From: "Tomek" <
[email protected]>
| Both PC1 & 2 have been assembled in local computer shops from more or
| less randomly chosen parts (as far as the choice of their
| manufacturers was concerned). I don't have any information except what
| it says directly on the equipment itself.
| But, actually, today another local computer store gave me something
| called Malwarebytes Antimalware (said to be free and good) to try.
| Thanks to your kind suggestion, I was able to run PC2 with the video
| card from PC1 for a while and I run the software. It turned up lots of
| infected files (trojans, viruses, etc. and about 40 of them). The
| software cleaned the disk, reset the computer and after another scan
| said everything was fine (no infection). I can now run PC2 in the Safe
| Mode (the VGA Mode) with he original card, but unfortunately, after a
| while the monitor turns off again.
| The man who gave me the software said that something changes the
| resolution of the screen beyond what the screen can handle, hence the
| behaviour. It might be some undetected malware. I might have to take
| the machine there tomorrow so that he runs whatever he wants on it.
| My last virus cost me reloading the BIOS, low formatting the hard
| drive and reinstalling Windows plus a lot of my time (I did myself
| I hope the man fixes it tomorrow so that it doesn't take too much of
| anyone else's time and attention.
| Btw, I think I should get some decent anti-malware, shouldn't I? Would
| you be kind enough as to say a few words about the product you
| advocate?
|
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/sicherheit/35905/multi_av_scanning_tool.html
| The man suggested addition three names: Norton, Nod & Kaspersky.
| What do you think?
| Thank you again for your time and support.
Let me state that I am a past employee of Malwarebytes and I can state that their product,
Malwarebytes' Anti Malware (aka; MBAM), does not specifically target "viruses" in
reference to you stating "It turned up lots of infected files (trojans, viruses, etc. and
about 40 of them)." I'd like to see that log file or at least a snippet showing what was
detected and what they were declared to be. MBAM is an excellent non-viral malware
program in both it's free On Demand Scanner version or in the full feature preventative
paid-for version. You mentioned Norton AV, Eset NOD32 and Kaspersky. Forget Norton.
Eset NOD32 and Kaspersky are excellent anti virus products as well as one that was not
mention is Avira AntiVir. Any of which can be supplemented by MBAM.
You also stated "My last virus cost me reloading the BIOS...". That was a wasteful
measure. If malware, such as the Chernobyl, has affected the BIOS then the PC would have
been impotent and you would have been unable to re-flash the BIOS.
Let me also reiterate... "It hasn't reached the Winlogon process so I strongly think it is
driver related. Video maybe ?" in reference to you stating "The man who gave me the
software said that something changes the resolution of the screen beyond what the screen
can handle, hence the behaviour."
That may be true. However malware doesn't set video resolution, peolple do and the visdeo
resolution is set per user. Since this happens subsequent to the OS Splash Screen and
prioor to the Winlogon process I don't think it is a resolution problem. However look at
from a driver issue or OS corruption issue.
The idea of installing an alternate video card needs to be continued. You need one where
you have WinXP drivers for. Then the state of the computer's OS canm be determined.
The The man who gave me the software (presumably MBAM) should have provided you video
drivers.
You indicated that you were able to run MBAM. That means you were able to run WinXP.
Can you get into Safe Mode ?
If yes, using Safe Mode can you restore the PC to a restore breakl point of a period when
the PC was working properly ?
