major laptop problems

[Peetee]

HELP!
I'm a total 1/4 wit when it comes to PC problems and my laptop has contracted a virus which calls itself 'windows diagnostic' clearly trying to pretend it's legitimate. It sits at the front of your screen regardless of what you do, hides every other program you try to use and appears to have wiped all my files, photos etc.
Anyone know of a fix? I'm really worried i have lost everything I have loaded.

[d_harris]

Lots of fixes if you google.

http://www.precisesecurity.com/rogue/wi ... iagnostic/

[Peetee]

That looks like double dutch to me. Where it states (random characters).exe what is it saying? That in the brackets will be a random selection of letters? How do i know which are random when most computer speak is a random set of characters if you don't understand what you are reading! Sorry to sound negative but it's another example of a site written by those that understand and it's not entirely crystal clear to those that don't. I have already tried to download a antivirus thing which seems just as nasty as what I'm trying to get rid of; it's blocking me using Internet explorer and will only show me it's own homepage because i won't subscribe and pay $19.95 for something that was supposed to be free

[RobMoore]

these viruses porrsing as protection are about in abundance.
this is google results for windows diagnostics virus
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&bi ... 1&aql=&oq=

If you are unable to understand info found on the web then I would suggest taking you laptop to someone able to fix it.
But yes any information about fixing things for your computer are usually going to require the user to have a modicum of PC literacy.

[d_harris]

Feel free to bring it over at the weekend and I'll have a looky for you.

[Peetee]

cheers matey.
Any chance you could come here? I'm er not mobile following an op.

[d_harris]

I'll take payment in tea then.....

[bmcecosse]

I managed to get rid of that virus (or a very similar one) by repeatedly running Spybot (which is free) -which I noticed loaded up just before the 'virus' each time I started the machine. I had to jump in each time I started the machine - and run the Spybot immediately it loaded up. However I already had Spybot in my machine - i don't know if you will have time to download it before the 'virus' jumps in and blocks everything. I also have Avast (also free) running - but neither spotted the virus before it took hold.......But I then realised that Spybot doesn't update itself automatically - and i suspect that was the problem.

[Peetee]

I'll take payment in tea then.

It's a deal!

The virus doesn't seem to be there anymore. However, all my files are still missing and I can't get rid of this 'helpful' virus removal software.

[phurn]

That's because its part.of te same virus... lucky.Teresa someone coming to help you as you do need some form of pc literacy to remove it. Though I notice that peoples main problems with pcs are.the same with classic cars, there too scared to have a go and get zmmm

[chickenjohn]

I don't need to worry about such things. I use a Mac! (feeling smug!)

No, I also have a couple of PC's but they hide behind two firewalls and run ten year old OS's so modern viruses do not trouble them.

[phurn]

Id keep that mac business to yourself! Unless your after sympathy =p

[kenshiro]

Get it to a PC repairer quick, it'll cost a bit but they should sort it out.
I had the same thing, I was trying to find a repairer I could trust locally and left it switched off in the desk.

After a week away, I was chuffed to find it had gone, my anti virus was back working and it identified/removed it. JOY!!

Wrong, the malware (what it was) had just switched itself off and took my photo's, documents, etc with it. Thing is, I think that they're still on the hard drive but with the code changed so they can't be accessed.

If I'm right, you may not have a lot of time left, there was a screen with binary 1's & 0's all over, blue with scarlet lettered messages in poorly spelt english saying that 'danger your computer is infected' to panic you.

I found the process to clear it but it was lengthy and too late. Good luck.
K