can i get a virus?

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56 posts

Master Geek

#205191 3-Apr-2009 17:23

Found this on the HP site.

If you created the recovery discs using Recovery CD Creator, be sure to run the recovery from the same drive that you used to create the discs.

i replaced the cd drive as it broke, so can I only do a HP recovery via the Recovery files on the PC in the D partion?

Do u recommed me do a recovery with the cd's i burnt or from the partion that has the hp recovery files that are hidden. I scanned the partion d: I didnt find any treats.

may there be errors when using the cds for some reason?

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

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#205300 4-Apr-2009 17:49

- As long as you make sure that the CDs are error free, it should be fine. Try copying the CD on another computer to check for errors (or use IsoBuster or similar).

- I think the logic behind saying that you have to restore from the same drive, is that the software might have hard-coded the drive letter into the backups. Either ways, it should give you an error before starting the restore process.

- I wouldn't recommend restoring from the recovery partition or the CDs as they would contain an older version of windows, and you'd have to take the trouble of updating to SP3 and then installing all the updates after that too. (There are 93 updates as of now, post-SP3!) Not only is it time consuming, you'd seriously fragment your HDD and registry, thus requiring more time (and therefore money). A more efficient option is to use a standard XP setup disc, with integrated SP3 and updates. You could even integrate SP3, updates, software etc into the disc, automate the installation and much more, with nLite.

- Personally, I feel Linux would be a better choice, given your hardware and situation. Take a look at Mandriva (Easy to migrate to, for Win users), Ubuntu (the most popular distro there is) or Puppy Linux (Extremly fast, aimed at older hardware).

kiwiscoota

237 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#205305 4-Apr-2009 18:01

d3Xt3r:

- Personally, I feel Linux would be a better choice, given your hardware and situation. Take a look at Mandriva (Easy to migrate to, for Win users), Ubuntu (the most popular distro there is) or Puppy Linux (Extremly fast, aimed at older hardware).

I love linux, but cannot comprehend why ANYONE would recommend doing a linux install to someone that is obviously struggling with Microsoft Windows. Mandriva and Ubuntu are not necessarily easy installs, I've installed both in the last two months.

EDIT MOD RC: Corrected company names, once is a typo, twice is not. Please read our FUG.

Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205327 4-Apr-2009 20:44

d3Xt3r:

- As long as you make sure that the CDs are error free, it should be fine. Try copying the CD on another computer to check for errors (or use IsoBuster or similar).

- I think the logic behind saying that you have to restore from the same drive, is that the software might have hard-coded the drive letter into the backups. Either ways, it should give you an error before starting the restore process.

- I wouldn't recommend restoring from the recovery partition or the CDs as they would contain an older version of windows, and you'd have to take the trouble of updating to SP3 and then installing all the updates after that too. (There are 93 updates as of now, post-SP3!) Not only is it time consuming, you'd seriously fragment your HDD and registry, thus requiring more time (and therefore money). A more efficient option is to use a standard XP setup disc, with integrated SP3 and updates. You could even integrate SP3, updates, software etc into the disc, automate the installation and much more, with nLite.

- Personally, I feel Linux would be a better choice, given your hardware and situation. Take a look at Mandriva (Easy to migrate to, for Win users), Ubuntu (the most popular distro there is) or Puppy Linux (Extremly fast, aimed at older hardware).

Hey im gonna start it tonight. If it gives me an error or stuffs up some how is it 100% possible to get back to where i was in the begining? Other words is there a risk that it might totally stuff up and all I could get into is the BIOS? Would it make like a roll back/system restore point, before it starts the recovery?

They would of tested for all kinda of errors and get you back to normal if it stuffed up ay?

'I wouldn't recommend restoring from the recovery partition or the CDs as they would contain an older version of windows, and you'd have to take the trouble of updating to SP3' an older version of windows u mean like SP1 or do u mean like windows 2000?

Plus It possibe to put a program onto a USB stick and reinstall it after the format and windows install. If it was no cd, its just installed. I just have the files that are form the install.

