Viruses galore

A friend of mine just got a used computer. It´s full of viruses . I´ve downloaded AVG/Spybot/Adaware all to no avail. They find the viruses all right, but they can´t delete all of them for some reason. So any advice as to what I should do next?? The way I see it, my only option is to wipe the entire hard drive and reinstall from scratch. The problem then is Windows...it has Windows Professional 2000 on it now, and I have a copy of windows 98 that I could replace it with. Or, I could reboot it with my own version of XP (the same one that I´ve installed on my computer.) Problem with that is - according to the MS web site, the copied version will not be updatable (since it´s illegal to do this)...recommendations/alternatives other than buying a new version of Windows?

I think your friend is pretty much screwed. You will most likely need to format thrice and install twice. MS never gets it right the first time.

try macafee stinger, just search for stinger.exe on google or go to vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ this might help to get rid of the viruses and it is free,

I would definitely reinstall Windows. It's worth doing this anyway as it will make the computer run faster and more reliably. And as your friend has only just got it, there's much less of an issue regarding backups and settings.

I did this recently to my laptop, and it now runs like a dream again. It was pretty straightforward as well.

As for the ins and outs of different versions of Windows, I'm rather confused about this myself.

well...the only Windows available to me is Win 98 or a copy of my own XP (the Win 2000 Pro came with the used computer)...I think I´ll try with Win 98. After trying the Stinger program mentioned above that is.

What about trying to scan the computer in "safe mode"?
I remember scanning a friend's computer with a discette in DOS (have to press some buttons before the computer starts up. Might be worth trying?

The potential problem, Lupo, is that you need the verification key. That's probably on the back on the computer somewhere, but I'm not sure if it will only work with 2000 Professional, or whether you can use it with other versions. Or if Windows 98 actually has such a key.

buy a mac. (sorry. i know this doesn't help, but it had to be said.)

but yea, eurovol is right.

Damn, Chicago beat me to it.

I know this is probably not what you want to hear, but unless you have a specific need to run windows (games etc) why not give Ubuntu linux a go. Its getting scarily close to being ready for the average user to use for a desktop PC. You do not really need to be a Linux geek to use this version of Linux for basic stuff (web browsing, using OpenOffice, simple games). However if you want to play the latest Windows games or if you NEED to use MS Office for work reasons then this might not be ideal.

Ubuntu is called "Linux for human beings" and I believe that. The current version (5.10) is named "Breezy Badger" and the new version (6.04) called "Dapper" comes out in April and will be worth waiting for if you can as this is the version they are touting as being the competitor to Windows Vista...

Or just go get a dodgy copy of Windows

Tks for the ideas. The Ubuntu option sounds promising. I´m researching my options further (i.e. ,manually deleting by hand what the virus program can´t) and I think I´ll first try installing Windows 98...

here try this.

for the MS office problem you can use crossover office to run it.

I forgot to mention in my post... Ubuntu has a live CD which you can use to see what you thnk of it. It will not touch your hard drive unless you ask it to so it will not cause any problems. Then you can decide if you want to install it or not.

Reformat the HD, install 98 and use that for now. Then try out the Breezy Badger LiveCD now and then if you like it, get Dapper in April.

As a seasoned Windows user, I am feel the available linux desktops are still not there yet, but I have looked at Dapper and that might be the one that switches me.

Lupo,
reformat, reformat and reformat again. A computer so full of shit just needs to have a complete info dump and wipe. If you go for a Win98 install, you can have dual boot and install Linux as the other OS. My old computer is set up that way and works just fine. Seriously, I wouldn't chance that you can get all the shit out without a reformat.

Attention Cult of Mac Whingers: Macs are overpriced and they are not in any way immune to viruses or hackers .

Do NOT use Win98 if you plan to go on-line. The machine will be owned faster than you can download any patch (if you can even find them). Yes, even with a firewall, NAT and a reverse-proxy.

Either use the Win2K, buy XP, or use one of the suggested Linux solutions such as SuSE 9.3 installable, SuSE 10.0 Live Eval or maybe a Ubuntu Live CD, though installable versions normally boot faster.

woof.

I wouldn't say that Macs are immune, but it certainly says something that I've never once gotten a virus on the Mac I've had for four years nor has any Mac owner I've ever met.

What does it say when I have never gotten a virus and for the most part have not had anti-virus software over the last 13 years?

