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Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I am a normal user (someone else hacked my iOpener for me) and I did not bother to install McAfee because I never intended to download anything. Well, I must have gotten a virus anyway because I got word from a friend that I had sent her one. I immediately got on-line with McAfee, downloaded the software, etc. Once that was done, AOL clicked off and McAfee said something like, "In order for this product to be fully installed, you must restart your computer." Before I did that, curiosity killed the cat and I went into my "sent" mail to see the offensive e-mail. I think I infected myself at that point. Who knows? At any rate, when I restarted, that was THE END. I got the Windows 98 color screen and then it froze into gray and just broke up. I could never get past that point. Control-Alt-Del didn't work. Powering off. Nothing. It is dead. Is there any way to "stream" McAfee into it since I am licensed in order to kill this virus, or is it curtains? I have no external drives. Any comments/suggestions welcome. I live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D. c. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-18-2001 11:05:28

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile It may be too late...If you had installed DOS on the sandisk, along with an anti-virus program which you kept up-to-date, you could boot to the sandisk(if it's not affected), and run the program. If you can't do that, you could remove the hard drive, put it in another computer as another drive letter (somewhat risky), and run an anti-virus program on it from the other computer. This illustrates the importance of a back-up plan for emergencies like this. An image of the working system could have saved you a lot of trouble. 02-18-2001 15:25:22

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile If you can boot into Safe Mode and the hacker copied the Windows 98 cabs to the hard disk, then you have hope. Hold down the ctrl key as Windows boots to get the boot menu, then choose safe mode. Letr me know if you can or cannot get into safe mode. If you can't, there are still other options. 02-19-2001 10:59:43

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile From a Friend, Delete or better, Rename your autoexec.bat file and config.sys or REMark the McAfee stuff in them and You should be back up! Not the First Time, Anti-Virus Software Trashed a System ! QUE! 02-19-2001 17:19:16

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile It doesn't sound like the anti-virus program trashed his system.....He probably was already infected. When he attempted to reboot the whole effects of the virus kicked in. Cadetpc, you say you got infected just by reading E-mail? You didn't open any attachment? Very unusual..... 02-19-2001 18:45:24

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile If he can get the Windows splash screen, then chances are his master boot record is intact. The virus most likely hosed a system file (possibly even command.com). If he can get into safemode then his chances for recovery are better. If he can't get into safemode, but can get to a command prompt, then a suedo wipe and reload can be performed (given that he has cabs on the hard disk. If he cannot get to even a command prompt, the he is S.O.L. 02-19-2001 21:57:06

RE:More on locked out by a VIRUS FROM THE OWNER (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I'm a she, not a he and my e-mail address is in my profile. Dear TEXMAN, thanks for your one-step-at-a time approach. I can get into safe mode. What then do I do? My inclination is to get in there (using safe mode 3?) and delete McAfee. I think it is just too coincidental that it crashed at the same time I rebooted McAfee for the final installation. I have been extre-e-e-mely careful not to download any attachments. If this does the trick and I come back up normally, I then will go back into AOL and delete a certain message dated January 19 (without opening it) just to be on the safe side (no pun intended). Here is the full background on "virus" potential. Sometime in January I accidentally clicked on a fake AOL advisory, a URL. Couldn't believe it. Called AOL and the tech ran me through some hoops--checked my registry, etc. He assured me I had no viruses. Then I got what turned out to be a fake virus warning from CNET on Jan. 19. I am a member of CNET and didn't scrutinize the message close enough and forwarded it to everyone in my addressbook. (At that point perhaps it technically became an "attachment" to the recipients?) A friend told me that McAfee told her it contained Melissa. She didn't bother to tell me until Feb. 12th at which point I bought and downloaded McAfee and crashed my iOpener (but only after peeking at the sent Jan. 19 message). I alerted everyone in my addressbook. I have heard nothing back from anyone about having done virus definition updates and having found a virus and people are still speaking to me. My daughter with whom I correspond daily did just that and was "clean." However, I did not send her that particular message. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-20-2001 07:47:25

