Help - unfightable Trojans

[Cogidubnus]

My laziness in not changing off Vista has finally come back to haunt me. Somehow, 51 trojans latched into my laptop before I removed the internet cable. I've spent all day trying to get rid of them - I've run system restore, I've tried to find them manually cos my virus software can only find them, not get rid of them. Help?

If nothing else, can I simply format my hard drive and install a new OS? Will my hardware still work?

[Haruki-kun]

My laziness in not changing off Vista has finally come back to haunt me. Somehow, 51 trojans latched into my laptop before I removed the internet cable. I've spent all day trying to get rid of them - I've run system restore, I've tried to find them manually cos my virus software can only find them, not get rid of them. Help?

Get new Anti-virus software. That's the first step. It might fix the problem.

Try out AVG, I use that one and it works fine.


If nothing else, can I simply format my hard drive and install a new OS? Will my hardware still work?

You'll have a hard time finding the drivers, unless you already have them. But yes, it should work fine.

[Cogidubnus]

Get new Anti-virus software. That's the first step. It might fix the problem.

Try out AVG, I use that one and it works fine.



You'll have a hard time finding the drivers, unless you already have them. But yes, it should work fine.

I don't have the drivers on disk. Without them, will it even start up (graphics card etc). And I'm having enormous trouble connecting to the internet now I've unplugged it. Can't get it to reconnect.

[arguskos]

Well, how to deal with Trojans is easy: light the horse on fire and then you- wait, oh, viruses. Yeah, ok, sorry, I got nothing. I just wanted to tell that joke. XD

[Cogidubnus]

Well, how to deal with Trojans is easy: light the horse on fire and then you- wait, oh, viruses. Yeah, ok, sorry, I got nothing. I just wanted to tell that joke. XD

As the Trojans weren't in the horse, you just took yourself down =P

[Haruki-kun]

I don't have the drivers on disk. Without them, will it even start up (graphics card etc). And I'm having enormous trouble connecting to the internet now I've unplugged it. Can't get it to reconnect.

It will start, yes. But it might not work as well as it can. But then it's just a matter of looking for the drivers, so... it's not impossible.

Are you talking about upgrading to 7 or completely changing OS?

[arguskos]

As the Trojans weren't in the horse, you just took yourself down =P
There's a reason they call it the Trojan Horse, to indicate the Horse is something special. :smallwink: They should light said Horse on fire. Stop getting your history in my humor. :smallcool:

[Cogidubnus]

It will start, yes. But it might not work as well as it can. But then it's just a matter of looking for the drivers, so... it's not impossible.

Are you talking about upgrading to 7 or completely changing OS?

Retrograding to XP, as that's all I have a disc for.

[Haruki-kun]

Retrograding to XP, as that's all I have a disc for.

:smalleek:

I think you'd do better to either format and re-install Vista or try to get Windows 7.

Otherwise you're going back to an OS that's.... 10 years old. And really showing its age by now.

[Spiryt]

:smalleek:


Otherwise you're going back to an OS that's.... 10 years old. And really showing its age by now.

I still have XP and it works....

With all Vista I've seen it's ridiculous.... :smalltongue:

Although 7 seems to be better indeed.

[Haruki-kun]

I still have XP and it works....

With all Vista I've seen it's ridiculous.... :smalltongue:

Although 7 seems to be better indeed.

It works, but it's gonna become harder to remain with it from here on. Microsoft expects people to switch by now.

You know, 10 years in computer years is like... a bajillion years.... <.<

[Spiryt]

It works, but it's gonna become harder to remain with it from here on. Microsoft expects people to switch by now.



And pay ~ 300 PLN for better "Live Search".

It's many, many beers! :smallwink:

[Haruki-kun]

And pay ~ 300 PLN for better "Live Search".

Again, Microsoft. :smalltongue:

[KuReshtin]

Yes, the laptop will start if you format the hard drive and install a new OS, even if you don't have the drivers installed.
You will not, however, be able to connect to the internet until you get the drivers installed for the network card.
Best way to get hold of those, especially since you're having problems connecting to the internet as it is right now, is to download the driver install files ontp another computer and then copy them over using a USB drive or burning them onto a CD.

If it's a branded laptop, make sure you find the drivers on the homepage for the laptop manufacturer (dell.com for Dell machines, lenovo.com for Lenovo machines and so on) as they are made for your make and model.
Depending on how old the machine is, there might not be drivers available for your new chosen OS, though.

