Windows 2000 virus

[Ivan]

Installing windows 2000 with (IE 5) onto my new computer is fraught with
horrors. I install the system OK but cannot install any antivirus or
firewalls until service pack one, three and four are installed (I have free
access to Virgin's firewall and anti virus protection, both of which can't
be activated without the installed upgrades).

The problem is that these takes so long to download and install, that before
the installation is complete the whole system is raddled with trojans and
viruses, accompanied by a messages telling me that my 'computer is infected
with 55 different viruses' about 10 seconds after I've connected to the
Internet!

After this happens virtually nothing runs or will execute and the message
"svc host.exe.-will be closed by windows, need to restart programme" shows
up even if the service packs do to start to download.

I thought I'd be clever and download the service packs in another operating
system and then run them in the newly installed Windows 2000 without
connecting to the net. However this doesn't work as the service packs don't
appear to be complete and still want to download acres of files from the
net.

Has anyone else experienced nightmare, if so are there any pointers of how I
can overcome it without things becoming too involved... TIA Ivan

PS. the new computer came with Vista home basic preinstalled which is not
only much slower than my old computer with Windows 2000, but it doesn't
appear to be compatible with many of my old programmes, i.e. a Phillips web
cam I bought about six months ago which I can't find any drivers for.

 

[Dave Cohen]

Installing windows 2000 with (IE 5) onto my new computer is fraught with
horrors. I install the system OK but cannot install any antivirus or
firewalls until service pack one, three and four are installed (I have
free access to Virgin's firewall and anti virus protection, both of
which can't be activated without the installed upgrades).

The problem is that these takes so long to download and install, that
before the installation is complete the whole system is raddled with
trojans and viruses, accompanied by a messages telling me that my
'computer is infected with 55 different viruses' about 10 seconds after
I've connected to the Internet!

After this happens virtually nothing runs or will execute and the
message "svc host.exe.-will be closed by windows, need to restart
programme" shows up even if the service packs do to start to download.

I thought I'd be clever and download the service packs in another
operating system and then run them in the newly installed Windows 2000
without connecting to the net. However this doesn't work as the service
packs don't appear to be complete and still want to download acres of
files from the net.

Has anyone else experienced nightmare, if so are there any pointers of
how I can overcome it without things becoming too involved... TIA Ivan

PS. the new computer came with Vista home basic preinstalled which is
not only much slower than my old computer with Windows 2000, but it
doesn't appear to be compatible with many of my old programmes, i.e. a
Phillips web cam I bought about six months ago which I can't find any
drivers for.

First, I find it very hard to believe that simply powering up a computer
causes immediate infections, but if that's what you're getting that's
what you're getting.
Can't you install something like avast and zone alarm, update the
computer then replace with your final protection programs.

As far as Vista, I dread the time when my current machine dies. When I
went from win98 to winxp, I lost my paperport sheet scanner plus some
legacy software. When I'm forced to use Vista, I'll lose my flatbed
scanner plus I've no idea what else. Interesting, I heard Dell has gone
back to supplying winxp with new machines due to Vista problems, but
that's only a temporary fix.
Dave Coheh

 

[Char Jackson]

First, I find it very hard to believe that simply powering up a computer
causes immediate infections, but if that's what you're getting that's
what you're getting.
Can't you install something like avast and zone alarm, update the
computer then replace with your final protection programs.

I connect to the Internet through a simple NAT router and previously
went several years without any firewall or AV software and never had a
problem. I'm trialing NOD32 now, but like Dave, am very surprised to
hear that infection is happening so quickly.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

10 seconds is a bit fast. Normally, you have 12 to 20 minutes, though
that is the average time.

Yes, be clever. <g> Download SP4 on someone else's computer and burn to
CD. It's about 132 MB. You can install it before connecting to the 'net.
You should also get a firewall installed before connecting, one of the
ones you mention. My win-box has Kerio on it with Win2K SP4.

