***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 177 *****
In this thread you may ask any computer related question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
Usual rules apply,
No motoring related discussion,
No politics,
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which we think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
There is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 176. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.
A list of previous volumes can be found by clicking Here
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 03/02/2009 at 13:07
|
See here!
tinyurl.com/cynu3j
|
It's a Comodo forums long-in page.....?
|
|
|
|
My partner's Toshiba laptop (Vista) is playing up. It is connected to her router wirelessly and says that it is. However, any efforts to actually connect to the internet result in "Windows Explorer Cannot display this Page" etc. We have tried shut down and restart, we have tried f8 during startup and then Last Known Settings that Worked. I don't know if System restore would help - we haven't tried that. When I use it on my Vista computer it will only work if started from within Safe Mode. If Restore is used from a normal start up it sits there restoring for about 15 minutes and then says that it hasn't worked and nothing has been changed. This seems to be a characteristic of Vista. Rambling post I'm afraid but any ideas? I am 100 miles away and only get to the computer there once evey 3 weeks ie not for another week!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 22/01/2009 at 20:14
|
Is the router actually connected to the internet? Is there a red/orange light on, or a green one flashing steadily? Both might indicate a problem. Worth trying a direct connection with a network cable if she has one.
Right clicking on the network icon on the bottom right of the screen and choosing "Repair" might help too.
Also worth trying is typing in the following in the browser. If one of them loads, it points to the problem lying with the router than the laptop:
192.168.0.1
192.168.0.100
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.100
192.168.100.1
If they don't work, open up the command prompt (type "cmd" into the start menu and hit enter) and then type in "ipconfig". Somewhere in there might be an address marked "Gateway". Type that into the browser and see if anything loads.
|
Many thanks David, that gives me something to print out and work on when I get there. When I was there flashing lights were green and the lady is not quite up to attempting a direct connection between the router and the computer with an Ethernet cable. She is not great with electric string LOL!
|
|
|
Who provides the Internet access? Is it (probably) ADSL or Cable? Have you tried power cycling the router/wireless AP? They can crash?
To help you further:
- ISP
- Model of router/Wireless Access point
|
|
|
|
David was on the right lines. Sounds like the laptop connects to the router box ok but the router either has no DNS Setting (used to look up the net) or your laptop has not got "Obtain DNS Automatically" turned-on.
On the laptop you can check that by going to "start", "settings", "network connections" - this will show the wireless connection - left click on it once to highlight, then right click and choose "properties". Another display will open - pick "Internet Protocol" then click on "Properties" - the next screen that appears should show the IP and DNS Settings - I would expect the IP to say "obtain automatically" and the DNS bit "Obtain DNS Server automatically"
Edited by John Sheridan on 28/01/2009 at 14:20
|
|
|
|
At work we have a Sports and Social Club Motorcycle Section.
We originally had internet space on Runnerboard.Com where we could create a heading and discuss future activities etc.
This facility seems to disappeared.
Anyone know of FREE similar facility that can be tapped into?
Edited by Fullchat on 22/01/2009 at 20:48
|
Don't know if these are what you're after, but there's Yahoo groups:
groups.yahoo.com/
Google groups:
groups.google.com/
and possibly others.
I started a group recently and after playing a bit with both went for Yahoo. I thought Google would be better, but I read that it isn't being developed, and it certainly doesn't offer as many features as Yahoo.
F
|
|
|
|
Friend is looking to buy a cheapish laptop, about the £300-£350 very max.
At these prices, it seems to be the domain of own brands or certainly not big names eg Advent.
Are any of these own brands good?
And as far as technical specification is concerned, what would be the priority spec for usual surfing / email / photos / music.
Hard Disk I can understand fully but which processors are best, what RAM - higher the better I assume?
What others should I look for - what is difference between Vista Home and Vista Basic? Ideally she would prefer XP but that seems to mean the Netbook idea which I think will be just too small for her.
