I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk!

[mikesmith9999]

I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

 

[mikesmith9999]

I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.

 

[philo]

I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.


Total scam and malware

don't go to that site again!

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>

| On Dec 28, 9:30 am, "(e-mail address removed)"

| The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
| harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
| So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.

This is a malicious website creating a web page that appears as a as an anti virus program
in an effort for you to download malware.

Avoid this and other types of sites!

 

[mikesmith9999]

From: <[email protected]>

| On Dec 28, 9:30 am, "(e-mail address removed)"



| The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
| harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
| So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.

This is a malicious website creating a web page that appears as a as an anti virus program
in an effort for you to download malware.

Avoid this and other types of sites!

In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>


| In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
| company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.

This can be caused by a malicious Flash (SWF) in what's called malvertisements that
redirect you to the malicious website.

 

[mikesmith9999]

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackwarehttp://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
   http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
   http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=58...p://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
   http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot...tboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities).  HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert.  **Post your log tohttp://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Adminhttp://aumha.net
DTS-Lhttp://dts-l.net/





- Show quoted text -

Thanks for your help PA Bear. After thinking I could be infested, I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP. That turned out
bad because even though I
could format the disk, I can no longer install XP. At the "39 minutes
remaining to XP installation" mark, the hard disk red light is steady
on, and the computer no longer
does anything. I guess I need to bring my computer to an expert. I may
buy a new hard disk, but it won't help if it is something else.

 

[mikesmith9999]

From: <[email protected]>

| In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
| company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.

This can be caused by a malicious Flash (SWF) in what's called malvertisements that
redirect you to the malicious website.

I remember going to a website that has a collection of photos. The
hard disk light was extremely active. I thought at that time that it
was because there were a lot of pictures to download. Now I'm thinking
that someone was scanning my stuff remotely or installing programs on
my computer. Is it possible? Once I got of this photo archive website,
the light stop flashing.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for your help PA Bear. After thinking I could be infested, I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP. That turned out
bad because even though I
could format the disk, I can no longer install XP. At the "39 minutes
remaining to XP installation" mark, the hard disk red light is steady
on, and the computer no longer
does anything. I guess I need to bring my computer to an expert. I may
buy a new hard disk, but it won't help if it is something else.
===============
To install Windows XP, do this:
1. Reboot the machine and get into your BIOS. To do so you need to press the
Delete key on many machines. If this does not work, read the manual that
came with your PC.
2. Go to the Boot menu.
3. Make the CD drive the primary boot device.
4. Exit/Save.
5. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
6. Follow the prompts.
The above assumes that you have saved your important data files (including
your EMail files) to an independent medium.

You previously wrote this: [The grey box told me something like "Your
computer may be at risk to harmful virus, it's important to scan your
computer once in a while". So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus
software.] Think of little children: They are explicitly warned about
accepting sweets from strangers, for exactly the same reason as you should
not click a link just because it says "Click here - it's good for your PC".
Pause for a moment and think: "Do I really want to trust a completely
unknown site?"

 

[Alias]

Thanks for your help PA Bear. After thinking I could be infested, I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP. That turned out
bad because even though I
could format the disk, I can no longer install XP. At the "39 minutes
remaining to XP installation" mark, the hard disk red light is steady
on, and the computer no longer
does anything. I guess I need to bring my computer to an expert. I may
buy a new hard disk, but it won't help if it is something else.

Did you wipe the hard drive before formatting it and, if so, how? You
can also try hitting shift+F10 and nuke any processes that are stuck.

Alias

 

[mikesmith9999]

Did you wipe the hard drive before formatting it and, if so, how? You
can also try hitting shift+F10 and nuke any processes that are stuck.

Alias- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I did not wipe it. All I did is reformatting and installing XP. I will
try the Shift + F10!!

 

[Alias]

I did not wipe it. All I did is reformatting and installing XP. I will
try the Shift + F10!!

If that doesn't work, download and burn to a CD the hard drive
manufacturer's utilities. If it's a Seagate, you want Seagate Disc
Wizard. If a Maxtor, you want MaxBlast. Both can be found on the Seagate
web site. These CDs will wipe the disc and let you set up partitions. In
addition, once you have XP set up the way you want it, you can use the
CD to clone your hard drive to another hard drive.

