Audio advice and discussions with audiophiles and professionals. Free discussion forums, open to all and frequented by industry experts. Ask questions and get advice on stereos, speakers, hi-end amplifiers, pre-amps, home theater, tube hi-fi, turntables, vinyl, tweaks, music, films, video, DVDs and more.
Gonna definitely wipe the HD and start over. Thanks to all for your suggestions. Question: how can I know if the documents I save, fotos, pdf's, favorite lits, etc., are clean or infected with whatever is causing the trouble?
Re: One last computer question, I promise
The adware/spyware/virus detection programs can be used to investigate your data files. Copy them onto CD before formattting your hard drive, then check install the OS and virus detection program. Run the scan on the CD before copying it onto your hard drive. That will tell you if you have problems before you get everything loaded.
Re: Sounds like a plan; I found the problem, I think
My son-in-law suggested I try XoftSpy. Free download. Sorta! It found something called worm.p2p.tanked And that my search bar had been "hijacked" So it has the usual checkboxes and "remove" clickbox........ Which asks that you register........OK............ Pay $40 to register! No pay, No play $40 is fair but doesn't that sound like blackmail or piracy or baratry (love that word) or something?
before you give up. make a copy of all your files you want to keep. then take a look in the windows folders, temp folders, and programs files. there is are exe files in there that you have to manually delete. if, you delete the wrong files, you just entered reformat land! I cant even begin to explain which ones are keepers and which ones are problems. if your looking at fdisk then why not take a learn. try this place. follow the instructions. if might help you out. all the stuff is free. http://securitytango.com/ anyone tried linux lately? http://securitytango.com/
You might try the free McAfee program at the post below: http://www.audioroundtable.com/Tower/messages/24.html Maybe that will get it. If not, here are a few websites about your virus. One of them certainly must have a freeware removal program or manual removal instructions. http://www.google.com/search?q=worm.p2p.tanked
The Security Tango link looked to be a good one. I'm always trying Linux. I'm in the not-trying mode at the moment until I read further on using the Samba networking system in a Dummies(c) book. Sooner or later there will be a version that anyone can use. My latest project is seeing whether Edubuntu is the right choice for a family that has one current generation HP PC running XP with an SBC dsl line and an old beater handme down to be used by a youngster who is 8. Latest tip on easy installs for general use is Mandriva. I personally don't know what's so good about it, but I've got some iso files to eventually install that as well. The Ubuntu releases have names like hoary hedgehog, and dapper drake (for the Linux mascot.) I'm waiting for the release called Happy Camper. Ha ha.