I got into SAFE MODE! (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I held down CTL and got to safe mode and deleted McAfee. Also emptied trash bin while I was there. Before I ever got into safe mode I fooled around with the function keys and don't know what I did it since they aren't labeled, but I did get to the c prompt as well. Anyway, after getting rid of McAfee, I shut down properly and turned the power back on. Still got frozen screen after initial Windows 98 splash screen. Boo hoo. Starfish or someone else, can you tell me exactly how to do what you suggest, i.e, renaming autoexec.bat file and config.sys file? Will this wipe out my program files--Office and AOL? If so, I am sunk because I have no way to reload anything. The guy who hacked this for me is someone in another state and I am doing this solo. I don't think he wants to take this on again. Thanks, all. 02-20-2001 10:28:23

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile If You are in Safe Mode, just use (File) Explorer, Right Click The File & Select RENAME. From DOS,Use the Command REName (Only need first 3 letters) Example C:\> REN Autoexec.bat Autoexec.old <ENTER> Space between, Command, Old Name, New Name No This will not Wipe out AOL or Your Program Files. Easy To Undo, Just ReName back to what they were. You shouldn't Need These Files Today ? (Autoexec.bat & Config.sys) To See What they are doing, OPEN them in NOTEPAD or from DOS a Command is TYPE Example C:\> TYPE Autoexec.bat <ENTER> 02-20-2001 11:13:17

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Texman for getting me into Safe Mode and Starfish for the fix--you are total geniuses! I am IN! Do I just keep the re-named autoexebat and configsys files? I tried to open them in Notepad and couldn't. Probably didn't know how. I did a restart instead of a shut down from the start prompt. Voila. I got a "Please wait whilt Safe and Sound mounts your back up volumes." I believe that McAfee did the crash, do you guys? Thanks, thanks, thanks. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-20-2001 14:23:05

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile Like I said, It could be the Anti-Virus Software. I see it Randomly when I First install it. Either it Works or it Don't. I think they have too many Options turned on by Default. You don't really need to do a DOS Scan during Bootup. Your Anti-Virus Software might still be Running under Windows. (& that's OK) RENaming the Files is the Same as Deleting them. (except you can put them back!) If those Filenames Don't exist, Then the Files are Gone ! (as far as the System is Concerned.) When You Figger out how to Open them in a Simple TEXT EDITOR (WordPad), You could REMark out the Line or 2 That start the Anti-Virus Software in Autoexec.bat REM C:\McAfee (whatever) Space after REMark is Important ! If You can Cut & Paste whatever lines you don't understand into a Post We can Help You are Never Done with Windows, Till You Power Down & Restart ! (with No Problems) Nice to See A Woman around Here ! * StarFish * 02-20-2001 14:56:15

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Dear Starfish: I was trying Notepad, not Wordpad. Don't know how to find Wordpad. I understand how to type what you are saying: REM_C:\McAfee but I am not sure what that will do. Pls elaborate. As I said, I right clicked on McAfee and hit Delete and then emptied the Trash Bin. I hate to think that I might have deleted a perfectly good anti-virus program. BUT, I am pretty darned sure that this program was the villain. Just a woman's intuition. McAfee has given me the option of another download but I don't think I have the stomach for it. Do you think I should try? Also, I can't leave the computer turned on forever--the little fan just won't do the job day and night. What if I just leave these files as renamed? What is the potential downside? 02-20-2001 16:05:39

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile Sorry, to Leave You Hanging ! Yes, Shut It Down Now. We Don't know How You Are till You have made it Back from a COLD BootUp. Wait 20 Seconds or More, Then Power Up, & Report Back. See Ya on The OtherSide ! * StarFish * 02-20-2001 16:27:26

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Oh, very bad news. I checked my e-mail, got carried away with that and left you for awhile. I also fiddled around and found I still had McAfee and decided to let it run a virus scan. Then in the middle of that I decided to return to you. One should be able to move from screen to screen but somehow I got hung. Couldn't do anything so had to cut the power without shutting down properly. Came back up to a bright blue (!) screen, not the greenish Microsoft one. I said, OH, Sh. Then I waited 20 seconds, tried again and held the Ctrl button and got safe mode. Picked 3. It bypassed HiMem and then went blue again. Oh my. I now know that *everything* is in there but have this queasy feeling that I am sunk again. ?? Never send a boy to do a man's job? 02-20-2001 16:47:12

