Not spyware in the BIOS, BUT spyware can get installed in the MBR, whch is effectively the 'boot loader' for PCs...in effect, the spyware runs BEFORE Windows, and thus, your spyware tool can not see it.
The only way to fix this is to do a full fdisk, and create all new partitions. Not a bad thing to do anyway, and your windows PC will likely be faster afterwards. I have no idea whether this has happened to you at all.
For later, you may want to consider a free tool like DriveImage XML, which is a free 'Ghost' product. Once you get Windows freshly installed, and your critical software, take an image, tuck it away on a DVD or spare harddrive, and then whenever there is a problem again, simply wipe your drive and reload the image.
Ok i did everything ran all type of antivirus/spayware etc but no change looks like have to delete all partitions
Need to sleep 5 AM wasted 2 days otherwise i was out to shoot fort far away from my house
Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal
Does anyone have links to documentation for awais to reference when doing this process? I remember the first time i used fdisk. While it's not hard. It's pretty intimidating not knowing if your doing it correctly.
I did the same thing. I had a friend just tell me, "Oh, all you do is fdisk, reload blah blah.." Yea it wasn't as easy as he made it sound.
Well, moving to Vista could solve the problem (unless the spyware is located on one of the other partitions anyway), but it will likely introduce several more. Unless your machine is relatively new and has at least 1GB (better 2GB) of RAM, I don't recommend it.
Thanks for the help
Moving to Vista could be a solution without re partition whole PC ?
As i have to write everything on DVDs that will take time
I think it's a really bad idea to even think about Vista until you have eliminated the problems you have with your current setup. That would be like using a lighter to see whether there's any gas in your car tank.
I think it's a really bad idea to even think about Vista until you have eliminated the problems you have with your current setup. That would be like using a lighter to see whether there's any gas in your car tank.
Why do you need so many partitions?
Regards,
One contains Windows other personal documents and one for games and last one for Photos
Pupator i have 2 GB ram and Intel core Duo processor
Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal
One contains Windows other personal documents and one for games and last one for Photos
Pupator i have 2 GB ram and Intel core Duo processor
Then all those partitions are totally unnecessary. I understand the idea behind having your windows installtion/programs on one partition and your documents and photos on another (though it too is unnecessary). But there's really no reason to have all that on different partitions.
Back it up, format (not quick) the whole drive, install the OS of your choice (XP or Vista) on ONE partition. Then once you have it running you can make a second partition for your data if you really want to. You'll be up and running in no time!
Reinstall?
Why?
I think you need to give your PC a little time. One full day cleanup session
1. Remove everything what you don't need. That includes data and software
2. download ad-aware anti spyware, and AVG anti virus, update the definitions online
3. Run a full test with both.
Gene, with all due respect, it's improbable. It's very much to a point that taking a certain picture can purposefully change your camera's firmware.
I did a little digging out of curiosity. It is possible to infect the BIOS, but sightings in the wild appear to be anecdotal so far. Systems programmers can see how it could be done here and here. It's arcane stuff, but the interesting part is that the same method of attack would work on Linux as well Windows. Don't know about OS-X.
I am still doubtful that Awais has an infected BIOS. Medical school students are taught that when you see hoof prints you should look for a horse, not a zebra. The same applies here. I wouldn't rule out an infected Master Boot Record, as that is more common. Most current anti-virus software can detect and clean MBR problems.
I would first try to rule out hardware issues by running diagnostics. Then do complete (MBR, registry, memory, all files and programs on all partitions) system scans using several AV products--no single one detects everything. If that doesn't work, then backup all the data, wipe the hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Don't restore the data until you verify that the system is working properly. If it's not, then it might be time to re-flash the BIOS.
Try resetting the BIOS. If you have the MB manual it should tell you how to configure the jumpers.
Can't hurt at this point.
Actually it can. Depending on the level of a user's computer saavy resetting the BIOS can cause all sorts of challenges. If that version of the BIOS, when reset, defaults to booting to HDD first rather than CD - they'll find that they can't reinstall Windows without making a change they may or may not know how to do.
Also, resetting the bios requires opening the case and putting your fingers on some very small jumpers that are usually very close to easily-broken resistors. Break one of those things and you've really made a mess.
There are things I believe in that I've never seen with my own eyes - the day I find someone whose problems were actually (and not on purpose) cause by some sort of malware in the BIOS - well that's a day I'll do something crazy (like buy a Mac!).
