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Computer acted strangely then froze

1

1st Class

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Last night my Compaq desktop started not responding and all the desktop icons lit up in blue. Then it froze, so today I reformatted with backup CDs. I followed instructions until it said that the recovery was successful, but now it won't let me restart. I've used the CDs once before, so I don't think they're suspect. Any thoughts?
 
This is where I take out a hammer and beat the thing into a pile of...
[Sorry, but that's all I can think of.]
 
When you say "It won't let me restart" can you be a bit more specific? What happens when you press the Power button?
 
1st Class said:
I followed instructions until it said that the recovery was successful, but now it won't let me restart. I've used the CDs once before, so I don't think they're suspect.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing BIOS problem, but you aren't providing enough information. "Won't let you restart?"

How, specifically, is the computer not restarting?

Can you press the F12 (or whatever F key your system uses) to get the verbose boot information? How about BIOS setup? (Usually F1). And boot device selection? Can you access that?
 
Just minutes after I posted last week I lost internet access to all 3 computers in the house. The cable guy looked them all over and thinks they all have a virus affecting the internet port and mouse port on all of them. I plugged in a USB mouse and was able to complete my system restore on the desktop, but there's still no internet. The cable guy also reset the router so now that is not password protected and I can't locate the driver. Any suggestions before I take this to a shop?
 
You're mixing apples and oranges and getting beef stew.

First off, isolate the problems and take care of one at a time. For the initial machine, disconnect it from the router. Then try to boot it up from a bootable CD. If that works the hardware is probably ok.

Then do the same from the hard drive. If you have a nasty virus you may find it best to reformat the hard drive and reinstall Windows. In any case, if you do reformat, connect that machine directly to the internet without going thru the router.

If all this works, then fix the virus problem.
 
Ok. Nothing is connected to anything now. The router's been reset but it's disconnected. I'll begin with the desktop. I was in the middle of performing a system recovery when it first froze. I wasn't able to use the original mouse connected to the port in the back, but I was able to use a USB mouse and finish the recovery. The recovery was successful but there's still no internet access. When I plug in the internet directly to the desktop (bypassing the router) 1 of 2 things happens. Either I get no response at all or it takes me to some webpage I've never seen before. The cable repairman seemed to think that the port was corrupted and being controlled by someone else.

How can I fix the virus problem if I can't access the internet?

My time is up on the public computer. Thanks for your help. I'll check back tomorrow.
 
In many cases a virus also exists on the system recovery file. Therefore, you have reinstalled the virus when you run system recovery.

As I mentioned previously, you need to reformat the hard drive and reinstall windows. First however, copy all critical data files to other media because those will be wiped out when you reformat. If you have more than one partition on the hard drive, or multiple hard drives you can copy files to those locations.
 
1st Class said:
Either I get no response at all or it takes me to some webpage I've never seen before. The cable repairman seemed to think that the port was corrupted and being controlled by someone else.


How can I fix the virus problem if I can't access the internet?
Click to expand...


I'll refrain from saying, "I told you so," because you might have skipped the half-dozen or so posts where I have advised people to back up their drivers along with their important data. Now you know why. (I'm not trying to be snippy. It's just that 90% of the people reading this are probably in the same boat as you. They're running without backups, asking for computer trouble.)

If you had the drivers for your particular make/model of computer on a CD-R, and all your important pictures/videos/music backed up on an external hard drive, this would not be a big problem for you.

Also, I don't think it's a virus. I'll bet it's a trojan. Big difference, but the end result is the same -- you can't do diddly. After a flaky system restore, it's time to wipe that computer and lay down a fresh copy of Windows.

Here's what I suggest:

1) Stop wasting time on Tug. Go to the home page of your computer manufacturer. http://www.compaq.com/country/cpq_support.html Click on the button that reads "software and driver downloads" enter the model of your computer below that and hit enter.

2) Download the ethernet driver first (for XP, or Vista, or whatever it is you're using), then get as many of the other drivers as you can -- video, sound, etc. Also download Superantispyware, Malwarebytes and TuneUp 2009.

3) Burn all of #2 to a disk or copy them to a thumb drive.

4) Got your data backed up? No? Go to OfficeMax/Depot/etc and buy an USB external hard drive, buy the biggest you can easily afford.

5) Go home.

6) Plug in the external and copy everything you care about to it. DO NOT COPY PROGRAMS, just DATA -- pictures, music, videos, letters, email addresses, browser password lists, browser favorites, etc. Get everything you can. Take screenshots and save THOSE to the external if you can't figure out how to save your address list or your password list. Write it down with pen and paper if you can't figure out how to take a screenshot.