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile > I understand how to type what you are saying: REM_C:\McAfee > but I am not sure what that will do. Pls elaborate. If You Understand, don't Confuse Me ! "REM_C:\McAfee" The UnderScore Character is Not the Same as A Space (I don't know If it would work or not) The DOS Command "REMark" tells the .BATch File that what follows is not to be considered the same as Keystokes being typed in. Actually, its Not to be considered at all. A REMark is Just That, The Programer's REMark or Note about what this Line/Section is about. Using the Command in this fashion, Turns the line of Code Off without Deleting it. If I am Editing a line I Always REMark it First. Then I Paste in a 2nd Line the way I think it should be. If I am wrong, I still have the Original Line right above. Removing the REMark from a Line will Turn it Back on. (It will be Considered as If it was Keystrokes being Typed in) 02-20-2001 16:52:51

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I surely wasn't thinking. If McAfee was hooked to the Internet then I couldn't be posting at the same time, could I? I froze it myself. Geez. 02-20-2001 16:59:00

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile BLUE SCREEN IS GOOD ! it is SCANDISK Running in DOS. The LCD is not in the right Mode to Display it. (Graphics Mode instead of Character Mode) Try Pressing TAB a Few Times During Boot Up. If You See The Blue Screen again, just Wait ! in 5 - 10 minutes ScanDisk will be Done & You will See WinDose ! A Line in Your Autoexec.bat "Mode CO80" will Fix This. 02-20-2001 17:04:56

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email *starfish* You are really something! Will this happen every time? It's kind of scary. I mean the blue screen. Also, I never figured out how to get into autoexecbat in WordPad. Is that important or can I leave it and configsys in their newly named states? Thanks so much. I guess I will power down now and see what happens when I turn it on again, as much as I hate to do it. This is like a 24x7 shift in ER and I am whipped. Soon I will have to quit for the night. If this doesn't power up, I will not come back on the air until tomorrow. I so appreciate your help. You are some kind of smart. 02-20-2001 17:37:08

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Spike Profile Don't be concerned by the blue screen. It is a result of having unplugged the power without shutting down Windows properly. It will run through its disk check and write a .log file to your c: drive, then rebooting should be normal, 'til the next time power is interupted. If you add the line that Starfish told you to your autoexec.bat file, you will be able to view the scandisk screen properly if the future. Hey, it stumped me the first few times I encountered it, too. BTW, if you were able to make Starfish's suggested changes using Notepad, instead of Wordpad, that's fine. Just pick an editor you know and stick with it; they all give the same results. If you are as suspicious of the McAfee software as you sound, I'd suggest using the uninstall utility under Control Panel, rather than simply dumping the main program into the trashbin. Bits and pieces of that program are almost certain remain if you delete, rather than uninstall. 02-20-2001 18:35:44

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile Anti-Virus Software http://nai.com/ I think McAfee & Dr Solomon merged? (whatever) into Network Associates Inc. A.K.A. NAI.COM A Great Place ! Find New Signature Files (Virus Definitions) Here Weekly. They have always had Free 30 Day Trail Software for Download. There seems to be a Conflict with Some Builds of Windows & doing an unneeded Scan in DOS? Maybe the Answer is To Not Let it Modifiy Your Autoexec.bat, When You are Prompted during SetUp of the Product. My Employer bought a Site Lincese That includes Employees Home Systems 02-20-2001 19:24:20

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile cadetpc...I apologize for my assumptions. I guess this is a case of "assuming makes an ass out of me". Anyway, my step-by-step approach is taken because there are many possible fixes to any one problem. Streering you in the wrong direction could have done more harm than good. BTW, if you hold down the shift key while right clicking on the autoexec.bat file, you will get the option to 'open with'. You can then select notepad (my preference) or wordpad. If you just click on a .bat file it will execute. Also, I am glad you got back into Windows. 02-20-2001 20:38:19

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile As SPIKE mentioned, Since UNINSTALL You should Never DELETE any Files, Except DATA Files You Have Created. The Quick Answer is Don't Worry about Autoexec.bat or Config.sys Win9X doesn't need them. First We want to be able to do a COLD Boot without Problems. In the Interest of Not Overloading You, I will Wait till You can Report such, or what Problems You are still having ? One Comment, while Most Text Editors will Work Fine, WordProcessors (WORD or WORDPERFECT) by Default use a Shifted Charactor Set & Embedded Format Codes. (They will Trash the File !) & to OPEN a File in Most Windows Applications, Press <ALT> <F>ile,<O>pen Find Your File & Double Click It. Which Step are you having trouble with ? 02-20-2001 21:34:45

