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BackRoomKid
09-28-2005, 05:31 AM
Okay a list of things kinda came up ALL at once, if anyone knows about XP's ridiculous structure please help!
Norton recently found a virus installed on my computer and deleted it but here are the after affects:

Running Processes:
There's 50 Running processes right now which is WAAAY too much, last week i only had 40.

One program not working:
I use iTunes a lot and for some reason it just won't open. I did Start>Run the works! And it's running on my process box but there is no other signs of it on my computer

Not shutting down:
I click Start>shut down and nothing happens, except Norton closes and that's it.....very strange

anyone got a good program or some way to help me clean up my computer? Or anyone face the same problems?

Yamaneko
09-28-2005, 07:17 AM
Wow, forty? What the heck do you guys run in the background? After boot up I have eighteen processes running.

Anyway, I would guess it's spyware / virus. Run the virus scanner again. Run Adaware and Spybot. Run that one Windows spyware remover. If all else fails, reformat.

Samuraid
09-28-2005, 07:18 AM
Sounds like there's still something there, a phantom process or something along those lines. Try updating Norton and running a manual scan of your complete computer. After, run adaware and/or spybot Search&Destroy to remove any spyware that might be getting in the way.

EDIT: Yams, you beat me.

Dreddz
09-28-2005, 09:41 PM
Im still getting used to Windows layout.
Even though Macs arent as good, they are far easier to navigate.....

Vyk
09-28-2005, 10:36 PM
The virus or whatever replaced your itunes.exe with something else CALLED itunes.exe to fool you :D That iTunes.exe running in your processes is not your program. Have fun.

Samuraid
09-29-2005, 12:15 AM
Either that, or a virus set the default association for executable files to itself...thus, if you try and run most executables and programs, the virus gets executed instead.

ZeZipster
09-29-2005, 12:36 AM
I would go Start > Run > open msconfig > and the open up the Startup tab to see what's there.

crono_logical
09-29-2005, 01:50 AM
I have 66 processes open right now :p And this is quiet as far as things I have open/things I'm doing simultaneously goes :D

Vyk
09-29-2005, 04:03 AM
I dunno about you guys, but between having a Norton software suite thing, and a HP related computer, they both absolutely adore having a freaking TON of BS running in the background. I usually have 40-50 processes going without even opening an aplication =/ Not that it really hurts my performance..

Samuraid
09-29-2005, 07:23 AM
Yeah, the standalone norton virus scanner is great (as long as you turn smartscan on instead of comprehensive scanning) but the "internet security suite" is very bloated and slow.

DMKA
09-29-2005, 07:37 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/devilmaykickass/z121.jpg

bipper
09-29-2005, 02:20 PM
I hate all norton. I just feel that the wole shehbang went downhill after 2002.

I use AVG, and have clients whom use/love it as well. It's free, and runs VERY smooth. An impressive find imo. http://free.grisoft.com I have no complaints on it.

As for a possible solution, don't forget about system restore. start>programs>accessories>system tools>resotre

It will save your butt at times, other times, it wont help squat. :D

Bipper

Yamaneko
09-29-2005, 03:43 PM
I use Clam AntiVirus. Opensource all the way!

DMKA: That's because you have processes from ALL users running, and instead of logging off you switched users.

rubah
09-29-2005, 11:16 PM
Is your scrollbar *supposed* to look like it could fit 363 processes, dimmkah?

Dr Unne
09-29-2005, 11:40 PM
Reinstall Windows. Who knows what the virus did. After you reinstall Windows, don't install Norton. It's trash.

Either that, or a virus set the default association for executable files to itself...thus, if you try and run most executables and programs, the virus gets executed instead.

Is it really possible to change the file association for executables? If so, my opinion of Windows has dropped from what I believed to be rock bottom, to somewhere a few feet underground. I thought handling executables was something built into the kernel.

Shoden
09-29-2005, 11:49 PM
Yeah Norton is dodgy, Took me a while to get it off though and I never used it willignly.


If this is happened do what Unne said, re install XP but search for a good Anti virus like Kaspersky or AVG.


I don't know that much on computers but I can tell by what you say that it's screwed up bad.

Samuraid
09-30-2005, 02:31 AM
...don't install Norton. It's trash.
I disagree, at least with respect to the virus scanner. Although, most of the rest of the Internet Security suite is trash.


Is it really possible to change the file association for executables?
Yup. :) See HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile

BackRoomKid
09-30-2005, 08:02 AM
lol, a lot of ur advice helped out

let's see:

PRGRESS REPORT
--------------------------
Processes down to 47 (used vyk's advice, yeap, there were more than just one "processes" renamed somethine else to fool me)

Just checked on something:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/PeopleNeverBelieve/screen2.jpg

So many hosts...i'm honored :-/

I but lil red dots to what i suspect to be spyware/adware

TO THOSE WHO HAVE SPYBOT?
what does it do?
is it worth it?