The force is with you!

You may be right! The closest that I have come to having a virus was AOL, Symantec, KZAA and a few other programs.

I've heard that 'Norton' is particularly vicious. Affects all parts of the machine and is very difficult to remove.

I've been using a Mac for the last 6 years and I too have never had a virus on it. Can't help thinking that most of these fuckwits that write these things just can't be bothered with attacking just a small amount of people when they can get their kicks out of attacking millions of windows users. The rise in popularity of Macs could be a bad thing in the future.

That is my worry too. Let us hope Jobs is ahead of the game. My macs have never had trouble... toi toi toi

Thanks for all the tips. Ok I´ve downloaded Ubuntu...unless I can get rid of the viruses some other way, I´m probably going to delete the whole hard drive and install Ubuntu (Recall, the W2K Pro on the computer is allready "corrupted" with viruses.) Anyone out there using Ubuntu? Is SUSE better?

Even though I say I am not ready for linux on the desktop yet, I have installed Ubuntu on a spare machine I have at work. I have also installed the upcoming Dapper release as a dual boot (this was too easy) on my works laptop and its looking good.

The only probs I am having so far is interfacing seamlessly with the "MS based Corporation" infrastructure. i.e. Active Directory, Exchange servers etc. So far everythign else is fine and it is growing on me fast. I think it will soon be my preferred desktop OS.

I have not tried Suse recently but I believe the new one is also "getting there" and may have better connectivity in a MS based Corp environment.

As the dual boot seems really easy with Ubuntu, if I were you I would create a smallish partition and install Win98 on there (as you have the CD). Then install Ubuntu as dual boot on the remaining space on the drive. This way you have the safety of being able to fall back to windows easily.

I love my dual boot XP-SuSe system at work and my 98-SuSe system at home. Linux beats everything else hands down, but the ease of use makes it just not right for some. Live it, learn it, love it!

No they really aren't overpriced at all. Compare the specs of Apple machines to those of name brand Windoze boxes and you'll find that they're very comparably priced. Oh, and they work proper loike, oh, and they don't crash, oh, and they look better.

Correct Macs are not immune, but there are far far far far fewer viruses around for the Mac than for Windoze. I have never had one. Whereas every windoze heap of shit I've had that's had the misfortune of being plugged into a phone socket has got a virus, even with expensive anti-virus software.

You obviously haven't used Macs very long have you?

User error!

I've downloaded the LiveCD file, but how do I run it??

I've burnt the ISO file to a cd, but it didn't boot...

How did you burn it? The first rule of my thumb is to burn CDs at a slower spped and then only as data disks.

I used Windows to burn it, as i've lost my copy of Nero since fromatting my machine...

Actually, am I meant to specify that it's a bootable disk? If so, how do I do that using the standard Windows cd-burning jobby?

Oh shit, I have forgotten how to do this exactly. There is a tool for windows that allows you to deal with this and then burn it. What Windows do you have? I believe in the later version this in not needed, but in 2000(non NT) and before it is.

It's Win Xp SP2...

I've just right-clicked and "Send to Writable CD" it to burn it...

Then be sure to go to your bios and change the boot configuration to boot from CD.

Hmmm... I tried that, and it still didn't boot Ubuntu...

Am I meant to do something to the ISO file before putting it on the CD?

There doesn't seem to be any help at ubuntu.com

Well, I don't know Ubuntu. I use SuSe and have experience with Redhat and Solaris 7 Unix. Normally, you should just be able to boot from the boot disk. Perhaps try another boot disk and see what happens.

Aah... I think i've found the problem. I've just burnt the file to the disk, whereas I should have used Nero and burnt it as a CD image or something...

Thanks for your help eurovol! This isn't the first time you've helped me out either... I'll have to buy you at drink if you're at the Party on Friday??

Well mine has never crashed, nor did the one I had before it. Nor did any of the other ones I've worked on regularly over the years.

I have several colleagues at work who have Mac and guess what? They have Mac brain freezes often. I seem to remember you having a Mac brain freeze not that long ago. In fact, there is a thread on it. Gotcha!

That was actually a recall item, and they replaced the logic board at their own cost. Mine was the first model of its kind.

I am assuming that that is Mac talk for the Apple screen of death.
Yes, I know Mac and Linux fail a hell of a lot less than MS. I am just busting your balls (or tits as you wish).