):

- Avira Antivir
- Eset NOD32
- BitDefender
- Kaspersky
- TrendMicro

Believe it or not, every AV product finds infections that the others can't
find. I finally reinstalled the system on a new HD (by using recovery DVD).
Installed Norton AV on it, then use a USB to IDE adapter to attached the
infected HD. Finally, copy user files onto the clean system. Btw, Norton
still finds some infected files in the infected HD (in the system recovery
folder: \system volume information).

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "John" <a>

| I agree. It's so hard to get rid of infections these days. I just had a look
| at a PC infected with Vundo crapware (I think it's infected with a rootkit
| as well). I removed the infected HD and installed it on a clean system.
| Installed and scanned the infected HD with the following AV (trial) software
| (not a the same time):
|
| - Avira Antivir
| - Eset NOD32
| - BitDefender
| - Kaspersky
| - TrendMicro
|
| Believe it or not, every AV product finds infections that the others can't
| find. I finally reinstalled the system on a new HD (by using recovery DVD).
| Installed Norton AV on it, then use a USB to IDE adapter to attached the
| infected HD. Finally, copy user files onto the clean system. Btw, Norton
| still finds some infected files in the infected HD (in the system recovery
| folder: \system volume information).
|

It isn't a virus like I told him in mp.s.v.
This is an OS corruption and yes...
he should flatten the system and re-install OS and MS Office from scratch.

 

[adomastwebmaster]

From: "John" <a>

| I agree. It's so hard to get rid of infections these days. I just had a look
| at a PC infected with Vundo crapware (I think it's infected with a rootkit
| as well). I removed the infected HD and installed it on a clean system.
| Installed and scanned the infected HD with the following AV (trial) software
| (not a the same time):
|
| - Avira Antivir
| - Eset NOD32
| - BitDefender
| - Kaspersky
| - TrendMicro
|
| Believe it or not, every AV product finds infections that the others can't
| find. I finally reinstalled the system on a new HD (by using recovery DVD).
| Installed Norton AV on it, then use a USB to IDE adapter to attached the
| infected HD. Finally, copy user files onto the clean system. Btw, Norton
| still finds some infected files in the infected HD (in the system recovery
| folder: \system volume information).
|

It isn't a virus like I told him in mp.s.v.
This is an OS corruption and yes...
he should flatten the system and re-install OS and MS Office from scratch.

yup, i came round to the same conclusion in the end. the pc is kinda
old after all, it's probably just reached it's limit. I figured i'd
ask anyway in case anyone had an alternate solution. oh well, i'll
just have to restore the entire os, but i can't do that till i get
hold of the ms office installation disk.(our disk has a large crack
running through it) Gotta dig out some other disks too.

thanks for all th help


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