I did a little digging out of curiosity. It is possible to infect the BIOS, but sightings in the wild appear to be anecdotal so far. ...
Regards,
Hey, Richard, that's why I said improbable, no impossible.
I understand that it's all bits and bytes, yet, as you've mentioned, thus far it's been an anecdotal possibility, not a real life threat...
...the day I find someone whose problems were actually (and not on purpose) cause by some sort of malware in the BIOS - well that's a day I'll do something crazy (like buy a Mac!).
I vote to follow pupators instruction about the install and partitions. THis has always been a sucess for me. But as I said before. I've been really lucky w/ computers and not had any major issues w/ them.
Hope it works out. And even if your tests don't work to plan. You still have all your data backed up and you can start over!
Jon nothing happened to my PC too this is very 1st time apart from lighting bolt that fried cable modem still Pc was working.
This is some realy cool worm made from heart
Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal
A lightning bolt fried your modem and your PC lived through it?
Dude you need to contact the manufacturer of that Computer and sell them that story!
Good luck w/ your project!
-Jon
Well this is what he told me because i remember the sound of that bolt and my PC went black. In the end i had to replace Modem and Power supply.
He told in heavy storm don't use internet
Same happened with my new PC but it started to work just after that.
Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal
Well this is what he told me because i remember the sound of that bolt and my PC went black. In the end i had to replace Modem and Power supply.
He told in heavy storm don't use internet
Same happened with my new PC but it started to work just after that.
Actually, in a lightning storm, the modem is the most likely thing to get fried. Telephone wires and cable TV wires are really great conductors of electricity and, unlike power lines and power supplies, the things on the end of the lines (cable modems, phone modems and network cards) aren't rated to handle the surge.
In Charlotte we have lots of lightning storms and I almost always get "my computer is working but the internet isn't" phone calls after them! :devbobo
Tell them to invest in a good UPS. Most ppl don't understand why I'd buy a 500+ dollar UPS. I have a friend's dad that's in power management for the govt. And some of the facts about how "dirty" the power is in the US is scary. I'm sure it gets much scarier out of the states. But I sunk way to much dough into my machine to have it get fried by a little surge. Not to mention I work from home so my computer is my income!
Whenever the lights flicker or anything happens. I jsut keep working as normal. I've even worked for 20 minutes in a full blackout!
Tell them to invest in a good UPS. Most ppl don't understand why I'd buy a 500+ dollar UPS. I have a friend's dad that's in power management for the govt. And some of the facts about how "dirty" the power is in the US is scary. I'm sure it gets much scarier out of the states. But I sunk way to much dough into my machine to have it get fried by a little surge. Not to mention I work from home so my computer is my income!
Whenever the lights flicker or anything happens. I jsut keep working as normal. I've even worked for 20 minutes in a full blackout!
Excellent advice. If you have an expensive home entertainment center, get one for that too.
Hi all
I deleted partitions and istalled windows in one partition. The problem came again. But now i have formated whole hard disk now that spyware has not started to make PC go stupid so i assume it is gone.
Otherwise after new installation it showed up in few min.
:ivar
Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal
Comments
The only way to fix this is to do a full fdisk, and create all new partitions. Not a bad thing to do anyway, and your windows PC will likely be faster afterwards. I have no idea whether this has happened to you at all.
For later, you may want to consider a free tool like DriveImage XML, which is a free 'Ghost' product. Once you get Windows freshly installed, and your critical software, take an image, tuck it away on a DVD or spare harddrive, and then whenever there is a problem again, simply wipe your drive and reload the image.
Need to sleep 5 AM wasted 2 days otherwise i was out to shoot fort far away from my house
My Gallery
I did the same thing. I had a friend just tell me, "Oh, all you do is fdisk, reload blah blah.." Yea it wasn't as easy as he made it sound.
A better idea is to just install XP on the whole drive and repartition after the install using something like partition magic.
Moving to Vista could be a solution without re partition whole PC ?
As i have to write everything on DVDs that will take time
My Gallery
I think it's a really bad idea to even think about Vista until you have eliminated the problems you have with your current setup. That would be like using a lighter to see whether there's any gas in your car tank.
Why do you need so many partitions?
Regards,
One contains Windows other personal documents and one for games and last one for Photos
Pupator i have 2 GB ram and Intel core Duo processor
My Gallery
good luck!
