I've borrowed my nephew's laptop and managed to destroy it, Ooooop's, can you help?

angelaloveschocolate

Whilst browsing the internet, I think I may have encountered a virus. It has hidden all the icons on the desktop and installed 'funmoods' as the homepage. I think it may also have effected windows as the box on the bottom left of the screen is also now empty. All photo's gone, Ooooooh Noooooo.

I've managed to get rid of 'funmoods', thanks to advice from here. I also think that the virus has gone, because I installed avg. However, icons and photo's still missing.

I've also tried to do a system restore as I think this would be the easiest option, however this has crashed on my three attemps.

Is all lost?

I should also say that I'm a complete novice, and I'm afraid of making things worse, maybe I already have. So sorry if I should'nt be posting and/or if the solution is already on here, but everything I read on techie, sounds like a foreign language.

Any suggestions before I have to admit to a child that his Auntie Angela is a laptop killer

vyle

A few questions:

What did you actually do that caused the problem? (such as download and run a program, click on a pop up advert, simply visit a dodgy site)

What browser were you using?

is there any anti virus software on the laptop?

angelaloveschocolate

vyle, thanks for asking, I was searching for hotels on lastminute.com. and I clicked on an hotel to look at the deal, one of the ads.

Now, as this is not my laptop I'm not so sure about a browser but I belive its windows vista, does thta sound right?

Finally avast was the anti-virus, but Ive now got avg on and things seem to be improved.

There had been some really frightening error messages saving 'ram damaged' and 'clusters on harddrive damaged', however these have now disappeared.

officeguru

H, I did a google for you and came across a similar problem in another forum and the solution suggested was:

click ctrl+shift+del and end explorer.exe process(if its there)

then click File
new process and type explorer.exe
then ok

hopefully your taskbar and everything else will reappear

If it works, you have 'GAZ' to thank on the 'seven forums'

Cheers

ps If that doesn't work, there are plenty of knowledgeable people on this forum, who will bw able to help..

angelaloveschocolate

Officeguru, thanks so much for the suggestion, off now to try it. fingers crossedxxxxxxxxxxx

angelaloveschocolate

Thanks Officeguru, unfortunately did'nt work at all cntl, shift del has no effect at all But thank you so much for your help.

Anyone else? Please?

GunJack

if not, run unhide.exe from here...

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic405109.html

download link in first post

angelaloveschocolate

Woohoo, thanks to Russjk, I've found the icons, still missing windows the photos and some other things, but finding the icons is giving me some hope, thanks you guys, good to have your help.

Gunjack, I've tried bleepingcompputer alsready but my hubby refuses to pay the fee, but I'm going there now to follow your advice and I'll get back to you to let you know, So pleased that you have also taken the time to post and help

GunJack

angelaloveschocolate wrote: »

Gunjack, I've tried bleepingcompputer alsready but my hubby refuses to pay the fee, but I'm going there now to follow your advice and I'll get back to you to let you know, So pleased that you have also taken the time to post and help

think you're looking at the wrong link, all the bleepingcomputer tools are free, there's no fee to pay...


p.s. Russ, you hiding in here or what ???

GunJack

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/anti-virus/unhide

the link in the first post of the page I gave you is to this page, with the big blue & white Download Now box. Deffo NO FEE Payable !!

angelaloveschocolate

Haha, Gunjack, no Russ is'nt hiding. I just found some advicce on another thread which I thought I would try. OK bleepingcomputer running now, holding my breath.....................

Goodness, its very slow!