Any of you guys know of any nasty Vista viruses going around? I tried to start the laptop this morning and I haven't been able to start it normally yet. McAfee services won't start because of errors, the service for Toshiba's "Config Free" wireless utility is giving me stop errors, and the whole damn thing is running slower than molasses.
Have you tried installing Linux?
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 17, 2009, 09:16:49 AM
Have you tried installing Linux?
Honestly, I like Vista; my big gripe is that it was a cheap laptop, so naturally, no OS disc, and not even a restore disc.
I've got Xandros 3.0.2 around here, but that seems a bit dated to be running on a QL-65 system.
Just get a Win 7 RC iso.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 17, 2009, 09:26:21 AM
Just get a Win 7 RC iso.
I'm tempted. I've already got 7 ordered for October, so it'd just be prep, right?
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 09:10:18 AM
Any of you guys know of any nasty Vista viruses going around? I tried to start the laptop this morning and I haven't been able to start it normally yet. McAfee services won't start because of errors, the service for Toshiba's "Config Free" wireless utility is giving me stop errors, and the whole damn thing is running slower than molasses.
Can you boot into safe mode?
Nuked McAfee and it's starting OK, including the wireless utility, but its still running slow- of course, Toshiba ships its laptops with so much bloatware that I found 82 running processes earlier- only about 5 to 7 of the extra, roughly 40 to 45 processes could have been security software.
I'm running AdAware and HijackThis to see if something infected McAfee itself and spread.
McAfee has been fucking up computers around here lately. I'm not sure why, but it is pissing me off.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 17, 2009, 09:57:13 AM
McAfee has been fucking up computers around here lately. I'm not sure why, but it is pissing me off.
It looks like the affected elements were the services for "personal information protection" and "instant message protection."
Anyway, I'm working on picking up the Windows 7 RC- trouble is that I need the laptop working to get the install disc ready; it's my only computer with a DVD+RW!
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 17, 2009, 09:16:49 AM
Have you tried installing Linux?
Why not suggest he just shoots him self in the head.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 09:53:40 AM
Nuked McAfee and it's starting OK, including the wireless utility, but its still running slow- of course, Toshiba ships its laptops with so much bloatware that I found 82 running processes earlier- only about 5 to 7 of the extra, roughly 40 to 45 processes could have been security software.
I'm running AdAware and HijackThis to see if something infected McAfee itself and spread.
McAfee is a piece of crap. One of the first things I did when I got my last laptop was get rid of all traces of McAfee. I don't think AdAware is as good as it used to be, try using Malwarebytes.
I'd run msconfig and check what's running on startup if you haven't done so already
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 09:40:59 AM
I'm tempted. I've already got 7 ordered for October, so it'd just be prep, right?
Dunno-- if you've pre-ordered an upgrade copy, it may require you to have Vista installed first before you can install that copy come October. Unless there is a work-around like there was with Vista-- but even with that you might have to reinstall the OS.
If you can't get the thing to boot at all, you may want to just re-install Vista & tough it out until October.
And for all you Linux-heads, I have had more boot problems with Linux distros than I ever did with Windows-- and the Windows problems were easier to fix. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Ubuntu, but Linux is not always more reliable than Windows.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 10:00:19 AM
Anyway, I'm working on picking up the Windows 7 RC- trouble is that I need the laptop working to get the install disc ready; it's my only computer with a DVD+RW!
Can't you get someone else with a DVD burner to burn it for you? Hell, I would do it if you didn't mind waiting a few days to get it in the mail.
Quote from: Cerr on August 17, 2009, 10:01:06 AM
McAfee is a piece of crap. One of the first things I did when I got my last laptop was get rid of all traces of McAfee. I don't think AdAware is as good as it used to be, try using Malwarebytes.
I'd run msconfig and check what's running on startup if you haven't done so already
I'll check on MalwareBytes. I'm planning on double-checking msconfig; I looked at the startup services earlier, but Vista's got so many more services than XP that I'm going to double-check to make sure I didn't screw anything up.
If you really wanna get indepth run a HijackThis scan and post the log on the webpage, someone will go through it and tell you if there is anything in there that shouldn't be.
Malwarebytes is pretty good.
Don't leave your computer without AV protection. Put AVG Free on there if you have to.
Run a chkdsk, preferably from a BartPE disk/
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 17, 2009, 10:08:57 AM
If you really wanna get indepth run a HijackThis scan and post the log on the webpage, someone will go through it and tell you if there is anything in there that shouldn't be.
