Question about using PC with another monitor temporarily

[jfire7887]

My sister's PC has contracted Vundo, and while I've been OK with doing some
work on it remotely (she's 6 hours away), I want to do some of the more
involved fixing with the PC in front of me (e.g. probably can't connect
remotely if in Safe Mode). I'm trying to get her to bring "the box" (and the
kb and mouse) down on Thanksgiving, leaving her monitor at home because I
have a spare in storage.

(1) Will I be able to simply plug in the spare monitor?
(2) Will she be able to simply plug in her monitor when she returns?

I can provide information about her PC and monitor, and the spare monitor,
if it makes a difference in answering the question. Thanks.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You shouldn't have a problem using a different monitor.

But the infected computer should NOT be connected to the internet or any
networks or your computer in its current state!!

 

[Tom Willett]

Yes and Yes.

: My sister's PC has contracted Vundo, and while I've been OK with doing
some
: work on it remotely (she's 6 hours away), I want to do some of the more
: involved fixing with the PC in front of me (e.g. probably can't connect
: remotely if in Safe Mode). I'm trying to get her to bring "the box" (and
the
: kb and mouse) down on Thanksgiving, leaving her monitor at home because I
: have a spare in storage.
:
: (1) Will I be able to simply plug in the spare monitor?
: (2) Will she be able to simply plug in her monitor when she returns?
:
: I can provide information about her PC and monitor, and the spare monitor,
: if it makes a difference in answering the question. Thanks.

 

[Mark Adams]

My sister's PC has contracted Vundo, and while I've been OK with doing some
work on it remotely (she's 6 hours away), I want to do some of the more
involved fixing with the PC in front of me (e.g. probably can't connect
remotely if in Safe Mode). I'm trying to get her to bring "the box" (and the
kb and mouse) down on Thanksgiving, leaving her monitor at home because I
have a spare in storage.

(1) Will I be able to simply plug in the spare monitor?
Yes.

(2) Will she be able to simply plug in her monitor when she returns?

Yes. You will need to adjust the video resolution of the computer to match
the native resolution of the spare monitor if it differs from her monitor.

 

[jfire7887]

Thanks, Mark!

Yes. You will need to adjust the video resolution of the computer to match
the native resolution of the spare monitor if it differs from her monitor.

 

[Mark Adams]

Thanks, Mark!

I forgot about this. If her display settings are set to a resolution that is
not compatible with your monitor, all you will get is a black screen when
Windows loads. The POST information when you first power on the computer
should be visible. If this is the case, reboot the machine in VGA Mode. See
the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

Look under Description of Safe Boot options. Fourth point down describes
Enable VGA Mode. This should allow the desktop to be viewed. Reset the
monitor resolution to the native resolution of your monitor. If you do have
to do this to view Windows, she will probably have to do this again when she
gets home with her repaired computer.

 

[jfire7887]

Mark,

Since I am able to remotely log in to her computer, is there a way for me to
pre-check her monitor's relevant settings? [Is it just the Screen Resolution
setting on the Settings tab of Display Properties (Desktop right-click) or is
it something else?] Similarly, instead of using the spare monitor that is
currently not hooked up to anything, I can pre-check another monitor that is
connected to a rarely used PC, if I know what to check for.

Thanks,
jfire7887

 

[jfire7887]

Mark,

Since I am able to remotely log in to her computer, is there a way for me to
pre-check her monitor's relevant settings? [Is it just the Screen Resolution
setting on the Settings tab of Display Properties (Desktop right-click) or is
it something else?] Similarly, instead of using the spare monitor that is
currently not hooked up to anything, I can pre-check another monitor that is
connected to a rarely used PC, if I know what to check for.

Thanks,
jfire7887

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Since I am able to remotely log in to her computer, is there a way
for me to pre-check her monitor's relevant settings? [Is it just
the Screen Resolution setting on the Settings tab of Display
Properties (Desktop right-click) or is it something else?]
Similarly, instead of using the spare monitor that is currently not
hooked up to anything, I can pre-check another monitor that is
connected to a rarely used PC, if I know what to check for.

As I said before - make sure that the monitor you have has the same type of
connection her computer does (she and you will have to look...) DVI, VGA,
HDMI, RGB, Display Port, etc.

If you set it to some lower resolution before she leaves - like 1024x768 or
800x600 at 60Hz - then you will have little to no problem connecting it to
another monitor.

Although - if you can remote to it - why is it being brought?

