Due to my recent experience where I got a trojan that effectively blocked me from using my computer and threatening me with heavy fines or jailtime (unless I paid a smaller fine, of course ), I thought I'd start a thread where we could discuss the various computer problems we've had. Perhaps we could give each other some hints and tips on how to solve them

I solved my problem thanks to the wonderful feature built into Windows where you reset your computer to an earlier save point. To get to that program even though my computer was locked I had to fire up my computer in failsafe mode (pressing F8 during startup), choose Failsafe Mode with Command prompt, exit from that and do the Ctrl-Alt-Delete thing to bring up the activity menu from where I could search for the C:/ directory and from there find the program where you make a save point/reset to a save point.

(Apologies if my explanation is a bit clunky )

I cannot stress the obvious enough. A good, reliable anti-virus program is a must to prevent these virus and trojan attacks. There are several good ones out there that are 100% free. I am currently using Avast Anti-Virus. They have two versions...one is free and one costs $$$. I am using the free one and have had no issues with trojans.

Also, be wary of what websites you visit.

I use Windows Defender and two free programs to scan for nasty stuff with. They´re called Advanced SystemCare and I believe 10BIT Malware Protection. After this attack I also upped my defense in internet options.

Being careful what sites you visit is important as you said, TSG. But sometimes it just isn´t enough This attack was Java based, so that can be something to think about.

Heh, Java's getting its butt kicked recently. We just had a bulletin at work about a critical update at work.

I got the same virus the other day. It says that the FBI has locked your computer because you illegally downloaded a file of some sort but says that you can pay a small fine to unlock it. Close examination of the page reveals that the message itself is laden with spelling errors and even the FBI logo has a spelling error.

It locks up your PC completely and won't let you close the window. I had to restart my PC manually and open up another profile, then use system restore to revert my infected profile to an earlier version. This is why it is good to back up your files on a regular basis.

One of the big things to look out for to prevent getting viruses and spyware is to avoid any site that claims to let you view any movie for free. Or download such movies. I do not mean using torrents, but downloading directly from a site. Usually this is in the form of a .exe file. Sites like this are worse than Porn sites when it comes to malware.

USE AVG!

I am most definitely a "belt and suspenders and also a bit of twine for just in case those fail" sort when it comes to computer security.

I am now using Avast- only because AVG developed an annoying "cannot download new definitions" problem a few months ago

Also run a scan with Malwarebytes every couple of weeks

And keep CCleaner around for general emptying of temp Internet files, leftover installer pieces, and etc.

On a different note- having suffered through trying to defrag an XP machine with the "native" defrag utility- I can highly recommend AUSLogics Defrag

All of the above are freeware versions and have given good service

Having fallen prey to a virus that even the techie Brother-In-Law and his other techie chums had no clue about despite having the anti-virus, I can honestly say that regularly backing up your files is an absolute must...

This last time, I was gutted to have lost so much...Fortunately, the bro-in-law's chum managed to get a lot of them back for me eventually, but had I backed-up in the first place...

Always have a back-up plan people!...

So you´re saying I could just create Another profile on my computer and use that should this happen again? It doesn´t lock both profiles?


First sensible words from McB since I joined up!

That's what I did and it solved the problem. It only locked the profile I was on so I went into our administrative profile and used it to fix the other profile. There are also directions on how to find and manually delete the files but I figured it'd be easier just to restore it to a previous backup.

I sprinkle protective fairy dust on Puter once a week to keep her blue lights calm and her fans happily whirling. Puter also has a pretty strong natural resistance to disease as a racial bonus. If she does get sick however, I take her to the chapel to see the healers. They have spells to clone or even resurrect her if necessary.

@Acadian -

Yes but you must pay in actual gold to get those services.

Here's a tip.

Don't click anything you shouldn't click.

There,no viruses.

Apparently it´s not that easy. They find new ways to get to you all the time

Skyrim nexus

If only it were that easy.

Here's a tip to never be hit by a car.

Never go where cars exist.

There, no vehicle related injuries.

It is that easy though!

*

@ Mirocu - this thread is an excellent idea! Thank you for the tips, I have written them down outside of my PC just in case.

@ Kiln - that is a great tip too. I have my secondary profile turned off, but after reading your comment I am thinking about setting it back up just in case - thank you for the tips!

@ Acadian - SPEW! ROFL!

Hope you understood me, computer linguistics in English is not my strong suit!

I added a part. To get to failsafe in the first place, hit F8 during startup

I'll write it down too, thank you so much!

Have a problem at Bethsoft, something to do with Java. When making a post I can´t do anything besides writing anymore; I can´t get the smiley list up, I can´t bring up the color menu, link to pixies, change font etc etc.

I have the latest Java and all, could someone please help me with this?

Edit: Somehow it seems to work when I edit my post but not when I make it

mirocu - You can normal post and there is a button (lower right) for 'more post options' that allows you to preview and such and better access some features. I bet you already know that though and it hasn't solved your problem since things like the emoticon menu are normally available in either mode.

I just checked over there and I don't share the problem you seem to have.

I don't know about java's except the ones I drink in the morning. So. . . my suggestion would be to PM a mod over there and see if they have any ideas or can help.

Good luck.

Already did the things you suggested, Acadian I PMd CCNA and he put me forward to the official troubleshooting thread. Hopefully I can get an answer there.
I don´t have a problem at the computer I´m currently sitting at, it´s just my own hunk-a-junk that´s acting up

Thanks though and have an extra cup of java today, Acadian. Maybe it helps to solve my problem!

