Fair point. I take it back (although i'd be inclined to reimage anyways!)
new trick from a virus,
- Thread starter edscdk
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Fair point. I take it back (although i'd be inclined to reimage anyways!)
thats a company who will have a backup image they can simply install and everything is back to normal its not the same for an average persons pc.
You'll find many IT companies remimage machines rather than waste time trying to fix them. Why spend an hour or 4 running scans and hoping you've removed every trace of a virus when you can image it in 30 minutes and the client ends up with a faster machine?
You're our version of a clueless customer
if i paid you to remove a virus and you reinstalled i would be hugely disapointed oin the service i got any cowboy can reinstall an os they may aswell have just use the factory restore discs they recieved with the computer....
for people who dont have a clue sure
I've never had a virus!
And I use the best AV tools monthly! (and MSE as a resident AV)
Also, I assume a lot of people automatically enable "show hidden files" on their Windows installs, I do it out of habit (and show extensions) so even if I had the fake AV software "luls" I'd still see the hidden files anyway.
And I use the best AV tools monthly! (and MSE as a resident AV)
Also, I assume a lot of people automatically enable "show hidden files" on their Windows installs, I do it out of habit (and show extensions) so even if I had the fake AV software "luls" I'd still see the hidden files anyway.
It also works for people who are in the know. It works both ways.
only way and safest way for people who know how to fix a virus on a computer :S
not many viruses/trojans really do damage you cant fix fairly fast
if you know how to restore to factory default you will be fixing the issue yourself most likley, 99% of people do not know how to remove a virus or reinstall their machine..
reinstall usually gives a better result as people are (usually) amazed at how fast their computer runs...
And that's why IT guys get a bad rap, exploitation of people's ignorance.
Touch wood, not had a virus (or at least one that has noticeably affected my computer or any personal information) in the past decade or so. A lot of that is probably down to using anything but IE, keeping regular check-ups with SpybotS&D and only visiting potentially dodgy sites on my Macs.
I know Macs ain't virus-proof, but if my browser downloads dodgy files in the background, what are they gonna do? OS X doesn't know wtf a .dll or .exe is!
If you read the post it was pretty ******* evident that it was a joke
Jeez some people...
Had a number of these ones come through my office as well.
Fix is quite simple for Vista at least.
Firstly kill the process, usually running as a System Process (this particular one likes to be called something along the lines of 49873457.exe) navigate to C:\ProgramData show system files in options. delete the two files (Usually another file with the same time / date stamp)
Then unhide the user profile.
Only thing that did not restore were the quicklaunch buttons (though the shortcuts still show in the folder) Simply drag them back onto the quicklaunch bar.
One of the ones I had worked on (Plus a number with a slightly different virus) edited the exefile registry key.
To fix go to regedit -> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command edit the (Default) entry to display only "%1" %*
zzzzzZZZZZZZZzzZZZZzz my job bores me sometimes.
Fix is quite simple for Vista at least.
Firstly kill the process, usually running as a System Process (this particular one likes to be called something along the lines of 49873457.exe) navigate to C:\ProgramData show system files in options. delete the two files (Usually another file with the same time / date stamp)
Then unhide the user profile.
Only thing that did not restore were the quicklaunch buttons (though the shortcuts still show in the folder) Simply drag them back onto the quicklaunch bar.
One of the ones I had worked on (Plus a number with a slightly different virus) edited the exefile registry key.
To fix go to regedit -> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command edit the (Default) entry to display only "%1" %*
zzzzzZZZZZZZZzzZZZZzz my job bores me sometimes.
Soldato
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But they lose the ability to run software/games installed on the old windows install. Due to program data and registry information being removed.
So its not just a fresh windows install in the end, its reinstallation of anything you had initially. Even having games and software installed to a second drive doesnt help, as program data is still generally installed under application data or somewhere else within the users profile.
This is why I use norton ghost.
I have an img with OS/drivers/must have software and fave games. The second img is my boot partition. Takes me 25 mins to complete restore my pc using ghost. If I ever suspect something not right with my pc or a virus = restore. When you spend average 16 hours a day on yer pc you can tell instantly if something is not right.
