Your super-smarts much needed!

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Hi! I'd really appreciate your help with 2 vexing situation...

Just got a used computer with Windows 2000 Pro. Unfortunately, the previous
owner set up different accounts, including an Administrator account. I
typically wouldn't care about this except that I tried to load a new
anti-virus program and the prompt tells me that I don't have "clearance" and
must log in as Administrator with a password in order to install the program.
Called the previous owner to get the password. He says he doesn't remember.
What are my options here? This computer is effectively useless if I can't
update software and install new stuff. Thinking within and outside the box,
what are my options. (They didn't include a r4ecovery disk otherwise I'd just
wipe the drive clean and start from scratch...)

Secondly, I seem to have a really confounding trojan/virus program on my
computer. Every time my computer powers up, it changes the number my internet
program dials for connection to an 888 number and changes my user name to a
set of numbers. I get the feeling this program is trying to dial its own
server and place charges on my phone bill. Even when I delete this info and
type in the correct # and user name, it changes it back to the bogus ones.
I've run a spyware program and an anti-virus program that does not have
current updates. ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE HELL THIS IS AND HOW TO GET
RID OF IT? Because of the first problem, I can download and install a
firewall, so at the moment, I'm screwed.

PLEASE HELP! ;^) Thanks everybody.
 
Joher said:
Hi! I'd really appreciate your help with 2 vexing situation...

Just got a used computer with Windows 2000 Pro. Unfortunately, the previous
owner set up different accounts, including an Administrator account. I
typically wouldn't care about this except that I tried to load a new
anti-virus program and the prompt tells me that I don't have "clearance" and
must log in as Administrator with a password in order to install the program.
Called the previous owner to get the password. He says he doesn't remember.
What are my options here? This computer is effectively useless if I can't
update software and install new stuff. Thinking within and outside the box,
what are my options. (They didn't include a r4ecovery disk otherwise I'd just
wipe the drive clean and start from scratch...)
Click to expand...


With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from a stranger
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member, your wisest course of
action would probably be to format the hard drives and start fresh. You
don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may have filled
the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because the original
owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

You should also check with your local law enforcement agencies as to
the legitimacy of the computer's transfer. I view it as highly
suspicious that the previous "owner" not only failed to provide you with
a legitimate license (which would have included the OS installation CD),
but doesn't know the password for the local Administrator account.

If, on the other hand, the transfer (check your invoice, bill of sale,
etc.) didn't include the license for the OS, simply go purchase the
compatible OS of your choice, format the hard drive, and start afresh.

Secondly, I seem to have a really confounding trojan/virus program on my
computer. Every time my computer powers up, it changes the number my internet
program dials for connection to an 888 number and changes my user name to a
set of numbers. I get the feeling this program is trying to dial its own
server and place charges on my phone bill. Even when I delete this info and
type in the correct # and user name, it changes it back to the bogus ones.
I've run a spyware program and an anti-virus program that does not have
current updates. ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE HELL THIS IS AND HOW TO GET
RID OF IT?
Click to expand...


You can try one of the many free on-line virus scanners, but you'll
have limited success until you get the Administrator account's password.

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

McAfee Security - FreeScan
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

Panda ActiveScan - Free online scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Computer Associates:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx

DialogueScience:
http://www.antivir.ru/english/www_av/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Freedom Online scanner
http://www.freedom.net/viruscenter/index.html

You should also scan for and remove adware and spyware. To deal with
issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or "spyware,"such as Gator,
Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and
their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without understanding the
consequences) installed, two products that are quite effective (at
finding and removing this type of scumware) are Ad-Aware from
www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even possible
to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system against most
future intrusions. I use both and generally perform manual scans every
week or so to clean out cookies, etc.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml


Because of the first problem, I can download and install a
firewall, so at the moment, I'm screwed.
Click to expand...


Exactly. Ultimately there's no way you can adequately address your
problems until *you* have control of *your* computer. You simply must
have administrative privileges to the computer. Either get the Win2K
installation CD or password from the computer's owner, or purchase a
legitimate license and perform a clean installation.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Joher said:
Hi! I'd really appreciate your help with 2 vexing situation...

Just got a used computer with Windows 2000 Pro. Unfortunately, the previous
owner set up different accounts, including an Administrator account. I
typically wouldn't care about this except that I tried to load a new
anti-virus program and the prompt tells me that I don't have "clearance" and
must log in as Administrator with a password in order to install the program.
Called the previous owner to get the password. He says he doesn't remember.
What are my options here? This computer is effectively useless if I can't
update software and install new stuff. Thinking within and outside the box,
what are my options. (They didn't include a r4ecovery disk otherwise I'd just
wipe the drive clean and start from scratch...)

Secondly, I seem to have a really confounding trojan/virus program on my
computer. Every time my computer powers up, it changes the number my internet
program dials for connection to an 888 number and changes my user name to a
set of numbers. I get the feeling this program is trying to dial its own
server and place charges on my phone bill. Even when I delete this info and
type in the correct # and user name, it changes it back to the bogus ones.
I've run a spyware program and an anti-virus program that does not have
current updates. ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE HELL THIS IS AND HOW TO GET
RID OF IT? Because of the first problem, I can download and install a
firewall, so at the moment, I'm screwed.

PLEASE HELP! ;^) Thanks everybody.
Click to expand...

Bruce gave you some good advice. You'll sooner or later need an O/S CD.
Meanwhile, go here:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/editor.html
 
Bruce,

I'm extremely appreciative that you took the time and consideration to make
your suggestions! Thanks so very much.

Your suspicion is understandable and I, too, am really irritated. There's no
content on the hardrive for the previous owner to hide, so why the password
forgetfulness? I don't understand. It's a major hassle. Yeah, no discs were
included so I guess I'll see if I can load a whole new Windows on it.

And the spam/worm/trojan/spyware resources are fantastic! I'll see if I can
install those without the Admin password; unlikely. But those are good
resources for me to have.

Regards,

-Joher
 
Joher said:
Bruce,

I'm extremely appreciative that you took the time and consideration to make
your suggestions! Thanks so very much.

Your suspicion is understandable and I, too, am really irritated. There's no
content on the hardrive for the previous owner to hide, so why the password
forgetfulness? I don't understand. It's a major hassle. Yeah, no discs were
included so I guess I'll see if I can load a whole new Windows on it.

And the spam/worm/trojan/spyware resources are fantastic! I'll see if I can
install those without the Admin password; unlikely. But those are good
resources for me to have.

Regards,

-Joher
Click to expand...


You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Colon,

Your super-smarts rock!

Question: As a layman, I'll be damned if I understand what this means: "It
works offline, that is, you have to shutdown your computer and boot off a
floppydisk or CD. The bootdisk includes stuff to access NTFS partitions and
scripts to glue the whole thing together." What does boot off a floppy or CD
mean? How is this different than just pressing the old "on" button and
letting Windows power everything up? Beyond this, am I to understand that I
need to download, burn a copy of the program, and then somehow empower it to
"lead" the computer &/or power it on? Is this program fairly intuitive with
regards to my "accessing NTFS partitions to glue the whole thing together"?
Sounds complex...

Further clarification would be appreciated and valuable. Again Colon, many
thanks! :^)
 
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