[ShootingDuo22]

So I have a problem with my computer and I thought maybe one of you on here could help. I'll try to the best of my ability to give you an overview of my situation.

A couple weeks ago a trojan virus got put on to my computer. I have a Kaspersky antivirus that quickly noticed the problem and got rid of it. The only problem was that it did do some damage before it got deleted. It erased all shortcuts to my programs and when I click on the start menu the folders to my files are there but everything is nonexistent when I click on each individual folder. It was not a problem at first because I was able to go around this and still open up some of my files. It just took longer. Lol. My problem now is that I noticed that some necessary files got deleted such as programs that aid in opening up other programs. Also, for some reason when I click on Internet Explorer it will only pop up as a download. Again, I found a back way to open it but it has become a hassel. The computer will also randomly turn off as well.

Basically, I have decided that I want to completely wipe the computer so that I can safety know that the problem is solved. I have backed up all my files on a external hard drive so that is not an issue. Does anyone know how to go about this though? I want the safest and most accurate way to wipe my computer.

Please help!

[Burninghandz]

I've done this numerous times, due to thinking my Computer was messing up when it wasn't. Anyways to the point, I always back up my files into an external harddrive it's the smart thing to do. When your computer is starting up press F11 or F12 I forget. Keep pressing it till it takes you to some screen that'll show you your hard drive space or rather how much gb you're taking up. I think it gives you the option to completely reformat it so it's like starting from scratch. Havn't done it in a while but i still think that's how you do it.
My 0.2 though.

[ShootingDuo22]

Burninghandz, on 07 March 2012 - 10:36 AM, said:

I've done this numerous times, due to thinking my Computer was messing up when it wasn't. Anyways to the point, I always back up my files into an external harddrive it's the smart thing to do. When your computer is starting up press F11 or F12 I forget. Keep pressing it till it takes you to some screen that'll show you your hard drive space or rather how much gb you're taking up. I think it gives you the option to completely reformat it so it's like starting from scratch. Havn't done it in a while but i still think that's how you do it.
My 0.2 though.

Is that only when it's acting up or with that screen pop up regardless? Also, do I have to press control with it as well or solely F11/F12?

[Burninghandz]

ShootingDuo22, on 07 March 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

Is that only when it's acting up or with that screen pop up regardless? Also, do I have to press control with it as well or solely F11/F12?

ShootingDuo22, on 07 March 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

Is that only when it's acting up or with that screen pop up regardless? Also, do I have to press control with it as well or solely F11/F12?

Just keep pressing f11 or f12 (I forget which one it is really) as soon as your computer even comes on. It'll eventually take you to the screen where it shows your hard drives space or the space you've taken up. Then it'll give you options about that hard drive(s). That's how I remember my cousin doing this for me a couple of times, eventually I learned but it's been so long since I've last done it.

[ShootingDuo22]

Burninghandz, on 07 March 2012 - 10:44 AM, said:

Just keep pressing f11 or f12 (I forget which one it is really) as soon as your computer even comes on. It'll eventually take you to the screen where it shows your hard drives space or the space you've taken up. Then it'll give you options about that hard drive(s). That's how I remember my cousin doing this for me a couple of times, eventually I learned but it's been so long since I've last done it.

Okay, I'll try that out. Thank you!

[Burninghandz]

No problem. If you're problem hasn't been fixed I'll be back later and I'm sure my cousin will be awake so I can just ask him to help you.
Hopefully it works! Good luck .... if it's not those 2..then it's f9... Damn my memory!

Edited by Burninghandz, 07 March 2012 - 10:56 AM.

[ShootingDuo22]

Thanks again my friend for helping out a fello D3 fan

[proski35]

Burninghandz, on 07 March 2012 - 10:44 AM, said:

Just keep pressing f11 or f12 (I forget which one it is really) as soon as your computer even comes on. It'll eventually take you to the screen where it shows your hard drives space or the space you've taken up. Then it'll give you options about that hard drive(s). That's how I remember my cousin doing this for me a couple of times, eventually I learned but it's been so long since I've last done it.