Install TeamViewer Host on her computer, install the full TeamViewer
application on yours and utilize that (freely) to repair her machine -
rebooting as needed and if something happens that causes you to be unable to
contact it - have her reboot it with a phone call to her.

SuperAntiSpyware, MalwareBytes, a good AntiVirus software, CCleaner,
MyDefrag and CHKDSK would be a good start (can be done remotely.)

I would suggest highly replacing whatever AntiVirus software she has with
eSet NOD32 (~59 for a 2 year subscription - *just* the AntiVirus should do
it - for home) and also purchasing the full version of MalwareBytes for
resident protection. Those two combined have been very reliable for me in
preventing even those who *often* re-infested themselves from doing so at
all anymore.

 

[jfire7887]

Thanks, Tom!

 

[jfire7887]

Thanks, PA Bear! Yes, the PC will be set up stand alone, side-by-side to my
PC so I can get help online if/when I need it.

 

[jfire7887]

Shenan,

By "same type of connection", do you mean physical connector? If so, not
sure she'll be able to tell. I can say her monitor is a Dell M991, and one
of the two monitors I have available is a Dell M780. Looking at the spec
info for each of these (M991:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/49vyr/en/spec/spec.htm, M780:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/M780/Eng/specs.htm), the
connector type, resolution and preset display mode info appear to be pretty
much the same. If I could just verify this, my sister won't have to bring her
monitor as a fallback.

As to the reason they are bringing it, even though I can remote (via
LogMeIn): I looked up what the fix may involve, and it appears there may be
potential for needing to do things (Combofix) at key moments (e.g. Safe Mode)
where she'd have to be my eyes, etc. when she is not that technically
capable. Since they are coming down anyway in two weeks, and it would be easy
to put the PC behind one of the seats, and I fixed this on my nephew's PC in
similar fashion, I thought I'd rather play it on the safe side here.

P.S. The regular software in use is Trend Micro Internet Security 2009, but
I will give some thought to your suggestions. One of the considerations when
setting up my family with protection (or backup, etc) is that it has to be as
close to "set it and forget it" or it won't work for them.

Since I am able to remotely log in to her computer, is there a way
for me to pre-check her monitor's relevant settings? [Is it just
the Screen Resolution setting on the Settings tab of Display
Properties (Desktop right-click) or is it something else?]
Similarly, instead of using the spare monitor that is currently not
hooked up to anything, I can pre-check another monitor that is
connected to a rarely used PC, if I know what to check for.

As I said before - make sure that the monitor you have has the same type of
connection her computer does (she and you will have to look...) DVI, VGA,
HDMI, RGB, Display Port, etc.

If you set it to some lower resolution before she leaves - like 1024x768 or
800x600 at 60Hz - then you will have little to no problem connecting it to
another monitor.

Although - if you can remote to it - why is it being brought?

Install TeamViewer Host on her computer, install the full TeamViewer
application on yours and utilize that (freely) to repair her machine -
rebooting as needed and if something happens that causes you to be unable to
contact it - have her reboot it with a phone call to her.

SuperAntiSpyware, MalwareBytes, a good AntiVirus software, CCleaner,
MyDefrag and CHKDSK would be a good start (can be done remotely.)

I would suggest highly replacing whatever AntiVirus software she has with
eSet NOD32 (~59 for a 2 year subscription - *just* the AntiVirus should do
it - for home) and also purchasing the full version of MalwareBytes for
resident protection. Those two combined have been very reliable for me in
preventing even those who *often* re-infested themselves from doing so at
all anymore.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way



.

 

[quangdcxmpl1]

My sister's PC has contracted Vundo, and while I've been OK with doing some
work on it remotely (she's 6 hours away), I want to do some of the more
involved fixing with the PC in front of me (e.g. probably can't connect
remotely if in Safe Mode). I'm trying to get her to bring "the box" (and the
kb and mouse) down on Thanksgiving, leaving her monitor at home because I
have a spare in storage.

(1) Will I be able to simply plug in the spare monitor?
(2) Will she be able to simply plug in her monitor when she returns?

I can provide information about her PC and monitor, and the spare monitor,
if it makes a difference in answering the question. Thanks.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>,
Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to an ancient
post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they repost the original in
its (apparent) entirety, but don't add anything [except maybe as in this
case a single blank line (and the header line)]- it's the latter that is
most puzzling. I've seen suggestions that they think they're
"re-tweeting", whatever that means (I know about twitter, though I don't
use it, but don't "get" that concept), but I want to keep an open mind.
Just dismissing them all as idiots not only is unfair (as many of them
aren't), but also if we can get to the bottom of it we can maybe reduce
the number of these posts.

