computer shock

[historian]

I found 15 worms on my system - couldnt get rid of them - did a low level format - re installed xp and guess what????? There were 4 viruses found immediately plus a worm!!! Is it possible for these things to hide in cmos or memory? Will changing the mem stick get rid of this once and for all?

[trotsky]

1. What viruses were found, and what are you using to detect them?

n/t

[historian]

3. welch b worm

supposedly norton removal tool got rid of it but i cant understand why they were still there after a low level format

[trotsky]

6. Was your computer connected to the Internet while reinstalling?

(i.e., broadband connection?)

If so, that's likely the problem.

[AndyP]

2. did you reformat

or just use XP system recovery on your disk. Could be bios viruses What virus are they?

[historian]

4. i reformatted

the worse one is the welchb supposedly norton got rid of it

[okieinpain]

5. is this before or after you move your data files back

[historian]

7. after

[OneBlueSky]

8. just out of curiosity, what software did you use to scan? . . . n/t

.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Long term solution - dump Microsoft - install Linux. n/t

[Serenity-NOW]

10. Hear hear! Suse is great for converts

Go here:
http://www.suse.com/us/private/download/suse_linux/index.html

Read the install instructions, download the boot.iso,

use Windows one last time to burn a boot disk and off to the new world of nary the virus.

That would be the absolute smartest thing. Or you could just hit ebay and buy a disc copy of Suse 9.

[loudsue]

11. Is Linux hard to use ....if you're not real computer savvy?

Is it a lot harder than windows? Do you have to know any programming or anything? Does it use a lot of new terms?

I'd LOVE to have an alternative to Windows, but having not grown up with the things, they're still a mystery to me, for the most part. It took me 17 hours to get McAfee anti-virus loaded and working. My computer kept locking up.
:kick:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. I'm not sure I have the answer to your question....

because I am computer savvy... but I don't think Linux or Microsoft is easier than the other 'per se'... however it is a lot easier to not have to deal with viruses, random lock-ups, ongoing and recurring security problems...

No, you don't have to know programming.. 'new terms'? I don't know.

[scottcsmith]

13. Here's the key to getting rid of worms

You have to run your anti-virus software in Windows safe mode. So, when you're ready to do the scan, you'd reboot your system. There's a point as the computer is booting up that you should see, in the corner, a flashing cursor, or square, something, and at that point you'd press F8 on your keyboard. That brings up the Windows boot menu. You'd then choose to boot using safe mode and once Windows has loaded, run the anti-virus software. It should take care of all of the worms.

Also, you can go to the various anti-virus software web sites (Symantec, Norton, etc) for removal instructions. They also provide removal tools.

Hope this helps folks the next time a virus hits.

[LTR]

14. Grab a jar of dirt

Oops... sorry, wrong kind of worms.