[WINDOWS PROBLEM] No programs are opening

[MatchBoxx]

1. Boot from a liveCD and take the backup. (viruses will get transferred to the portable HDD, if the files are already infected) the viruses would be inactive thereon.
2. Do a full clean install of Windows7, after deleting and recreating the partitions.
3. Download and install Microsoft Security Essentials and update it. (takes some time) MSE is an extremely robust antivirus which can be easily trusted.
4. Connect your portable HDD, and MSE will do it's job and delete/quarantine the virus.
5. Enjoy!

 

[dashing.sujay]

I just ran and completed the scan through the Kaspersky Rescue disk (boot disk) [yeah, finally made a bootable disk using "ultraiso"] and it says no viruses were detected.
The database shows to be the latest as 25/9/2011.
The scan took a little over 2-3 hours.

I read the walkthrough here Using Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 – A Quick Walkthrough | Bill Mullins' Weblog – Tech Thoughts

I want to know if I can use this rescue disk's in-built file manager to back up my files without the risk of virus spread.


However the next step is to backup all my important files. I don't know exactly what this means "2. Why can't you use LINUX to take a full backup of your important files ?". I understand that I have to use a similar Linux bootable disk to backup all my files. However will it prevent infection spread into the backup drive like CDs or HDDs?
I am moving on to this step now.

I did not do a fresh install as there is a lot of data that I need to backup. I am trying to avoid a fresh install since the process of installing all drivers is tedious. But I will do it as need arises and it seems like it has. I will study about how to use the Linux live DVD and figure it out.
Can someone suggest me a place (link) where I can find the Linux SW. I know there are a lot of options and google will pamper me with choices but I would like to use one that my friends here have experience with.

Thanks a lot to everyone for helping me out.

Can't say anything about file manager, haven't used it yet. Plus it doesn't matters whether you back up your files through linux or rescue cd, if the files are infected, infections will be transferred!!

^ I just did a 3 hour scan from kaspersky. Is McAfee better than that?


@Sam: I can't find the scan log anywhere. however there is a list with 2 viruses listed with a date of few months ago. Nothing anywhere near today.
Also the number of infected files this week shows "zero"
Also a scan from kaspersky found no viruses.

McAfee is a no match to Kaspersky. You'll find log in the menu of AV.

 

[coderunknown]

^ I just did a 3 hour scan from kaspersky. Is McAfee better than that?

can't say but it is just a 6Mb file so you may try it only on program files or windows directory to confirm if PC is infected with virus.

@Sam: I can't find the scan log anywhere. however there is a list with 2 viruses listed with a date of few months ago. Nothing anywhere near today.
Also the number of infected files this week shows "zero"
Also a scan from kaspersky found no viruses.

i am getting closer to being sure this is just another windows problem. BTW do you have admin privilege? also do try this: Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations.

 

[Sarath]

As of now most of the files are working. I just re-installed a gaming client. Haven't faced a problem with the others. Also all of the icons in the right tab (near clock) have returned.
I am unsure of whether it is a virus or not. I will proceed to do the backup of imp files onto a DVD and the rest junk files onto the HDD.

Avast has started working again.

Yes, I have admin privileges.

I am not sure if everything is fine but it atleast looks normal now. Also if Linux doesn't offer added protection then I can just transfer/ backup the files using Windows itself right? Why boot into Ubuntu and do the same if the level of risk is the same?

 

[Liverpool_fan]

I am not sure if everything is fine but it atleast looks normal now. Also if Linux doesn't offer added protection then I can just transfer/ backup the files using Windows itself right? Why boot into Ubuntu and do the same if the level of risk is the same?

What risk? Why will the "hard disk" be infected? Just copy your files and delete suspected files with Shift + Delete. That will do. Windows viruses aren't executable in Linux.

 

[dashing.sujay]

What risk? Why will the "hard disk" be infected?

This-

it doesn't matters whether you back up your files through linux or rescue cd, if the files are infected, infections will be transferred!! I'm just considering there are some files left infected which for some reason could not be detected now. And since, viruses will not work in linux, but during data backup, there's a most probabale chances of transfer of an infected file, just in case.

@Sarath- run this- "sfc /scannow" .

PS- Its advisable to go for a fresh system install to escape from future OS' errors, if any.

 

[Sarath]

After sfc /scannow>

Window blah blah found a few corrupt files and repaired them.

Need to reboot now/

 

[dashing.sujay]

^^ Super, go ahead and post the result!!

 

[Tech&ME]

^ I just did a 3 hour scan from kaspersky. Is McAfee better than that?

Instead of wasting 3 hours here and there, you could have installed a fresh copy of windows + backed up all your files within just 2 hours.........