Yea these F keys are difficult to remember but I don't recall anything that you described.

The only way I know to wipe your harddrive clean is to have a Windows CD ready, boot from CD using F8 or F12 (one will give you the option to boot from CD, the other will take you to the bios screen), click reformat, and then reinstall Windows. I'm guessing you are refering to a system back up that is partitioned seperately on the harddrive? I know you can do it that way too but that's assuming ShootingDuo has the system back up made.

Your other choice is to do a system restore. Usually when your computer does larger system updates, it makes a back up of your computer. Usually not the best way to fix it, but it has helped me out a few times in the past. However, say the back up was made 2/5/12, then everything from that date to today that you might of installed and added, will be gone.

In the future, I recommend also installing Malwarebytes. In many cases I noticed people said their Antivirus cleared the trojan/virus/etc but there is always more on the computer. Malwarebytes been so far the best program for me to clear the malware that doesn't get detected by most Antiviruses.

Edited by proski35, 07 March 2012 - 11:41 AM.

[ShootingDuo22]

proski35, on 07 March 2012 - 11:39 AM, said:

Yea these F keys are difficult to remember but I don't recall anything that you described.

The only way I know to wipe your harddrive clean is to have a Windows CD ready, boot from CD using F8 or F12 (one will give you the option to boot from CD, the other will take you to the bios screen), click reformat, and then reinstall Windows. I'm guessing you are refering to a system back up that is partitioned seperately on the harddrive? I know you can do it that way too but that's assuming ShootingDuo has the system back up made.

Your other choice is to do a system restore. Usually when your computer does larger system updates, it makes a back up of your computer. Usually not the best way to fix it, but it has helped me out a few times in the past. However, say the back up was made 2/5/12, then everything from that date to today that you might of installed and added, will be gone.

In the future, I recommend also installing Malwarebytes. In many cases I noticed people said their Antivirus cleared the trojan/virus/etc but there is always more on the computer. Malwarebytes been so far the best program for me to clear the malware that doesn't get detected by most Antiviruses.

I just tried it and it is F12. I will definitely look in to that Malwarebytes. I've heard of it but have never used it myself. Thank you and thank you to Burninghandz as well. You both have been a great help!

proski35, on 07 March 2012 - 11:40 AM, said:

Double post... How do you delete this?

You can't. An administrator or community leader has to delete it for you.

Edited by ShootingDuo22, 07 March 2012 - 11:46 AM.

[qqfuzz]

ShootingDuo22, on 07 March 2012 - 10:24 AM, said:

So I have a problem with my computer and I thought maybe one of you on here could help. I'll try to the best of my ability to give you an overview of my situation.

A couple weeks ago a trojan virus got put on to my computer. I have a Kaspersky antivirus that quickly noticed the problem and got rid of it. The only problem was that it did do some damage before it got deleted. It erased all shortcuts to my programs and when I click on the start menu the folders to my files are there but everything is nonexistent when I click on each individual folder. It was not a problem at first because I was able to go around this and still open up some of my files. It just took longer. Lol. My problem now is that I noticed that some necessary files got deleted such as programs that aid in opening up other programs. Also, for some reason when I click on Internet Explorer it will only pop up as a download. Again, I found a back way to open it but it has become a hassel. The computer will also randomly turn off as well.

Basically, I have decided that I want to completely wipe the computer so that I can safety know that the problem is solved. I have backed up all my files on a external hard drive so that is not an issue. Does anyone know how to go about this though? I want the safest and most accurate way to wipe my computer.

Please help!

Just a suggestion, but I'd make sure to scan the external hard drive before you put it back onto your newly formatted hard drive. It's always possible a part of it was hiding in some of your files that you transferred over or that it might have corrupted more then you thought.

