Virus that disables all services on Windows XP?

[Dstarar]

Hey, I'm a tech, and ran across a Gateway laptop in which something disabled all the services.  I fixed that, but still cannot access wireless or network.  I'm planning a clean install, but was just curious.  My other tech friend says it must be a virus (but he blames everything on a virus).  Is he right?  Or is there something I'm missing.

[Black Viper]

Sounds more like msconfigs "disable all" button with regards to services.

[Black Viper]

Someone else today mailed me about this same type of issue. I will investigate further and post what I come up with.

[Black Viper]

This is a possibility:
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2005-042916-5459-99&tabid=2

[IH8U]

I've seen this many times. It is actually an issue related to spyware and viruses and seems to be increasingly more common. I would suggest getting the default registry services file from the BV website and  merge it. Also give WinsockXPFix, available from majorgeeks website, a shot as well. Also try uninstalling the devices from the system and reinstalling them. If all else fails, google it.

[Dstarar]

Thank you all for the advice, I learned.  I'm buried in viruses right now.  I swear that I'm tired of spyware.

Anita

[KtheC]

My standard recommendation to combat spyware:  Lavasoft Adaware, Spywareblaster, Spybot.  All free.
Also can't hurt to have Rootkit revealer as well.

[[GO]SkidMaRk]

The best thing to do when you get a virus is FORMAT.
Clean start is the best way.Why waste all that time trying to
mend the drive?

[Jiggy]

Why waste time ridding a pc of a virus or spyware.....

Its the 3 hour rule, is it going to be quicker to format, install, update and install drivers, programs and apps needed to get the pc were it was when you started...Or do you go through Hijackthis and other removel logs, programs and apps to hunt out the bad stuff.

Well for me and the data im trying to save on a pc that has no backups and the customer needs the data, photos in one working pc.

[Puke]

Some laptops have a button on them that toggle the wireless transceiver off and on. It's quite easy for an uninformed user to press the pretty buttons adorning such laptops and the wireless connection can be disabled. I know it's a month later, but that's an option to explore before wiping the slate clean and starting fresh only to come back to the same problem of not being able to use the wireless networking device. It's one of those things that makes you slap your forehead and call yourself a 'moron.'

[Dstarar]

Okay, computer formatted and reinstalled, computer fixed, and I'm on to the next one.  This computer I didn't mess with and formated and reinstalled the os, but I thought I'd share this wonderful one.  Computer comes in, has a red desktop background with a biohazard sign on it.  If you attempt to access the internet it is popups galore.  I used Kaspersky to do a virus cleanup.  and of course the removal causes errors in the operating system with stops certain services.  I formated and reinstalled the os.  What kills me, and I am 'whining' so  get ready, this customer had no antivirus installed.  And I spent 20 minutes explaining why antivirus was better than spending $200 to get a professional to clean up your pc.  Anyway just imagine 20 minutes of cursing afterwords and you can imagine my feelings.

[tonster]

When I went to work for my current company, they had no antivirus installed.  Shortly after starting, they contracted a virus that infected ALL 8 computers in the office.  I worked from 8 am until 3 am the next day.  I came back at 7 am and had everyone back up by 11 am.  The lost data....unrecovered.  The loss in productivity...thousands.  A good antivirus for 8 computers....much, much less.  Needless to say, I now do all of our IT work and have antivirus installed on ALL machines.  Moral of the story:  Some things are just too important to neglect (ie. antivirus). 

[[GO]SkidMaRk]

Okay, computer formatted and reinstalled, computer fixed, and I'm on to the next one.  This computer I didn't mess with and formated and reinstalled the os, but I thought I'd share this wonderful one.  Computer comes in, has a red desktop background with a biohazard sign on it.  If you attempt to access the internet it is popups galore.  I used Kaspersky to do a virus cleanup.  and of course the removal causes errors in the operating system with stops certain services.  I formated and reinstalled the os.  What kills me, and I am 'whining' so  get ready, this customer had no antivirus installed.  And I spent 20 minutes explaining why antivirus was better than spending $200 to get a professional to clean up your pc.  Anyway just imagine 20 minutes of cursing afterwords and you can imagine my feelings.

  Wow, for a paid tech you sure do have bad business ethics. If he was paying me to fix his computer every time he downloaded an "Awesome.exe"
from a porn site, I would not be telling him about stupid anti-virus programs.

When I went to work for my current company, they had no antivirus installed.  Shortly after starting, they contracted a virus that infected ALL 8 computers in the office.  I worked from 8 am until 3 am the next day.  I came back at 7 am and had everyone back up by 11 am.  The lost data....unrecovered.  The loss in productivity...thousands.  A good antivirus for 8 computers....much, much less.  Needless to say, I now do all of our IT work and have antivirus installed on ALL machines.  Moral of the story:  Some things are just too important to neglect (ie. antivirus). 

  Let me shed some light on your problem.Ban i.p.'s using the company's router, or disconnect them from the internet.
Anti-virus programs are useless and pointless.Most of all they love to eat up all of your ram. You know who makes 90%
of all virus's? Anti-virus companies. How else would they make money? Waiting on thirteen year old prodigy hackers to write
the next virus is not going to make them millions of dollars they already have due to there own evil handy work.
 
  Next time you get a virus on one of your company computers, find the user, and punch him in the face.

[Dolphin]

  Wow, for a paid tech you sure do have bad business ethics. If he was paying me to fix his computer every time he downloaded an "Awesome.exe"
from a porn site, I would not be telling him about stupid anti-virus programs.

I for one would not consider this bad business ethics.  I would far more likely trust someone that presented me with a "once of prevention" rather than a "pound of cure".  And with the myriad of ways that viruses and other nefarious bugs can be placed into a system, I believe in the prevention rather than the cure.

Let me shed some light on your problem.Ban i.p.'s using the company's router, or disconnect them from the internet.
Anti-virus programs are useless and pointless.Most of all they love to eat up all of your ram. You know who makes 90%
of all virus's? Anti-virus companies. How else would they make money? Waiting on thirteen year old prodigy hackers to write
the next virus is not going to make them millions of dollars they already have due to there own evil handy work.
 
  Next time you get a virus on one of your company computers, find the user, and punch him in the face.

I have heard all this before.  If anti-virus programs are so useless, then just what does the normal joe blow user do to protect his system?  If they get a virus on their machine, do they scrap it and run out and buy another one.  I think not.  They get an anti-virus program, install it, run it, get rid of the virus and use the program as designed to protect their system.  Maybe not in that order, but you get the picture.

What do you use Skidmark to protect your personal system?

I know that you are referring mainly to networked systems in large corporations, but you have left out the normal home user that actually only has one recourse.....a good anti-virus program and various other programs designed to protect home systems.

Thinking to myself...."Sure hope this doesn't start a flame session.  BV would ban us all."

Now ya'll go have a great day.

[Black Viper]

You know who makes 90% of all virus's? Anti-virus companies.

In other news, 95% of all statistics are completely made up.

Constructive comments and opinions are fine, but no flame wars or attacks on me and my members please, or Dolphins thought will be a reality.