Riddled with ramnit

superman909

GunJack wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/41653210#Comment_41653210

list of boot disk links here, you download the file (an .ISO normally) and burnit to a cd as an .ISO, so you'll need to use a burning prog that can do this, like nero or imgburn

http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn/

but, as you currently don't have a drive on the lappy in question, you'll have to create it on a USB stick and set the BIOS to boot from USB disk first

Hi there GunJack, thank you very much for the help. Can you just clear up why I need this bootdisk exactly, as well as my Avast Boot Scan? I am buying an external DVD drive at the weekend so this shouldn't be a problem. What does it do that the Avast bootscan doesn't, this is a bit confusing for me since I have little computer experience. I have decided that I will use Microsoft SkyDrive to back some stuff up, I hope they aren't infected.

closed

some infections can interfere with a bootscan, if they are resident before the bootscan kicks in, a bootcd avoids this problem

try the avast bootscan and see what happens, it's found in the avast interface.

superman909

closed wrote: »

some infections can interfere with a bootscan, if they are resident before the bootscan kicks in, a bootcd avoids this problem

try the avast bootscan and see what happens, it's found in the avast interface.

Thanks for the reply I'll do that but just goig to sort it at the weekend, not turning the laptop on before then.
I will be buying an external DVD drive, should I be able to boot from this on my Dell? Can't remember seeing a usb option in the bios.

Also, should the laptop be fine after reformatting and reinstalling from the factory restore image on the harddrive, made by Dell, is this "safe' from the worm virus?

closed

after doing the factory restore, I suggest doing a kaspersky boot cd scan too, to make sure it's really gone.

and avoid plugging in an external hard disks/usb flash drives in meantime, as it may infect those

closed

have you got dell datasafe installed, and if so, has it got the create recovery media option?

superman909

closed wrote: »

have you got dell datasafe installed, and if so, has it got the create recovery media option?

I have out of sheer naivety always chosen not to opt into the Dell DataSafe thing, probably just because of the costs etc. As for these Boot discs,.which ones.do you personally recommend I use and when. At what.point do I backup the photos, word docs and videos? Just before I reformat?

If I have say 20gb to backup/store what is going to be the most effective and safest option - what would you do as I am reluctant to connect any USB devices like you said, and maybe it might spread to a DVD if I created 6 or 7 discs with files on?

closed

as I suggested, avst boot scan, then kaspersky boot cd scan, see what it finds before backing up.

Datasafe usually comes with the option to create factory restore discs, if you didn't order them at purchase. If it doesn't, you will have to do the factory restore after cleaning and backing up

superman909

closed wrote: »

as I suggested, avst boot scan, then kaspersky boot cd scan, see what it finds before backing up.

Datasafe usually comes with the option to create factory restore discs, if you didn't order them at purchase. If it doesn't, you will have to do the factory restore after cleaning and backing up

Sorry to bother you, your help is definitely appreciated I have two things worrying me the most..... First of all, how do I know whether this is a boot sector virus or not - just something I have come across on various websites. Also if we remove Dell Datasafe from the equation, what would be the best way of backing up at.least 12gb of data - my convern is that it might spread to the DVD-R? Is a dvd safer than say a USB? What about online? This worm definitely has the ability to travel from my Laptop to say a usb. What method of backup would you use for jpeg,word and HD video files?

closed

I mentioned dell datasafe as a means to create windows reinstallation dvd's, not to use as backup method.

a kaspersky bootcd (created on another machine), there are other alternatives below if you want confirmation, should clean the infection and remove it's ability to infect any further.

http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208282173 - you'll need this to burn as disc image http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn/


http://professional.avira-update.com/package/rescue_system/common/en/rescue_system-common-en.exe

http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd-download

http://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

http://www.freedrweb.com/livecd/?lng=en

http://live.sunbeltsoftware.com/

http://download.bitdefender.com/rescue_cd/bitdefender-rescue-cd.iso

12GB fit's on 3 dvd's, so the cheapest way if nothing else.

worms can be written to dvd's, and spread to anything with write access, which is why I suggest cleaning first.

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the method of backup I would use generally, is, master copy always left on the machine, 1 or more backup copies on dvd's, 1 or more backup copies on 1 or more usb hard disks, disk image backup copy on both mediums if practical. Rescue discs and reinstall discs at the ready. Relying on a 3rd party for backup can have it's uses, but not something I would rely on.

superman909

closed wrote: »

I mentioned dell datasafe as a means to create windows reinstallation dvd's, not to use as backup method.

a kaspersky bootcd (created on another machine), there are other alternatives below if you want confirmation, should clean the infection and remove it's ability to infect any further.

http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208282173 - you'll need this to burn as disc image http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn/


http://professional.avira-update.com/package/rescue_system/common/en/rescue_system-common-en.exe

http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd-download

http://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

http://www.freedrweb.com/livecd/?lng=en

http://live.sunbeltsoftware.com/

http://download.bitdefender.com/rescue_cd/bitdefender-rescue-cd.iso

12GB fit's on 3 dvd's, so the cheapest way if nothing else.

worms can be written to dvd's, and spread to anything with write access, which is why I suggest cleaning first.

---

the method of backup I would use generally, is, master copy always left on the machine, 1 or more backup copies on dvd's, 1 or more backup copies on 1 or more usb hard disks, disk image backup copy on both mediums if practical. Rescue discs and reinstall discs at the ready. Relying on a 3rd party for backup can have it's uses, but not something I would rely on.

One last thing :)when Googling the problem most people are saying there is no cure for this worm my laptop has, so what is the point in using Kaspersky if the only realistic way is to reformat/reinstall Windows 7?

You also say about it spreading to the DVD..... If I am copying photos, movies and word docs how likely is it the infection will be copied over, after both bootscans, since the virus will STILL be on the system no doubt based on the difficulty of all the other posts about this found on various forums?