Topic: I think I just got real lucky

[jualdeaux]

All of a sudden my PC wouldn't boot up all the way and I couldn't move any files or folders or much else actually. I couldn't even do a virus scan. I ended up doing a recover with the XP disc. That let me boot up all the way and I just did a scan. It found two virus'. That is the first time in quite a long time that I have gotten one of those. I still have to reinstall all the updates, which I think are still in my temp fiels, but that is a minor thing compared to losing some documents that I haven't moved to the external HDD. Needlss to say, Im a bit relieved.

[Iceman]

Might want to invest in a second HDD. Maybe. lol

On that note, Best Buy has 80gb Seagate 7500 rpm drives for $40 after rebates. Thats what I run now, very stable and fairly quiet.

[TheShadow]

 I have three adware files that I cant get out of my _Restore folder. These are annoying as hades. Needless to say, I havent sent any personal info on my puter and I dont store personal info on it anyway.    

[jualdeaux]

I do have a second hard drive that I used to use as a second OS drive in dual boot. It is unformatted at the moment. I also have a small external drive that I use a storage for documents, program files and other stuff just in case the PC does crash. I just didn't have all the recent documents moved over there yet so if I would have had to do a total reinstall, it wouldn't have been catastrophic, just inconvenient.

[Javora]

Quote:
 I have three adware files that I cant get out of my _Restore folder. These are annoying as hades. Needless to say, I havent sent any personal info on my puter and I dont store personal info on it anyway.    

If I may suggest, I would try downloading and running HijackThis.  Then I would start a thread at The Tech Support Forum and ask someone for assistance.  These people are really good at finding and removing ad ware from a system.  Also ad ware usually "piggy backs" on other downloaded and installed programs.  Bonzo Buddy and a few other programs are known for this stuff.  The only way ad ware could be installed on to your system through the release of personal information.  Is if you opened an Email attachment or downloaded and installed ad ware at the advice of some company that has emailed you.  Hope this helps.
 

[JMM]

I remember Bonzo buddy being on my mom's P/C in the 90's, very irritating indeed!  

[Javora]

Quote:
I do have a second hard drive that I used to use as a second OS drive in dual boot. It is unformatted at the moment. I also have a small external drive that I use a storage for documents, program files and other stuff just in case the PC does crash. I just didn't have all the recent documents moved over there yet so if I would have had to do a total reinstall, it wouldn't have been catastrophic, just inconvenient.  

I am glad to hear that everything is ok.  I keep a 40gb internal hard drive in my closet that I connect to my PC for backups just for this very reason.  As Iceman indicated small hard drives are cheap nowadays.  It's a lot easer to keep around than a bunch of CD's or DVD's.  And since the hard drive is not spinning constantly, the drive should last a very long time.

We talked about this topic awhile back and you stated that an antivirus and firewall are not needed.  I'm curious has your opinion changed any?  I'm not trying to rub your choices in your face by any means.  Goodness knows I've seen people get a virus even with an antivirus/firewall/router installed/connected on to their system.  I'm just wondering if your opinion changed if at all.  Also if I may ask which viruses infected your system?  I'm guessing they must have been pretty nasty to bring your system down like that.  Did the viruses even show up when you went into safe mode?  Well anyway I hope everything gets back on track for you soon enough, and I'm really sorry to hear about the rough time you had.
 

[JMM]

I agree J, Seth and Kortez and others on the forums taught me a LOT regarding internet security, and I ALWAYS have Norton antivirus running as well as Sygate firewall running, the P/C is in stealth mode, being invisible to the net, and I ALWAYS only answer e-mails only from known friends or family and scan each file before download.  

[jualdeaux]

Quote:

Quote:
I do have a second hard drive that I used to use as a second OS drive in dual boot. It is unformatted at the moment. I also have a small external drive that I use a storage for documents, program files and other stuff just in case the PC does crash. I just didn't have all the recent documents moved over there yet so if I would have had to do a total reinstall, it wouldn't have been catastrophic, just inconvenient.  

I am glad to hear that everything is ok.  I keep a 40gb internal hard drive in my closet that I connect to my PC for backups just for this very reason.  As Iceman indicated small hard drives are cheap nowadays.  It's a lot easer to keep around than a bunch of CD's or DVD's.  And since the hard drive is not spinning constantly, the drive should last a very long time.

We talked about this topic awhile back and you stated that an antivirus and firewall are not needed.  I'm curious has your opinion changed any?  I'm not trying to rub your choices in your face by any means.  Goodness knows I've seen people get a virus even with an antivirus/firewall/router installed/connected on to their system.  I'm just wondering if your opinion changed if at all.  Also if I may ask which viruses infected your system?  I'm guessing they must have been pretty nasty to bring your system down like that.  Did the viruses even show up when you went into safe mode?  Well anyway I hope everything gets back on track for you soon enough, and I'm really sorry to hear about the rough time you had.
   

I don't know if you are talking about me, but I have never said that one doesn't need a fireall and antovirus. I am on dialup and I still use both. As to the virus', I don't really remember. Sorry.

[Javora]

Quote:

I don't know if you are talking about me, but I have never said that one doesn't need a fireall and antovirus. I am on dialup and I still use both. As to the virus', I don't really remember. Sorry.

That's correct I was thinking of Pestalence.  Sorry sometimes I get you blue named people mixed up.