Any advice much appreciated.
|
Home Basic should be fine but Premium dosn't really cost any more so BASIC is really for very slow spec PCs. 2GB is fine for Vista, 3GB is better but the laptop will be more expensibve. RAM is very cheap.
I go for a mobile Dual Core Dou or one of the Celeron varients of it if the system is low spec, I have a Yonah based Celeron laptop with 1.5GB RAM and Vista Basic and its more than fast enough. I have a much faster desktop too btw/
Brand is a matter of opinion but prefer Dells or IBMs (not Lenovo) and these two brands tend to be the easiest to repair in my opinion. I thend to avoid hardware repairs on laptops but done a few repairs on Dells now they make it so easy and their website even tells you how to dismantle their laptops etc!
Avoid Acer or Fujitsu for laptops I find their build quality rather lacking and they are not nice to repair/upgrade.
|
To the best of my knowledge, Leveno is IBM i.e. it bought up the rights to produce the products some two or three years ago.
As for laptops in general, most of them are made by a small number of specialist manufacturers and re-badged by other top brand names - Acer is one of the main OEM specialists, some Advent models are re-badged Gericom products from Germany, Medion rebadges some MSI laptops, Dell (again to the best of my knowledge) re-badges other OEM manufacturers' products etc, etc.
Ironically, the OEM manufacturer's products are often cheaper than the re-badged version.
|
A bit of research provides the following information:
www.mindconnection.com/library/computertips/whomak...m
ezinearticles.com/?OEM---The-Hidden-Laptop&id=4820...0
There are many, many other similar links to OEM manufacturers and the top brand names...:-)
PS
This is nothing new in the world of computers - re-badged products, components, blank media etc are rife.
No top brand name or manufacturer can produce absolutely everything it sells.
Edited by Stuartli on 23/01/2009 at 23:49
|
|
Morgan computers - well respected provider of branded computer stuff - usually at a good discount.
|
Well respected outlet BigPockets offers a range of laptops, some new and some pre-owned, at very competitive prices:
tinyurl.com/b27crt
|
|
|
|
To the best of my knowledge Leveno is IBM i.e. it bought up the rights to produce the products some two or three years ago.
More than that. IBM sold the entire IBM PC business to lenovo. (R&D, Sales, Marketing, Support, Manufacturing, people, locations)
|
|
|
|
|
You can buy a brand new Dell laptop with a 15.4 inch screen for £349. Sounds ideal.
Spec may not be good but it will do everything that she needs it to.
|
|
Here's a Lenovo at a reasonable price (£339) www.ebuyer.com/product/152652 (courtesy hotukdeals)
|
Thanks everyone for your advice, she decided that she wanted her computer set up today so that meant a high street shop.
Went to PC World and bought an Acer 7730 that was "n" spec for her wireless router and I must admit, I am impressed how fast the connection was compared to my own wireless.
|
Yes wireless G and N is fab, really fast at least 50mbs.
except mostly is being fed by a 2-8mbs internet pipe.
|
Was that sarcasm??? :)
If it was it was lost on me as you know with my limited knowledge!!
|
No not at all. Its a matter of fact.
In PC land stuff only runs as fast as the slowest part of the system. In this case its the broadband or cable wire from your house to the internet. Super fast wireless wont speed that bit up.
|
Ok that makes sense.
She is with BT, has one of these BT Hub things that is set to run on the "n" system. So should that be fast all the way through then?
|
|
It'll only be as fast at the BT ADSL connection, which almost certainly won't exceed 6 Mbits, which is about 12% of an n speed wifi connection.
|
I'd forgotten how slow ADSL was :-)
Virgin 20 mb cable here, soon going up to 50mb
|
I'd forgotten how slow ADSL was :-) Virgin 20 mb cable here soon going up to 50mb
but how miuch of that 50 mb will you be able to use?
|
All of it, if 20mb is anything to go by, and I can find enough stuff to download :-)
Cable speed tests usually show around 18mb, but that's single threaded. (Just tried speedtest.et, that's showing 19443kb/s.)
