[pnpgm] Update...

Tobie Bonahoom bonahoom at hotmail.com
Fri Dec 23 08:35:49 CET 2011


Ah, Scott,

I did tell you my business is full IT work and building of computers. I consultant with companies to individuals on everything they need hardware and software alike. As for the infection (not a real virus btw, it is Mal-ware with a root-kit placement), I have had to clean that off many systems over the last few months.

First off, MSE will not catch any of the spy-ware, mal-ware out there. As matter of fact it is not that great at stopping most of the viruses even. The AV software I use is NOD32, by a company called ESET. $60 for 2 years, takes minimal resources and protects the best out of all of the AV's I have tested. Norton, Mcafee, Trendmicro are all resources hogs and don't protect against most of the viruses out there till too late. AVG used to be ok, but lately they have even been lagging a lot and using up too many resources. I really don't like CA much either as it seems to really slow systems down unless you the i7 or Quad-core AMD, which is not ok to me.

To clean off the infection you have on the computer, you need to get three softwares (there is a fourth one that can help if needed). First is Malwarebytes (you can use the free version even), second is ccleaner (go to www.piriform.com, it is freeware, though he does ask for donations), third is an executable called combofix (you will need to do a Google search for and get it from bleepingcomputer.com, no where else, as there are people who want to charge for it and the guy you creates this does it for free). Once you have run everything, you might have some hipcups, such as you did run into. In the case of exe files not working you have to get a reg fix (go to http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and DL the EXE file association fix). You will need to turn of System Restore, since the infection loads itself into those files and keeps coming back. There are also times that there are new hidden files that have been created since the last batch were found for all the programs and it still may return. So, running MWB will help.

As for backups, I like to use Acronis to create an image file that I can have stored on an external drive that can be updated when I want to. Most of the time the basic backup software on the externals are fine for data backup, though I have been getting my clients to start to use an off-site process too. I have them using Mozy, as they have the best processing so far, easy restoring and can access it from multiple devices if needed. The windows backup sucks big monkey balls, so don't bother with it.

I have not used Trillian in a long time, so I am not sure what changes have happened. I could get it again though and help you with it.

As for the security, just go to control panel and go into Windows Firewall. It is a bit different and you will need to read some of there, though there are ways to disable all of it using the registry. Microsoft just wanted to make sure that people were "protected" even if it actually gets in the way of a lot of things now.

If you need any help with any of these, please let me know. I have been in the computer field for over 20 years, working from large Corporations to one computer in a home. 

Hope any of that helps. Let me know what questions you have. I will be glad to give you my number, or I can setup Trill and we can IM if you want.