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

Trusted

#205330 4-Apr-2009 20:57

kiwiscoota:
I love linux, but cannot comprehend why ANYONE would recommend doing a linux install to someone that is obviously struggling with Microsucks Windoze. Mandriva and Ubuntu are not necessarily easy installs, I've installed both in the last two months.

I was just being logical:

Path 1:

Restore XP -> Install SP3 (takes a long time) -> Install ~100 updates (Takes even more time) -> Possibly install (new) drivers (some older drivers aren't compatible with SP3) -> Install and configure AntiVirus and Firewall -> Find, download and install all the other software -> Defrag regularly + set up other maintanance routines -> Set up Limited User Account to minimize future malware risks

Path 2:

Install Linux, and learn the basic as you go along.

Do I even have to bother stating that newer distros are much more easier and faster to install than XP? I would always recommend linux to those who are struggling with windows, because, face it, linux has become easier to use than windows. (well, for general tasks anyways). It's certianly a better option for someone on older hardware, having to still use XP. As far as the distros are concerned, some say that Mint is easier than Ubuntu.. but then, that's another topic altogether :)

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

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#205332 4-Apr-2009 21:12

Hello213: Hey im gonna start it tonight. If it gives me an error or stuffs up some how is it 100% possible to get back to where i was in the begining? Other words is there a risk?that it might totally stuff up and all I could get into is the BIOS? Would it make like a roll back/system restore point,?before it starts the recovery?

They would of tested for all kinda of errors and get you back to normal if it stuffed up ay?

'I wouldn't recommend restoring from the recovery partition or the CDs as they would contain an older version of windows, and you'd have to take the trouble of updating to SP3' an older version of windows u mean SP1?

Plus It?possibe to put a program onto a USB stick and reinstall it after the format and windows install. If it was no cd, its just installed. I just have the files that are form the install.

http://ping.windowsdream.com/ is a 100% solution to go back to where you were in the beginning. You could also use other tools like Ghost or Acronis, but they cost a bomb.

IMHO though it's not worth it because AFAIK you already have your important data backed up (or don't have any important data on the computer), so all you would need to do is re-start the restoration process or get hold of an XP (or linux) setup CD.

"an older version of windows u mean SP1?"

> Yes, like SP1 or SP2.

"Plus It possibe to put a program onto a USB stick and reinstall it after the format and windows install. If it was no cd, its just installed. I just have the files that are form the install."

> You mean you want to backup some programs (whose setup files you don't have) onto a USB stick and copy them back after the reinstallation? It may not work always. Usually, small programs like WinRAR work without having to install them, but most others, like browsers, chat, antivirus, graphics, office, etc need to be installed. (Unless you're using a portable version).

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Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205335 4-Apr-2009 21:18

thanks how much mins/hours u reckon it will take? to get back into windows xp

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

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#205336 4-Apr-2009 21:35

~20 Mins to restore? Some recovery discs are just an image of the drive so it takes really fast, while others actually install windows and run scripts to set it to factory-defaults.. I'm not sure which type you're having, but I'd give it an hour tops.

Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205352 5-Apr-2009 01:34

Hey, only toke 22 mins to reinstall.

My plan was to use the recovery discs over the HP Recovery Partion that is hidden on the hard drive.
But when i followed the computers manual it told me to press F10 to use the cds when rebooting, but when looking online i needed to press ESC. So I only realised this as it got to 20% and a change of cd wasnt needed.... So all i could of done was phyically turned it off which i thought wouldnt be good while it was doing that.

So should I redo it while being all set up with the recovery cds? Only reason why I thought it would be better was cause the computer was so heavly infected, yet when I had done any scans not one out of all the scans id done over the years ever showed anything in the HP recovery partion D. Its hidden and got tight security, even if u click it and try to access a file so you think no virus or any thing would have got in it?

Even if there was something in there. Why would it be bought back when i reinstalled XP? Why would it need to use a virus file to recovery? Again all the past scans I did the last days nothing was found in it, counting over the past 5 years.

You think im safe?

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

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#205375 5-Apr-2009 09:49

No, don't redo it. I don't think you can restore over the recovery drive, the restore would bring it back to factory-defaults, so you'd go back to having windows in C:.