If I download multiple files from multiple newsgroup servers at the same time (Virgin, Giganews and Giganews US) the graph in Grabit (which I have no reason to doubt ) usually shows in excess of 2100 KB/s, sometimes as high as 2400 - not sure how that translates but it's pretty fast. And I remember with ADSL that you didn't have a nice smooth graph - continual peaking and troughing. Don't seem to suffer a lot with contention here either, but Virgin do have a fair usage policy where if I download over 1.5Gb during their peak times my speed is cut to 5mb for 5 hours. So I just queue stuff outside those hours :-)
(Tbh, 20 mb is so good I am not sure I'll bother with the extra £15 pm to 50 mb)
|
but how miuch of that 50 mb will you be able to use?
ntl Virgin speeds seem to be quite good on cable - we rarely experience the peaks and troughs that I've seen on ADSL.
|
|
My 'up to 8 meg' ADSL out in the sticks runs at around 4- 6 meg, to be honest I have no need for anything faster than this; any slowdown is usually somewhere else in the pipe anyway, and I have no need to download huge files on a regular basis; at least since my daughters got bored with iPlayer.
|
|
|
I have had AVG (free version) for some time now and it appears to do the job quite satisfactorily. The default set up has a full scan taking place every day. Recently this has been taking between 3 and 4 hours to complete and it definitely slows things down whilst it is scanning. Is it necessary to have a scan every day or would it be safe for me to change the scheduler to have it done weekly?
Opinions will be gratefully received.
|
once a week is fine, start it at bedtime and set it to close computer down after it's finished that way it wont cause you any inconvenience. Keep the auto updates on tho'!
|
You are using the latest version?
www.avg.com/
Or you could try Avast! (freeware version):
www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
|
|
Thanks for the responses guys. Yes, I've got the latest version and, as it seems to be doing the job, I think that I'll stick with it.
|
|
|
|
The top of my homepage is cluttered with more toolbars than I want of need but I can't seem to be able to get rid of them; they mave downloaded as part of using a site. I want to get rid of Yahoo, Google and AVG toolbars - how do I set about this, please?
|
|
Which browser are you using. On IE6 for example, from the View menu, go to toolbars and untick the ones you do not want displaying. Or right click on one of the toolbars also shows the toolbars and again untick them.
|
rtj70 - thanks - that looks waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better! You seem to be the Srewloose of computing! I hope you will see that as a compliment BTW?
|
.. I want to get rid of Yahoo, Google and AVG toolbars - how do I set about this, please? .. >>
To "hide" them, follow rtj's advice.
To get "rid" of them, you need to unsinstall. Instructions for each one can be found via google, eg. : remove google toolbar; remove yahoo toolbar; remove AVG toolbar.
|
When installing the browser or certain new software, you have probably opted to have these additional toolbars installed rather than reject them.
|
|
|
|
|
If you want to remove them for good go to "Start" "Control Panel" "Add/remove Software" and you should find them hiding in there.
|
|
|
|
"Release candidate software is ready to be evaluated by users while it undergoes final testing. You may experience minor bugs or compatibility issues with websites while browsing."
www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/
No indication of when the Linux version will be ready though :-)
|
|
|
Anyone else had a message from Virgin about upgrading their modem driver?
I've got 1MB (stop laughing) using a 'Thompson Speedtouch 330 USB modem', and I've been told by Virgin my driver needs updating.
They've sent out the worse instructions I've ever seen.
I've eventually saved a zip file to my driver menu, and moved all the other driver files (I think) to my recycle bin.
After a re-boot everything seems to be working fine, despite not having unzipped the downloaded file.
Could I still be using the driver files from my recycle bin?
|
No, but you could be using a cached version of your old drivers.
|
|
|
You should/will need to unzip the file first before installing it (unless you "Browsed" for its location).
The latest Speedtouch 330 drivers can be found at Thomson's support pages:
tinyurl.com/62nrst
Perhaps it's some time since Virgin last updated the Speedtouch drivers advice - when "up to 8MB" broadband first became available, Thomson had to issue a patch for the 330 to cover the additional speed requirement (8MB is normally the limit for USB modems).