Tobie

> Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:24:45 -0500
> To: pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl
> From: longshotgm at netzero.com
> Subject: [pnpgm] Update...
> 
> 
> Looks like Unali says no on illusions.  So I can move on now..more or less...for the less part see below...
> 
> 
> If don't want to hear about my computer issues ignore below..
> 
> 
>         The woes that be me...
> 
>         So computer update...I'll recap..
> 
>         After 12 years I finally got new computer.  To be frank
>         Win98 and my old clunker did fine.  Up till about 2 years
>         ago it was a good 350 mhz system.  Then something happened
>         likley lightning damage or just died.  My printer would not
>         work unless I was in dos not windows.  My TV card would not
>         come up with a failure that couldn't be fixed even after
>         reinstall.  And my sound card died.  So I had no sound and
>         no tv or printer.
> 
>         I had put in plans to get the new computer really 2-3 years
>         ago.  But things kept getting in the way.  Distractions and
>         frankly no time to go looking.  I've never been a hardware
>         person so the research to me was tedious.
> 
>         Finally this spring decided to get off my butt and get it
>         done.  So this summer did research for a month or two.  I
>         had always liked mom and pop stores.  My first computer
>         was from Port Four a nice computer shop run by a nice
>         guy.  He wes very friendly and didn't cheat you.  I even
>         got tons of free stuff from him (including some software
>         I've yet to open).  Then another store when PF closed
>         Jaguar Computers.  But it was a bit far drive.  I knew
>         the ownr via friends.  But he retired so new owners and
>         didn't want to drive out.  There were plenty of such
>         places but setting up one and hoping they wokr out is
>         tough as most stores know the business by now.
> 
>         After research I debated a computer guy from a friend
>         ofa friend who sounded right.  He did a quote and we talked
>         via email.  But just bit of some trust issues with a new
>         guy we don't know. So decided to go to large chain - Compusa.
> 
>         So I went in back in july and spent 2 hours with tech going
>         over my list I ironed out.  Turns out 95% of what I wanted
>         was top of the line so did well in research.  
> 
>         Then brother had said he'd get a set of CDs (software)
>         I needed.  It was a choice between buying the CDS (very
>         expensive), gettng it from the friend of a friend computer
>         guy or bro's contact.  Well bro as usual stalled and
>         forgot few months.  So finally decided to go with compusa.
>         After I found the same software in Open style format (free).
> 
>         So finally 11/10 get to store and buy stuff.  I spent 2.5
>         hours with a very nice and decent sales rep that didnt'
>         push at all in fact went to find the best deals.  With
>         my list of items we talked about the good and bad things.
> 
>         After 3,000$ I had a top of the line machine.  But after
>         12 years I figure it is worth it.  IT sounds high price
>         but the computer guy quoted me only 200$ less. But I
>         did take out lengthy warranty and minor stuff as well.
>         Based on website snd my research it was also within the
>         same price so wasn't cheatd really.  Think it was a
>         fair deal.
> 
>         Few days later went into to finish up after computer
>         was ready and got the screen and printer so another
>         500$ or so. So in all 3,500.  Since i could afford it
>         its the only big purchase I've done in years.
> 
>         All in all it seems a good ssytem.  3.5 ghz (from
>         a 350 mhz big change) which goes over 4 ghz with
>         clocking.  16 gig ram, SSD 120 gb, 1 TB regular HD,
>         2 TG backup drive, 24" screen, decent but still
>         B&W multifunction (scan, print, fax) printer.  Of
>         course the usual keyboard, mouse, dvd player, external
>         3.5" drive, etc.  Chunk of the $$ was software (win7),
>         warranty so might be 700-800$ just in that.  i7 quad
>         core system, etc.  When you live with 12 years of one
>         thing anything is better.  Cooler system (not fan),
>         custom designed setup so special tower bit $$ as well.
> 
>         I went and splurged to get a tech to come out and
>         install it all.  OF course now that I see how easy
>         it is with the wires its pretty easy.  But he did
>         have trouble with the TV card taking him about 25
>         min to get it working.
> 
>         So he leaves and start to install stuff.  Play with
>         and tweak things.  Originally I paid for CA anti-virus.
>         CA is semo respected so why not  But the GUI was so
>         sucky I hated it.  I'm sure it was good software.
>         So I removed it and upon Alex's suggested went with
>         MS Security Essentials and Malwarebytes spyare (I
>         alwas used Spybot).
> 
>         Over the next few days I noticed on boot up it
>         was coming up with a boot driver header issue.  It
>         wasn't stopping anything but looked like a odd error.
> 
>         Originally I used my old speakers from this computer.
>         They were nice and expensive back then.  But it
>         didn't work. Further info that maybe when this
>         got hit or surged it affected the speakers.  But
>         I had my dad's old speakers from his machine. They
>         worked fine but noticed they didn't have a headset
>         jack since I listen to TV on the computer via
>         headphones not to be loud.  Then as my luck got
>         going the gaming keyboard I bought was just too
>         bulky.  It had keys on the left side (function
>         keys) to the left of the normal keys (ie tab,
>         escape that side).  I couldn't use it as kept
>         slipping the keys due to wrist.  So went to exchange
>         it.  A few days after it.  Keep in mind the store
>         is in a place that is hard to get to due to traffic
>         at a mall so luck laughs at me again trying to break
>         my neck getting there.
> 
>         So get new 101 keybaord and new speakers.   I go
>         home and then sound not working and brand new