[ShootingDuo22]

qqfuzz, on 07 March 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

Just a suggestion, but I'd make sure to scan the external hard drive before you put it back onto your newly formatted hard drive. It's always possible a part of it was hiding in some of your files that you transferred over or that it might have corrupted more then you thought.

I did that actually with Kaspersky. It didn't seem to detect anything so I'm hoping I'm good on that. I really didn't add that much on the hard drive anyways. Just pictures and music so I'm hoping that I'll be fine. Thank you for the advice.

[Abaddon343]

its a pretty simple process...just format your pc...
or you could restore your pc to an earlier time..before the virus had come...

qqfuzz, on 07 March 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

Just a suggestion, but I'd make sure to scan the external hard drive before you put it back onto your newly formatted hard drive. It's always possible a part of it was hiding in some of your files that you transferred over or that it might have corrupted more then you thought.

that is the most important thing..
otherwise you will have to redo all the process

[ShootingDuo22]

Thanks everyone. I think im just going to Wipe it clean. Clean new slate.

[Diablo3comeout]

Just wipe your computer and that will allow you to start like new as if you just bought the computer.

[rwhite2366]

ShootingDuo22, on 07 March 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

Thanks everyone. I think im just going to Wipe it clean. Clean new slate.

I'm not sure what Dbag went through and downvoted all your posts, but I went ahead and upvoted them.  It's a legitimate question you had, and I'd like to think of this community as one that will help out its members when they are confused or have a question.  Whoever did it can leave this community, because we don't want your kind here.

Edited by rwhite2366, 07 March 2012 - 04:17 PM.

[Burninghandz]

Hey I tried . Hopefully you already did it and your computer is brand new and fresh!!

[mitchellway]

rwhite2366, on 07 March 2012 - 01:58 PM, said:

I'm not sure what Dbag went through and downvoted all your posts, but I went ahead and upvoted them.  It's a legitimate question you had, and I'd like to think of this community as one that will help out it's members when they are confused or have a question.  Whoever did it can leave this community, because we don't want your kind here.

i agree, i dont want this forum to end up like d2jsp, *full of self centered, unhelping sarcastic people"
+1 ur post!

[rwhite2366]

mitchellway, on 07 March 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

i agree, i dont want this forum to end up like d2jsp, *full of self centered, unhelping sarcastic people"
+1 ur post!

And an upvote for you good sir!

[ShootingDuo22]

rwhite2366, on 07 March 2012 - 01:58 PM, said:

I'm not sure what Dbag went through and downvoted all your posts, but I went ahead and upvoted them.  It's a legitimate question you had, and I'd like to think of this community as one that will help out its members when they are confused or have a question.  Whoever did it can leave this community, because we don't want your kind here.

Thank you very much. That's very nice of you to do that for me. I posted this a few days before I went out of town and I was at a 12 in the reputation count and when I came back I was at a 7. I was wondering what happened while I was gone. Lol. I thought this to be a legitimate question. I even posted it in the Off Topic section of the forums. It's not like I'm crowding up Diablo sections with a computer question. I like the fact that this forum has members that help each other out. Thank you!

By the way, I gave you a +1 as well.

Edited by ShootingDuo22, 13 March 2012 - 06:11 PM.

[rwhite2366]

ShootingDuo22, on 13 March 2012 - 06:11 PM, said:

Thank you very much. That's very nice of you to do that for me. I posted this a few days before I went out of town and I was at a 12 in the reputation count and when I came back I was at a 7. I was wondering what happened while I was gone. Lol. I thought this to be a legitimate question. I even posted it in the Off Topic section of the forums. It's not like I'm crowding up Diablo sections with a computer question. I like the fact that this forum has members that help each other out. Thank you!

By the way, I gave you a +1 as well.

Exactly.  You were asking a legitimate question.  There are plenty of people spamming the site with posts to just get their post counts up, but when the smoke clears who will be left?  Genuine forum participators like yourself!  I don't want our community tarnished