But 1MB seems a bit slow...:-(
Edited by Stuartli on 29/01/2009 at 16:00
|
But 1MB seems a bit slow...:-(
My talktalk bb rated at 1MB max [ = 8Mb ] but delivers around 5Mb average. ;-)
1 Byte = 8 bits
Edited by jbif on 29/01/2009 at 16:31
|
|
Don't you mean 5Mbit/s? I am on a 10Mbit/s connection so get just over 1Mbyte/s - there are protocol overheads.
|
Don't you mean 5Mbit/s?
Yes I do. However, as you are probably aware, the industry practice is to drop reference to "/s" :
www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=8Mb+broadband&btnG...=
Others use the term "Megs" as short form for Mbits/s
The confusion between B and b is rife, even including some IT literati who regularly post on this thread. ;-)
Edited by jbif on 29/01/2009 at 16:53
|
|
And then the standard bodies meddled and changed the definition of Megabyte etc. What was a Megabyte is now a Mebibyte. All to do with base 10 vs base 2. But originally it was all base 2 as (most but not all) computers are binary.
|
In conversation, I just say I've got a 20 meg connection and everyone knows what I mean.
Well, not everyone. But this is the Thames Valley... :-)
Edited by smokie on 29/01/2009 at 17:09
|
1000 k kilo-
10002 M mega-
10003 G giga-
10004 T tera-
10005 P peta-
10006 E exa-
10007 Z zetta-
10008 Y yotta-
The table above should be mandatory bedtime reading for all members of HJ forum who wish to contribute to this thread. The fifth digits in the first column of each row should be superscripted, and represents "power of".
Anyone with yottabytes on their petabits should immediately seek medical help. :-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
I average 6.5MB with TalkTalk and have had speeds up to 10.1MB, which I've put down to TT undertaking ADSL2+ trials (I have an ADSL2+ capable modem router) - TalkTalk is offering speed boosts on its website for an extra £4 a month, but I'm quite happy for the moment.
|
|
You mean 6.5Mbit/s. The per second part and Megabit are important. I'd love a 6.5Megabyte/s connection (MB = Megabyte).
|
I'm merely using the widely used method of describing a broadband service's speed - I quite agree that Mb is more accurate.
But I'm still quite happy with my broadband speed whether MB or Mb....:-))
|
PS
My first modem was a 14.4kbps model, followed by 28.8, 33.6 and then the lap of luxury, a 56K - what's more they were never cheap.
I also had a laptop (still have it in fact) with a 9.6kbps modem in the early 1990s for sending copy over the phone to the office; IIRC it was the same laptop that was also sold/rebadged as a Tandy 100.
|
Anyone tried using GSM recently for dial-up. That is 9.6kbps too ;-)
I think most will advertise Internet connection as Mb and not MB. Forget the Mega vs Mebi argument but there is almost an order of magnitude difference. Imagine buying a car that you thought did 60mpg and only did 6mpg :-)
|
But back to the original question (I am guilty too).
Can you let us know how you installed the new drivers? I'd have probably left it as is since it was working.
|
|
|
|
Stuart,
14.4k? Luxury. I used to dial in when on call and if I got 2400bps I'd swear quietly and redial hoping to get 4800bps :-) What happened to Busby?
JH
|
|
Those were the days. I used to use Compuserve on a 2400 dial up, both chargeable by the minute. I got into on-line chat and bills used to easily top £200 pm - don't know how I afforded it.
|
|
|
2400 - sheer luxury on dial up!
I remember using 150 bits/s for remote access! At least that was with a video screen!
If you go back to Teletype days 110bit/s was the norm.
I am ignoring Telex as I cannot remember using 50bit/s for computer access.
AE will post with stories of 134.5 bit/s Why was it they had to be different!
p
|
>>I am ignoring Telex as I cannot remember using 50bit/s for computer access.
