Another Laptop query!

Have you identified any of the trojans / virii / worms etc..?

Most anti virus software venders offer removal tools to remove malicious software...

Even Microcrap offer a malicious software check and removal tool.

I would think verrrry carefully about trying to start from scratch, especially as the nasties will probably have infected files which you won't be able to easily remove...

Oh!!... just thought, the easiest way to remove the nasties is to replace the hard drive - assuming you have the Windows CD to re-install?

John.

That's what I was hoping to find out using this computer but I'm a bit aprehensive connecting the two! The laptop has a perminent beep in the background like something out of Alien! When I look in the Task Manager, there are things like SMSS.EXE, CSRSS.EXE, LSASS.EXE and even though I can't get the thing on the net, the explorer.exe is collecting page faults by the 1000's! I'm not really 'up' on computers (Sinclair ZX80 standard) so I don't really know what to look for!

The windows CD's got more scratches the Dels back door, so that's not an option!

Would a virus or whatever show up on the task manager?

Not really, the whole point of a virus is to be hidden and not draw attention to itself...

Make a list of the files that are running though and the effects you are hearing and then trot along to Sophos or McAfee websites and enter them in the search box, one at a time... I've found that they usually have a full description of the culprit and a link to the removal tool needed...

Much as I dislike Microsoft they do have a very efficient 'malicious software removal tool' which scans and removes nasties from your drive... the same as Spybot and many other freeware programs which detect and remove these beasties....

You can always download them to a floppy and transfer them to your laptop to run...

John.

Cheers John, I'll try that first and see what happens! I've tried to get the MS malware remover onto disk but it tells me I can't do it so I'll see if I can get an alternative on disk!

let me look for a restore disk for that laptop.

A restore disk is usually kept on a partition on the laptop, and when you activate it, it formats the C drive and resotres all the driversv etc of the oroginal laptop.

All other. programs are wiped.

The proper wayto do this is:-

1. remove the old hard drive and make a copy of it via ghost or ?

that will save data, reinelstall the drive

2. acess the drive and use the retore disc on D to do it's thing.

3. install your programs...they will not have any data

3. install the copy in an esternal USB drive case and transfer the data for your programs to their normal sites.

If yu have no restore disc stored on the D drive, let me see if I can find one and FTP it to you.

Since the laptop is licenced for windows 2000 = legal, if youhave the CD serial number on the stocker on the bottom.

illegal way. install a copy of win xp and copy on programs and data

I like to think of myself as being above robbing software! If it's freeware/shareware then no problem but! I did a search on the computer for files with restore and came across quite a few! There was one that was called NTLDR.INI and BOOT.INI (or very close to that! The computer is off at the mo!) So I checked it out on the net and it seems to be the one! Unfortunatly, I'm not too sure what to do with it as when I tried to double click it, it didn't do anything! Am I getting any closer?

Try right click it

Check out this website. It might help:

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Boot-Error-t24942.html

You could just boot with a good anti-virus/antispyware disc in the drive.

Best advise is replace hard drive (as said previously) if a compatible one actually exists.

Second best, contact Microsoft tell them your license number and they may send you out a new bootable (Stress Bootable) copy of Windows 2000. Reformat and install.

Caution, I wouldn't try stripping done a Windows operating system by hand, unless I was a Microsoft programmer - even then, I'd have hesitations. Furthermore, if you have a rootkit virus, you'll think it's gone, but it won't be. Even a good virus scanner can't do much about rootkits.

Warning, I wouldn't connect that laptop to another system on a friggin' bet!!!

Warning, I wouldn't connect that laptop to another system on a friggin' bet!!!

Correctamundo

OK, I promise not to connect the two together!

I also get lots of lost ballon messages if that helps! Seems to be a party going on inside! That's why it's so slow, all the button and lever pullers are drunk!

Go into services and disable windows messenger and the balloons will depart.

What everybody else said, I say too .

For my own, if you can find someone who owns the same laptop and operating system, I'd ask them if they have the boot disk. It's going to take some work but if you have time to do what you're originally thinking of doing, you'll have time for this.

I'd try contacting Microsoft too, as vermin suggests. Probably be the first thing I'd try.

Besides, I've been there (trying to restore things manually). It takes a long time and there's still no guarantee. You can muff things up very easily and maybe even disable something so the poor thing just sits there with nothing but a blinking cursor.

Actually, if you can do with out the programs on the computer, since most or all of the programs have a link to all and any of the bugs on the machine, just simply wipe the frigen HD and do a complete update to XP. My main system at home was hacked hard and I lost nearly 10 years of programs and information. I had to get a new hard drive and start over. Might as well face the old tune......your screwed!

Reformat and upgrade to XP. Problem solved....then get some AV and malware like AVG.

Maximo

hi

i live in africa. I realy wonder alot when i hear you guys wondering what to do when with virus problems. it must be coz over there there is little piracy or what? here i reformat my computer at the slightest sign of slow activity and reinstall all programs that i need for free, of which i get copies from friends who get them from friends who get them from friends and so on. Dont that stuff hapen over there?