I am DLing the Ubuntu file and would boot from it to transfer files. Can some please answer about the file transfer, is it safe and infection free in Ubuntu? The HDD wont be infected right?

Linux will never execute windows files, and Ubuntu will never infect your already infected HDD.

You can safely use Ubuntu to take backup.

 

[mithun_mrg]

Instead of wasting 3 hours here and there, you could have installed a fresh copy of windows + backed up all your files within just 2 hours.........



.

completely agree with that point i suggested him that yesterday
my policy is that is any pc is severely infected then install kaspersky trial perform a full scan backup the data on a external drive then clean re-install the os install drivers & the av & update then scan the backups taken then restore them this way i fell is the safest/cleanest also hassle free

 

[Sarath]

^The reason I didn't do it right away is that my port HDD Is not with me. So I am trying out all means before that step. Infact I even completed making the Linux bootable CD to that end.

~The PC however seems to be working fine for now. Multiple virus scans show no results. Can't rule out an infection but everything atleast looks normal from the outset.

What I still didn't understand was that, all of this happened after I ran a Avast full scan and then a "boot scan" -?) The problem started after this where none of the files would open.

I booted in safe mode and did a system restore my PC was almost working fine after that save a few niggles here and there.
Then I ran two scans of AV. Both yielded no results.
Now I ran the command sfc /scannow and it said there were a few corrupt files and its been fixed. Now I am not sure if it is a Windows problem or a virus scan. Either ways if the problem recurs then I will re-install the OS.

it may turn out to be just another windows problem than virus infection.

I did waste a lot of time but installing an OS is more painful as I have to install the individual drivers myself. I just ran the virus scan and went out. When I came back it was at 98%. Plus I was having another PC at hand for my work so that was not an issue.

Right now I am doing the following:
> Backup all my files
> Re-install if required
> Change AV to Kaspersky (a license of which my friend offered but I denied

Last of all, thanks to all you guys for contributing so much and helping me out.

 

[dashing.sujay]

Linux will never execute windows files, and Ubuntu will never infect your already infected HDD.

You can safely use Ubuntu to take backup.

Dude, i know linux wont execute infected files, but that means infections wont spread, not the transfer of those infected files would stop if done self by the user.

~The PC however seems to be working fine for now. Multiple virus scans show no results. Can't rule out an infection but everything atleast looks normal from the outset.

What I still didn't understand was that, all of this happened after I ran a Avast full scan and then a "boot scan" -?) The problem started after this where none of the files would open.

boot scan of avast ?

Either ways if the problem recurs then I will re-install the OS.

Right now I am doing the following:
> Backup all my files
> Re-install if required
> Change AV to Kaspersky (a license of which my friend offered but I denied

Last of all, thanks to all you guys for contributing so much and helping me out.

At least you switched to an awesome robust AV becoz of all this And although you had a tough time solving all this, this gave you a good experience of troubleshooting!

 

[MatchBoxx]

I would still recommend a clean OS install + Microsoft Security Essentials (its FREE and at par with other paid alternatives)

 

[dashing.sujay]

^^Clean OS install is always an last option, but he had some problems due to which he couldn't do it. Plus i know MS security essentials is a "fine" one, but hey no match to Kaspersky.

 

[mithun_mrg]

then i have a advice for u sarath if reinstalling the pc is pain then the next time u do it make a image of it with norton ghost or powerquest drive image next time just restore the image

 

[Tech&ME]

I would still recommend a clean OS install + Microsoft Security Essentials (its FREE and at par with other paid alternatives)

Ya, even I am of the same opinion.

^^Clean OS install is always an last option, but he had some problems due to which he couldn't do it. Plus i know MS security essentials is a "fine" one, but hey no match to Kaspersky.

Dude, lets get over with this thread NOW.

 

[dashing.sujay]

^^ fine

 

[MatchBoxx]

Plus i know MS security essentials is a "fine" one, but hey no match to Kaspersky.

Kaspersky is ******, meant for only n00b users. I even remember a few instances, when it couldn't "Fix" a few infections and rebooted continuously forcing my friend to uninstall it and use MSE to clean the PC! I personally find MSE much better than many other Paid AVs. I agree that it doesn't have those fancy filters and extra features, but a lot of freewares are available to solve those issues. The only paid alternative i trust is Norton nd ESET!

 

[dashing.sujay]

Kaspersky for n00bs ? Its awesome man. I do agree with your ESET support.

 

[coderunknown]

there is a dedicated thread for a/v discussion or make kaspersky vs MSE in the fight club. lets not turn this thread into a/v battleground.

no antivirus is best. kaspersky have really high detection rate but paid. MSE/avast detects slightly less virus but free, ok for home use.