Virus?

[akujunkan]

Okay, swear I'll stop spamming everyone's flists after this post, but I do wonder.

A curious thing occurred about a month or so before ye olde computer stopped working. The recycle bin icon was always on 'full', even if there was nothing to be recycled in it. When I'd go to delete whatever mystery file the computer thought was in there, it would ask me, 'Do you want to delete the program WINDOWS?'

The new computer is now doing the exact same thing, within two days of my having brought it home. The only programs I've downloaded onto it are winamp, aim, and opera, and I do have the firewall and virus checker enabled. What on earth could be causing this, and can I expect the new machine to fry within the month?

And as a corollary, about the external HD.

It too has become fried, with several hundred undeletable crap corrupted files spontaneously appearing. I bought this external three months ago, so it's still under warranty. I can take it in and have it fixed. Problem is, every photograph I've taken since May is on there, as are most of my mp3s, the rips I've made of rented DVDs, and my pornography. I don't want to lose these files, and I'm not sure how much poking around (or more importantly, talking) Japanese tech guys do.

So if you were me, what would you do? Take it in or not?

That will be all.

Comments

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

I'm asking blogula as I type - my AIM is firesignCB if you want to add it. He is saying something about you may have a trojan horse going.

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

blogula says: m****1726 (9:59:21 AM): "she needs to get on to a anti-virus or security forum and engage those geeks." m*****1726 (10:03:20 AM): "if she downloads something... the firewall won't know anything about it. firewalls prevent unwanted communications initiated by others." firesignCB (10:04:09 AM): and the virus checker might not catch it?
m*****1726 (10:04:23 AM): not if it's a trojan.

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

OK, one more thing from me hehehe :-)

m****1726 (10:05:52 AM): tell her to check out http://www.anti-trojan.net/

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

OK, NOW just one more thing ;-)

m****1726 (10:07:57 AM): also http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

Already? o.O

Have you accessed the external drive with the new machine? If so, did this error occur after you accessed the drive?


If you can, back up as much as possible from the HD, and then take it in.

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

Talked with P about it last night, and we're not sure what it could be. If it was a trojan, it would have most likely been evident after the scan you did with Hijack This.

If you still have a copy of Norton's Systemworks laying about, I suggest you do a custom installation, i.e. only put on the anitvirus component. I know you had trouble with Norton's in the past, but at this point I'm strongly recommending you do it. It may well be that Housecall has missed something.

I'll be doing some research, and will let you know if I find anything of use. {{hugs}}

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

Okay, so far I haven't found anything specific in relation to your problem. I have, however tried this online scanner from eTrust PestPatrol myself (they're rec'ed by Microsoft) on my machine, and it highlighted a few spyware items my other scanners didn't identify¹. You can't use it to delete any problems, but at least you'll know if there's malware. You will have to open the link in IE, as it's not supported by other browsers.

¹It's not infallible, as one item it claimed to be a threat was an EA autorun executable in a temp folder. I deleted it anyway ;)

[yolandamia.livejournal.com]

Girl, I am having the same problem with my computer. My wastebasket is empty but keeps reading full. I have tried ignoring it, but makes me wonder if my computer will crash soon. It has been quite slow lately. It takes me forever to load anything, and I have DSL. It's almost as bad, if not worse, than dial up. God, how bad would it be if I were on dial up! If you figure it out, let me know. The same goes for you, if I figure mine out I'll let you know.

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

Are there any online backup services that would have beefy enough storage to backup all the essential files? Obviously you don't want to have to buy another hard drive to back up the backup hard drive... or so I'm assuming. Backing up to an online archive might be slow, but you have high speed internet at least.

Good luck dealing with the mystery problem!

[bran420-7.livejournal.com]

Now I don't know enough about hardware to give you any hope, but maybe some voodoo would help:) Try making a wax computer and HD replica and, uh, not doing anything to them?(shrugs) Okay, maybe just back up your important files, mainly the music and porn, and taking your HD in. Hope you find the glitch!

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

I like your idea lots, babe. Unfortunately, wax is in short supply here, and I'm not much of an artist. Backing up and heading to the shop it is. Alas.

[ishuka.livejournal.com]

waaahhh... i wish i knew so i could help. good luck! i hope you figure it out soon~! ^^;;

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Hopefully I'll have it figured out by this weekend!