Ok, on a serios note, i dont know if you can get A win 2000 cd on sale there but am sure youcan get XP, it will work just fine on ur machine, just a bit slower but ok. The problem might be getting the right drivers for the graphics and audio, but if you look hard enough, by trying all other recovery disks that you get, including motherboard cds, you will get them.

Piracy is illegal and it is theft, whether you live in SA USA or the UK.

Anyway most software needs updating regularly, especially virus protection and security software, so you need to be a registered user to get the free updates.

I do not advocate or encourage theft.

John.

these thinkpads are OEM licensed, they have the win2000 licence on them, so any source of win 2000 is legitimate.

Adding XP can be done legally and you can find legal copies on win XP.

You can even find a broken computer with an XP licence sticker and transfer it to the laptop.

A word of caution, Xp is so bloated in size compared with win2000 that it will be very sluggish, even if you increase the ram.

Would this be the win2000 licence?

Not bad for a year on a building site!

A word of caution, Xp is so bloated in size compared with win2000 that it will be very sluggish, even if you increase the ram.

Correctamundo

I would get a windows 3.1 disk and use it to reformat the hard drive.

Windows 3.1 does not reconize all the crap that win2000 will and block you from reformatting.

I use an old one anytime a friend gets loaded up with virius. Of course your boot disk being bad you will need some new OS.

Many of us have suffered this same computer fate. I have 4 ibm thinkpads of various models and vintages and have completely restored 2 computers (complete resucitation from absolute operational death.)

Having attempted numerous virus scans and all the normal recommended software fixes, at the "end of the day" I found the least frustrating, quickest and best long-term solution was to simply replace the harddrive with a newly formatted used drive and download the OS (including all original drivers) from Lenovo (ibm) web site. You could also simply reformat your suspect HD, however if, for what ever reason, it has been irrevocably damaged, you will need a new HD anyway. Be sure to update your BIOS and ALL drivers at the same time as this also will help in the battle against future viruses.

I have found lots of inexpensive hard drives readily available on e-bay and in local computer recycle shops for only a few dollars each.

If you've been diligent with regular back-ups, it should'nt take but an hour or less to completely R&R your hard drive and restore full functionality. Good luck!

Frequent file back-up is critical to reducing personal stress!

Thanks all, I've joined the 'Geeks' website as suggested, I've had a quick look at the Lenovo site too! That looks interesting so I'm going to save to disk a few of the suggested programs on 'Geeks' and go from there! I'll let you all know what happens and if anything really helpful turns up, I will post it for the benefit of all!

Once again, Cheers for the help everybody!

If it still remains as actual problem for you. I would suggest you to use this intermediate socket which allows you to connect laptop's hdd to desktop motherboard.

Such stuff is used in PC service shops. I could buy one some years ago when I used compact laptop hdd instead DVD or flash. So it's easy to cure out your hdd by means of anti-virus software on your (hope healthy) desktop. I just do similar work for my friend. All my friends like load me such kind of work for kind words of gratitude in return . It's ok.

I would recommend you to use 40-pin ide cable. I am assuming your hdd is not SATA.

Hope it helps.

caramba.

P.S. All recommendations which you were given here ---very very good. You can consider this one as yet one approach how it is possible make this work done.

Just find a boot cd and wipe the drive...

If it were me (since the hardware is soooooo old) I would put on a special version of linux , like Xubuntu, that is made for older computers with not a lot of ram and processor power. I have an old Dell Pentium1 200Mhz 128MB that was given new life after xubuntu was put on it. Now it's good for email, web browsing and all that stuff that most of us do on a computer (especially an old one) but without the risk of viruses, malware or trojans. Great deal for free!

You can also just try out xubuntu (without installing to the hdd) by using the livecd... This is just a boot disk that you put in and it fires up the OS while not touching the hdd. You can even access the hdd and recover important files without any of the malware, viruses or trojans activating from the windows OS running. Give it a shot by www.xubuntu.org

Hello kkjensen,

That looks an interesting option! At the moment, I'm making progress! Finally managed to save to CD (^{so I was pressing the wrong buttons}) a few viri/trojan/malware programs from the 'Geeks' and up to now, they have removed a bucket load of tosh from the machine! Next step, I've found a few fixes on the Lenovo support site! The big problem is deciding which download is the relevant one! (My machine is a 600E 2645-550 if anybody can shed light on that!)

If all else fails and I can't get it in a stable state then I may just try Xubuntu! I'm getting better with Windows, so I'm feeling a little ginger at changing OS's! As I say, If all else fails!

Put the model # in the search box at the support pane and see if you get the updates for your model back

Mr. Truman,

One of my 4 ibm is also a model 600 E that exhibeted identical symptoms you describe. About 16 months ago I R&R'd all software. After numerous futile attempts to dis-infect and work with several anti-virus software packages, I very reluctantly reformatted the HD and used ibm 600 E recovery software, prior to loading Windows XP home edition OS software. I don't know current Lenovo policy, however, a very empathetic technical support representative finally sent me a complete set of 6 ibm 600 E recovery disks - complimentary. Please contact me if you can not procure these disks from Lenovo directly. Best of luck.

side bar: Windows XP home edition works reasonably well on this vintage thinkpad.

Since we're soooo! old taking a giant step backward wouldn't be noticed eh?