SP4 includes 1, 2, and 3, so don't bother with those. You should
download the whole file, and not use the "online" pieces at a time
choice. You can also order it on CD from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/default.mspx

Stick with Windows 2000, probably the most stable of the MS OSs.

First, I find it very hard to believe that simply powering up a
computer causes immediate infections, but if that's what you're
getting that's what you're getting. Can't you install something like
avast and zone alarm, update the computer then replace with your
final protection programs.

As he said, he can't install the a-v and the firewall until he loads the
service pack. Oh, and yes, if you connect to the internet, you will be
found and hacked quite fast.

http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1511

As far as Vista, I dread the time when my current machine dies. When
I went from win98 to winxp, I lost my paperport sheet scanner plus
some legacy software. When I'm forced to use Vista, I'll lose my
flatbed scanner plus I've no idea what else. Interesting, I heard
Dell has gone back to supplying winxp with new machines due to Vista
problems, but that's only a temporary fix.

You will never be *forced* to use Vista. Look elsewhere, such as:
http://www.ubuntu.com/

My old HP 3200C scanner, and HP 318 camera work just fine with Ubuntu,
without installing any HP software or drivers.

 

[Ivan]

10 seconds is a bit fast. Normally, you have 12 to 20 minutes, though
that is the average time.


Yes, be clever. <g> Download SP4 on someone else's computer and burn to
CD. It's about 132 MB. You can install it before connecting to the 'net.
You should also get a firewall installed before connecting, one of the
ones you mention. My win-box has Kerio on it with Win2K SP4.

SP4 includes 1, 2, and 3, so don't bother with those. You should
download the whole file, and not use the "online" pieces at a time
choice. You can also order it on CD from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/default.mspx


Stick with Windows 2000, probably the most stable of the MS OSs.


As he said, he can't install the a-v and the firewall until he loads the
service pack. Oh, and yes, if you connect to the internet, you will be
found and hacked quite fast.

http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1511


You will never be *forced* to use Vista. Look elsewhere, such as:
http://www.ubuntu.com/

My old HP 3200C scanner, and HP 318 camera work just fine with Ubuntu,
without installing any HP software or drivers.

A couple of weeks ago I managed to get windows 2000 installed on to a 5 GB
drive (which I'm using as a duel boot option - by going into the bios - with
vista) for backup doing as Dave suggested, downloading an antivirus program
(AVG) on another computer and installing it from a memory card, however even
then it wants to download updated virus software and by the time I've done
that and started it running the computer is once again infected, it took me
a best part of the day to install win 2000 and I don't feel that I could go
through all of that again.

If it's any help when I did eventually get Adaware to download and run
'amongst many other things' it found something called 'Data Miner' which I
eliminated and then managed to install the Virgin antivirus and firewall,
although even that was impossible to activate (it won't connect to the
server) until service pack one is installed which I believe contains IE6 and
another MS windows 2000 upgrade after that..

I'm just wondering if there is some way of copying my original windows 2000
disk complete with installed upgrades onto a CD to make the whole thing a
straightforward process?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Ivan" <ivan'H'(e-mail address removed)>

| Installing windows 2000 with (IE 5) onto my new computer is fraught with
| horrors. I install the system OK but cannot install any antivirus or
| firewalls until service pack one, three and four are installed (I have free
| access to Virgin's firewall and anti virus protection, both of which can't
| be activated without the installed upgrades).
|
| The problem is that these takes so long to download and install, that before
| the installation is complete the whole system is raddled with trojans and
| viruses, accompanied by a messages telling me that my 'computer is infected
| with 55 different viruses' about 10 seconds after I've connected to the
| Internet!
|
| After this happens virtually nothing runs or will execute and the message
| "svc host.exe.-will be closed by windows, need to restart programme" shows
| up even if the service packs do to start to download.
|
| I thought I'd be clever and download the service packs in another operating
| system and then run them in the newly installed Windows 2000 without
| connecting to the net. However this doesn't work as the service packs don't
| appear to be complete and still want to download acres of files from the
| net.
|
| Has anyone else experienced nightmare, if so are there any pointers of how I
| can overcome it without things becoming too involved... TIA Ivan
|
| PS. the new computer came with Vista home basic preinstalled which is not
| only much slower than my old computer with Windows 2000, but it doesn't
| appear to be compatible with many of my old programmes, i.e. a Phillips web
| cam I bought about six months ago which I can't find any drivers for.