7) Reinstall windows. When setup asks you which partition you wish to install to, delete them all. Then make one big partition, format it (not with the "quick format" option), and reinstall to your new, clean partition.

8) Reinstall your drivers.


9) Install BOTH Malwarebytes and Superantispyware and then "complete scan" your external drive, quarantine what you must. (Those files are gone. Sorry.)


10) Reinstall all your software.

11) Put your important data back onto your computer from your external.

12) Run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware again -- complete scan all your disks. Quarantine what you must. KEEP RUNNING THEM UNTIL BOTH OF THEM GIVE YOU A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH.

13) Install TuneUp 2009, accept all recommendations that make sense to you.

14) Put your network back in order. (You're on your own. Read the manuals. There's too many variables to try to guide you though it blind.)

15) Keep your important data backed up in the future, so you don't have to worry about this again?
 
Last edited:
ScoopLV said:
...
7) Reinstall windows. When setup asks you which partition you wish to install to, delete them all. Then make one big partition, format it (not with the "quick format" option), and reinstall to your new, clean partition....
Click to expand...

For me, I would never make a single partition...ever. Keep the operating system on one partition and data files on another. It's much easier for data management and backup. If the need arises, which it will, to reinstall the OS, it's not so disruptive and labor intensive.
 
Kal said:
For me, I would never make a single partition...ever. Keep the operating system on one partition and data files on another. It's much easier for data management and backup. If the need arises, which it will, to reinstall the OS, it's not so disruptive and labor intensive.
Click to expand...

I'd use multiple drives instead. I keep my system and programs on one disk with one partition, and my data elsewhere. The reason for the deletion is to get rid of EVERYTHING. No use spending hours reinstalling, only to pick up the same problem because it's sitting on some obscure system restore partition.
 
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1st Class said:
Ok. Nothing is connected to anything now. The router's been reset but it's disconnected. I'll begin with the desktop. I was in the middle of performing a system recovery when it first froze. I wasn't able to use the original mouse connected to the port in the back, but I was able to use a USB mouse and finish the recovery. The recovery was successful but there's still no internet access. When I plug in the internet directly to the desktop (bypassing the router) 1 of 2 things happens. Either I get no response at all or it takes me to some webpage I've never seen before. The cable repairman seemed to think that the port was corrupted and being controlled by someone else.

How can I fix the virus problem if I can't access the internet?

My time is up on the public computer. Thanks for your help. I'll check back tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Did you make a note of what web site you end up at? What happens if you try to navigate away from that site by entering a different URL?

Can you verify that your internet connection is working by connecting a PC that you do not suspect is infected (like maybe a friends laptop)? That would allow you to confirm that the internet connection is indeed working properly.

Here is what I would do in this situation:

1) From a public, work, or friends computer, go to the following link and download malwarebytes to a thumb drive.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

2) Go home. Disconnect all network connections to your Compaq (no LAN, no internet, no wireless). Copy the malwarebytes download from the thumb drive to your PC and install malwarebytes.

3) Run the full malwarebytes scan. This will take awhile.

4) If step 3 succeeds in clearing your PC of malware, you will be then be able to connect to the internet. Once you have the internet connection, go to the update tab in malwarebytes and "check for updates" to download the latest malwarebytes updates.

5) Rerun the full malwarebytes scan.

If this does not work, you have a couple options:

A) Go through the process outlined by ScoopLV, or
B) Take the PC to a local computer store for help.
 
This is way above my head. My solution with computers is (1) buy the cheapest one I can, (2) send things that are macro important to me to my Son's computer to save, and (3) when (if) this happens, buy a new computer. My first computer shot craps about 2 years ago (after 8 years of successful use). I'm now on my second at a cost of about $400 with my fingers crossed.

George
 
bogey21 said:
This is way above my head. My solution with computers is (1) buy the cheapest one I can, (2) send things that are macro important to me to my Son's computer to save, and (3) when (if) this happens, buy a new computer. My first computer shot craps about 2 years ago (after 8 years of successful use). I'm now on my second at a cost of about $400 with my fingers crossed.
Click to expand...

Then plan on buying a new PC every few weeks/months, because Malware is on the rise, and is also becoming more and more insidious. If you picked up the trojan off the web, Web of Trust probably could have saved you. If you downloaded the trojan from an email attachment, nothing at all is ever going to help you. Anti virus software doesn't work well enough to do anything other than give you a false sense of security.

