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How to remove pc viruses and save data?

S

spenceriowa

Lurker
i would like to know if anyone could tell me how to remove PC viruses with out re-installing "XP" and being able to save my stuff on my PC?also,is there any good books that you know of that will help me to learn?your help is highly appreciated!
 
It all depends. Your best bet is to run some anti-virus. I use MalwareBytes and I recommend it to all my customers. If you want PM me with your issue, and I can try to help you.

Malwarebytes

When you want to back up your data, go to your C drive, then Documents and Settings, and then grab your profile folder. The files in there that you are probably going to want, are going to be Start Menu, Desktop, user name Documents, and Favorites. Most virus hide in the Local Settings folder, so just delete that and it will take care of most of your low level viruses.
 
I agree with SoulTerror that you should go further with any good anti-virus software or firewall.I prefer 'ZoneAlarm PRO Firewall 2010'.I think that is the best one.I like that one because of some features of it like Two-way Firewall,Compatible with anti-virus software,Multi-layered security for your PC and so on..ZoneAlarm Firewall Pro is a great product that will keep your computer safe from intrusions and online Internet threats.
 
Malwarebytes is excellent for removing spyware, but it is not antivirus. I'd look at either Avast or AVG, both provide good free antivirus software. Personally I use Sophos, but it's not a free one.

If it was me I'd install and run a full scan with Malwarebytes and antivirus, hopefully that should shift any nasties.
 
I run Clam-Win for real time scans, but Malwarebytes has always removed all my malware for me and on customers computers.
 
Best way is to get a good antivirus to prevent future infections. But for now scan for the virus and get its name, then google for removal tools/instructions, if your antivirus can't remove it by itself.
 
spenceriowa said:
i would like to know if anyone could tell me how to remove PC viruses with out re-installing "XP" and being able to save my stuff on my PC?also,is there any good books that you know of that will help me to learn?your help is highly appreciated!
Click to expand...

First you must know the virus name. So scan your computer and anti virus will detect the virus and also tell the name.

Good luck
 
androidappbundles said:
at the risk of being laughed out of the thread, has anyone used microsoft security essentials? i've been using that for a while and haven't had any issues...

-pete
Buy your android apps at 50-70% off by buying Android App Bundles
Click to expand...

I've heard good things about it, and its probably better then Norton from what I heard. I tried almost all antiviruses, with Norton 360 being the worst and Kaspersky IS being the best.
 
I have been using M$SE for well over a year now, and I can say it is effective, low on resources, and you can't shake a stick at the price.
 
Grab a knoppix 5.x release for a cdimage or the latest for the dvd image. Boot from the cd/dvd drive. Use the available tools. Mount the drive- C,D,etc are either partitions or device names- or drives if you have more than one either automagically- right click- or with a command line of
Code: 
mount -t <type> -o rw -o <other option> /path/to/device /path/to/mountpoint>
You may need to use ntfsmount and ntfstools.
Use the file manager built into konqueror and view hidden files.
You'll need to search for programs which were not part of anything you installed. These can be permanently removed with
Code: 
rm -rf /path/to/questionable/binary
.
Best bthat this is done with root priviledges:
Code: 
sudo -su
.

Any of the tools stated above which would help identify the files. Write down the list- Yes, use a pen and paper- and use that to search for the files.
After removing, run an fsck with ntfstools.
Reboot the machine with no internet access and in safe mode.
Scan the registry for keys pointing to the binaries and remove them.
Run the basic system checks and then reboot after.
 
If you have a particularly nasty virus that won't allow you to delete the file, download ComboFix. If you get a message saying that there are locked entries in the registry, this can prevent ComboFix from deleting the programs.

If that happens, make note of where the keys are and download Registry Wizard.

I fought with a version of the Vundo virus for three days before I found the right tools - these tools - and was able to remove it and not lose any data.

Be VERY careful with ComboFix. It's a powerful program that will wipe any existance of the file you drop on it. You'll never be able to get that file back.
 
And go get Norton Ghost and set it up to do backups every night - or whenever the machine will be idle for a couple hours. I do backups to another external disk and have had to do a full restore a time or two. I keep 2 weeks back so I can also recover any individual files I may have accidentally deleted.

Cheers,
Jim
 
SoulTerror said:
It all depends. Your best bet is to run some anti-virus. I use MalwareBytes and I recommend it to all my customers. If you want PM me with your issue, and I can try to help you.

Malwarebytes

When you want to back up your data, go to your C drive, then Documents and Settings, and then grab your profile folder. The files in there that you are probably going to want, are going to be Start Menu, Desktop, user name Documents, and Favorites. Most virus hide in the Local Settings folder, so just delete that and it will take care of most of your low level viruses.
Click to expand...


yes i do same. MBAM (malwarebytes) does it well.
 
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