1. Do NOT install Windows 2000 unless you are behind a NAT Router such as the Linksys
BEFSR41.

2. Download Windows 2000 SP4 administrative EXE file and have it handy. (~130MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...f1-749f-49f4-8010-297bd6ca33a0&DisplayLang=en

3. Install Windows 2000 then after a reboot install SPR ASAP !

4. Then install ISP's provided security software

 

[Mr. Arnold]

Installing windows 2000 with (IE 5) onto my new computer is fraught with
horrors. I install the system OK but cannot install any antivirus or
firewalls until service pack one, three and four are installed (I have
free access to Virgin's firewall and anti virus protection, both of which
can't be activated without the installed upgrades).

There are other solutions that will work with Win 2K without needing SP(s)
installed first.

You got Zone Alarm, Comando, Kerio, etc, etc that can be downloaded, which I
suggest you do it on another machine that has protection, cut a DVD or CD
and install them on the targeted machine, before you connect to the machine
to the Internet.

The problem is that these takes so long to download and install, that
before the installation is complete the whole system is raddled with
trojans and viruses, accompanied by a messages telling me that my
'computer is infected with 55 different viruses' about 10 seconds after
I've connected to the Internet!

Yeah, that's going to happen if the machine is not protected and you connect
to the Internet trying to download things, and it's taking a long time to
do it. The machine is wide open to attack.

After this happens virtually nothing runs or will execute and the message
"svc host.exe.-will be closed by windows, need to restart programme" shows
up even if the service packs do to start to download.

The machine is infected.

I thought I'd be clever and download the service packs in another
operating system and then run them in the newly installed Windows 2000
without connecting to the net. However this doesn't work as the service
packs don't appear to be complete and still want to download acres of
files from the net.

You simply need a personal firewall that's going to give the machine the
protection while connected to the Internet. You should also flatten the HD
(format it again) before processing with the install of anything on the
machine, including the O/S.

Has anyone else experienced nightmare, if so are there any pointers of how
I can overcome it without things becoming too involved... TIA Ivan
No!


PS. the new computer came with Vista home basic preinstalled which is not
only much slower than my old computer with Windows 2000, but it doesn't
appear to be compatible with many of my old programmes, i.e. a Phillips
web cam I bought about six months ago which I can't find any drivers for.

Yeah, software running on Vista in most cases has to be Vista compatible,
which there are lists that show the programs that are compatible. Also there
is the compatibly mode setting on Vista that allows a program to run in Win
XP, Win 2k, Win 98 modes on Vista.

I have Vista running on an Intel dual CPU HP dv9000 Entertainment laptop and
it's running like a champ -- lickity split on the speed.

If you were having slowness with Vista, then you could have posted to
Microsoft.Public.Windows.Vista General or Setup NG(s) and got some help.

I am watching TV, DVD(s) with SQL Server, IIS and a whole host of other
software running in the background, and again, Vista is running like a chanp
on the speed.

I have had no problems with Vista, except for one time, when I installed an
Active X control that was not Vista compatible and Explore started crashing.
I did a restore back to a previous version and went on about my business
knowing that I had to be careful as to what I was installing on Vista.

There is also free Vista compatible software that can be used, like
CurrPort, which replaced Active Ports that was not Vista compatible.

http://www.bestvistadownloads.com/

 

[MoiMoi]

I connect to the Internet through a simple NAT router and previously
went several years without any firewall or AV software and never had a
problem. I'm trialing NOD32 now, but like Dave, am very surprised to
hear that infection is happening so quickly.

Yep, if you have a decent NAT router in the chain, all the rest of the
workarounds are really unnecessary, at least in the short run.

