OT My computer upstairs has a virus

Jaylee--- computers, you gotta love'em (except when they screw up).

I have found the following website very helpful over the years- the guys have a radio show in Rochester, NY. Of the trio, one is in charge of this very kind of problem at Rochester Institute of Technology (School of Business), another a long time Mac support person, and the third builds and maintains PCs. (They claim to have the longest running computer show in the known Universe-- and a lot of fun-- but very knowledgeable.)

The website goes by the name of "The Security Tango" from an often repeated phrase that curing these problems is a multi-step process "Like the Tango". Many of the recommendations you have already received are echoed in this "Tango".

http://securitytango.com/

I am sure by the sounds of this link that if you were nearby any of us, you would have more help than you could use-- there is something about a damsel in distress.

Someone has already mentioned "Get a Mac" (probably not in the budget)- if you were nearby I would suggest Linux as an alternative operating system that is so much less prone to infections of virus or malware (& totally free for both operating system & programs) but a learning curve as with any new operating system.

I hope you are able to get this taken care of easily (& reasonabley)
letchworth

I do thank everyone for their help I tried my best but when it stopped even coming on, I decided to give up. I had spent three days trying at that point. I wasn't going to fix it at all but my Dad was feeling generous and probably did not want me on his computer, so he took it in for me

It should be ready tomorrow.

Let us know what they find?

Oh yes I was totally stressing out I was mainly worried that I would lose what I had on their. I started out with the mental attitude of "Oh I can't possibly fix this myself because my STBX was a jerk and told me I wasn't smart enough" kind of thing.

Then I went in to the attitude of "I WILL fix this myself just to spite him"

Then I was following everyone's advice, trying to do it even talking to people on the phone, and after three days it is like, yeah, maybe this really is a little bit over my head

I will let you know when I find out what it is

Jaylee, if it's any consolation, I'm also battling an evil genie in my main beastie. Done several scans, downloaded malwarebytes (thanks all for that tip), now running a second full system scan...hopefully this will identify or have eliminated the demon thing . At least everything was backed up beforehand.

Muse-Inc wrote: At least everything was backed up beforehand.

INCLUDING thee Nasties?

GumbyCT wrote:

Muse-Inc wrote: At least everything was backed up beforehand.

INCLUDING thee Nasties?

Yeah , that's why multiple full scans and other stuff.

Yeah so I don't really back up. I know my husband did it for me, but I will have to haunt this thread or maybe post a new one for tips on how to go about doing that

letchworth wrote: I am sure by the sounds of this link that if you were nearby any of us, you would have more help than you could use-- there is something about a damsel in distress.

And just a reminder guys, I am totally single now

My computer upstairs (the necktop one) had a virus a little while ago. Went away on its oww All good now!

K

Jaylee wrote:Yeah so I don't really back up. I know my husband did it for me, but I will have to haunt this thread or maybe post a new one for tips on how to go about doing that

1) Make sure you have the OS install discs.

2) Keep all your personal data on a large USB drive or if that is not big enough use an external drive. The machine hard drive can catch fire... it won't matter because all your data is on external storage.

Paul56 wrote:

Jaylee wrote:Yeah so I don't really back up. I know my husband did it for me, but I will have to haunt this thread or maybe post a new one for tips on how to go about doing that

1) Make sure you have the OS install discs.

2) Keep all your personal data on a large USB drive or if that is not big enough use an external drive. The machine hard drive can catch fire... it won't matter because all your data is on external storage.

I am out of luck then. I don't have #1 and no access to them.

A new start up disk is usually about $20 and worth every penny if you have a way to back up to an external hard drive or even disks. If you can pull that off, then you can always reload your start up disk which takes your computer back to its new state. This takes some time, but really cleans up messes when nothing else will do. I often back up often on an external drive. Technology is not my strength, so if I can figure out how to back up, it probably won't be hard for you.

Jaylee. I know which virus you are speaking of because my kid's puter is infected with similar. The last time the little buggers got it, I spent four days trying to fix, clean, etc. Malware bytes was the only thing that works. However, even with that so many files had been corrupted I said screw it. The kids didn't have anything important on it so I bought new discs for windows, reformatted and started from scratch.

This past weekend my teenager clicked on the wrong thing somewhere and there it was again (I've managed a year virus free on there). No way was I giving up another 3 days so I unplugged it brought it in for someone else to deal with. $75 well spent. My time is worth more than $75 amortized over what would have taken me three days I'm sure (since I really don't know what I'm doing) Glad your dad helped you out. Daddy's are pretty good that way.

Yep I had that virus plus a ton of spyware. I got the computer back and am on it now. He updated everything, cleaned it up, installed some better anti virus, anti spyware, etc. It was $52. That is an exceptional deal because I know how much my husband charged to fix computers. I got lucky! My Dad took care of the bill, even better. I also got a new monitor because my old one was one of the old school ones that weighed a ton Now I am adjusting the the wider screen. Everything looks huge now.

Hopefully I can keep this up and going.

I also found out that my coworker's husband is an IT guy. Duh!! He works IT at a company that you would never think would even need an IT guy, so that is why I had no idea I knew he was a car kind of guy. So now that I know, I at least have someone local who can help me out!