Samuraid
09-30-2005, 10:20 AM
csrss, lsass are parts of Windows.
wdfmgr is a Windows Media player component.
ctfmon is part of MS Office.
wkufind is another component used my certain Microsoft programs.

svchost is the host for Windows Services. It's OK to have multiple instances of it running. (my computer has 8 instances of it running normally)

jusched is a Java runtime update utility. You can disable it if you like.

rubah
09-30-2005, 10:34 PM
you can google those services to see if they're run by the system or if they're viruses. It's a bit quicker than waiting for samuraid xD

BackRoomKid
09-30-2005, 10:44 PM
lol, actually i got a lil' smart

i went to norton support services online, typed in the either the .exe files or registry files i don't recognized, and they give me good info

Samurai, thank you for helping me before i did something stupid ;)

still working on this....

Dr Unne
09-30-2005, 11:18 PM
I disagree, at least with respect to the virus scanner. Although, most of the rest of the Internet Security suite is trash.

I believe that scanning for viruses is not the correct approach to the problem. It's like being OK with the fact that your boat has a hundred holes in it, so long as you have a really nice bucket to continually bail out the water just fast enough so you don't sink.

I can't help but think that if every file that passes through your system is scanned by Norton, you're looking at a massive decrease in performance. Basically looking at every file twice; once when Norton scans it, once when you do something with it. Even with a good heuristic in place so that most things are skipped, it's certainly going to slow a lot of everything down. If it stopped 100% of viruses, then I might think it was worth it, but it doesn't. It's limited in that regard by its very nature.

It can't stop a virus until it recognizes it; by then it's often too late. Before then it can just make an educated guess whether something is a virus or not. The false positives are annoying. I recall the old "Be sure to disable any anti-virus programs before installing this program" from legitimate programs I wanted to use or install. Not worth the hassle. I've also never experienced anything but problems with the other parts (firewall, etc.).

That and the fact that you must re-buy the program every year when your subscription runs out, or else it's all but worthless.

Samuraid
10-01-2005, 01:47 AM
Ah, so you would rather not have a virus scanner?

The conclusion of this likely is: running Linux really reduces the need for virus scanners. Linux is cool. :)

Cipher
10-01-2005, 02:26 AM
I find that having a healthy mix of AVG, SpySweeper and maybe SpyBot S&D (for the really pesky spyware) goes a long way towards keeping your computer free and clear of problems.

Of course, I also go into the registry to manually remove files, but then again I'm a professional. :D

Also, you might want to think about what sites you're visiting. How is the Spyware/Malware/Virii getting onto your computer? Do you search for BitTorrent sites, or visit keygen/hax0r sites? take a screenshot of your processes, and after a few weeks, go back and see how many you have. If there's malware or spyware or alot more processes, and you haven't voluntarily installed anything during that time...well, the problem is most likely a site or two that you visit frequently.

Just a suggestion, though. ;)

BackRoomKid
10-01-2005, 03:05 AM
^^^just got introduced to BitTorrent, so lately i've been looking up sum torrent sites

there was one that was just full of spyware, really slowed down my computer
another site was linked to me cuz a friend wanted to show me a vid, but it was one of those junky website with MORE AND MORE links that lead to, i'll be blundt, "sexy teens" website and all that

so yea, the websites most likely had to do with it

but there's more most likely than JUST the sites...i'm keeping watch of my processess

rubah
10-01-2005, 05:52 AM
I find between using firefox and not being blitheringly stupid about what files I download *and open*, I don't need to run virus checks very often. Microsoft aside.

Yamaneko
10-01-2005, 05:57 AM
Just buy a router that has a built in firewall. Open the ports / trigger the ports that are needed and block the rest. No need for bloated software that hogs system memory.

rubah
10-01-2005, 06:03 AM
I think my modem is pretending to be a router, but still nothing I do with port forwarding lets me forward the stupid ports ;_;

Traitorfish
10-01-2005, 01:14 PM
Wow, forty? What the heck do you guys run in the background? After boot up I have eighteen processes running.
I have 37 running right now. It just depends how much stuff you have on your computer.

Dr Unne
10-01-2005, 06:00 PM
Ah, so you would rather not have a virus scanner?

Yes, I don't run a virus scanner, on the occassions I use Windows. Hardware firewall + being very careful is good enough. Only use webmail, never an email client; only use Firefox (obviously); don't even visit websites that seem shady; common sense etc. etc.


The conclusion of this likely is: running Linux really reduces the need for virus scanners. Linux is cool. :)

Yes.

BackRoomKid
10-02-2005, 06:21 AM
of course FIREFOX is the best

problems are practically solved, i found a lot of shady stuff thanx to help from you and a few of my friends

the one problem i can't fricken solve:
iTunes

i deleted every trace of it i could....at least i though I could, didn't concentrate too much on the registration keys/files whatever

i uninstall...
reinstall

i open it....."iTunes had an unexpected error and must shut down"
...................honestly....as SOON as I install it what problem could there be?!

i won't my iTunes back :*( my iPod is lonely

rubah
10-02-2005, 07:09 PM
Download it again from apple?