Ah! The joy of adjusting Carpenter relays!
Not forgetting the thrill of -80v to +80v up your jacksie. 160v really hurts.
|
AE will post with stories of 134.5 bit/s Why was it they had to be different!
because that was the output speed of a selectric typewriter.
|
|
Or its little brother the CMCT communicating magnetic card typewriter which I used to use in Newcastle in 1977.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presumably you run an install for the driver files?
|
I've been away for a few hours, now I'm back let's see if I can get this right.
A couple of years ago, Virgin were offering 1Meg broadband with free evening and weekend calls to landlines for £10/month. 1Meg is fast enough for what I want to do.
They recently e-mailed me:
"If you?re using one of the modems above, you?ll need to download the latest driver before we can upgrade your service. That way, we can make sure you?re getting the best speed possible!
You can find all the latest drivers at our Drivers page. When you get there, just choose the one that matches your Windows or Apple Mac operating system."
Pointing me to their drivers page:
speedtouch.virgin.net/drivers.asp
You ought to try it! ST330 modem. Hint-I'm using XP on a 32 bit processor (that took some finding out).
I downloaded the zip file to C:\Program Files\Virgin.net Broadband\Driver This seemed to be where my modem driver(s?) were found. I put all the other drivers into my recycle bin. Double clicking the zip file opened C:\Program Files\Virgin.net Broadband\Driver\xDSLGA-Wired_Driver_UK_330_301_Win98-XP.exe.zip
If I double click this, I get taken to a maintenance wizard which tells me 'a new version of software package already exist'. So I think I must have already loaded it somehow. But how can I be sure it's the latest version?
The properties of the .exe file have a date of 25/06/2008 which is much more recent than the original upload when I first took out the broadband contract, so I'm crossing my fingers.
I'm being upgraded on Feb. 9th and it looks like I'll need the new driver for then. If I disappear after that, then you'll know why.
|
>>(that took some finding out).>>
Probably 95 per cent of XP users are in league with you...:-)
One way of finding out whether you have the latest Thomson 330 drivers is to go to Device Manager (right click My Computer Desktop icon>Properties>Hardware tab>Device Manager and highlight your modem)
Right click>Properties>Driver tab>click Update Driver button. Windows will ask if it can use WindowsUpdate to find the latest drive>agree and click OK.
Windows should then find the latest drivers for your modem and install them.
It used to be a bit hit and miss using this method as the WindowsUpdate facility isn't/wasn't always up to date, but recently I upgraded my Realtek LAN drivers this way after initially believing I had the latest drivers official release date and download facility.
To my surprise Windows came up with drivers that proved, in fact, to be the very latest version, despite the date for the ones I had intended to use.
|
>>(that took some finding out).>> >> Probably 95 per cent of XP users are in league with you...:-) >>
I think the trouble "bathtub tom anagram" is referring to is with the Speedtouch website, and nothing to do with XP. Their driver support page is for " Software support for: Windows 98, 98SE, 2000, ME and XP Mac OS 8.6, 9 and X Linux " but requires the punter to know which driver file applies to their PC and then to download it.
Another way B.Tom can check the date of his driver is go to
C: > Program Files > Virgin.net BroadbandDriver [or equivalent folder] and check it there.
Also to force update the driver, try
Right click>Properties>Driver tab>click Update Driver button. Windows will ask if it can use WindowsUpdate to find the latest drive> choose "no, not at this time" > point to folder specific location where the uzipped driver is located.
|
|
|
|
I've progressed on from a Speedtouch 330 but I've installed a few in my time. I always ordered the free (??) driver and install program CD through the post from the Thompson website, binning the old CD that came from the ISP with the modem. In my case this was to get a Vista driver. The new CD stresses there are two install options under 4Meg and over 4Meg drivers. It also stipulates you must uninstall the old driver thoroughly in Vista. It's pretty easy to uninstall the Speedtouch software in Add/Remove components in Control Panel and start again.