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Hopefully, this problem can be fixed without any further problems. Just a few thoughts....Virus scanners which run all the time, at boot-up, etc, really slow down an I-Opener, or any other low-powered computer. An on-demand virus scanner is a better idea, but only if you use it on every new piece of software you recieve, or install. I use Fix-It Utility Suite 4.0. It's virus scanner is one of the best....easily updated weekly. Provided you have enough hard drive space, it's a good idea to keep a copy of the Windows cab files on another partition, separate from your operating system. Should a problem happen, such as this topic, and you can boot to a DOS prompt, or get into the safe mode, you can always re-install Windows...if you reinstall windows without formatting (over itself), it will usually fix the types of problems which occured here. If you format the Sandisk with a bootable DOS, you can do the same thing, even if your main OS won't boot at all. With Fix-It 4.0, you can keep the entire Virus program on the Sandisk and run it from there....which would be a life-saver if your whole C-drive was affected. Having a good uninstaller program, which usually work better than the Windows version, can be a big help...could save you from a bad software install. I use Cyber-media uninstaller....It saved me big-time once when the VIA 4-in-1 drivers hosed my system. Finally a good back-up plan is essential for piece-of-mind. My solution is an image of the whole windows install...the C-drive. I keep one copy of the image on the second partition, another copy is kept on another computer or burned on a cdrom. If the worst happens, you can always format, and restore your working system easily. For this I use Drive Image 3.0. If you're using ME, and have the restore feature going, it can help also. But it's still not as safe as a complete image, kept in more than one place. Happy computing....... 02-21-2001 04:51:06

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Man. I just wrote for an hour and it didn't take. Everything is fine today, thank all of you. It turns out that I didn't delete McAfee after all. I deleted one little icon located on my Desktop that looks like the beige file folders in My Computer. I don't know whether it contained any software or not. At any rate, when I ran McAfee last night it hung both times. I don't know whether McAfee is flawed, whether there was some s/w in that icon I deleted, or what. So, should I uninstall it (properly) and download it again? Problem is that I am sure the install is what crashed me in the first place. It would kill me if I crashed again and couldn't get back in. On the other hand, I do hate to run wide open even though I never plan to open anything--but I could accidentally. CKBONE, I have no external drives so I can't install anything unless it is downloadable from the Internet. (If I had it to do over again, I would have paid the guy extra to use the USB port to add a hub and stick in a drive. This way I can't add software, back up or anything.) I didn't even know enough to send him my printer software so my printer port just sits there useless. Starfish, what do you think? As for Notepad, Wordpad, etc. Is there any reason for me to go there if it doesn't matter what name autoexec.bat and configsys are called? 02-21-2001 05:53:18

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Help! After sending the above message, I logged off AOL, did my morning chores, etc. I left the iOpener on, which I usually do, all day long. When I came back, I discovered a grayish/blackish screen with a hypen in the left top corner. I could do nothing to activate Windows. What the heck? I tried Ctrl-Alt-Del, tab, space bar, I hit every key on the board, etc. Nada, zip, zero. This has *never* happened before. Is this now so fragile that I have to be actively working on it or else shut it down every time I use it? As it was, I, of course, had to kill the power, but fortunately the trusty bright blue screen came up and eventually Windows returned. This is a bit much. Is this normal? (Obviously not.) 02-21-2001 08:06:01

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Gosh, I guess everyone has lost interest in my difficulties. I am going to uninstall McAfee since I don't know what else to do. I never could get into Notepad or Wordpad to do the REM and I think I dismantled part of McAfee anyway. I can always download it again if ANYONE thinks that is a good idea. Does anyone think I dare? 02-21-2001 14:29:32

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email People are probably just at work. The gray screen with the cursor in the corner is nomral at least on my Io. It appears to be what the machine does if left alone for long enough. Mine snaps out of it by moving the mouse or hitting one of the mouse buttons. It sometimes takes a little while for it to come back to life. So give it at least 30 seconds or so. ttn2 02-21-2001 15:30:20