My advice? Give your infected computer away and buy a Mac. You don't have to worry as much about Malware and "driver downloads" with Macs. But you still have to back up your data because hard drives fail.
 
ScoopLV said:
I'd use multiple drives instead. I keep my system and programs on one disk with one partition, and my data elsewhere. The reason for the deletion is to get rid of EVERYTHING. No use spending hours reinstalling, only to pick up the same problem because it's sitting on some obscure system restore partition.
Click to expand...

Assuming the average size of a hard drive is somewhere around 300 GB, using one full drive for the OS is a waste of real estate. A 40 GB partition would be ample, thereby providing 260 GB for other meaningful usage. Backing up a 40 GB partition is considerably easier than with a 300 GB drive. Likewise for the deletion (reformat) exercise.
 
bogey21 said:
This is way above my head. My solution with computers is (1) buy the cheapest one I can, (2) send things that are macro important to me to my Son's computer to save, and (3) when (if) this happens, buy a new computer. My first computer shot craps about 2 years ago (after 8 years of successful use). I'm now on my second at a cost of about $400 with my fingers crossed.

George
Click to expand...

Is it certain that your son's computer is secure and free from malware?

Next time you buy a replacement machine, you might want to think about reformating the "old" machine, reinstalling the OS and setting that machine in a home network. It can then provide a much more secure storage location than on someone else's unsecure computer.
 
ScoopLV said:
Then plan on buying a new PC every few weeks/months, because Malware is on the rise, and is also becoming more and more insidious.

My advice? Give your infected computer away and buy a Mac. You don't have to worry as much about Malware and "driver downloads" with Macs.
Click to expand...

Based on my experience (or maybe just my dumb luck) it seems that you overstate the threat. I am 18 months into my second computer in 10 years. I think your advice re the Mac is something I should consider next time around. It would probably depend on what one costs at the time.

George
 
Kal said:
Is it certain that your son's computer is secure and free from malware?
Click to expand...

The answer is "No". I really should find somewhere else to send my important stuff.

The point I am trying to make is that I have no interest in screwing with computer malfunctions. I just handle my laptops the same way as my coffee maker, my dishwasher, my washer and dryer, (and timeshare weeks too, for that matter) etc. I buy the cheapest that work for me and if they break, I just trash them and start over. You would be surprised how long some "el cheapos" last.

George
 
Last edited:
Kal said:
Assuming the average size of a hard drive is somewhere around 300 GB, using one full drive for the OS is a waste of real estate. A 40 GB partition would be ample, thereby providing 260 GB for other meaningful usage.
Click to expand...

For me, 120 GB is the minimum for the OS and the programs I use regularly -- Quark, Photoshop, etc. You can't reinstall windows without having to reinstall all your programs anyway, so I keep them all together. The system drive is always my fastest drive (currently a WD Raptor).

bogey21 said:
Based on my experience (or maybe just my dumb luck) it seems that you overstate the threat. I am 18 months into my second computer in 10 years. I think your advice re the Mac is something I should consider next time around. It would probably depend on what one costs at the time.
Click to expand...

In my experience, the amount of people asking for computer help on timeshare forums, cooking forums, DIY forums and travel forums has shot up dramatically -- 90% of them with trojan woes. It's like the September that Never Ended all over again.

I consider knowing how to back up and restore a PC to be the absolute minimum competency for using one. Otherwise, spend the extra money and buy a Mac.

 
Running large programs such as Photoshop or others on the OS drive is optional. I routinely install Photoshop and other large programs on the second partition. It makes a world of difference during reinstallation of the OS.
 
Thanks to all who tried to help. After reading Scoop's instructions, I thought this was a task better left to the experts. I took it to a shop. The rear mouse port is still not working, but I am able to use a USB mouse. The internet appears to be working. The shop tech installed some anti-spyware, anti-malware, and new anti-virus software along with all the windows updates that were missing since I did a system recovery which brought it back to factory specs. I did have my data backed up, so now I just need to reload some software, and I can move along to the broken laptops. I appreciate your words of advice.
 
My brief suggestion for everyone who doesn't have a backup is to purchase this product or something similar. Retrospect is a great Windows backup app which is included with this hard drive.

And I'll second the recommendation to look at a Mac next time you're in the market for a new computer. They're cheaper than you think ~ and if you have a monitor, keyboard and mouse that are still good you can save a lot and just buy a Mac mini (and still retain the ability to run Windows if you really want, on the Mac).
 
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