Virus Problems...

So my computer has a virus and keeps on telling me to scan with Mcafee, but I can't because whenever i try to open almost EVERY program I get a message about how my computer is infected and to scan it for virus'. I'm running XP Home and plan on formatting my drive but when i try to go into DOS it won't let me and I can't format from My Computer becausthe OS is on that drive(I ony have one). So could I format it any other way or any have any suggestions on what to do? Sorry I can't get all the specs down...But I have XP Home and if you need anything else just ask ns I'll find out...I'm usin a Dell Dimension 4550, also im writing this on my other computer.

 

Ok, I'll try that when i get back home, but what does re-partition mean? I'm not good with Software ;_;

 

You could try to run the McAfee virus scan/clean from safe mode (Could be an idea to print the article before startng):

http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/displaydoc.asp?docid=401&CategoryId=243

 

I did all the instructions but the "cd c:\prog*\common*\n*\v*\4* " part doesn't work, It says 'The file name,directory name, or label name syntax is incorrect' or sumthin...So, any ideas on what to do?

 

You need to find your antivirus application. Try to execute this command (It will display the directories containing the scan.exe which is part of the Antivirus application) :

Go to the directory containing the hopefully found scan.exe. Ex.

Then execute the scan.exe as specified in the McAfee article.

 

w00t!! Thanks alot, I got the hang of MS-DOS and was able to figure out most of it. Mcafee virus scan is running right now with a bunch of the Dell files infected and stuff. Thanks alot for telling me to go into safe mode! I didn't know you could do DOS in safe mode upon starup! Thanks a ton, hopefully it will fix everything.

 

Well mostly everything works ok in safe mode, but after a while the virus scan just ends and the window closes. It got up to 600+ files infected but didnt do anything with them, so I'm kind of stuck right now. Now since it won't get rid of the files should I just format?

 

Did you launch scan with following parameters (like described in the article) ?

Also if you read the article you should perform this command as many time that is needed until it reports that no vira is detected.

If you decide to reinstall then you need to consider whether you want to save any mails, favorites, personal documents. As your installation is virus infected, then I don't think it is enough to install on top of the existing install (Chance the virus will survieve). You have to boot from the WinXP CD and delete the existing partition and create a new one (Loosing all previous data).

 

I found out what needs to be done, for some reason it just closes, but I can end the scanning, clean the files, than start scanning for more infected ones. Hopefully it will work this time.

 

Sorry don't know McAfee antivirus myself, so I cannot help you with whatever quirks it might have. Hope you get things solved.

Also if the cleaning goes fine (Clear System Restore directory as the virus also can reside there and AntiVirus application doesn't usually have rights to access the system restore directory):
1. Boot into WinXP normal mode
2. update the virus-definitions for McAfee from the Internet
3. Turn off System Restore in WinXP and restart.
4. Boot into WinXP normal mode
5. Scan again using McAfee with the updated definitions
6. Turn on System Restore in WinXP and restart

How To: Turn System Restore On/off

 

Oh well, I think i have it under control, but thanks for steering me in the right direction, anyways if you care the name of the bug is W32/Pate.b and supposedly makes a registration key that i found so should I just delete it or is there a special way to take care of it? Mcafee won't detect it as a problem.

 

The virus creates the following registry key:

You can access the registry editor by executing this command:

If the virus have been cleaned from all files, then the virus is gone and the registry key is just remains from the virus and will not harm your computer. (So if not feeling comftable about editing your registry just leave the registry key alone)

http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_99690.htm

Also since the virus attacks EXE-files then I recommend executing the following command (To check the validity of all WinXP System files, but make sure to have your WinXP install CD ready)

 

When do I put the "sfc /scannow" thing in? Just under C: or under McAfee or sumthin?

 

DOS and Windows has something called PATH (Enviroment Variable), it points to bunch of directories. If a directory is included in PATH then you can execute any program that reside in that directory even if you reside in another directory.

SFC resides in a directory that is included in PATH, so it can be launched any where.

Press Start-Button and Run... the command:

About the System File Checker (SFC)

 

Snakefoot thanks alot for helping me out but I had to format. It would never scan at a certain point and the same files got infected again it seems. But it wasn't that bad, just have to download drivers from the Dell CD's ad it's working perfect. Thanks alot for the help