[Cogidubnus]

ok, managed to make a few recoveries. Got internet working, among other things. Malwarebytes isn't detecting my issues and I can't install AVG without removing the McAfee, which as I've paid for by download I can't replace.

[SMEE]

Try running your anti-virus at safe mode.
Odds of getting rid of the malware is much higher that way.
I also suggest using HijackThis and ClamWin portable to scan your system in safe mode.

[Cogidubnus]

Try running your anti-virus at safe mode.
Odds of getting rid of the malware is much higher that way.
I also suggest using HijackThis and ClamWin portable to scan your system in safe mode.

How do I boot it in safe mode?

[KuReshtin]

Press the F8-key during bootup, right when you first see the Windows logo.

That will give you a startup menu where you can choose Safe Mode.

[Fifty-Eyed Fred]

Sending for Achilles usually helps.

[Gullara]

:smalleek:

I think you'd do better to either format and re-install Vista or try to get Windows 7.

Otherwise you're going back to an OS that's.... 10 years old. And really showing its age by now.

XP is still descent. I have it on my laptop.

I would recommend getting Windows 7 though. It's what I have for my desktop, and it's nice.

[Thufir]

There's a reason they call it the Trojan Horse, to indicate the Horse is something special. :smallwink: They should light said Horse on fire. Stop getting your history in my humor. :smallcool:

No, you're the wrong way round. You see, it was the Greeks who gave the Trojan horse to the Trojans. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL_m5Czneno#t=2m55s)

[Fawkes]

My preferred malware solution is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php). I just use the free version, but it clears up just about anything.

[Eldan]

And here I wanted to suggest getting a few Greeks, only to find out that everyone is making that joke.

[Cogidubnus]

My preferred malware solution is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php). I just use the free version, but it clears up just about anything.

I've tried malware, hasn't picked them up. Will try safe mode tomorrow.

[Thajocoth]

Do these trojans have names?

Did they lock down your computer? If you can't connect to the internet on that machine, then you can't fight them anymore. Any antivirus app needs to connect to the net to download it's antivirus knowledge.

Is there anything important on it? Enough of the computer should be able to work on a fresh install to reach the internet. You can get any drivers you need online.

[Rawhide]

First: Do you really have trojans installed on your computer, or is the program telling you that you have trojans the trojan itself? i.e. What program is telling you that you have trojans and is it real or fake?

Note: Windows XP is an old operating system, yes, but it is still supported by Microsoft and is still a good operating system that will run better on some systems than Vista or 7. Certain older games and other programs will run better on XP as well. I would personally much prefer XP over Vista.

If you do reformat and reinstall (be sure to actually format the drive, not just install over the top) then yes, the system will run without only the generic drivers. Graphics will be incredibly low res and sound may be limited to beeps, but it will run. Certain hardware may not work with generic drivers, such as the network card as has been mentioned. You will most likely need to have the driver CD or download the driver on another computer then transfer it across on CD or memory stick.

Note: Backup your important data before reformatting.


See the following for some great free resources for removing malware:

Free on demand scanner:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

Free on access and on demand scanners:
http://www.avast.com
http://free.avg.com

Free anti-spyware programs:
http://www.safer-networking.org (Spybot - Search & Destroy)
http://www.lavasoft.com/ (AdAware Free)

Free specialised on demand malware remover:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[Flickerdart]

Running Avast Boot-Time scan will nuke 99% of whatever is bothering you. I've only run into one issue it couldn't handle, and that was solved by a tag-team of NOD32 (to find the file) and Unlocker (to kill Explorer and then delete the file before it could come back). The only problem with Avast is that it thinks everything is a decompression bomb.

[Cogidubnus]

The program telling me I have trojans is my McAfee antivirus software.

[Irbis]

To the OP - you want boot disk with antivirus on it. Can you make one?


With all Vista I've seen it's ridiculous.... :smalltongue:

'Seen' is operative word here. Win7/Vista >>>>> XP. In all respects. Sorry.

Unless your PC was made in the previous millenium, but even then Vista can work better with a bit of effort on most systems.

[Thajocoth]

The program telling me I have trojans is my McAfee antivirus software.

What is it saying the names of these Trojans are?