Is there a button that's easy to click accidentally, in the gmail news
interface, before you've added any text, for example? (Ideally a gmailer
will reply.)

 

[aeroloose]

In message
Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to
an ancient post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they
repost the original in its (apparent) entirety, but don't
add anything [except maybe as in this case a single blank
line (and the header line)]- it's the latter that is most
puzzling. I've seen suggestions that they think they're
"re-tweeting", whatever that means (I know about twitter,
though I don't use it, but don't "get" that concept), but I
want to keep an open mind. Just dismissing them all as
idiots not only is unfair (as many of them aren't), but also
if we can get to the bottom of it we can maybe reduce the
number of these posts.

Is there a button that's easy to click accidentally, in the
gmail news interface, before you've added any text, for
example? (Ideally a gmailer will reply.)

I have a Gmail account, but it's only email, with a typical
user interface. I don't see a button to forward a forum
posting within Gmail. I'm guessing the issue arises within
Google Groups itself, which is separate from Gmail. The OP
has a Gmail address, which might make it seem like they're
related. I used GG a long time ago, but abandoned it, and
haven't revisited in years. Back then, they had different
accounts, passwords, IDs, etc. Then Google integrated their
product lines and we have today's full-service scenario.

That "re-tweet" idea is interesting. Agree they're not
idiots, of course, just ignorant of legacy systems like
newsgroups, newsreaders, and netiquette. Sadly, I have no
suggestions on how to stop it.

Maybe another reader here has more insight into that.

 

[Tester]

Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to an
ancient post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they repost the
original in its (apparent) entirety, but don't add anything [except
maybe as in this case a single blank line (and the header line)]-
it's the latter that is most puzzling. I've seen suggestions that
they think they're "re-tweeting", whatever that means (I know about
twitter, though I don't use it, but don't "get" that concept), but I
want to keep an open mind. Just dismissing them all as idiots not
only is unfair (as many of them aren't), but also if we can get to
the bottom of it we can maybe reduce the number of these posts.

Is there a button that's easy to click accidentally, in the gmail
news interface, before you've added any text, for example? (Ideally a
gmailer will reply.)

Haven't used google groups for sometime but I suspect there isn't a
cancel button that people can click if they decide not to post
anything. People do change their mind half way through the post but if
they can't cancel, they simply post it!!!!!!!!

 

[Jon Danniken]

Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to an ancient
post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they repost the original in
its (apparent) entirety, but don't add anything [except maybe as in this
case a single blank line (and the header line)]- it's the latter that is
most puzzling. I've seen suggestions that they think they're
"re-tweeting", whatever that means (I know about twitter, though I don't
use it, but don't "get" that concept), but I want to keep an open mind.
Just dismissing them all as idiots not only is unfair (as many of them
aren't), but also if we can get to the bottom of it we can maybe reduce
the number of these posts.

I disagree; anyone who uses gmail is most certainly an idiot.

Jon

 

[Bert]

In "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

In message <[email protected]>,

Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this?

It's not the "gmail.com" email address, it's the fact that you're
dealing with a googlegrouper.

 

[Bob F]

Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to an
ancient post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they repost the
original in its (apparent) entirety, but don't add anything [except
maybe as in this case a single blank line (and the header line)]-
it's the latter that is most puzzling. I've seen suggestions that
they think they're "re-tweeting", whatever that means (I know about
twitter, though I don't use it, but don't "get" that concept), but I
want to keep an open mind. Just dismissing them all as idiots not
only is unfair (as many of them aren't), but also if we can get to
the bottom of it we can maybe reduce the number of these posts.

I disagree; anyone who uses gmail is most certainly an idiot.

I disagree. Anyone who says something like you just did is the idiot.

 

[aeroloose]

On 6/29/2014 5:07 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: []

Does ANYONE _know_ why gmailers do this? Not only respond to
an ancient post (nearly 5 years old in this case), but they
repost the original in its (apparent) entirety, but don't
add anything [except maybe as in this case a single blank

[]
I have a Gmail account, but it's only email, with a
typical user interface. I don't see a button to forward a
forum posting within

Thanks for coming back.

But at least you prove that not all those with a gmail
address are whatevers!

Yes, not all Thanks. In reality, it's not a primary
account for me. I like to experiment, so I signed up early
in the Gmail Beta era. As Google became more invasive, I
shifted away, and only use it occasionally (e.g. this
newsgroup).

The word "Gmail" does seem to chum the waters a bit in here.
Perhaps not as much as GG, though ...