Malwarebytes is pretty good.
Don't leave your computer without AV protection. Put AVG Free on there if you have to.
Run a chkdsk, preferably from a BartPE disk/
Wasn't planning on running sans AV- right now, my top priority is stabilizing the system, and then I'll start adding components back in.
Quote from: derspiess on August 17, 2009, 10:04:13 AM
Dunno-- if you've pre-ordered an upgrade copy, it may require you to have Vista installed first before you can install that copy come October. Unless there is a work-around like there was with Vista-- but even with that you might have to reinstall the OS.
I don't think you need any OS installed with the upgrade version. AFAIK, all you need is the product key for Vista (and you won't even need that if the double installation loophole would still work).
:huh: The loophole still works. I installed a new HD two weeks ago and used it to get a clean install of Vista x64 on there.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 17, 2009, 09:57:13 AM
McAfee has been fucking up computers around here lately. I'm not sure why, but it is pissing me off.
Lately? McAfee has been fucking up systems for well over a decade now... almost as long as Norton.
Using McAfee and Norton to protect your PC is like trying to avoid getting the flu by sticking a shotgun in your mouth and pulling the trigger. Sure, you won't get a virus in that case. :D
IMO you don't need to be running AV software at all. Just back your data up and if you get a virus, reinstall. Fixed.
I think that's a terrible advice. What if the virus is a key logger that steals your credit card information, instead of the kind that fucks up your system? There are plenty of those out there.
Quote from: Caliga on August 17, 2009, 12:37:40 PM
Using McAfee and Norton to protect your PC is like trying to avoid getting the flu by sticking a shotgun in your mouth and pulling the trigger. Sure, you won't get a virus in that case. :D
IMO you don't need to be running AV software at all. Just back your data up and if you get a virus, reinstall. Fixed.
DG's right, Cal. There's a lot more data miners and keyloggers out there now, and those typically don't show up in suspect files; they attach themselves to native Windows elements, like Notepad or Wordpad.
Congratulations, Jim. Looks like the problem's a defective HDD. <_<
Quote from: DGuller on August 17, 2009, 12:39:12 PM
I think that's a terrible advice. What if the virus is a key logger that steals your credit card information, instead of the kind that fucks up your system? There are plenty of those out there.
So? Dispute the charges.
OMG what if there is a mugger waiting to ambush me when I leave the house? I better not leave anymore. :(
Quote from: Caliga on August 17, 2009, 12:52:25 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 17, 2009, 12:39:12 PM
I think that's a terrible advice. What if the virus is a key logger that steals your credit card information, instead of the kind that fucks up your system? There are plenty of those out there.
So? Dispute the charges.
OMG what if there is a mugger waiting to ambush me when I leave the house? I better not leave anymore. :(
I like your thinking!
:lmfao: I was thinking of making a Raz joke with that but I didn't want to risk hurting your feelings. :(
And when something criminal goes down, and they only have your personal information to tie to it? Proactive security is not completely :tinfoil:, Cal. Real men do use firewalls.
Quote from: Caliga on August 17, 2009, 12:52:25 PM
So? Dispute the charges.
Not everything of that sort is easily undone, and none can be undone without a big headache. Identity theft is something that is much, much worse than a virus fucking up your system.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 12:48:47 PM
Congratulations, Jim. Looks like the problem's a defective HDD. <_<
That's what I suspected. I was right.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 12:58:58 PM
And when something criminal goes down, and they only have your personal information to tie to it? Proactive security is not completely :tinfoil:, Cal. Real men do use firewalls.
Who said I don't use a firewall? I'm speaking strictly about antivirus software here.
Quote from: DGuller on August 17, 2009, 01:00:02 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 12:48:47 PM
Congratulations, Jim. Looks like the problem's a defective HDD. <_<
That's what I suspected. I was right.
:yes: Bizarre behavior all around, I was suspecting it, but hoping it wasn't the case. Finally, a few minutes ago, Vista gave me a notification that it "wasn't able to read the HDD/SSD." Flash card reader went down, and I'm now scrambling with chkdisk to try to move data to uncorrupt sections of the disc.