It looks like you have to download the install CD now here. tinyurl.com/2o4yzc
Various driver options are there as well.
|
Stop faffing around, dump the speedtouch and get a proper router.
|
Stop faffing around dump the speedtouch and get a proper router.>>
Excellent advice - my Sagem F@st 800 gave way nearly two years ago to an e-Buyer own brand (re-badged Safecom model) ADSL2+ modem router, that cost just £15. All that I needed with a lone desktop system.
|
|
|
|
I have a ST121 router and had problems with it causing XP Pro to show me the blue screen of death a few months ago. Thomson Tech Support were veyr helpful and gave me links and precise instructions for the latest XP and Vista drivers.
As it turns out, the .dll file that caused my problems isn't used in the Vista version so I tried that and it works a treat on XP Pro.
I used the "contact us" link on the Thomson web site. Or you could email me via the mods and I'll send you the links and the instructions they sent me.
|
|
|
|
I am removing viruses from a clients computer and its now 'virus free' according to all the spyware and anti virus programs. However I can clearly see unsual net activity, in netstat it shows losts of SMTP connections to russian servers so its clearly sending out spam. I have tried SFC, system restore (does not work), all the usual rootkit checkers and anti virus software and nothing seems to work.
Is there anything else I have not thought of I can try? Formating really really is a last resort and I don't want to have do it.
|
.. its now 'virus free' according to all the spyware and anti virus programs .. >>
"all"? In which case, all is all, and there is nothing more to do in that regard.
.. in netstat it shows losts of SMTP connections to russian servers so its clearly sending out spam .. >>
How/why is that outgoing unauthorised SMTP traffic getting past your firewall?
|
|
Because the rootkit had made the traffic authorised I am guessing. I am guessing the entire PC is now a SMTP server sending out spam the infected program sends out. I have been working on this all night and its getting late, I think I iwll have to tell my client its format time :(.
|
jbif is right. Unlike a home PC owner, you ought to have a proper firewall (even if it's via another PC with a real firewall). Connected to a router and all traffic is allowed to go out. Microsoft's firewall on XP/Vista protects incoming and little for outgoing.
Russian servers to me sounds like a trojan though. What checks have you done for Trojan's and other spyware?
Your business model is in question again. If it really is quicker (and better) to rebuild.... you're not doing this as fixed price are you Rattle?
Edited by rtj70 on 29/01/2009 at 23:36
|
" Formating really really is a last resort and I don't want to have do it."
After getting their data off and checking with them... a rebuild if needed should make you money. It is sounding like that might be the safest option.
I use some scanning tools (web based) for my PC. But they are free only for home use. As this is business related (your business) then you should not use them for free. I know I have found issues with some of these online browsers despite having upto date AV and a firewall on PC and router.
Edit: "Because the rootkit had made the traffic authorised I am guessing. I am guessing the entire PC is now a SMTP server sending out spam the infected program sends out"... was it a rootkit attack and therefore which one? If this is Vista or XP the firewall for outbound traffic is... poor. I'd format it if it was mine but.... you need to chat to the owner. Their surfing habits might make them vulnerable. That is the added service you offer that justifies the hourly costs. I hope you charge at least £30/hr.
Edited by rtj70 on 29/01/2009 at 23:43
|
|
|
This is the flawed business model in this industry atm full stop, the computer is worth £50, its 7 years old, I've said it will be no more than £60 but of course tomorrow opens up new options including a new PC. In the past I have always managed to fix this problem easily.
I've now done:-
An AVG scan, Spybot, Malware bytes, Sophos (though windows boot USB stick), a few Rootkit dectors (which found some and removed a couple but still did not fix it). The original was to repair that crappy Anti virus 2009 zlob trojen but while I was there I discovered the unusual network activity and he says the internet has been slow for about two years! I am amazed his ISP has not written to him though.
I have no space for a proper hardware firewall, as it would require an incoming, out coming connection which would then be connected to a switch that is a lot of hardware in the dining room where all the ehternet cables are wired up.
