Computer is possessed again

[MarkC]

While looking at BITOG, I lost the keyboard. Rebooted and lost the mouse. It started in Safe mode, or at least the screen had that fuzzy, weird look to it, with big icons and stuff. I got the mouse back and I can get online, but the screen is still looking the way it does in Safe mode. What is the deal? I'm running ME and Selective Startup (as I have for months) with only Load Static VxDs, Load startup group itmes, and Load envrironment variables checked.
Can anybody give me a clue?

 

[Pablo]

New PC, fully loaded. Less than $300.

 

[MarkC]

That's nice...if you're gonna front me $300.
I did an AV scan and found something called INF/Pomelo. It was deleted, but the graphics problem remains.

 

[T-Keith]

The infected file may have been an important system file. Always quarantine a virus, sometimes it is located in an important file.

 

[Pablo]

I had pretty good luck with ME for 5 years, but when it comes down via attack it comes down hard. I assume you have reloaded the proper graphics drivers.

It's not unusual to run in selective start-up in ME. How did the virus get through? You have dial-up? Maybe a graphic file or something.

The problem is maybe it's not worth it to buy an upgrade for your OS and then find out your hardware is borderline. New PC's are fairly cheap, that's all I meant.

 

[MarkC]

I wasn't try to snappish, Pablo, sorry.
I haven't tried to reload the drivers yet, I can't find the CD with the OS on it, all I can find so far is the floppy Startup disc I made.
The AV deleted the Virus on it's own rather than quarantine it.
I don't know how the irus got through, I have DSL and a Firewall.
Maybe I cna reload the drivers from the MS update wbpage or something.

 

[Drew99GT]

A software firewall or firewall router won't stop malware from getting in via drive by download. But firefox with no script will.

 

[XS650]

Quote:

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A software firewall or firewall router won't stop malware from getting in via drive by download. But firefox with no script will.

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The fun thing about no script is seeing how many other places some websites want to let run scripts on your computer.

 

[MarkC]

Thanks for all the help. Oh wait. Nobody offered much.
I did take what Pablo said about the drivers and ran with it. Had to go to the company website and download the graphics driver, but now things are good again. Cost: $0.

 

[moribundman]

Quote:

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A software firewall or firewall router won't stop malware from getting in via drive by download. But firefox with no script will.

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Do you mean javascript, applescript, vbscript? Doesn't the script problem apply more to how Internet Explorer handles email? IE's mail was set to run vbscripts automatically, so if the script says "delete stuff" then stuff would get deleted. Or do you mean the browser is set up to run scripts? I apologize if my questions make no sense, but I'd like to learn something.

 

[Drew99GT]

It turns of any scripting, and it's not just IE. It's mainly javascript. I can give you a few URLs that will instantly download the latest and *greatest* malware out there and they all do it via javascripting. Lots of adware is installed via drive by download this way.

Or you could install a sandbox to 100% no questions asked cut off the rest of your computer from your browser and zilch, zip, notta, nothing will ever get through and mess things up.