Computer destroyed: HELP and BEGGING, puhlease?

G

groucho

New member
:buried:

My 16 year old nephew was visiting from out of town yesterday (Xmas eve, 07).

Thank God my Desktop was password protected.

He had gotten in my docked Dell 8200 Inspiron and virtually destroyed the way it runs.

I called him long distance this afternoon to a plane when he was flying to another place and asked him as politely as possible :

WHAT THE HE** WERE YOU INTO that COBBLED UP THIS COMPUTER SO BADLY?

His reply:
I know it was something called Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4, and as I remember I was into tweaking your browser: I.E. Version 6, bye.
:sad:

Results:
--I’ve lost many of my Programs (Adobe is a good example, I haven’t checked them all yet)
-- I’ve lost the the NetGear WGR614 router connection and encryption.
-- My Modem (a Siemens Speed Stream 5100 for DSL Pro from SBC) was fried according to an SBC 2nd tier technician.
-- That’s what I know for sure so far.

HELP and here’s my questions, PLEASE, as in Begging:
How can I undo ALL these changes that lil F***er made, or am I looking at a format/re-install?

I’m in a state of anguish over this I’m about ready to EXPLODE!
This is my primary Busine$$ machine!

Partially my own fault. :sad:
I don’t do back-ups on this program, and I’m not familiar enough with it in advanced mode to undo all these changes and get the frapping thing back to normal.

All I have done so far between Holiday things is try a systems restore without any luck, and email the form from:
http://www.spybot.info/en/contact/software.html to see if there is fee based assistance available.

I realize this is going to cost me some $$, and I sure wouldn’t ask the Mfgr. of a free program for free help. :red:

All I know for sure: THIS THING is a discombobulated mess!

Groucho/USA willing to kick for any and all long distance phone calls if that is even necessary or possible to restore this.

Sorry for the lengthy post. I guess that’s better than beating an inquistive poor 16 year old sense-less! :lip:

Sure to be one :santa:, I'll NEVER forget. :oops:

HELP!

(Moderators: yes I did search the forums first and only came up with fragmented advice: some over 2-3 years old)
 
Hello.

groucho said:
:buried:

My 16 year old nephew was visiting from out of town yesterday (Xmas eve, 07).

Thank God my Desktop was password protected.

He had gotten in my docked Dell 8200 Inspiron and virtually destroyed the way it runs.
Click to expand...

Your nephew was surely doing much more than tweaking your browser.

--I’ve lost many of my Programs (Adobe is a good example, I haven’t checked them all yet)
-- I’ve lost the the NetGear WGR614 router connection and encryption.
-- My Modem (a Siemens Speed Stream 5100 for DSL Pro from SBC) was fried according to an SBC 2nd tier technician.
Click to expand...

Fried a modem? :spider:

Perhaps you can reach him or his parents for more details?

Best wishes.
 
Tashi: Thank you for the reply.

I'm not going to be able to reach anyone in that family until 2008: period.

I keep running the program over and over and over (like he claims he was doing whiile playing a game) and then checking all found problems and selecting Recovery on the left side of the main pane.

I have gotten to the point where (at least) it recognizes my router's IP instead of some unknown one.

Is that "Progress" or am I wasting my time? :sad:

By the way: I am NOT downloading any more updates, like the 3) today (12/26/07) until I get this thing where I can connect to the net. (Wouldn't work right now anyway: because I can NOT)

:oops:

It really doesn't matter if this was done intentionally or not: I can't punish anyone anyway.

Groucho
 
Last edited:
Hi groucho.

Can you give further details:
My Modem (a Siemens Speed Stream 5100 for DSL Pro from SBC) was fried according to an SBC 2nd tier technician.
Click to expand...
 
What do you need, please and I can provide anything you need or want.

If SBC support says my older Siemans 5100 is defective: all I can do is trust them.
I went out and bought a Siemans model 4100: and it was defective right out of the box.
I found my first one I got when I started using broadband about 8-10 years ago and it is working (or I wouldn't be able to post this): a Siemans 5260.

SBC claims the latest, greatest they recommend and support is a Motorola Model 2210.