MM

 

[foghollow]

First, I find it very hard to believe that simply powering up a computer
causes immediate infections, but if that's what you're getting that's
what you're getting.

If there's no pw on the Administrator account and no firewall (W2K doesn't come with one) and it's
not locked down any other way either...

 

[Dave Cohen]

10 seconds is a bit fast. Normally, you have 12 to 20 minutes, though
that is the average time.


Yes, be clever. <g> Download SP4 on someone else's computer and burn to
CD. It's about 132 MB. You can install it before connecting to the 'net.
You should also get a firewall installed before connecting, one of the
ones you mention. My win-box has Kerio on it with Win2K SP4.

SP4 includes 1, 2, and 3, so don't bother with those. You should
download the whole file, and not use the "online" pieces at a time
choice. You can also order it on CD from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/default.mspx


Stick with Windows 2000, probably the most stable of the MS OSs.


As he said, he can't install the a-v and the firewall until he loads the
service pack. Oh, and yes, if you connect to the internet, you will be
found and hacked quite fast.

http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1511


You will never be *forced* to use Vista. Look elsewhere, such as:
http://www.ubuntu.com/

My old HP 3200C scanner, and HP 318 camera work just fine with Ubuntu,
without installing any HP software or drivers.

Funny you should mention Ubuntu. Made a live cd a couple of weeks back.
I was very impressed with the way it detected attached hardware. Haven't
installed yet.
Dave Cohen

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Funny you should mention Ubuntu. Made a live cd a couple of weeks
back. I was very impressed with the way it detected attached
hardware. Haven't installed yet.

You're on your way. <g>

There are two main ways to go about it: partition existing drive
(choice available during installation [1]), or adding a second drive.
You could also, for testing and familiarity, swap your current Windows
drive with a new one strictly for Ubuntu.

I still need to keep a Windows box as I do work (tho' now retired) with
Microsoft Visual FoxPro. Never been able to get that to work reliably
under Linux.

[1. Be sure to set up a "swap" partition of a couple GB for Ubuntu.]

 

[Ivan]

1. Do NOT install Windows 2000 unless you are behind a NAT Router such
as the Linksys
BEFSR41.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice so far offered, however I must
confess to not being entirely up to speed with a lot of computer stuff , but
if I bought one of these Linksys routers, would it be a just a simple
question of connecting it up to my ethernet card and modem and it would
automatically setup everything for me, or would I somehow have to manually
configure it...tia

 

[Virus Guy]

First, I find it very hard to believe that simply powering up a
computer causes immediate infections,

If we're talking about a new install of win 2K, XP-gold and XP-SP1,
then simply connecting those machines to a live internet connection
will result in infection, almost always within 30 minutes, unless the
machine is behind a NAT router.

Look up something called "internet survival time".

The reason why spam exploded in 2003 was because of all the lemmings
rushing away from win-98 and falling for XP.

 

[Mr. Arnold]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice so far offered, however I must
confess to not being entirely up to speed with a lot of computer stuff ,
but if I bought one of these Linksys routers, would it be a just a simple
question of connecting it up to my ethernet card and modem and it would
automatically setup everything for me, or would I somehow have to manually
configure it...tia

A NAT router is a plug it up and go device that needs very little
configuration on your part, other than the router possibly being indentified
by the ISP with being able to log on to the ISP's network.

The router will provide instant protection from the Internet, because all of
its ports are closed by default to all unsolicited inbound traffic, which
would be the unsolicited scans and attacks being stopped from reaching the
machine behind the router.

If you get a router, you should get one that uses Wallwacther so that you
can watch for dubious connections being made to/from the machine behind the
router.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp

http://sonic.net/wallwatcher/

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

A NAT router is a plug it up and go device that needs very little
configuration on your part, other than the router possibly being
indentified by the ISP with being able to log on to the ISP's
network.

...and don't forget to change the default password to something
unguessable.

 

[Char Jackson]

..and don't forget to change the default password to something
unguessable.

