computer help!

[luvmyfam444]

I got a virus on the computer from FB - it hasn't done anything to the computer that I can tell except take out FB. It worked yesterday after I ran a virus scan & also deleted history, cookies, etc then I shut doen the computer for the night & it won't open today (it didn't open on Tues either)

Sometimes I type FB in to addy bar & it just disappears & just now I typed it in & I saw the log in page to FB & then it closed.

Any ideas on what I can do?

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

I have had relative success in the past using a Windows XP tool known as 'System Restore'. In short, you choose a point in the recent past (when you know your computer worked fine) and 'roll back' your computer to that point in time.

Everything you need to know is on this site:

System Restore

 

[luvmyfam444]

Ok - thanks - I'll read up on that...

It's just bizarre to me that FB is the ONLY thing I'm having issues with - everything else is fine.

 

[luvmyfam444]

What's it mean if "your personal firewall has shutdown " ? My virus protection has said that (have Trend Micro)

 

[Imzadi]

What's FB mean?


I use System Restore to correct about 98% of the things that go wrong on my computer.

Simplified directions:

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Yes, you only need to choose a Restore date, back a couple days ago, before the problem.

Then do a thorough Virus Scan again, after you have made sure you downloaded the latest update. The System Restore will have wiped out today's update, if it automatically updates daily.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

What's it mean if "your personal firewall has shutdown " ? My virus protection has said that (have Trend Micro)

This happens naturally during several upgrade operations. If System restore does not fix it, try following the instructions on TrendMicro's site here.

What's FB mean?

Facebook ?.?

 

[luvmyfam444]

thanks for the info---dumb question though - if I do a system restore does that mean I lose the things I've downloaded - or documents I've written after that date?

And yep - FB is facebook... we can't get onto Webkinz either!

 

[Imzadi]

thanks for the info---dumb question though - if I do a system restore does that mean I lose the things I've downloaded - or documents I've written after that date?

And yep - FB is facebook... we can't get onto Webkinz either!

Nope! A System Restore only restores the operating system part, (Win XP, Win Me, etc.) without deleting any info you downloaded or created, like documents, emails, pictures, etc.

It WILL delete the anti-virus updated after the date it has been restored too, but, again they go with the Operating System stuff. Simply click your anti-virus update button to re-download the latest update.

Oh, and if you updated any programs, like Spybot. they may have to be re-updated.

One of the reasons that you do a System Restore IS becasue something has screwed with your Operating System and you want to reset it to before it affected it.

Now, if you reopen the email, FB page or redownload it again after the System Restore, you will end up with the same problem. A System Restore does NOT inocculate your computer the way an antivirus would. It helps reset things so you can get your computer running again so, if you have to, you can undo whatever is affecting your system. It does sound like you have some anti-FB virus or something.


As for not knowing what FB is, I'm one of the last people who still has not joined FB, MySpace and don't tweet. People ask me to join all the time, I'm just not into it. Heck, I still don't have an DVR recorder.

 

[luvmyfam444]

HA HA - I don't have a DVR either - there's just not that much on tv that's worth recording....and if I missed it I can usually catch it online - or at least the DIS board version of things - which are often more interesting then the real show! LOL

So then how would you suggest getting rid of the FB virus then? If my virus software isn't fixing it & the system reboot won't work - then what do I do?

As far as FB - it is amazing to reconnect to people 20 yrs later & see what's going on in their life & not HAVE to talk to them regualry or anything - ya know just kinda spy on their lives...LOL now I'd be leary if I had some old life out there that I'd want to hide - old boyfriend or old pics something like that may keep me off - but since I didn't have a life back then (or now for that matter) nothing embarrasing is gonna resurface other than pics of me with
80s hair...and even if you don't post on FB often you can @ least look at the pics of friends & family - I have an aunt (she's in her mid 60s) that get on just to look at the pics of the family & videos - we'd never upload them all to her email acct & then to everyone elses - it FABULOUS to upload them one time & all my friends & fam can see them if they choose. Just try it - you'll like it - after a week or so - once people find you.

NOw if I could only get my FB back!

 

[Imzadi]

So then how would you suggest getting rid of the FB virus then? If my virus software isn't fixing it & the system reboot won't work - then what do I do?

Just try the System Restore first and see if it gets your Pc up & running. Trend Micro is actually a very good program. I'm surprised it didn't catch it. You can also try their on-line version of a scan. Takes a while though. It's my backup when I think my AVG didn't get eerything.

Or download a free version of AVG or AVAST and see if either one of those catches something.

 

[luvmyfam444]

It got 28 potentail threats this time - just finished running it - they were all resolved.

To be honest - had let my TM expire when the virus came thru - so I wasn't covered for a little while

 

[luvmyfam444]

It got 28 potentail threats this time - just finished running it - they were all resolved.

To be honest - had let my TM expire when the virus came thru - so I wasn't covered for a little while

 

[Imzadi]

Yay! Good for you! I'm glad you got them resolved.

Download the free AVG version 8.5 antivirus instead. It's free and it automatically updates by itself each morning. Believe me, if I had to do the updates, mine would be quite lapsed too.

http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
Free version is the far left collumn.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Well - it resolved those threats but it hasn't fixed the issues of getting on those websites...

and I tried the system restore & it said it couldn't restore to the date I chose...gonna go try another date - but why would it not be able to do it on the date I chose? It was a date that was boded like it told me to choose from & it shut down & everything but when I came back up it told me it couldn't be done...

 

[Imzadi]

Bumping because this never got solved.

 

[nephthys43]

do you have a dell and update to the trendmicro 16.6? i had these same problems and it was trendmicro's fault. if you did, i can send you the email they sent me to fix it.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Well - the system restore that I did @ 1 am this morning worked BUT I don't see my trend micro on here now - I'm guessing since I added that AFTER the date I took my computer back to then I need to point it back on? Is that correct? Gosh I hope I kept the login key....

and no - not a dell here...and its Trend Micro 2008

 

[Imzadi]

Well - the system restore that I did @ 1 am this morning worked BUT I don't see my trend micro on here now - I'm guessing since I added that AFTER the date I took my computer back to then I need to point it back on? Is that correct? Gosh I hope I kept the login key....

Yep! You're learning.

If, for some reason, you need to UNdo the system Restore, like to get info on the Trend Micro. Just get into System Restore and click the buttons to undo the restore last nite. You can even REdo it again later, assuming it will let you again.


Oh yeah, you have to clear your cookies and history again. They will all be back in your system, since the Restore point was before you did all that.

 

[luvmyfam444]

ok thanks -

How can I be sure my Trend Micro is working? I don't see the icon on the bottom of my screen like I did before the system restore but it still listed in my programs (which I know may be the old expired TM). I put in the new text & told it to install it but it tries to uninstall it & then says it can't.

Ok - so logically I'm thinking I need to click on the programs TM & uninstall there & then go in & put the disk in & install again.

HA! I talked myself thru that one - that is assuming that's correct....

 

[Imzadi]

Yes, it sounds like some things were still "installed" after the System Restore, but not enough to get the program functionally working. Sometimes, it's better to just uninstall & reinstall, to start from a clean slate.

You're getting the hang of this. I don't know if this is how a computer pro does stuff, (any of them reading are probably going ) but by hit & miss, when my own computer goes down, this is how I've been doing things. There's probably easier, better ways of doing it, but it gets my computer up & running again. I figure that's what counts overall.