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email For notepad, use the startbar. Go to programs and then accessories menu. Notepad should be listed. Once notepad starts use the file menu and open. autoexec.bat and config.sys are in c:\ . ttn2 02-21-2001 15:33:26

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile The problems you are having are not normal to the I-Opener if it's set up correctly....the right BIOS settings, all the necessary VIA drivers, no conflicts in Device Manager, etc. You need to go into the control panel, add/remove programs, and try to un-install McAffey. From your description, it seems to be causing some or most of your problems. Do you have the Win98 cab files somewhere on your hard-drive? If so, I would do a re-install of Windows. Just open up the Win98 folder, click on setup. Many times a simple re-install will fix a damaged OS,at the same time leaving all your other programs working. Look, to get your printer working, find the driver on it's installation disk...it's usually not very big. E-Mail it to yourself from another computer. Retrieve the files from the I-Opener. You can get your printer working that way. You really need an external drive of some kind. An external USB cdrom will work fine. You can E-Mail yourself the drivers for it before trying to plug it in. Don't try installing windows from a USB device however....it won't work. As far as getting responses off this board...keep in mind many of us work days, and can only reply in the morning, evenings, or on week-ends. Good luck..... 02-21-2001 17:55:38

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) redwood Profile Wow.... once again, this board Rocks! some of the best advise I've seen posted in anythread... you have some Great minds helping you, hope you are able to follow, and fix yer problem... 02-21-2001 18:09:19

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Athough ckbone's advice on getting drivers to your i-opener is sound and will work, i recommend going to the manufacturer's web site and downloading the newest version of the drivers. Also, i agree that at this point, given that your OS has become unstable, a reinstall of Windows is in order. When re-installing, you may receive a message stating that this version of windows is not upgradable and that you will need to obtain the windows 98 upgrade version. If this happens, boot into DOS, go into thw c:\windows directory and rename 'win.com' to 'win.bak' (rem win.com win.bak). Then run Windows setup from DOS. Remember, that 'win.com' is Windows 'main' executable and after you rename it you will not be able to get into windows until setup completes or you name the file back to win.com. 02-21-2001 18:24:49

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Sorry...typo...the proper syntax for renaming a file is 'ren win.com win.bak'...not'rem' 02-21-2001 18:26:54

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Wow. This is definitely not for the fainthearted. You guys have got me in so far over my head it isn't even funny. I hope you haven't left out one teeny detail or I will blow it--I am definitely in uncharted waters. But what I *am* going to do right now is delete McAfee. Properly. As for reinstalling Windows, installing a printer, etc. I am a morning person and it's too late at night for me to take something like that on today. Tomorrow I have company coming so I expect that I will spend all day getting ready for that. Please be kind enough check back some time on Friday to see what happened. One last chicken-hearted question: if McAfee caused all the difficulty, would it be possible for me to do NOTHING and live happily ever after once I delete it? Thanks again to all of you. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-21-2001 18:41:25

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email First, let me qualify: I put in my 35+ years in the office so I'm not a little old lady in tennis shoes here. In fact, much of it was around computers thinking of ways for them to do jobs instead of humans. Now I'm just trying to get my computer to do its job. Maddening. Curiosity killed the cat so I went ahead and TRIED to uninstall McAfee via the Control Panel's Install/Uninstall and it wouldn't uninstall. Can you believe that? Apparently since I wiped out part of McAfee in my very early swipe, it tells me that it wasn't completely installed, and therefore it wants to keep installing it instead of UNinstalling it. I tried three times. So, I either delete by using Windows Explorer which you say will leave fragments all over my system or download Mcafee again. I presume if I do another download it will just overwrite and pick up the stuff I mistakenly deleted. Is that correct? Do I run the risk of crashing again if I do this, and is this a big risk? I ass-u-me that I can get back in using safe mode but I would hate to find out otherwise. I would be s'd, lewd and tattooed, not to mention v*e*r*y unhappy. I think the iOpener is just about the greatest. 02-21-2001 19:54:37

