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General discussion

Virus Infection causes reinstall of Vista

Sep 21, 2010 7:06AM PDT

I have become a victim of a "buy security program' infection (virus)
and cannot use my Dell Inspiron E1505/6400 laptop as it has control over my harddrive.
I would like to know if the use of a re-install Vista Home disk received from Dell will allow me to format my hdd and reinstall the operating system without this embedded virus reappearing?
Has anyone encountered this type of situation? I am open to all advice.

Discussion is locked

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There are plenty of examples of this, unfortunately.
Sep 21, 2010 9:47PM PDT

Can you log in to Windows at all? If not, what happens, (full error messages please)?

Can you login to Windows "Safe Mode"?

If you can do either of these then all is not lost and and you may be able to repair Windows without performing a full reinstall.

Mark

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Virus causes Vista OS reinstall
Sep 24, 2010 3:37AM PDT

When I start my laptop in safe mode I am able to operate it.
The problem is that the virus replaced my IP's master security startup renderring it unable to locate the version of the online protection.
The virus itself displays as a warning that the computer is infected with (many listed) infections and immediate action must be taken by purchasing an offered (displayed) security program for a cost of $79.95.
The laptop is unable to open into windows nor can any other operations be done including any attempt to trace the source of the message.
I have been advised by my IP that the "buy security package" is in fact the virus and takes control of my hdd, slowly eating away at my informations (executables) by constant data flow until my system is "burned out".

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That's a sad story.`
Sep 24, 2010 3:41AM PDT

But do you have any questions?

Kees

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If you can run WIndows in Safe Mode
Sep 24, 2010 5:25AM PDT

If you can do that, then do you have access to another computer?

If so, follow Grif's advice here;
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6122_102-0.html?messageID=2969621#2969621

This will download two anti-malware applications and their definitions, so you can copy them to a CD and then transfer them to your computer in Safe Mode where you can install them, update them, and scan with both of them.

Mark