It also appears that I have both a "mal generic A" virus and a Trojan "agent gen-x" on my PC and for the low, low price of only $89.99 they will remove it for me! Wow. They have adopted the repair model use by car dealers. We analyze for a small fee and then call you and tell you how much it will cost to repair it. Only this scenario involves NO moving parts. It is more painful this way. I got this message on Saturday (today) and so may not get my computer back until Tuesday since she (the all-knowing magician) does not get in until Monday at 2:00PM. I am totally addicted to my PC and so will have to cough up the dough to get the PC functioning again. Since it is almost 8 years old, I fully expected them to say that I needed a new one. So there is a brighter side to this scenario.
If they could tell me how I got this illness on my PC, I would be more understanding. I have so much firewall and virus protection, that I honestly thought I was inoculated until the blue screen of death.
Oh well, Monday I get to start working on those photos that I am compelled to view on the big screen. Addictions are what they are, and at least this one does not contain calories to make me fat(ter)!
I ran a scan recently and found that I had a trojan, too. The scan supposedly got rid of it for me. Didn't cost a penny - but then I'm not certain it is gone. I am using the computer, though and it is faster than it was before.
ReplyDeleteI have occasionally removed a trojan from my daughter's PC just by doing a system restore.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your computer woes. How I love my Mac!
ReplyDeletemy spyware removes mine. we keep an antivirus program running all the time, but i have my Webroot Spysweeper (antivirus/antispyware program) scan and clean my laptop several times a week. that is where i find my 'bad' stuff - coming in on spyware. this webroot spyware program will quarantine it for you. some of the junk we are getting is not considered a 'true' virus so our anti-viral programs are not picking them up. they can slow us down and cause some issues, however. spyware removal is a big plus, i have found. it really keeps my laptop moving quickly and smoothly.
ReplyDeletehubby just checked - webroot spysweeper would have picked up your agent gen-x trojan. he wonders what anti virus progam you have. it should have picked up your mal generic A virus, but spysweeper would have gotten it, too.
i had the "blue screen" crash several times lately, and hubby checked it out from top to bottom and concluded i needed more memory. (he is a software engineer manager and knows this stuff...i DON'T.) he bought memory and installed it, and i am cooking with gas again.
RE your comment on my blog. don't know where you meant you are headed in the fall, but early snows can hit the higher elevations. if you meant the canadian rockies I suggest you go before the end of sept. i heard recently there have already been snows in some areas of WY and MT. banff and jasper nat'l parks in the canadian rockies (alberta, CA) are in very high elevations, 6-8 hrs north of glacier nat'l park in MT. we are going back but will go in early summer next time when we can see more wildlife.
I just updated my Norton antivirus software this spring and I also have the Norton firewall running. I did use a malware software program recommended by one of my blog readers last spring...perhaps should have run it more often as it once or twice identified a possible trojan? The Staples folks asked if I wanted to run a system restore and I thought that sounded like a nightmare to find and then reload all my software packages...but maybe I misunderstood the process? Anyway, I guess I want to know why I am paying Norton!!
ReplyDeleteFirst; I can't recall, Tabor. Once you had the blue screen - were you able to do anything with your computer at all, or did it just continue to boot into a blue screen of death? If you were not able to do anything, then your hands were tied as to what you could actually do to help yourself.
ReplyDeleteSecond; all about system restore:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx
To actually see where you can restore to:
Start
Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore
Make sure the button for "Restore my computer to an earlier time" is checked.
(Don't worry, we will cancel before we actually restore, this is just to show you the calendar).
Click Next
This page will show you your restore points on a calendar.
The bold dates are dates you can move your computer back to.
Once you have an issue, you can try going back to the day before or even a week before. Anything you have changed on your computer or saved to your computer will be gone between the time you choose and the present. Also, anything you deleted will be back. Sometimes it is worth it.
Click cancel here and the restore will cancel.
I am going to have to research the mal generic A virus.
And, always remember. This is what the tech is saying. You just have to take their word for it. Maybe it was just malware, but a virus sounds much more sinister and that would help the customer justify paying the bill.
Sometimes computer crashes are God's way of keeping us from posting certain thoughts:)
ReplyDeleteYou are all talking a language that I do not understand.
ReplyDeleteOne Woman downloads her images, writes in her journal and to special people and that is all I do.
My special soninlaw who is in the computer business - usually checks my computer when he visits. If I had these problems I would probably just give up.
One Woman, fortuntely I do understand what is being said...about 80%. But I also need to rely on techies to make sure my PC is truly safe. I hope to be back with my baby by Tuesday!!
ReplyDeletemaybe i overstepped my boundary sharing my experience here. i don't have any idea what process you might have misunderstood and know nothing about norton. we use a different program. glad you have resolved this though.
ReplyDelete