Alias

 

[mikesmith9999]

If that doesn't work, download and burn to a CD the hard drive
manufacturer's utilities. If it's a Seagate, you want Seagate Disc
Wizard. If a Maxtor, you want MaxBlast. Both can be found on the Seagate
web site. These CDs will wipe the disc and let you set up partitions. In
addition, once you have XP set up the way you want it, you can use the
CD to clone your hard drive to another hard drive.

Alias- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

That would be wonderful! Do they sell it in stores? Right now I have
access to a public library access only, so I can't download anything.

 

[Alias]

That would be wonderful! Do they sell it in stores? Right now I have
access to a public library access only, so I can't download anything.

I don't know but some computer mags might have it. It's not for sale;
they're free. You don't have a friend who could download and burn it for
you? You can use the XP CD to wipe the disc and format it as well as
partition it. Be sure to format it in NTFS. You can't use the XP CD to
clone, though. So, use the XP CD and be sure you format before
installing and then download it so you can clone later.

Alias

 

[mikesmith9999]

I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

Actually, the problem with not being able to install XP happened on
the second computer reboot. On the first reboot, when trying to
install SP 2 XP, it did work. I installed all the updates, and the
Service Pack 3 at the end. I'm not sure anymore if it worked or not.
In any case, I rebooted the computer, and then it said "Reboot in Safe
mode, Reboot with the last successful settings". I chose each option,
but each time the screen saying that message came back. That's when I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP from scratch. It
got stuck with 39 minutes remaining. Could it be the SP3 updates that
screw me up?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

Actually, the problem with not being able to install XP happened on
the second computer reboot. On the first reboot, when trying to
install SP 2 XP, it did work. I installed all the updates, and the
Service Pack 3 at the end. I'm not sure anymore if it worked or not.
In any case, I rebooted the computer, and then it said "Reboot in Safe
mode, Reboot with the last successful settings". I chose each option,
but each time the screen saying that message came back. That's when I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP from scratch. It
got stuck with 39 minutes remaining. Could it be the SP3 updates that
screw me up?

==================

If it's 34 rather than 39 minutes then this link might help:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828267

 

[mikesmith9999]

Actually, the problem with not being able to install XP happened on
the second computer reboot. On the first reboot, when trying to
install SP 2 XP, it did work. I installed all the updates, and the
Service Pack 3 at the end. I'm not sure anymore if it worked or not.
In any case, I rebooted the computer, and then it said "Reboot in Safe
mode, Reboot with the last successful settings". I chose each option,
but each time the screen saying that message came back. That's when I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP from scratch. It
got stuck with 39 minutes remaining. Could it be the SP3 updates that
screw me up?

==================

If it's 34 rather than 39 minutes then this link might help:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828267

I'll check it out. I was stuck several times on 39, but another time
it went down to 25 minutes and got stuck again.

 

[mikesmith9999]

Actually, the problem with not being able to install XP happened on
the second computer reboot. On the first reboot, when trying to
install SP 2 XP, it did work. I installed all the updates, and the
Service Pack 3 at the end. I'm not sure anymore if it worked or not.
In any case, I rebooted the computer, and then it said "Reboot in Safe
mode, Reboot with the last successful settings". I chose each option,
but each time the screen saying that message came back. That's when I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP from scratch. It
got stuck with 39 minutes remaining. Could it be the SP3 updates that
screw me up?

==================

If it's 34 rather than 39 minutes then this link might help:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828267

I would like to go in the BIOS. I pressed F8 many times, and all I've
got is "Reboot with CD reader" and something else. There is no other
option to choose like the power management...

 

[Alias]

I would like to go in the BIOS. I pressed F8 many times, and all I've
got is "Reboot with CD reader" and something else. There is no other
option to choose like the power management...

To get into the BIOS, it's either F2 or Del. Look for "set up" when it
first boots and it should say which is needed. F8 is, among other
things, the way to Safe Mode, Last known good configurations, etc.

Alias