A couple issues after reformatting

[~Debbie~]

Last Wednesday I was on the computer and up popped one of those messages that
said I had a virus, do I want to run my anti-virus program, I said no, and I
guess it didn't like that answer because all the sudden there were all these
porn sites for me to click on. Well I am not one to hunt down viruses, so
the easiest thing for me was to backup all my files, graphics..etc and then I
did a total system recovery.
No biggie to me.

So for the past few days I have been slowly reinstalling everything, taking
my time with all. All seems to be well except for these few issuses:

1. On startup it will sometimes say "Duplicate name exists on the network",
not sure what that means. I am the only user on this computer

2. And then on other times when I start up, on my taskbar there will be a
yellow triangle with an explanation mark in it. But I can't click on it to
see what it says, because it will disappear when I click on it. Any ideas?

3. Also it seems to run alot. I will do an Ctrl+Alt+Delete to see what is
running and there is nothing in the applications, I am not sure how to read
anything on the other tabs. I actually have to shut the computer off and
unplug for a few seconds then restart to get it to stop running in the
background. Any ideas?

Thank you for any help or suggestions,
Debbie

 

[Don Phillipson]

Last Wednesday I was on the computer and up popped one of those messages that
said I had a virus, do I want to run my anti-virus program, I said no, and I
guess it didn't like that answer because all the sudden there were all these
porn sites for me to click on. Well I am not one to hunt down viruses, so
the easiest thing for me was to backup all my files, graphics..etc and then I
did a total system recovery. .. . .
1. On startup it will sometimes say "Duplicate name exists on the network",
not sure what that means. I am the only user on this computer
. . .
3. Also it seems to run alot. I will do an Ctrl+Alt+Delete to see what is
running and there is nothing in the applications, I am not sure how to read
anything on the other tabs. I actually have to shut the computer off and
unplug for a few seconds then restart to get it to stop running in the
background. Any ideas?

"Total system recovery" suggests you did not reformat the hard drive
(as the subject line suggests) but ran the maker's Restore utilities --
which may have left malware in place. Subsequent experience
hints that your PC may have been enslaved to another computer
(e.g. to send out someone else's spam on your cable at your expense.)

Since you have backed up Documents and Settings the fastest cure seems
(1) disconnect from the Internet i.e. unplug the NIC cable;
(2) If it were worthwhile installing a bigger hard drive in this
PC, now is the time to do it, and instal Windows afresh from
the system CD onto the new hard drive.
(3) Otherwise, wipe the old drive (repartition i.e. make a new
C: drive and format it) and reinstal Windows. Then
(4) reconnect with the Internet and update with Service
Packs 2 or 3 as needed. Microsoft may pause to verify
you are a legit. user but that takes only a couple of minutes.
(5) reinstal all your custom apps.
Step 3 takes one hour, Step 4 less than two. Step 5 may fill
spare moments over several days (simultaneously while you
do other things). You could spend much longer disentangling
knots of malware code (deciding whether it is damaging or
not and putting the OS right): it is usually faster just to cut them
off thus.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Did you do a Repair Install or did you format the HDD & do a clean install?

Right-click on My Computer & select Properties: What Windows version is
displayed in the resulting General tab (e.g., Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 1)?

What anti-virus application or security suite was installed before you
reinstalled Windows and was your subscription current?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

 

[Daave]

Last Wednesday I was on the computer and up popped one of those
messages that said I had a virus, do I want to run my anti-virus
program, I said no, and I guess it didn't like that answer because
all the sudden there were all these porn sites for me to click on.
Well I am not one to hunt down viruses, so the easiest thing for me
was to backup all my files, graphics..etc and then I did a total
system recovery.
No biggie to me.

So for the past few days I have been slowly reinstalling everything,
taking my time with all. All seems to be well except for these few
issuses:

1. On startup it will sometimes say "Duplicate name exists on the
network", not sure what that means. I am the only user on this
computer

2. And then on other times when I start up, on my taskbar there will
be a yellow triangle with an explanation mark in it. But I can't
click on it to see what it says, because it will disappear when I
click on it. Any ideas?

3. Also it seems to run alot. I will do an Ctrl+Alt+Delete to see
what is running and there is nothing in the applications, I am not
sure how to read anything on the other tabs. I actually have to shut
the computer off and unplug for a few seconds then restart to get it
to stop running in the background. Any ideas?

Thank you for any help or suggestions,
Debbie

What is the make and model of your PC? What method did you use to
reinstall the OS?