Whatever I chose there are unbelievably as this sounds: NONE ON any shelves locally. :rolleyes:

Right now: I just ran another scan and it found:
-- Log.....4 entries
-- MS Media Player.....1entry
-- MS OFFICE 10.0 (Word) 1 entry
-- Windows Explorer..... 3 entries

I have been selecting these then clicking on Recovery on the left window pane.

Am I doing this correctly?

I'll wait for a reply B4 I proceed, ok?

Thanks again!

Groucho
 
hi groucho,

Maybe you should change your location details from "Happiness: State of mind" to something else!

Hope you can sort out that computer! Personally if that happened to me, I would blow up the computer in a rage and probably live in anger until I got a new, better computer! :clown: :spider:

Anyway,

this post probably won't help you in anyway possible...heh

Honda
 
I would suspect you are probably infected with malware aswell (what kind of 'game' was he playing?)...I never trust 'games' and 'tweaks'. (as they usually come bundled with more than you expect. ie viruses! And if they mess with the registry, they can really destroy the way your computer works. Personally, this is what I think he did to your computer. He tried to 'tweak' ie6 by changing registry values and that caused your computer to nosedive into a downward spiral to destruction. That is just my opinion :lip:)

People do more harm than good to a computer by doing 'tweaks'. The best way to speed up a pc isn't changing some registry value, it is upgrading your hardware, like increasing your ram.

Anyway, you shouldn't really trust me for anything about computers...just listen to the experts, as they know best! :crowned:

Honda :spider:
 
Hello groucho.

I am confused as to what was done to the computer and the modem connection.

Also I wonder why your nephew was running Spybot-S&D while gaming and trying to tweak IE.

This is a good reminder to anyone leaving their machine running with guests in the house, to lock the computer. Also to do regular backups. :p:

  • Switch Spybot S&D to advanced mode
  • Navigate to tools - view report
  • Click "view report" to generate a new report
  • Click "view previous report" to access older / automatically generated reports
  • Click "export" to save the report to a text file and attach it here
 
He was playing a game that doesn't even require an internet connection: Hoyle 3D casino.

I know that because a new profile had been created.

The history list (which he had not cleared) showed he went ......."no--where-what-so-ever"

I (only) suspect the modem was fried when he plugged in an electric heater to the same strip outlet all my electronics are plugged into.

Therefore: If I was some kinda detective, :laugh:, my guess is he couldn't have surfed.

Glad that's the only device I lost.

Give me a few minutes to study the report you asked for.

I'm going to have to copy it to some media & transfer it.
Thank God I choose not to network all my 'puters.

Grouchie

I can choose to be Happy and am in general. :bigthumb:

I could also choose to be miserable.
I prefer #1. Makes me feel better.

If that's all the damage I did at 16, I wouldn't still be suffering the consequenses of one mis-spent youth. :rolleyes:
 
I admire your persistence and optimistic attitude :cowboy:

Im not a computer geek as such, but I will try to do what I can to 'help' the community. As through other people's problems I learn so much :)
 
Here is your report Tashi, Hope it helps!

DANG! :clown:

When I click on either manage attachments or the paper clip deal: nothing happens.
So I can't attached the report (wonder WHY?).

Since this kinda critical (to me) all I can do is take up a few post spots & paste it in, my apologizes.

Here we go Tashi:
_____________________________________

/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB904706)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB904942)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB905749)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB905915)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB908519)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB908531)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB910437)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB911280)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB911562)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB911567)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB911927)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB912812)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB912919)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB913446)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB914388)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB914389)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB916281)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB916595)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB917159)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB917344)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB917422)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB917953)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB918118)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB918439)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB918899)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB919007)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB920213)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB920214)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB920342)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB920670)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB920683)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB920685)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB920872)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB921398)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB921503)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB921883)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB922582)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB922616)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB922760)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB922819)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB923191)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB923414)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB923694)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB923980)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB924191)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB924270)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB924496)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB924667)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB925454)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB925486)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB925902)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB926255)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB926436)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB927779)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB927802)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB927891)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB928090)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB928255)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Hotfix for Windows XP (KB928388)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB928843)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB929123)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB929338)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB929969)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB930178)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB930916)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB931261)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB931768)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB931784)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB931836)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB932168)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB933360)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB933566)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB933729)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB935839)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB935840)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB936021)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB936357)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB937143)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB937894)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB938127)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB938828)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB938829)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB939653)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB941202)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB941568)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB942615)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB942763)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB942840)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB943460)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Security Update for Windows XP (KB944653)
/ Windows XP / SP3: Update for Windows XP (KB946627)
(next)
 
I surrender trying to attach that report Tashi: too long to paste.

