Computer help please.

cookie_monster

Some help needed please.


Cleaned out the inside of my computer a few days ago a can of compressed air cleaner, re-booted my system and logged on to find most of my profile has disappeared (photos,internet favs,itunes profile,etc), good job I still have all the photos on my memory card.

Have done a system re-store several times but this has not done anything. Did notice one thing when I logged on about a windows security message but ok'ed it like an idiot before reading it properly.

The other problem is I cannot change my homepage and it always opens with a internet security software hompage.

Help please.

wakandem

Don't think the clean out would have done this unless you were using hot soapy water, but then it probably wouldn't work at all.
It seems you have some malware and you need to go through the motions to get rid of it. Baack up what you can , read the sticky (malweare removal guide) 1st 4 posts,
If you have backed up and you have all your reinstallation disks it may be better to reinstall windows on a formatted drive

cookie_monster

Thanks will try that when I get home.

diable

Have a look under Documents and Settings as there may be various folders there eg Joe Bloggs, Admin etc that may contain you profile.

cookie_monster

diable wrote: »

Have a look under Documents and Settings as there may be various folders there eg Joe Bloggs, Admin etc that may contain you profile.

Thanks.

I'm thinking maybe virus :mad:

Strider590

It doesn't sound like virus behaviour to me.

Cleaning your PC inside/out is a good thing, to suggest that doing that could lose your data is ridiculous.

Anyway, your data probably isn't missing and i've come across this sort of complaint before.

Have your desktop icon's disappeared?

macman

What happens when you try to do a System Restore? Please be more precise about what error message (if any) you get. Does Sys Restore actually complete? Can you create a new Restore Point?
Inability to do Sys Restore is a sure sign of infection.
What AV and anti-spyware are you running?

cookie_monster

Strider590 wrote: »

It doesn't sound like virus behaviour to me.

Cleaning your PC inside/out is a good thing, to suggest that doing that could lose your data is ridiculous.

Anyway, your data probably isn't missing and i've come across this sort of complaint before.

Have your desktop icon's disappeared?

Still got some of my desktop icons but not all of them.

cookie_monster

macman wrote: »

What happens when you try to do a System Restore? Please be more precise about what error message (if any) you get. Does Sys Restore actually complete? Can you create a new Restore Point?
Inability to do Sys Restore is a sure sign of infection.
What AV and anti-spyware are you running?

Not much happens when I do a system re-store if anything, still get the homepage as some kind of software security page, at work now so can't give much info. As far as I'm aware system restore does work but will need to check that but abit unsure about it now.

Seems to have lost all my pics/films stored on computer and a few icons have vanished.

Can't seem to reset my homepage.

Strider590

Right..... hmmmm it's one of these malware thing's.... They'll be asking for £££ to fix a problem they caused.

Your files are there somewhere, they're holding them to ransom so to speak.

Try to remember one of the files you had, the file name..... It's probably all been moved to a hidden location.

Im assuming your files where originally stored in "my documents" or on your desktop?

macman

If you've done a Sys Restore then it will tell you so (and if it won't, it will also tell you so).
You clearly have an infection, suggest you look at the stickies and follow the advice given there for malware.