Viruses on laptops

matphil

Hi.
My dd's laptop has several viruses. At the moment she has no internet access so I would like to know if I plug my modem into her laptop to try and get rid of the viruses will it affect my laptop when I plug the modem back into mine.
Also, what is the most efficient way of getting rid of viruses. I don't mind wiping it clean as there is nothing on there she wants to keep.
Thanks

weegie.geek

You can plug the modem in fine, but to be honest if it's riddled with viruses I'd be reluctant to let it on the net.

I'd rather just do a wipe and reinstall windows if that kind of thing happened. It's usually faster than scanning the entire system with a virus checker then a spyware checker etc.

Alias_Omega

ah no big problem, connect to internet and goto a place called www.grisoft.com or google it, this is the home of the AVG antivirus.

from here, download a virus scanner called 'AVG Free', then update and run that.

This will remove the virus.

Dont use any other free online scanner, useless.

Other program i would run, is from www.download.com called 'Adaware'.

Alias

matphil

Thanks.
I know this is going to sound like a really stupid question now but how do you do a wipe.

Alias_Omega

What he means is removing all software through the use of formatting the hard drive and reinstalling, or the use of a restore cd / something like starting up with Cntr-C.

I would avoid this until the last option, there are many clear reasons -

1. You will wipe all the drivers from the laptop that have been installed for printers, usb modems, mobile phones, cameras etc that you might not have too hand.

2. You will have to spend about a week updating the laptop through broadband to get it up too speed if its Windows XP Pro without SP1 / SP2 updates

3. You might not have all the graphics card, sound card drivers, the windows CD that works with the OEM pass key.

matphil

The laptop is an old one that had been given to my dd so she doesn't have any discs or anything for it and there is nothing of hers on there yet. It is running windows 2000.
Thanks.

Alias_Omega

ah, windows 2000,

ok,what spec is laptop & how old is DD..

maybe its time you eBay'd the old laptop and bought a more up too date item for less than £250..

DD will benefit from it aswell

matphil

I'm not sure about spec I think its 256mb memory that's all I know really at the moment. I will find out more tomorrow.
DD is 22. The reason she wants to use this laptop is because she can't afford to buy one at the moment.

Alias_Omega

great thread on here about sub £300 laptops new, plus old laptop might fetch £50 ishy on eBay..

birthday / christmas present.. just keep old case, and put it in it, and hand it back with the words...

"computer shop managed to fix it, and walk away.. "

Donnie

If you've the Windows 2000 disc, re-formatting is a sure option.

Use DriverBackUp! to save the drivers to a CD or USD thumb drive.

If you are going down the antivirus route, use Kaspersky or maybe NOD32.

Firstly, uninstall any existing antivirus program. Is there one currently installed?

Next download: Kaspersky AntiVirus or Internet Security 30 day trial

or

Eset Antivirus or Smart Security 30 day trial

Both are superior in performance to AVG.

Download the set up files using another computer and place the files on a CD or USB thumb drive.

From there you can transfer the program to the laptop and install from there, without connecting to the Internet. Once installed, you can connect to the Internet in order to update the virus definitions.

Run a full scan.

frogman_2

While there Alias is correct; I am going to suggest that you have 2 options.

1. Download various AVirus/ATrojan/ASpware/ARootKit software onto your machine and then transfer it to the infected laptop and run the scans offline.

2. Connect infected laptop and use Hitman Pro Does take a long time and you do have to sit over it but this could prove to be the simplest way of 'cleaning' the laptop.

Alias, any thoughts?