Until someone can explain to me why I can't attach this file (or any file): I guess I'm in trouble and stalled.

Can't understand this?

I post regularly on several other forums with the same format with NO problems whatsoever.

(Geez)

Groucho
 
It's a 170KB file.

NOT that big a deal!

Zipping it will not solve the problem, (I don't think).

When I click on manage attachemnts or the paper clip deal: NOTHING HAPPENS!

How would "it" know what size file I was intending to attach?

See what I mean? It's probably some setting in IE 6 or something.:sad:

And since I can't email Tashi like on some sites: I'm stuck.

Groucho
 
have you tried a different browser?

-----------------------------------------------------
One option could be k-meleon, because you don't need to install.

-For this to work, you need a file compressor that can handle 7zip files-

go to: http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/download.php

then scroll down to '7zip packages without installer'

download the 'English' pack. Once completed, extract the files to a folder. (you can just make one called k-meleon)

To launch the browser, just double click on k-meleon.exe

Then try to attach your log using it - I only use k-meleon as a 'last resort' browser (heh, I don't really like the interface!)
 
Wait hold on, it says Windows XP SP3 there in part of your log. Did he download the release candidate of the service pack?

go to start>run

Type winver

If SP3 is installed, and you did not install it yourself, then follow these instructions:

Uninstall information for the Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate
To uninstall Windows XP SP3, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
2. Click Change or Remove Programs.
3. Click Windows XP Service Pack 3 (936929), and then click Remove.
4. Restart the computer.
Click to expand...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
 
groucho said:
I
And since I can't email Tashi like on some sites: I'm stuck.

Groucho
Click to expand...
You can zip or rar the file/s and send them to: detections(AT)spybot.info (Replace AT with @)
Include a link to this topic please.

As it was Christmas day when you started this thread and is still the holiday season, please be prepared for a delay.

Best wishes.
 
I think what has happened is that he has installed SP3 on your machine, and then cleared the history. SP3 does make your PC sluggish, and as he was also playing some casino game (it sounds all very dodgy), you probably got infected with some malware as well, so your PC will probably be extremely slow. Remove SP3 (if it was installed), and do a disk defrag. Use piriform defragger.

Please take not that this could take some time to do both of these things.

Once you have completed this, get an anti-virus, and do a full system scan. Fix/clean anything it finds. Get some anti-malware protection, i.e. ad-aware etc and do the same.

Restart your PC, get ccleaner and then do a scan on the registry and fix anything it finds.

Hopefully that will improve the performance and stability of your system. You will then probably need to post a HJT log on the malware forums.
 
@Tashi: Happy Seasons!:santa:

Hi groucho!

Time is money and so the computer should work as soon as possible. Maybe I could help you. If one of the two following questions apply to your system then the problem should be easy to solve.

1. Could it be possible that you mean with "lost software" that you cannot execute the software? With other words if you try run a software you get the error message from windows "This file does not have a program associated with it...".

If yes then this is a known problem in Spybot-S&D. Sometimes when you remove malware with Spybot-S&D it could be possible that it cannot repair the original file association entry for executables in the registry. Without this entry Windows does not know what to do with files with the suffix *.exe. Files with this suffix are normally the main part of a program.

Here is a collection of Windows' fixes if this is your problem:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Please try the "LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix" and maybe the "EXE File Association Fix" as well.

2. Or are the program folders empty? E.g. the one from Adobe. Does it contain any files? E.g. the executable file for Acrobat Reader? If not then it could be possible that you find the files in the "Recovery" section of Spybot S&D if this software really has deleted your programs.

Just open the recovery section in Spybot-S&D and recover the last fixed items. By the way, this could also fixed the first problem if you are not still using Spybot-S&D 1.4 because there is a bug in version 1.4 which cause that Spybot-S&D cannot recover some registry changes. Apart from that, it would be difficult to use if you cannot run any executables.:p:

Normally it should be still possible to use the "Run" command but this is not important if one of the suggested fixes works.
 
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