Adware...Yet Again I Am NOT A Fan (Help Again, Please)

[Banzai]

My laptop got infected by Adware like no other this weekend, so I downloaded AdAware onto the laptop. Now, after a reboot, our wireless internet connection (LAN) won't work. I can access the other PC and the printer, but not the interent.

I am pulling my hair out on this. It says to download stuff to fix it, but I can't download anything without aa connection. I tired to reload the drivers, yet that didn't work.

My status in the Notifcation Area says "ORiNOCO - Radion Connection: Excellent + Warning". The waring is that "Modem Status cannot be displayed". I tried googling for that, but I had no results.

Any help would be nice.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Can you reinstall the wireless on the laptop, Brad? Have you tried calling the ISP??

 

[Banzai]

I've not called them yet. However, I did reinstall it, and it gave me the same problem.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Did you uninstall first?

 

[Banzai]

Yes...and I tired agian, with the same effect.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, I'm out of ideas, Brad. I doubt it was Ad-aware that did it, more likely the spyware. Maybe a techie DIS'er will see this here and be able to help you better. You'll get it.

 

[Banzai]

KK...no biggie Dan. I also doubt AdAware did it. Probally the stuff it was deleting messed it up.

 

[Towncrier]

You might consider trying a different Adware scanner such as Spybot Search & Destroy. Different programs sometimes do a better job of identifying Adware.

Have you tried resetting your wireless access point/router? I mean a hard reset. I had some difficulties with my Netgear router and doing a hard reset seemed to clear them up. You will probably have to re-enter your WAP/router setup, but it may solve your problem.

 

[jfulcer]

Don't know what OS you are running. I found this reference:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinME/Q_20839958.html


but I don't know if that would apply to you because of the OS. Most likely what happened is you had something that was 'capturing' your IP packets and sending them somewhere else. When Adaware removed it, it broke your connection.

Let me know if this works - if not, I need to know what OS, brand of card, etc...

At the minimum, you need to change <b>every</b> internet password that you use - bank logins, paypal, ebay, mail, DIS - EVERYTHING and immediately. You have to assume that everyone now has those passwords and you've just been lucky not to have something happen. Yet.

I can understand not being happy with what happened, but I'm not sure that I would 'blame' AdAware. I would blame whatever was infecting your system that adware had to do something SO drastic that it caused problems with your connection....

 

[Banzai]

Main PC (That works): Widows XP
Laptop (My headache): Windows 98 SE

Card: Lucent Technologies Orinoco Silver WIFI

I have to go to bed now, and thanks for the sugestions everyone. I know its frustrating, but at this point, I am thinking that while having 2 computers is nice, one is better than none.

Nite,
Brad

 

[Alex]

I have seen stuff somewhat like this fairly often. I think jfulcer is probably right, something hooked your tcp/ip and when it broke the connection it all went away.
I would try uninstalling all networking.
If you are on windows 98 right click on network neighborhood, go to properites, remove everything in the box. Reboot the computer then add the stuff back in. This should rebuild the tcp/ip stack and might fix the problem
Unfortunately a lot of this stuff is getting worse and worse and removing it does break machines.

 

[jfulcer]

Win 9X :

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?act=ST&f=24&t=4243&

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Did you know that if you don't check for an update from Ad-aware before you scan EVERY SINGLE TIME you will find that you end up with problems like being unable to connect to the internet.

While I doubt ad-aware caused an infection, you might have used the AW without uploading the update first. I've found they come out with updates once or twice a week, sometimes more.



I don't know why all these companies have to make their computer products so difficult to use. They should have a rule that they HAVE to be user friendly but I mean for NOVICE users.

 

[candykisses]

There should be laws against this. It has been such a headache. *Chime in from Mom* "Whats your stupid mother going to do?"