There are very little chances that a Virus could have gotten into the recovery partition, provided that the partition was always left hidden. You should be alright.

euanandrews

1528 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#205377 5-Apr-2009 10:09

In a nutshell...

You have 2 computers, both connected to the net vis a router.

This router, is the 'link' between your 2 computers...

So there are 2 distinct ways you can get a virus, worm or spyware on these 2 computers...

1) You are browsing the internet, and inadvertively pick it up from there
2) One of your computers is already infected, and it then attempts to infect your other computer...

There are 2 ways your infected computer could infect your 'clean' computer...

1) The virus/worm spreads using your local network, back through the router to your clean computer
2) You are using USB flash drives or portable hard drives between the 2 computers, and te virus/worm has infected these drives, meaning you inadvertively transfer the virus/worm from the infected computer, to your clean computer.

So there are actually many ways your clean computer can become infected...new infections from the internet, an old infection using your network to infect your other computer, and yourself, when transfering files, manually infecting a clean computer.

Best solution?
Get both computers cleaned/sorted...don't have one good one and leave the ther bad...that's just asking for trouble.

The 3 main defences in software are:
Antivirus
Antispyware/adware
Firewall

Make sure you have them all.

If you can't get rid of all the nastys on your computers, sometimes the easiest thing to do, is to just format all the drives and start fresh with a new OS install.

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Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205388 5-Apr-2009 11:16

d3Xt3r: No, don't redo it. I don't think you can restore over the recovery drive, the restore would bring it back to factory-defaults, so you'd go back to having windows in C:.

There are very little chances that a Virus could have gotten into the recovery partition, provided that the partition was always left hidden. You should be alright.

Restore over the recovery drive? I meant do a totally new HP Recovery another fresh install/format with cds this time, but I guess i wont as im pretty sure no viruses were put on to this fresh install from the last. Even though the PC was heavily infected there was 0 errors, treats (ever from the day one when buying this around 2004) in the D partition which is the HP recovery partition.

How ever when i attempted to access the D: partition Hp Recovery before I could access into one area where it has alot of hidden files showing, But as of now it has only one file thats a lock icon which before I also couldnt access as well as now i cant - so its the same cant get into it.
Its just that last time some other random files where showing before attempting to access the HP lock icon (where supposibly where the files needed to do a full fresh install.)but the actaull HP recovery lock icon file was not accessible and now theres no random files just the HP lock icon.

Sorry hard to explain. What would be the reason for seeing some system files or some files before trying to click open the HP lock icon, previously when it was infected.

Is it possible to put like a username and password on between the two computers so if on computer does get a virus it cant get through. What are some safety things I can now do to make it really hard for virus's to cross computers, IF one happens to get a virus.

Thanks.

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

Trusted

#205389 5-Apr-2009 11:25

^ Just make sure that file sharing isn't enabled in either of the computers, and that all user accounts on both the computers are password protected. Also, ensure that you don't use an admin account on either of the computers. This is very important, especially with XP (as the default accounts created have admin rights).

A virus could still cross over via a Flash drive, so don't forget to disable Autorun/Autoplay. Also, some flash drive viruses disguise themselves as other files (like pictures) so it's very handy to show hidden files and folders, uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files' and uncheck the option to hide file extensions. That way, you could identify a virus if it looks like a picture, but its called Picture.jpg.exe, for example. Some of them also look like a folder, so you could identify it by looking for something like Folder.exe

Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205412 5-Apr-2009 15:47

Just scanned with Avast and 0 infections :) plus it only toke around 40mins compared to 2hours before.

Hello213

56 posts

Master Geek

#205610 6-Apr-2009 18:22

OK so I looked at my internet usage for today and its at 88mb so far but I dont think that could be right. All ive done is browsing and around less then a hour of counter strike source. Is there a way to monitor my internet usage/traffic to eliminate the factor that a hazardous threat is using my internet.

Also I have both PCs off and on the dynalink RTA1025
w its showing the Lan 2 light on. Why is this showing on when the computer is off?
i accidently forgot to connect the ADSL cord to the router for some time and was wondering why I wasnt getting a connection, so the computer did a connection test and told me to check cords,, so I dont know if that might of made the fault.

And is it possible to not be the administration but also not to have a username and password?

Thanks.

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