Checking for viruses

[neveryona]

Hi, there. A friend has a problem with her IPC computer. I do not know the specifics of it yet. Programs are disappearing from her computer...I think she probably has a virus...I am correct in this assumption? She told me she had Norton anti-virus just installed on her computer last week...whether it was updated...I do not know. I plan to go over and see if the antivirus program is still there, and run it.Now, my question is, if the program is gone because of the virus, should I just reinstall it and run it. Hopefully, before the virus gets to any other important system files. What is the correct procedure to quickly and efficiently save the system bfore the virus takes over completely.

[YODA74]

If she just had norton installed was it a down load or did she install this their self. she should have an instruction manual Norton should isolate the viru it's self when you run itbut if she had the virus before she installed??? has she made rescue disks? you need to run full scan and isolate then check to see what virus it is post back and we probobly can help. ya'll need to virus protect and run on auto all the time you can't just wait till you get one and then deal with it? some out there are real ruff you may get one someday (knock on wood) and say by by to sys.well post back and we'll go from there. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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[neveryona]

I'm back. I ran norton and nothing showed up. Files, however, are being misplaced. For example almost everything in the programs list is gone. They are listed in explorer but gone from the desktop. For example outlook express is gone from start menu and desktop, it shows up in explorer,however things like the adress book are gone. cannot find it. Any ideas?

[mjc]

How many people have access to this system?

Are there any other user profiles in use?

Does everything that can be found work properly?



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mjc
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[neveryona]

Back again. Nobody else uses the system accept her. The programs that are available seem to work. I tried that virus program that you gave me mjc, and nothing showed up. One thing that I found odd, was that I had just downloaded Mirc on her system last night in order to talk to you. Now, as I said last night, when I tried to boot off of the oldest backup registry it wouldn't work. So I tried the second oldest, which was dated four days ago, and Mirc showed up. Is that right? Is that supposed to happen? I worked on her computer for like four hours last night, and nothing weird happened. Just programs are missing. The other thing, is that I unzipped that f-prot, and after reading the readme, it did not make anyreference to making a boot disk. I just ran it from the ms-dos prompt. It did a boot check, very quickly...too quickly it seemed to me and then checked the rest of the system. Anyway, any ideas? Oh, yes, and the missing files seemed to have showed up in dir0001, on the c:drive. Can I just put them back, if I can into their respective directories and see what happens. Some of them I can't tell what they are. At this point I think it might be just better to reisntall windows, however, she would really like it if I could get her adress book. However, I cannot find which one of the files is it. Some of them just have numbers on it and the white icon windows logo. What program do you use to open that? Anyway, I will quit rambling and wait for some replies.

[geebee76]

Hi neveryona,

Have a read of this Article (http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2000062209404206&src=hot). Sounds like your problem is related to the Norton instal.

Edit: Article is about mid page.

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[This message has been edited by geebee76 (edited 10-13-2001).]

[neveryona]

Hah! That wouldn't surprise me at all. In fact, I had asked her when the problems started, she replied, the day after I installed Norton. Those programs I know can wreak havoc. I had Mcafee installed in my computer at one point, and had to get rid of it because it caused me nothing but grief. Thanks I will look at that article.

[mjc]

If all she uses for an address book is the one one in OE (Outlook Express), then search for any .wab files and copy them to a floppy....use the find box and type in *.wab.


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[neveryona]

okay, so I copy these files on to a floppy and then once I reinstall, where do I put them. In the outlook express directory? First, I will try what it suggests on sympantec link. Apparently this might be caused by the Norton. It suggest at the command-prompt type in scandisk /surface /nosave. Or something like that, and it will fix the lost clusters that are the missing files. make sense to you.

[geebee76]

Hi neveryona,

I would follow mjc's instructions first, then at least the most important info is safe. Next would be the Symantec solution and if that doesn't work, then consider a re-install.

Post back results http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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You are making progress if each mistake is a new one!

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