....and many of the more popular NAT routers include wireless
capability enabled by default (with security disabled by default).
Turn it off if it's not needed, otherwise enable WPA/WPA2 security if
both ends support it. WEP is not much better than no security at all.

 

[Mr. Arnold]

I'll go with that one.

...and many of the more popular NAT routers include wireless
capability enabled by default (with security disabled by default).
Turn it off if it's not needed, otherwise enable WPA/WPA2 security if
both ends support it. WEP is not much better than no security at all.

The solution to that is not to get a wire/wireless AP router, just an all
wire one and that problem is eliminated.

 

[Char Jackson]

I'll go with that one.


The solution to that is not to get a wire/wireless AP router, just an all
wire one and that problem is eliminated.

That certainly wouldn't be my solution, but ok. <g>

 

[Mr. Arnold]

That certainly wouldn't be my solution, but ok. <g>

Wireless is not a necessity nor is it mandatory in a router solution. The
risks of being hacked on the wireless side of the wire/wireless AP router
are far greater than it will ever be on the wire side of the equation.

If I am going to use a wireless solution, then it's going to be a standalone
solution such as a standalone WAP device.

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Arnold' wrote:
| Wireless is not a necessity nor is it mandatory in a router solution. The
| risks of being hacked on the wireless side of the wire/wireless AP router
| are far greater than it will ever be on the wire side of the equation.
|
| If I am going to use a wireless solution, then it's going to be a
standalone
| solution such as a standalone WAP device.
_____

Not true. Depends on circumstance, doesn't it? There is a huge difference
between the exposure through the Internet as compared to exposure in the
limited space within which an 8.11x signal is usable, then there is the
necessity to discover the key, not something that can be done in a few
hours. Most targerts just aren't worth the trouble, and anti-malware
applications are still there. Since this whole discussion deals with a
time-limited vunerablity for a new install, then WEP wireless is not a
problem.

Phil Weldon

|
| | > On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:38:53 GMT, "Mr. Arnold" <MR. (e-mail address removed)>
| > wrote:
| >
| >>
| >>| >>> On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:42:25 GMT, "Beauregard T. Shagnasty"
| >>>
| >>>>Mr. Arnold wrote:
| >>>>
| >>>>>>
| >>>>>>> >
| >>>>>>> 1. Do NOT install Windows 2000 unless you are behind a NAT
Router
| >>>>>>> such as the Linksys BEFSR41.
| >>>>>>>
| >>>>>> Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice so far offered, however I
| >>>>>> must confess to not being entirely up to speed with a lot of
| >>>>>> computer stuff , but if I bought one of these Linksys routers,
would
| >>>>>> it be a just a simple question of connecting it up to my ethernet
| >>>>>> card and modem and it would automatically setup everything for me,
| >>>>>> or would I somehow have to manually configure it...tia
| >>>>>
| >>>>> A NAT router is a plug it up and go device that needs very little
| >>>>> configuration on your part, other than the router possibly being
| >>>>> indentified by the ISP with being able to log on to the ISP's
| >>>>> network.
| >>>>
| >>>>..and don't forget to change the default password to something
| >>>>unguessable.
| >>
| >>I'll go with that one.
| >>
| >>>
| >>> ...and many of the more popular NAT routers include wireless
| >>> capability enabled by default (with security disabled by default).
| >>> Turn it off if it's not needed, otherwise enable WPA/WPA2 security if
| >>> both ends support it. WEP is not much better than no security at all.
| >>
| >>The solution to that is not to get a wire/wireless AP router, just an
all
| >>wire one and that problem is eliminated.
| >
| > That certainly wouldn't be my solution, but ok. <g>
|
| Wireless is not a necessity nor is it mandatory in a router solution. The
| risks of being hacked on the wireless side of the wire/wireless AP router
| are far greater than it will ever be on the wire side of the equation.
|
| If I am going to use a wireless solution, then it's going to be a
standalone
| solution such as a standalone WAP device.
|
|