The PC is also very slow due its slow processor, lack of RAM and severe need of a defrag so this is hampering attempts to repair it too. Its an XP 1700, 512MB RAM so with a format this PC could be made to run fast egain. It will only take a couple of none contact hours so it is probably the best way of salvaging it.
The problem is its so easy to get carried away I forget how long I have spent on things.
|
Rattle
"I have no space for a proper hardware firewall, as it would require an incoming, out coming connection which would then be connected to a switch that is a lot of hardware in the dining room where all the ehternet cables are wired up."
If you have a PC that could share the Internet connection (and run a real firewall).... e.g. your normal PC.... bingo. You'd need to think it through.
As for this PC.... and future ones like it. You need to think how long the job should take before you give in and charge for it. You cannot promise to fix something for a fixed price and spend hours on it. And as it's such an old PC, you could have turned this into an opportunity before trying.
Don't assume slow Internet was down to this or another problem...
|
|
I know but I thought I have developed such a quick system on removing virus and 90% time it works and everybody is happy it is just more and more increasingly its getting difficult. I think as root kits are becoming more common my job of repairing computers will become harder, so maybe my job will slowly turn into selling computers.
|
I know when I do a periodic scan of my PCs or laptop... it takes forever. But I'd also do a rebuild if I was unsure of my home PC. Some of the issues you will see for Windows (and in future MacOSx) machines is down to not patching. And not having decent AV protection.
As for "so maybe my job will slowly turn into selling computers"... no Dell is losing money doing that. Money is in services. I am realising when our mortgage is gone (soon I hope) I could make money at computer services too... The important emphasis should be on "services".
|
I meant in the services of setting up the computer, transfering data etc, I never sell comptuers for margin alone, as you say there is no money in it.
I've been doing this business for 3 years now and the biggest problem is being able to charge a decent amount. It is why I am not planning of doing it for much longer, or at the very least work full time and just do jobs for my few regular and trusted clients.
I just enjoy the life style, I always have been a night person and this job allows me to continue to do that. A 9-5 job wouldn't.
|
|
I can think of proactive things to market as services. I would not give those thoughts away though. I might need them ;-) Sounds like there is a gap... I work full time but you never know :-(
|
Hi Rattle, some of the probs you are reporting sound familiar to some i had back in november, this i found was due to the conficker virus.
read about it here, it may be what your dealing with!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
hth
billy
|
Rattle
I spent around 10 years doing just what you are doing, but it was a full time job for me. You need to be very good or/and very careful when dealing with business machines as opposed to the home PC. If you mess up a business PC/system the company can sue you for the cost of putting things right. With the best will in the world sooner or later you will make a major boo boo. I did once but thankfully I had taken out insurance to cover me from such an eventuality. Could you stand a £5k hit for data restoration; thank goodness for insurance.
Getting the price right is another problem. I had an hourly rate with a minimum charge of one hour. If clients objected to paying for an hour when the job only took 30 minutes I used to tell them that they were not paying for the 30 minutes but for the 10 years experience.
I did feel slightly guilty, but only slightly, when I was sat at a clients for quite some time while Windows was updating itself.
|
|
The mention of Russia and emails makes me think this is conficker too. Have you managed to sort it yet?
|
|
I've tried the MS MRT but it didn't find anything. Now trying the symantic tool in safe mode to see if that flags anything. AVG has flagged a file ATIxxx.sys in the drivers folder and when I looked at the date it was created it was on the 28th when this system was infected. I have managed to remove that. In safe mode netstat is all cleare and yesterday in safe mode it wasn't so that is some good news.
|
|
For home users, HomeCall by Trend Micro is a pretty good web-based scanner. But I do believe it is only free for not business use - so you'd break the terms and conditions using it on this PC.
|
The proplem has come back anyway, I am doing a few more scans and if when I come back from my next job it still comes back clean I shall give up and format it. The virus does behave like conficker as it has all the same symtpons in the way it makes the network side of things hehave.
