I surrender

[pbray]

Okay, I give up. Sure I have a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Information Technology, and currently earn a nice living as a senior DBA, but desktop computers and the quirks of Windows XP are apparently beyond me. Since the original problem Sunday night, where Norton declared it had found a virus, removed it and now needed an emergency computer reboot, then promptly failed to appear after reboot, I've spent innumerable hours trying to fix the problem.


I've uninstalled and reinstalled Norton Internet Security (virus + firewall) on my own a half-dozen times. I've used the emergency virus detection CD to boot and scan disk which found no problems. I've used a safe PC to download conficker removal tools onto a CD and then booted my PC in safe mode and run the tools only to discover that apparently it's not infected. Then yesterday, under the guidance of Norton Support staff, I uninstalled Norton IS, rebooted, downloaded their special Norton removal tool which theoretically cleans all traces of their software from your system, ran the removal tool, rebooted, and then reinstalled Norton IS. When installing from my original CD it will install fine, but after downloading the latest updates it requires a reboot, and, yes, you guessed it, after reboot software is nonfunctional.

Second tech had me download the product from the website to install instead of using a CD so I could get the most up to date version. Again uninstall, reboot, run removal tool, reboot, install downloaded software which completed the install process and then failed to launch.

Yup. Hosed. The sessions with Norton support techs lasted from 7PM till after 10PM last night, at which point I declared I was done for the night, since I'd been working on this off and on for about 8 hours. But my mind was still racing and I couldn't calm down, so I stayed up reading until 2AM and am paying the price for that this morning.

Sigh. I've invested a lot of time in getting Norton to work, mainly because up until now it had been reliable, and I'd just paid for and installed the 2009 version in January, so it seemed foolish to waste that money by purchasing replacement antivirus and firewall software. But obviously I've reached that point, and I've also reached the point where I'm (nearly) willing to turn over the PC to a professional and let them deal with it.

Comments

[fandoria.livejournal.com]

There's a nasty virus out there that even the DOD can't get a handle on. They're not exactly sure what the virus is supposed to do. All they know about it is that it disables antivirus programs, constantly updates itself so it's always at least one step ahead, it inserts itself onto memory cards and burned discs so even if you back everything up and do a complete reformat/reinstall, the second you put the disc or memory card in your computer, the virus is back. Also, it comes from the Ukraine since it checks to see if you have a Ukrainian keyboard. If you do, it leaves your computer alone. It seems to also only affect PC's, not Mac's.

You might want to make sure you don't have that virus. It's called by these names: Downadup, Conficker or Kido.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I suspected that might be it, so I downloaded and ran conficker and downadup detection tools onto a CD from a safe computer then ran that CD on my PC. The programs declared that I hadn't been infected. But I'm wondering if I simply have a version that the infection tools can't find.

[fandoria.livejournal.com]

Since it constantly updates itself, that's a possibility. But I hope that's not the case. Good luck with it.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll need it :-)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll just be over here, revving up my chain saw....

[shana.livejournal.com]

Conficker eyechart:

http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org/infection_test/cfeyechart.html

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You rock! I will try this when I get home.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And the answer was, it's not conficker. I was able to install AVG virus software which indicates the issue is Norton and the Norton uninstall/cleanup routines being hosed so it can't be properly reinstalled. Sadly, however, I've picked up a couple of viruses either on Sunday when this started or during the time that my PC was unprotected, so now those have to be dealt with.

[shana.livejournal.com]

I was afraid that might be the problem. But I thought the eyechart was a really nifty and simple test, and couldn't hurt.

I've heard bad things about Norton the last couple of years, so when we got the new computer for my father last year we opted for McAfee instead.

Anti-Virus Stuff

[vespican.livejournal.com]

A couple of months ago, our computer had picked up so many viruses that we could not do anything with it. Ended up calling a computer tech who had to take it to his shop and "rebuild" it. Cost a bundle, but it was worth it to have it operating again. He said the problem is simply that any anti-virus program can only respond to one's it's aware of. If updates arrive and are downloaded and installed in time, then things tend to do okay. But before the anti-virus "people" can develop an update, they have to be told about the new virus(es). Until they know about them and develop an "anti-dote," the virus pretty much has free rein with one's computer.

He also suggested, and I will follow up on it, that one should have a tech come in every so often and do a "clean out" before stuff gets to bad. He said every six months, but I'm thinking I'll stretch it out to a year. It should be able to be done right at the computer site. Plus that, it's a lot cheaper than having to have it "rebuilt."

The last thing I got (knowledge wise) from him, was that free virus protection offered with another service, such as and internet/e-mail service is usually just the basic. In such cases, one probably isn't as well protected as one would be with paying for full service protection.

Dave

Re: Anti-Virus Stuff

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And that's where I am. A couple of critical Windows XP files were corrupted, I couldn't fix them myself and I'd lost my auto restore points, so threw in the towel and handed it over to pros who promised to clean it up.