Make/model of the HDD plz? :contract:
The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L505D-S5965. The HDD is a Toshiba MK2555GSX ATA drive. I'm online in Safe Mode with Networking; starting Windows regularly works now, right up until I try to open or right-click anything.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 09:10:18 AM
Any of you guys know of any nasty Vista viruses going around? I tried to start the laptop this morning and I haven't been able to start it normally yet. McAfee services won't start because of errors, the service for Toshiba's "Config Free" wireless utility is giving me stop errors, and the whole damn thing is running slower than molasses.
:zipped:
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2009, 01:44:50 PM
:zipped:
Before you even
start, I'm just going to remind you that they wanted $1200 to repair the girlfriend's MacBook for damage that they only escaped liability for through a loophole. ;)
How can it rear its head? Unless you suggest... oh right.
Quote from: The Brain on August 17, 2009, 02:05:47 PM
How can it rear its head? Unless you suggest... oh right.
That Microsoft is actually a front for a cult of Cthulhu, and that it's products are personal representations of the hideous prodigy of chaos?
I have Vista now. It's not to bad. Though it would be nice if I knew where the files I save on my PC go. Also internal files for PC games.
Quote from: Razgovory on August 17, 2009, 02:23:14 PM
I have Vista now. It's not to bad. Though it would be nice if I knew where the files I save on my PC go. Also internal files for PC games.
Have you tried searching for them?
Quote from: Razgovory on August 17, 2009, 02:23:14 PM
I have Vista now. It's not to bad. Though it would be nice if I knew where the files I save on my PC go. Also internal files for PC games.
The application data directory was moved to "Users/YourName/AppData." It's a little more Linux-like that way.
Alright. Long story, but the system is stabilized now; however, I'm still looking at the Windows 7 RC.
For those that have used it (Grey Fox in particular), I see that between March and August, the RC is supposed to shut down the computer every 2 hours- is that the case? If it is, I'll just grumble and stick it out until October.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 02:01:43 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2009, 01:44:50 PM
:zipped:
Before you even start, I'm just going to remind you that they wanted $1200 to repair the girlfriend's MacBook for damage that they only escaped liability for through a loophole. ;)
But did you pay the $1200? :whistle:
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2009, 04:31:04 PM
But did you pay the $1200? :whistle:
The only way we got out of paying it was her father shouting for an hour at the AppleCare supervisor about how he's on permanent disability, that it was required for her school, and how Dell would still cover a laptop that was dropped all of a whopping 3 feet.
All true, but ya gotta admit, part of it's the salesman- and at one point, I thought the supervisor was going to suggest paying
him the $1200 for his trouble. :lol:
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 02:43:42 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 17, 2009, 02:23:14 PM
I have Vista now. It's not to bad. Though it would be nice if I knew where the files I save on my PC go. Also internal files for PC games.
The application data directory was moved to "Users/YourName/AppData." It's a little more Linux-like that way.
Search on "%appdata%" in the search box on the Start Menu.
BTW, never mind on the bi-hourly shutdowns. I just found the relevant article and realized it was talking about March 2010, not March 2009- I'm already registered to receive a copy of 7 at launch in October, so I don't think I'm going to have a problem with that.
Quote from: derspiess on August 17, 2009, 10:04:13 AM
And for all you Linux-heads, I have had more boot problems with Linux distros than I ever did with Windows-- and the Windows problems were easier to fix. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Ubuntu, but Linux is not always more reliable than Windows.
I'm curious as to what your issue is. I haven't had startup issues with Linux in several years, unless I caused them by screwing around with shit. :P
Quote from: vonmoltke on August 17, 2009, 09:20:31 PM
I'm curious as to what your issue is. I haven't had startup issues with Linux in several years, unless I caused them by screwing around with shit. :P
:mellow: Me too. I've had Xandros since late 2005 and it's never once given me a problem. Derspiess, did you go for vanilla installs or did you try to customize them?
Also, were you dual-booting or flying solo? As I understand it, the LILO bootloader is pretty fragile and has chronic problems with dismounting OSes.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 17, 2009, 09:26:10 PM
the LILO bootloader
:projectilevomit:
The holdout distros need to do the community a favor and switch to Grub, except on the few platforms where LILO is absolutely necessary.
Quote from: vonmoltke on August 17, 2009, 09:28:40 PM
:projectilevomit:
The holdout distros need to do the community a favor and switch to Grub, except on the few platforms where LILO is absolutely necessary.
Tell me about it- and yet, I'm always seeing more posts by LILO fanboiz than GRUB afficionados. My version of Xandros uses a custom bootloader (possibly derived from GRUB) that thankfully has proven pretty sturdy.