45 replies to this topic

[charie t]

i see this title and it reminds me of this video

[xrocketengineer]

Well the scan did run this time and removed three viruses (viri?) but still can't get onto the Virgin mail site from computer but CAN from my phone! Me no unnerstan computeries!

Do you have the same password for your Email on both the computer and the phone?

[mister bridger]

Well the scan did run this time and removed three viruses (viri?) but still can't get onto the Virgin mail site from computer but CAN from my phone! Me no unnerstan computeries!

Do you have the same password for your Email on both the computer and the phone?

Yes. Don't understand how it can work on one but not the other. But, this computer is playing up big time and is liable to go flying out the window soon if it keeps locking up on me!

[xrocketengineer]

Since you found some malware already in your computer, I would recomend to run the scanner again while running Windows in Safe Mode. You might still have some nasty stuff in there that might be hard to get rid off.
After that I would use a registry cleaner to get rid of the all the crap that accumulates there and slows down or locks up the computer. Piriform's CCleaner is very good and free.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard

[Ethel]

How do you read your email on the pc, Virgin websie, Outlook Express?

[Yoda]

Sounds like time to get serious. as all computer users back up all their important stuff!!!! You just use the recovery disk/partition supplied with the computer. This will put it back to factory fresh and then you can re install all your backed up files and settings.

Now is NOT the time to tell us you have no backups.

Seriously, back up everything you can and do it. I have messed around with virus killers and registry cleaners for years and none really do a thorough Job. it is always best to do a full format and recovery. I do this at least once a year, even if it is not really needed.

Also make the first job you do, to install a good antivirus program before going back on line with a clean system.


Trying to get rid of nasty bugs can take days let alone hours. A backup and reinstall can be done in an hour or two.

Edited by Yoda, 25 November 2012 - 08:44 AM.

[Ethel]

...as long as you don't also back up the virus (if there actually is one). A system restore might be worth trying - from Accessories, system tools in the programs menu.

[Yoda]

I doubt a virus is the problem here, backing up most files should be safe enough as most virus type problems are usually embedded in an .exe file and you dont usually back these up!

System restore, is not a good place to start as it ( as far as i am aware ) only replaces and removes actual files, drivers etc. but does not always repair the system files, it just gets rid of the symptoms for a while and the problem usually pop back to say hi now and then. A good clean reinstall is the only real foolproof method.

To make a point here, I actually have NO virus protection on my laptop, NO system monitors, NO other "safety" software etc but i dont see many issues. I cant actually remember how many years it is now that i have had any problems at all apart from the system slowing down due to minor system conflicts and a reinstall takes me less than an hour and then another twenty minutes or so to back up all my files.

I actually rely on the Microsoft built in firewall and stuff and i also have all my traffic going through BT's system which has excellent safety features. all my mail is done through AOL too which people keep trying to tell me is a crap provider, I have never had any bad stuff come through their servers.

It took me years to work out what works best for me and hopefully some of this will help others too.

Edited by Yoda, 25 November 2012 - 11:51 AM.

[mister bridger]

Well i've finally managed to get the tune up/scan/ defrag thing to work and the computer is working a little better now, though still can't get into the email via virgin website. I am at the absolute limit of my computer capabilities (I'm 53 not 13!) so much of the above is a foreign language to me! Not too bothered about the email thing really as I've changed everything I can think of to my other email address, so it's likely only junk mail I'm missing out on now.

[Yoda]

I am 400 years old and i know a little! enough to keep me out of trouble anyway!

Actually, i am 51, so you should be 2 years ahead of me! get yer finger out man

[mister bridger]

Two years more senile! I think I will persevere with it as it is till after xmas and look for a new computer after.

[Deathrow]

Looks like I've seen this a little late! Anyway, I'll give my bits of advice!

First of all, the people calling you and telling you they're from the internet and just opportunistic scum bags trying to prey on novice computer users. Fob them off with an appropriate joke like "Oh I'm glad you called, I'm being told my packets are being dropped and I think it's about time you started to do your job and pick them up!"

Right, now that's dealt with!

If an anti-virus has removed some viruses from your machine it's possible that virus has put in place a host override for a number of sites that you may use so that the web addresses for those sites go to a different server. This means that they can direct you to a mirror copy of a website which they control and they can use this to trick you in to giving them your important credentials.

This may be what has happened with your Virgin e-mail account. What website do you normally use to access your e-mail?

I can probably help you better via PM if you like?

[mister bridger]

It's the Virgin website. I'm not terribly computer literate so please speak slowly and use small words!

[Deathrow]

Alright, for these instructions I will assume you're using Windows 7.

Click the start button and click the "Run..." option. A small box will appear. Type "cmd" in it and press enter. A black window will appear with some white text in it.

I want you to type "ping [WEBSITE ADDRESS]" where [WEBSITE ADDRESS] is the address you would type in to your browser to access the virgin website. Then press enter.

Some text will be printed in the screen, when it stops and goes back to being a blinking cursor, you should right click within the window and click "Mark", then select all the text that was printed out, right click again and click "copy". You can then paste this in to your reply by right clicking in the reply box on the forum and selecting "Paste".

Please also include the [WEBSITE ADDRESS] you typed in to the command prompt earlier and I will do the same here and compare the two. Later on we can check your hosts file manually.

In addition, for malware and virus removal I reccomend Hitman Pro which you can download here: http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/

It uses cloud computing to analyse any suspicious files found on your system so the actual scanning isn't performed by your machine.

I've used it with good results .

[mister bridger]

It's windows xp.