My old Laptop has got some nasty bugs... AVG found over 200 trojans and virus's...lol good thing i just use it to surf.. thats all..
www.theanimalhaven.com :thumb
Visit us at: www.northeastfoto.com a forum for northeastern USA Photogs to meet. :wink
Canon 30D, some lenses and stuff... I think im tired or something, i have a hard time concentrating.. hey look, a birdie!:clap
Then all those partitions are totally unnecessary. I understand the idea behind having your windows installtion/programs on one partition and your documents and photos on another (though it too is unnecessary). But there's really no reason to have all that on different partitions.
Back it up, format (not quick) the whole drive, install the OS of your choice (XP or Vista) on ONE partition. Then once you have it running you can make a second partition for your data if you really want to. You'll be up and running in no time!
OK maybe spyware is the wrong term, but a virus CAN get into the BIOS.
Try resetting the BIOS. If you have the MB manual it should tell you how to configure the jumpers.
Can't hurt at this point.
Gene
Why?
I think you need to give your PC a little time. One full day cleanup session
1. Remove everything what you don't need. That includes data and software
2. download ad-aware anti spyware, and AVG anti virus, update the definitions online
3. Run a full test with both.
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Site :http://www.tanveer.in
Blog :http://tsk1979.livejournal.com
I did a little digging out of curiosity. It is possible to infect the BIOS, but sightings in the wild appear to be anecdotal so far. Systems programmers can see how it could be done here and here. It's arcane stuff, but the interesting part is that the same method of attack would work on Linux as well Windows. Don't know about OS-X.
I am still doubtful that Awais has an infected BIOS. Medical school students are taught that when you see hoof prints you should look for a horse, not a zebra. The same applies here. I wouldn't rule out an infected Master Boot Record, as that is more common. Most current anti-virus software can detect and clean MBR problems.
I would first try to rule out hardware issues by running diagnostics. Then do complete (MBR, registry, memory, all files and programs on all partitions) system scans using several AV products--no single one detects everything. If that doesn't work, then backup all the data, wipe the hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Don't restore the data until you verify that the system is working properly. If it's not, then it might be time to re-flash the BIOS.
Regards,
Actually it can. Depending on the level of a user's computer saavy resetting the BIOS can cause all sorts of challenges. If that version of the BIOS, when reset, defaults to booting to HDD first rather than CD - they'll find that they can't reinstall Windows without making a change they may or may not know how to do.
Also, resetting the bios requires opening the case and putting your fingers on some very small jumpers that are usually very close to easily-broken resistors. Break one of those things and you've really made a mess.
There are things I believe in that I've never seen with my own eyes - the day I find someone whose problems were actually (and not on purpose) cause by some sort of malware in the BIOS - well that's a day I'll do something crazy (like buy a Mac!).
I understand that it's all bits and bytes, yet, as you've mentioned, thus far it's been an anecdotal possibility, not a real life threat...
I sure hope it stays that way.
I have burnned all photos on DVD. Now experimenting different things.
My Gallery
I vote to follow pupators instruction about the install and partitions. THis has always been a sucess for me. But as I said before. I've been really lucky w/ computers and not had any major issues w/ them.
Hope it works out. And even if your tests don't work to plan. You still have all your data backed up and you can start over!
Cheers,
-Jon
This is some realy cool worm made from heart
My Gallery
Dude you need to contact the manufacturer of that Computer and sell them that story!
Good luck w/ your project!
-Jon
Well this is what he told me because i remember the sound of that bolt and my PC went black. In the end i had to replace Modem and Power supply.
He told in heavy storm don't use internet
Same happened with my new PC but it started to work just after that.
My Gallery
Actually, in a lightning storm, the modem is the most likely thing to get fried. Telephone wires and cable TV wires are really great conductors of electricity and, unlike power lines and power supplies, the things on the end of the lines (cable modems, phone modems and network cards) aren't rated to handle the surge.
In Charlotte we have lots of lightning storms and I almost always get "my computer is working but the internet isn't" phone calls after them! :devbobo
Whenever the lights flicker or anything happens. I jsut keep working as normal. I've even worked for 20 minutes in a full blackout!
My Gallery
My Gallery
I deleted partitions and istalled windows in one partition. The problem came again. But now i have formated whole hard disk now that spyware has not started to make PC go stupid so i assume it is gone.
Otherwise after new installation it showed up in few min.
My Gallery