>         setup.  I played as much as I could with the
>         win7 stuff.  Still nothing.  So tech said he'd
>         comg back at no choice as he was very friendly
>         as well.  So a week after install he is back.
>         He has to fiddle with the speakers and the
>         win7 audio stuff and finally get it to work.
>         Some weird fluke in win 7 that even if it detects
>         the speaker it may not work.  But after toggling
>         this and that it did.  So sound is back.
> 
>         He also spends a bit of time on the odd header
>         issue after running repair and such.  Normally
>         in old days I'd just use norton disk doctor to
>         fix this stuff.  But I've not gotten such
>         software yet.  He fixed it and left.
> 
>         About two weaks later I'm still installing stuff
>         left and right.  Sadly my time running out in
>         terms of vacation time. Still no time to even
>         play a game or just relax.
> 
>         So luck laughs again and fate kicks me.  I
>         insert Avalon Hill's Axis and Allies iron blitz
>         game which is old but I still enjoy and figure
>         me and Alex might evnn play it again.  It
>         was a decade old game but worked fine for many
>         many hours here on this computer.
> 
>         So drive goes and then POP.  Panic.  I turn off
>         computer immediately.  After some deep praying
>         I turn it back on.  All works fine.  but cd doesn't
>         pop out.  Now I've had drives go bad.  In fact
>         this machine has a cd-rw and cd-rom drive. The
>         cd-rom works so so and not full 100% for a few
>         years.  So its the drive.  The cd=-rw worked
>         great all these years.  I couldn't get it open
>         and tried a manual eject and software eject
>         but stlll nothing.  So I figure a easy fix the
>         shop cna replace in 5 min.  So go to work on
>         something and Win7 says to update the printer
>         driver.  No big deal.  So I do this and install
>         the new driver from website.  
> 
>         I reboot and a alert comes up saying a DLL missing
>         and ok but after OK nothing.  A piece of winder
>         frame of one software was shown that comes
>         up automatically.  but no menu like I could
>         just drop out.  I reboot and same thing for
>         SAFE mode.  After I kick some dwarves I grumble
>         and can't figure it out.  If I can't even get
>         to safe mode then can't fix it.   At the time I
>         forgot about command line maybe I could just go
>         in and remove the Dir.  But forgot.  So unplug
>         and take to the shop.
> 
> 
>         Couple days later, about a week ago I think, I
>         get the newly reinstalled win7 with some of
>         the stuff the tech reloads.  He tried to
>         make a backup of the Email software as that
>         was the only real thing I needed to keep.
>         But he didn't do it right figuring a backup
>         of the shortcuts and stuff was fine.  I didn't
>         give him more info so my fault.  So I go and
>         redo the address book again this last weekend.
>         Lost the old emails but it was only a week or
>         so so no big deal and I was getting some copies
>         here on this machine.
> 
>         Dvd player brand new and Murphy shouldn't have
>         a problem with it.  Seems the same Iron Blitz
>         CD also blew up in a billion pieces for Alex and
>         for another guy in 2007 on the web.  So AValon
>         Hill must've had a batch of crappy CDs.
> 
>         So this past weekend I learned my lesson. I
>         do a windows backup but it fails on the system
>         image at about 70% for some reason.  Tech says
>         win backup is like that and so not to use it.
>         I rigged up a system repair CD just in case
>         of another lockup.  I installed the tape backup
>         software and did backup.  It was fairly fast
>         and did it no problem.  So had a backup on
>         Sunday or so.
> 
>         So spend Monday doing reimport to email and
>         bookmarks.  Then last couple days redoing
>         software and reinstalling games (they
>         were there but lost shortcuts and Reg info).
> 
>         I did have some issue over weekend getting
>         TV software again to work.  Wouldn't scan
>         the channel until I worked ab it.  After
>         most of Sat afternoon finally near end of
>         my straw I got it working
> 
>         Today I finished installing Diablo 2.  I
>         was doing some web work and relaxing a bit.
>         Then Win7 Home Security pops up talking about
>         some issues.  Sadly it wanted to be paid to
>         use as didn't seem to work without it so
>         couldn't fix it.
> 
>         I had run MSE and MWB over weekend.  But ran
>         MWB and sure enough.  It found a exe trojan
>         shell virus.  It was also found on the system
>         image made over weeekend.  So I get MWB to
>         remove it (it had a reg key to fix ss well
>         from the virus).  So it removed it fine.  But
>         then said yes to reboot.
> 
>         I rebooted and all was fine.  Till the software I
>         load up like Trillian (chat) didn't load.  I was
>         getting some dialog saying to Open it as... file
>         type now known.  So if it was an exe it didn't
>         know what that meant.  I click on a few others
>         and same think.  It seemed as if the shoftcuts
>         or links all screwed up.
> 
>         Going back to the CA antivirus when I removed it
>         and rebooted I had this but it was with only
>         3 links for some reason.  Later on I ran CA's
>         pc tune up and it fixed that problem and the
>         driver header which came back up (and never
>         came back after that).  CA Pc tune up was actually
>         fairly nice and from a 33 second boot time did
>         go to 26 :).  It also fixed the shortcuts.
> 
>         So I figure why not check out pc tune up but of
>         course its link was gone.  So I try others like
>         Calculator or even a simple dos shell but those
>         failed as well.  I could at least do control
>         panel stuff (big deal).
> 
>         Well tech said to bring it in.  I had only a shor
>         while before they closed and didnt' want to lose
>         a day so rushed and did it.  If I could've done
>         stuff in dos or work I could've probably done