Also once a week I restore my hd run all updates for software then create new img. Takes less than 1 hour to do.
I have an img with OS/drivers/must have software and fave games. The second img is my boot partition. Takes me 25 mins to complete restore my pc using ghost. If I ever suspect something not right with my pc or a virus = restore. When you spend average 16 hours a day on yer pc you can tell instantly if something is not right.
Also once a week I restore my hd run all updates for software then create new img. Takes less than 1 hour to do.
Soldato
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Nuke & pave for a virus. Much lol.
If important Docs are backed up its a re-image for me, saves time and speeds up the machine. Win Win.
If Docs are not backed up, i will run RKill, combofix and MABM so they can back up items, then re-image
But I don't do any of that stuff any more as that's beneath me now
If Docs are not backed up, i will run RKill, combofix and MABM so they can back up items, then re-image
But I don't do any of that stuff any more as that's beneath me now
True but 98% of people only use a PC for email, internet and word processing, as long as they keep their email, contacts, internet access and their printer works they are happy...
If you read the post it was pretty ******* evident that it was a joke
Jeez some people...
Wow, where'd that come from? My retort was hardly an episode of Panorama. Though, whilst your post was a joke, I know plenty of 'professionals' whose ethics are very shady and do extort the ignorant out of opportunism.
No need to get your fallopian tubes in a knot.
Soldato
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With regards to the problem I posted earlier about greyed out navigation buttons. I sorted it today, it was a mask of sorts laid over Firefox. A browser hijacker that covered everything, so basically anything he typed in the address bar was going into a malware version of the address bar, and any navigation was tied into the malware too. eek, But I got rid, Incase people arent aware, it would seem the virus\spyware in question is hijack.c or its streetname is gift.loader init
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Cheers for the heads up.
You're our version of a clueless customer
Exactly.
Reinstall=100% sorted pc that runs as good as new so customer 100% happy
Removal=nearly 100% sorted pc that runs as good as when i came in then customer may experience problems a few months down the line and blame me
Aimed at arknor
When i fix a pc i dont expect to see it again for a couple of years.
Cowboy? lol The cowboys are the ones who go for the quick fix and charge even more than i do for a reinstall.
Cowboys dont go out of their way and do extra work to make sure its fixed properly
Tell me how many computers have you repaired apart from your own?
When its some one elses business relying on the pc trust me you want to know 100% that its fixed and not just hope you found/fixed all the damage.
What line of work do you work in???
When you do this day in day out for a living then reputation is everything.
Never had a virus infected pc returned yet
Yet i am sitting here doing one just now that another local company "fixed" and failed to remove all traces of the virus....and charged the guy £100 to have it removed...which is a lot more than i will be charging for doing it properly.
Over the top and more than needed? Yes i agree but then its done properly and everybody is happy.
Oh and repair install? yes i know about that but also have the experience to know that a clean install is far better.
Once you have done hundreds of repairs come back and see if you still think the same
Now you get jacket and GTFO yourself mate....no need for using language like that on here to me but i will descend to your level this once
i will not waste my time with you as you are not worth it because you can reinstall an os you believe you are capable of fixing peoples computers
you would certainly not get a job working for me as you do not have the required skills.
enjoy doing your unatended installs and using a program to back up all of someones documents with minimal effort and charging a small fortune for the pleasure.
you would certainly not get a job working for me as you do not have the required skills.
enjoy doing your unatended installs and using a program to back up all of someones documents with minimal effort and charging a small fortune for the pleasure.
Man of Honour
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I wish I could have a £1 for the amount of PC's that have come to me (or people have rang me) after professional computer shops have just re-installed without asking first therefore deleting everything on the hard drive.
(and yes, in the early days of OCUK when called Millennium they were guilty of this also).
I've no doubt you know what you're doing but this kind of service is still going on around the world in 'Professional' shops.
I can confidently say that in 23 years of fixing PC's I've only had to format one PC because of a virus and I still feel guilty about that (and none have come back).
However I've never done it for a living and only as a hobby and I can see the point of re-imaging but I like the challenge of finding and killing.