Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Red screen with lines on it then computer shuts off

Feb 24, 2008 12:21PM PST

I was playing a game on MyHpGames. it came preloaded on my laptop. it was a game that i had played before and everything was fine. next thing i know the screen freezes then a red screen with lines shows up. the first time it happened the laptop shut down and restarted by itself. the next time it would not do anything. i had to do a hard shut down. i have Panda Security suite. just bought my HP laptop three weeks ago. I am running Windows vista home premium. i have done all the updates for everything. i scan for virus every day. i have had 4 viruses and 800 spywares. i am not sure whats going on that i actually am getting spyware. i have the protection on. it just seems to not be working. what could be causing the red screen issue? i am clueless. i work on Mac most of the time. so this is rather new to me. i have never had something like this happen before. the fact that i just purchased the laptop makes me very nervous. any suggestions or ways to fix this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much


Chrissy

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
This May Sound Silly But....Is Your ....
Feb 24, 2008 2:56PM PST

Panda Security Suite active/ turned on/enabled??
I'm not a big fan of Panda but given it claims to contain:
- Antivirus
- AntiSpyware
- AntiPhishing
- Firewall
- Identity Protect
- Backup
- TruPrevent
- AntiSpam
- Parental Control
- TotalScan Pro

I have trouble understanding how you could have suffered such a massive attack unless it's NOT installed or enabled.

One of the included items is "back-up". Can you do that to before this problem appeared?? Or use system restore to a point before trouble?

Have you downloaded any other security type programs that might be "rogue"?? Here's a site that lists rogues and you could check your add delete programs to see if you have any of the listed: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Perhaps run an "online scan" in case your Panda has been made useless/disabled by the attacker:
http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/enterprise/products/housecall_launch.php
Will take about 1 hour to 1 1/2 to scan. Check mark for auto remove at beginning so it will remove any baddies found.

If it reports "unable to fix" anything, write down EXACTLY the description of each item along w/ it's location/path. If it say they're in system volume, it means your system restore points are also infected and you would have to dump them .

Also see if you can download & run AVG's Rootkit Revealer:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0 (on right side).
Install & run scan & see if any rootkit found. Root kits erase the tracks they leave during installation making them hard to find for AV programs.

IF root kits are found &/or online scan can't fix, report back w/ details of what remains. Likely we'll then send you to security experts at C-Nets Spyware/Security/Viruses forum.

Alternately, IF Panda came pre-installed at factory or from store,
you could return to them and require full re-install performed at their expense (given age of product). This will hurt IF you have a lot of stuff already added to machine as it would likely all be lost.

I'll check back nightly for next few days or someone else here will offer help as well! Good Luck! Patience is a virtue in situations like this.
Happy

- Collapse -
Wait Just a Minute!! I Just Spotted This....
Feb 24, 2008 3:24PM PST

at the Panda site: Panda Security Suite System Requirements:

Processor: Pentium 300 MHz or faster
RAM: 128 MB (256 MB recommended).
Hard disk: 270 MB free space
Operating system: Windows Vista 32 & 64 bit, Windows XP 32 & 64 bit, Windows 2000
Internet Explorer 6.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CD-ROM drive

If you have Vista (any) then you have >>>IE 7<<<< NOT IE 6 & perhaps Panda is incapable of protecting you while browsing on net or ...?

This could explain a lot! Hopefully it was able to give you other listed protections but now I wonder??!

IF this is the case.. then you need to get other software to replace Panda Suite after you un-install it.

Continued next post (4 some reason won't take more on this 1 ??!

- Collapse -
Next Post Part 2:
Feb 24, 2008 3:27PM PST

You can get FREE software to give you protection. AVG besides Anti-Rootkit also offers Free AV & a good Anti-Spyware program which has free 30 day trail of full program. At end, you can choose to buy OR it will continue as an "on demand scanner remover" but you loose background real time guard & must update manually instead of automatically (not a big deal..takes less than 1 minute). Here:

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

Instructions for install & scan w/ AVG Free 7.5 Anti-Spyware:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=238606&messageID=2432607#2432607

If you can, download all 3 mentioned above and save to your Documents folder before un-installing Panda. Of course do NOT be connected to Web during local removal process.

Also see if you can enable/ confirm already enabled Vista's own built in firewall. If Pandas is working, then ONLY 1 firewall can be active.

Sorry it took me so long to spot in system req. incomparability! Happy

Have NO IDEA WHY this part of post was abreaviated from above & wouldn't show links.... All's well that ends well! Happy

- Collapse -
not using IE
Feb 25, 2008 12:39PM PST

i actually am not using internet explorer at all. i use Firefox. its much safer. i have done a backup and everything. the internet protection is enabled. and since i posted the first time, the problem has not happened. i am still going to follow everyones advice though. i think first things first. i am getting rid of panda. its not protecting me. its allowing spyware and virus to get on computer then when i tell it to do a full scan removing everything. thats not keeping me safe from hackers now is it. what protection is recommended? i download music alot. i also have a myspace account. i do online banking and stuff like that. i download from limewire. iknow thas probably not smart but i do not know where else i can get free music and stuff. i ahve a 3 year old and no money. lol. any sugggestions?


thanks everyone

- Collapse -
In Addition to the 3 I Mentioned Above....
Feb 27, 2008 2:40PM PST

you could also get for FREE:
Spybot Search & Destroy v1.52 (current):
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

For real-time background guard you could try Comodo BOClean v.4.25:
http://www.comodo.com/boclean/CBO_download.html?l

As always, always right click scan w/ AV/AS before anything else.
If you use BOClean, you should NOT use the Tea Timer optional function that's included in Spybot as it conflicts (locks down settings that
BOClean would need to change to clean up an attack). Otherwise ok.

Both Have forums for support linked to sites.
Unfortunately with Limewire you're at the mercy of the security & intentions of the one who uploaded the song (Always download to a the same folder & right click scan with all you can).

My Space has been targeted as an easy way to distribute malware and has been known to have exploit based attackers on various pages (usually NOT placed by the space holder & unknown to him/her).

I'm not sure anything can really protect you 95%+ with those two.
If you could afford, I'd suggest your banking & CC info/usage should NOT share a machine with the 2 above. Good Luck! S Happy

- Collapse -
"just purchased the laptop" = WARRANTY. Please call.
Feb 24, 2008 11:06PM PST

Please call this in as you must report problems early for the best outcome. I've seen people lose out on a machine exchange when they delayed weeks and missed the 3 day window that in some states you can just toss it back at them.

Bob

- Collapse -
Weird red screen
Nov 17, 2010 7:48AM PST

I have a relatively freshly installed HP 871010w with Win7 that is currently exhibiting similar behavior. The red lines though are dark red maroon like silhouettes of the windows that are currently visible. the machine locks up, but the mouse cursor is still moving and is white, as opposed to everything else which is red. the keyboard is unresponsive and I have to hard boot. weird thing is though, this never happens at work while it's in it's docking station, but at least 3 times when I'm at home each night. Sometimes it happens immediately after startup, sometimes after hours of use, but I can't find a pattern. The way it sort of 'fades' to this red screen rubbish *suggests* that it's an aero thing, but I'm not sure of that. Is this similar to your problem and is there a solution? Not online when it happens and my AV is MS security essentials.

- Collapse -
If the above didn't help.
Nov 17, 2010 8:51AM PST

Try changing the video card out and retesting.
Bob