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email I have a few words of advice. Just suggestion that I have been told many times. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This isn't meant to upset anyone on the board. It sounds like cadetpc just wants a usable computer. If its working for you now, I think I would leave it alone. Another method of backup is a parallel port device like a zip drive or LS-120. These are relatively cheap compared to a usb cdrom or floppy drive. Granted they aren't quite as fast and are now antiquated in computer years, but they do work fairly well. Also, I haven't checked prices on these devices in quite sometime so I may be wrong. Best to check out all the options. Another suggestion would be to never open attachments unless you know exactly what they are. I'm sure I have deleted many a funny joke and probably some nice internet greeting cards, but I have been virus free for quite sometime. I do run a virus checking program periodically as well. Good luck with your Io. They are the greatest time sync I have found in a long time. ttn2 02-21-2001 20:47:51

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile cadetpc.....if you feel that mcafee cause all your issues one thing you might try is download it again. install it, however, when it propmts you to reboot, select no. then run the unistall...this 'may' work to get mcafee unistalled. Personally i don't recommend mcafee anymore (not since they were bought out by network associates)....I work in the Computer idustry and lately mcafee has been a thorn in my side.....many clients who have been hit with new viri (annkornikova..etc) and mcafee didn't catch it.....the best advice, as stated aboce, is to not open attachments, even from people you know, until you know they are safe...call the people and ask them if they sent you an e-mail. 02-21-2001 22:42:37

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile > Starfish, what do you think? You should ReRead this Thread (maybe a Few Times) There are More Answers Here, than You Got. There are More Answers Here than You Want ! You can Always Improve Your System &/or Learn More about It. Stop Trying to Clean Your System Up ! I am Not Concerned about "fragments" all over Your system. I am Concerned, You could Remove a Shared File or A Registered File. Then You will Have another Error Message or something else could become FLAKY As Far as Your System Locking Up, Once, Hey it Happens ! I don't think I have ever had a System, That Never Locked up Once. We Need to see a Problem More than Once, to even Consider it a Problem. Repeatablity (being able to Cause the Problem) is half of The Solution ! Now, Take a Deep Breath, Let it out, & tell Me, What Problem You are having From a COLD Boot. What other Problems are You Having ? What do You want to Learn about your System ? (I want to Install Your Printer, When You are Ready) If You Only want one answer @ a Time ? Then just give us One Problem @ a Time. 02-22-2001 03:21:51

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email *starfish* and others: Sorry for the broadcast mishmash of questions. Here is what I get on cold boot: Cannot find a device file needed to run a Windows or a Windows application. Windows registry of Sys.ini refers to this device file but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VSHINIT.VXD Please press any key to continue. (I did.) Then a repeat of above text followed by: c:Progra~1\McAfee1\McAfee2|Safe@Sound\FBWINGS.VXD Please press any key to continue. (I think this occurred because I partially deleted McAfee--now the McAfee starburst icon has disappeared from my Desktop even though the files still exist on my system.) I consider this "broke" in that while it may not be harmful. I seem to have a partial install of McAfee and it is obvious to me that I need to to the REM that was recommended in the beginning. Since I am having no luck in Notepad/Wordpad, I try to will wade into DOS. 02-22-2001 04:41:18

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I have no DOS manuals. Once I got to C:\WINDOWS I typed CD and got from C:\WINDOWS TO c:\ but I need to get to Program Files\McAfee. I keep getting invalid directory. Could someone please give me the steps. Once I get to McAfee I intend to insert the following ABOVE the existing McAfee line: REM C:\McAfee and just leave the rest alone. Thanks. 02-22-2001 05:00:27

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email In DOS all names are truncated to 8 characters. It should be CD progra~1 . Try that. Or just type dir at the command prompt C:\ . Then look for the directory that looks like progra~1 . Let me know how it goes. ttn2 02-22-2001 05:11:18

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email I should rearead the thread too. Deleting the rest of McAfee will not fix this error. This is caused by the sys.ini file having an entry that refers to a nonexistant file. You have to edit the sys.ini file for windows. I do not have my windows 98 machine up right now or I would tell you more about it. Have to go to work. ttn2 02-22-2001 05:17:18