>         a system restore.  But Murphy was laughing.
> 
>         In the past Spyware got rid of the 33 or so malware
>         that came up when I did scans and fixed it. Never
>         had a serious virus on this machine ever aside from
>         the old Stealth B which got on floppy drives and
>         took 1024 bytes only as its effect.  That was
>         no big deal and easy to fix.
> 
>         So not sure why if MWB fixed it that it would still
>         screw up things.  Sometimes so called progress sucks.
>         I may be broadband rather than dialup on this machine
>         but sometimes progress means more issues.  Sigh.
> 
>         So its back in shop.  Hopefully a day or two at
>         most. Once he can get rid of the virus.  I hope
>         he doesn't have to reinstall it. If at most doing
>         a system restore from backup will only mean a
>         loss of a week's worth (well 4-5 days).  Mostly
>         games and bookmarks.  If this was a year into it
>         I'd be fare more upset.
> 
>         So this is my luck.  CD explodes, kills drive.
>         Software crash can't recall.  Win7 reinstalled.
>         Sound and HD driver issue but resolved.  Now
>         virus screwing up links.
> 
>         So in a span of a bit over a month odd issues.  Lucky
>         it was in warranty (drive) and free tech work. But
>         its frustrating.  In one month all these issues
>         compared to 12 years on this machine no major issues
>         ecept lst couple so a decade.
> 
>         So I was going to work on update tonight.  But with
>         frustration and it being an hour till bedtime no
>         update tonight.  which is probably best as I might
>         call a player "Win7" and decide to kill it.
> 
>         Happy Christmas to all!
> 
>         Sadly next week is it for me.  My last 3 weekend
>         so if I have to reinstall such again that's a week
>         I lose and there goes any relax time.  Then just
>         the normal weekend time to play a game or so.  Sigh.
> 
>         Stay tuned for the next update...when I can....
> 
>         I think tonight might be my fault as I don't think
>         I had MSE active 24/7.  So some website probably
>         got me.  I dunno.  I've just not had TIME to sit
>         and stufy the software as was installing other stuff
>         so I could relax.  But win7 is a learning curve and
>         will have MWB and MSE constantly active now.
> 
>         For the gurus out there...
> 
>         1.  Anyone using a Hauppaage TV Tuner card?  I'm
>             using a HVR 1600.  I liked the old ATI all in
>             wonder card and no issues. Though it was
>             limited on channels (due to splitter) I
>             didn't get all of cable then.  Now via splitter
>             I can get it all from the cable box.  But if
>             you use this or have or know of others got some
>             quirks with it like to talk about.  The ATI
>             had no real issues.  But the HVR seems to not
>             show TV normally.  It will show a scene but
>             not live TV.  I can go into full screen mode
>             and its fine.  I go back out to smaller window
>             and its fine.  But just odd.  The ATI any size
>             wasn't a issue.
> 
>         2. Alex recommends MSE and MWB.  I used to like
>            Norton and comes with Comcast I think. But
>            doing the new version on this machine my god
>            it was resource mad.  I've heard issues with
>            the new versinos being bloatware and heavy
>            as well. So how does MSE/MWB compare in terms
>            of catching stuff?  Will MSE if I turn it
>            on this time, catch stuff on websites as I
>            load pages like Norton or do I need to scan
>            after browsing?  I need to study the software
>            settings.
> 
>         3.  Though too late now any tech idea on why the
>             shortcuts wouldn't work? As if it didn't know
>             it was a type to Execute or such.
> 
>         4.  Win backup did have a issue with system image.
>             It failed but the backup drive software did
>             not. Now I learn tonight that Win has an
>             automatic backup/restore without me doing
>             anything.  Learn something new.  Wom7 is
>             a learning curve for sure.  If I had known it
>             and could've accessed the menus I could've
>             run the restore.  But too late now.  If Win
>             backup is sucky should I trust it in the
>             future in terms of restores or my backup drive
>             software?
> 
>         5.  My backup HD is 2 TB Free Agent Seagate Goflex
>             software.  It seems it is detecting the auto
>             run on the backup drive nad autoplay pops up
>             each time I bootup.  I tried to configure
>             the auto play options but is there a way to
>             set it JUST for the F drive to not show up?
>             Its a annoying thing but not big issue.  Should
>             I just delete the goflex drive software to
>             stop it from popup or will it mess up the
>             data?  So guess I'm asking anyone use a Freeagent
>             goflex drive? :)
> 
>         6.  Amyong using Trillian? When in ICQ I'd go to Invisible
>             mode to avoid random msgs.  I might get one every
>             4-5 months at most. I'm  inviso in Trill but still
>             get a random chat msg with the stupid porn urls
>             at least once a day.  IF trill user any suggestions?
> 
>         7.  Any odd ball Win 7 stuff I should know about? :)
>             Didn't realize the auto backup.  I didn't even
>             know the Win7 Home security was running.  I gotta
>             figure out how to disable it or make the MWB or
>             MSE the default program.
> 
>         That's about it.  No need to watch soap opera.  This
>         week is one.  Not including a serious family issue
>         going on.  hope everyone has a good holiday season.
>         It haen decent but frstruatiog. I figure it is
>         a month old so not like I'm losing 500 gig of programming
>         or emails.  So can deal with it.  Just hope no more
>         issues.
> 
>         I know its annoying to wait for updates...
> 
>         Too tired and frustrated to spell check..so sue me!
> 
> 
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