Its odd that nothing seems to be curing it, I have updated all the major patches too.
|
If it's conficker then it creates some random DLL on the system and uses that to initiate itself. But it infects services.exe so will be difficult to get rid of easily. I would have thought a good virus scan and spy bot type checker would fix it though.
I think it also does things like disabling your virus checker. Which is why using an online scan might be a good idea.
|
|
Before you rebuild it I'd obviously check that all data is backed up safely. The easy to forget ones can be archived emails which by default might not be in My Documents. But also make sure you know their product key for their copy of XP - this is going to contact Microsoft to check licenses.
|
This is the bizzare thing it really does seem to be designed to hide itself as everything works perfectly, all the security programs work as it should but netstat clearly shows the infection is still there. The computer is also extremely slow. I am using F secures command line ultility as a last resort then its time format.
This is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to shift.
|
You could try Dr. Web Cure-it. (Free).
Here:-
www.freedrweb.com/
They are Russian, so perhaps the best bet to heal Russian malware!
|
|
|
|
I run Windows XP/Service Packs 2 & 3. My Windows Task Manager ( Ctrl/Alt/Del) is showing a completely different display to its usual one. It displays a box with the following 4 column headings: Image Name, User Name, CPU, Mem Usage. Each column is full of information that means nothing to my untrained mind and the CPU column is full of 00.
Is it possible/desirable for me to revert to the more usual display in the Task Manager?
Advice would be welcome.
|
|
Sounds like you have simply selected the processes tab in the task manager window. There are five tabs, namely Applications, Processes, Performance, Networking and Users. Just click on Performance if that's the one you used to see.
|
rtj
I'm familiar with the 5 tabs to which you refer but, unfortunately, there are no tabs visible in the box that displays when I hit Ctrl/Alt/Delete (ie there is no task manager window)
|
... there are no tabs visible in the box that displays when I hit Ctrl/Alt/Delete (ie there is no task manager window) ... >>
I am not an IT expert, but here is Microsoft's suggestion:
support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193050
"Task Manager Menu Bar and Tabs Are Not Visible
This behavior can occur if Task Manager is running in Tiny Footprint mode.
When you double-click the empty space in the border around the tabs, Task Manager switches to this mode.
To switch Task Manager to its normal display mode, double-click the top border of the window.
To work around this behavior, perform the following steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type taskmgr.exe.
Hold down CTRL+ALT+SHIFT at the same time, and while holding them down press ENTER.
When Task Manager is running in Tiny Footprint mode, you can resize the window. "
|
jbif
Many thanks. Your remedy has worked a treat. The Task Manager is now once again doing his job.
Maybe you are more of an IT expert than you think!
|
|
|
|
Anyone know when the quad core is coming out ?
|
|
|
Can anyone recommend a spell / typo checker for use with Outlook Express, please?
Clk Sec
|
|
Bin it download Thundirbird - spell-check is standard.
|
Bin it download Thundirbird - spell-check is standard.
Steps: 1. bin OE, 2. Download Thunderbird, 3. Install, 4. Transfer stuff from OE, 5. Learn to use Thunderthingy.
Alternatively:
continue to Use OE; step 1: turn on built-in spell checker. Done.
Edited by jbif on 03/02/2009 at 11:23
|
|
|
"Thundirbird " - No spell check for that?
|
>>"Thundirbird " - No spell check for that?>>
Thunderbird does have a spell checker available. See:
www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/dictionaries.html
Edited by Stuartli on 03/02/2009 at 11:31
|
Thunderbird does have a spell checker available. See:
Yes but I was asking the question about "Thundirbird" [read it s l o w l y , one letter at a time].
|
|
Should have used Thunword shouldn't I ?
|
|
|
|
|
Can anyone recommend a spell / typo checker for use with Outlook Express, please? Clk Sec >>
What is wrong with the built-in one? You can add any of your own unusual spellings/words to it as well.
|
Quite right jbff. (Tools>Options>Spelling tab).
But you have to have Word, Excel or PowerPoint installed.
|
|
|
