Sudden computer issue- is this a virus?
 

Okay, I need some help. My computer started flashing a popup saying that my system was having hardware failures. I'm running vista BTW. So then it said, restart. I did. Once it restarted a "Vista System Recovery" popped up and told me a bunch of things were wrong with my computer. I naturally, clicked fix. Then it went through, fixed some and left others, and told me to click here and enter my details to buy the full version to fix the other errors.

Okay I'm not that dumb, and googling the software brings up no answers.

Quick, someone tell me how to format my computer foolproofly.

And now I'm getting spam pop-ups. Fuck.

Backup your shit, get a Windows 7 DVD off the internet or a friend, put it in, enter the installation menu, install Windows 7, use a Windows Loader to activate your copy. Done.

I'm sure Google will be of huge help in detailed steps when it comes to actually installing a 'legal' version of Windows 7. I'd point you to it, but I can't.

Dude I just want to fucking format it.

Formatting it will erase the entire harddrive, including Windows.

Fuck this shit happened to me once! had to delete the whole software than reinstall it >.<

Well that sucks... :(

I would suggest getting a boot-up cd or something... A program that will boot up your comp without starting windows, thus not letting the virus start. That means you can safely back up important files before formatting.

If you don't wanna format, try BleepingComputer... Its a nice site with helpful people. You can post about your problem on their forum.

Alright, I managed to save a decent amount of stuff I actually need, found my Vista disk, and initiated format.

*sigh*

I had a simular problem a while ago. I just erased my Hard drive and saving my important stuff on a external one.

Sorted.

Bullshit spyware it sounds like. but no... you don't need to format your drive. Just do a system restore to a date when you're certain that there was no problems. That way you have no loss of files but you may need to reninstall some shit.

Just go to accessories > System Tools > System Restore and click on one of those blue bolded dates you want and hey presto, the problem should be solved. If not, send us the name of the software that's trying to sell you bogus nonsense, unless that Vista Software Recovery was it because if that's the case you're going to have to fiddle with the registry files which is a bit of a hassle.

EDIT: Disregard that... I suck cocks. I didn't notice that you started a re-format.

This happened to me once. It was a very clever bastard that actually blocked me from Googling, downloading and running the installations of spyware and virus removal programmes. Even when I did manage to remove every trace of it I could find, it reinstalled itself. I just backed my shit up and reformatted, too.

Well if cop shows are any indication you'll need a 2nd person working the keyboard at the same time to get rid of the malware ;)

The one I had was a pretty evil bit of software. Refused access to my internet and my programs included my Anti-virus software. That is why Safe mode is the best mode.

You may need not completely reinstall your operating system. This dodgy software I believe, is generally referred to a ransom-ware (It holds your computer "ransom" geddit?) I have experienced it before on a few occasions. The most recent (and most tedious) was, from memory, call Antivirus System Pro.

What is the name of it, I could Google search some information for you on it, because if it is anything like the ransom-ware I had it will redirect all your Google searches to porn.

If we know where it's hiding on your system you should just be able to start-up in safe mode and easily delete it.

Don't worry man, it was got.

Strike Witch is such a brosbian.

I defragged and now it won't boot up past the HP logo.

My mouse cord is too short.

Depending on what kind of virus you have, it may be a good idea to back everything up onto storable media and reformat the disc. I recommend Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Ad-Aware and CCleaner.

Just as a general tip, be very careful about .exe and .zip files. Particularly .zip files which contain exe files. The more specialised the format (mp3, txt, jpeg), generally the safer it is. If you suddenly get a pop up from an antivirus software that you've never heard of before, run a google search to see if it's genuine. Best of luck.

Also, don't give away your bank details in a busy public chat room. Hard as it is to imagine, not every human being can be trusted with such information.

Oh fuck, I gotta call my bank.

Our biology/geography teacher got a strange virus (probably a prank by some 9th grader, I don't know.) that opens up this every time she opens up a browser.

That's fucking awesome. I want that virus.

I think you should report them to the police immediately.

:D

eh... Are you sure he didn't just change the homepage?


Either way that would have been funnier if it was rickroll... Cant go a day without your daily dose of rickroll in the morning :D

No, because it does that when she opens up a new tab in a browser too.

You know that there's a setting in many browsers to open the homepage in every new tab, right?

I'm trying to recover data off a corrupted hard drive but my computer crashes 5 seconds after I plug it into the USB socket.

Plug it into a different computer?

As soon as I gett two computers I'll do that. Which incidentally isn't that long.

That'll probably just result in you crashing the other computer too.

Turn off autoplay. Then run a virus scan. And, if need be, boot in to safe mode.

That was the first thing that occured to me but I thought I'd better ask.

Now is there a user-friendly setting for that or will I have to go trawling through registries and shit?

Should be somewhere in the settings window.

Working from memory (I'm booted in to Ubuntu right now), plug in a different USB, right click on the drive and select Properties. One of the tabs should have options for what to do when that sort of device is plugged in.

If you're running WinXP, you can also go to this page and scroll down to download TweakUI. It has a bunch of features to tweak the usability of the operating system, including autoplay options.

If you're on Win7, Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\AutoPlay. Possibly the same for Vista, but I'm not sure.

Just use fucking Linux.

Well done.

Hey, look. It's That Guy In Every OS Thread Ever.

And what's more, this isn't even an OS thread.

"That Guy Who Posts in Every Thread Vaguely Related to Computers About His OS" doesn't quite have the same je ne sai quoi.