Downloaded Microsoft Essential and now I use that instead of Windows Defender since they can´t both be used at the same time. Anyone who knows which is the better program?

If Wikipedia is to be believed, Windows Defender is an antispyware program and Microsoft Essential is an actual antivirus suite. So definitely use Microsoft Essential over Defender.

Yes, I suspected that´s how it is. I have other programs for spyware and of course I have the Windows firewall enabled. I think this is the best I can do to secure my PC and still not pay anything

Installed the Fallout 3 DLCs today and I did what I always do prior to that; I made a new savepoint. Those have helped me greatly before so I always make sure to have a fresh one just in case

Ok, so today I had to make a system reset because yet again an update made it impossible to quote at Bethsoft. It´s already impossible to use the emoticon list, colours, etc etc but when I can´t quote I had to do something.

Slight problem though this time. I get an error when the puter starts up but I don´t know what it is and everything seem to be working. At least for now. Beside the system reset I also disabled Windows Update to avoid the problem in the future. I don´t get it, why are the updates making Bethsoft forums acting up?

I'm not sure it's the updates screwing things up on the Bethsoft forums. There's a thread in general discussion about people having problems with the forums, including being unable to quote people.

Edit: Link

But it´s after an update I got this problem. Now after the reset, the quoting works again, although not the colours, emoticon list etc.

I meant it's most likely that the changes made by the update react badly with something on the forum's end, rather than the problem being with your computer.

Yeah, I don´t think it´s my puter specifically since this problem also occurred with my parents´ puter.

Not sure what day it was, but we had to get the computer tech Bro-In-Law (who is forever in our gratitude anyways) to come and sort ours out...

Turns out it was trying to install updates in one order and the programs wouldn't take them unless it was done in another order...

Like, it wouldn't update - or was it upgrade to - Internet Explorer 11 without installing Service Pack 2 first...But it was trying and failing and messing the comp up a bit...

Anyways, we got that sorted...But now my email, which I do through IE (The wife and kids use Firefox) won't use the emoticons...

Bloody windows updates...I wonder if that's knocked out some of the "Buttons" like the quote one...

I´m with you. Like I said I´ve disabled windows updates on both my puter and my parents, and I see no reason to enable it again. It just messes things up!

Don´t fix what ain´t broken!!

*Checks laptop*

Wow, I've got over 600Mb of updates to download

Might have to see about getting those, most of them are listed as security updates.

I wonder what all that is anyway, and it´s so often

I just figure it's Microsoft trying to fix their bloody broken OS.

I've got Windows 8, it came with the laptop.


I've also got to download an updated driver for the touchpad, for some reason the left side of the clicker's been completely reassigned for no reason, and I can't seem to do anything about it.

Which is why I´ve now disabled the updates. My computer is fine and if I´m not told what they do I don´t see the point with all these updates. I mean, what do they fix when I can´t see any difference? The only time I do see a difference is when they move stuff around like you described and I get !

Well I haven't actually downloaded any updates for months, so I've no idea what's going on with the touchpad. It just stopped letting me left click with the button for some reason. I'm hoping the driver will fix it.

Just wanted to mention that I haven´t had any issue after disabling the Windows updates. If nothing I have avoided problems since I did that and I have decided to stay off. I can always enable it if absolutely necessary but I don´t see that coming at all.

Updating when everything works is like fixing a flat tyre when you don´t have a flat tyre

The only problem with not updating is that your computer eventually becomes extremely vulnerable to viruses and other malware.

Like you, I have automatic updates disabled on my Win7 partition. However, I still go in and look at what's pending, and pick and choose what to update.

Since I started playing Oblivion daily on this computer, I've also started running daily backups. I'd hate to lose everything due to one lousy update. I'm fortunate in that my Mac Pro is still running solid, and I have a spare drive to back everything up to on a daily basis.

Of course, there's nothing on my Win7 partition but Google Chrome, Oblivion and all its associated mods and utilities. I often joke that this game is the only reason I even have Win7 installed!

This. I do know you pain with Windows updates though. I ended up reinstalling Windows last semester because of some F'd up updates.

And not updating is letting your tyres go slowly flat, instead of keeping them pumped up!

< /analogy >

I have never had any trouble with Windows Update on the three or four boxes I have owned since Microstone started doing it. In fact, Windows Update seems to have fixed a problem with random lockups I was having last month. I couldn't figure out what was causing it, and eventually I manually went to Windows Update to see if anything was out there, found four or five fixes for things, manually downloaded them, and poof, all my problems vanished.

I very much disagree there, buddy

I do have Microsoft Essentials going and that I update regularly

Well, I just spent a half hour panicking.

Downloaded and installed a mod for Civ 4 BtS, and fired it up.

And my touchpad stopped working.

After digging through everything, trying everything I could think of, even going so far as to fire up system restore...

A google search led me to a forum with a solution:

[Fn] + F7

*facepalm*

There´s always a solution, you just have to know where to look for it


Glad it worked out for you

Here´s a question for those who have it; What do you think of Windows 8?

To me nothing beats XP. I never had any problems with it and every game, very old or brand new, worked on it. In contrast Millennium was the worst I´ve had. Constant problems even getting Windows to load up properly.

So with this in mind, how would you rate Win 8? XP-class or Millennium-class?