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile There are several approaches to your problem...A good install of McAffee followed immediately by an uninstall may do the trick. Or you could be back to square one. Here's an easier route: Hit start, run, type in msconfig Then hit enter. From the startup tab uncheck any references to McAffee you can find..there may be several. This should prevent any McAffee stuff from trying to load up during Windows loading time. If you are not sure what to uncheck, it's pretty safe to try anyway. You can always go back and recheck an entry. You can also run this program in the safe mode if need be. You will find a lot of completely useless stuff here....these are TSRs....un-necessary entries here will really slow down your system. The prices on USB cdroms has been falling quickly. I've seen USB cdr/cdrw machines for as little as $129 new. Having one of these would really be a big help. They are much more useful than a zip or superdisk. Plus they can do double duty on other computers. I have a HP USB 8200 series that works great. If you intend to keep your I-Opener, and it sounds like you do, access to a cdrom is almost a must. 02-22-2001 05:47:05

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile CadetPC, Good Day Lady, I knew You would be back before Friday Evening First, I don't want You in DOS (just Yet) If You can do it in Windows. Next, CKBONE has the Best Idea @ this Point. (worth Repeating) Here's an easier route: Click On START/RUN Type in "msconfig" (No Quotes) Click OK Click the "Startup Tab", uncheck any references to McAffee you can find..there may be several. This should prevent any McAffee stuff from trying to load up during Windows loading time. If you are not sure what to uncheck, it's pretty safe to try anyway. You can always go back and recheck an entry. You can also run this program in Safe Mode if need be. Lastly, What is "Safe and Sound" ? If You Can Get into it, Try HELP/ABOUT Do they show a Web Site ? (www.safe&sound.com or What ?) Your HACKER might have put Restore Software on Your System ? Good Luck ! & Report Back @ Your Convenience, * StarFish * Bonus Question: What Make, Model is Your Printer ? 02-22-2001 11:03:00

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSOIRIES/WORDPAD or START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSOIRIES/NOTEPAD then, FILE/OPEN & locate it. If You Need Help, START/FIND/FILESorFOLDERS The Only reason I use Wordpad Most is, When I Double Click a File with an Extention that hasn't been Opened before & get the "Open With" Dialog Box, I just Scroll to the end of the List & there is WordPad ! Now, I Don't want You To EDIT or REMark AnyThing Just Yet ! What I would like You to Do is, BLOCK & COPY Your Whole "Autoexec.old" (or Whatever You ReNamed it to) Then, Reply to this Thread & PASTE it in Here. The Same with "Config.sys/old" If You can do This, We can EDIT IT, & You could just PASTE in Our Changes ! 02-22-2001 11:59:49

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Cadetpc....you cannot remark things from a DOS prompt, you must do it from an editor (wordpad). Also, remember to make copies of any files you modify, before you modify it. The errors you are getting at boot-up (in DOS characters) are because of how mcafee was unistalled. unfortunaly, you won't find the request for these files in either the Autoexec.bat ot config.sys. As the error states: "Cannot find a device file needed to run a Windows or a Windows application. Windows registry of Sys.ini refers to this device file but the device file no longer exists." The problem is either in or sys.ini, or your Registry (most likely in the registry). DO NOT MESS IN THE REGISTRY UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR ARE DOING. Sorry for yelling, but that is very important. Cleaning up your Autoexec.bat and config.sys is a good start, but it won't clear up the errors you receive at boot-up. I repeat my recommendation, reinstall Mcafee and then do an unistall (properly). This will clear the errors you are receiving at boot-up, then we can move on to your next problems. Starfish, Safe and Sound is a new module installed by Mcafee 5, it creates backups of imortant system files. 02-22-2001 15:32:10

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ttn1 Profile | Email You can edit things in DOS. A program called edit allows this. Although I don't think she wants to mess with this. ttn2 02-22-2001 17:16:11

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Here are my instructions: <<Click On START/RUN Type in "msconfig" (No Quotes) Click OK Click the "Startup Tab", uncheck any references to McAffee you can find..there may be several. This should prevent any McAffee stuff from trying to load up during Windows loading time. If you are not sure what to uncheck, it's pretty safe to try anyway. You can always go back and recheck an entry. You can also run this program in Safe Mode if need be.>> Question: What is the "if need be" reference? Why or how would I be in Safe Mode? That implies some sort of system failure. Eeek. Should I also check off all the "TSR"s that I see or just stick with the McAfee stuff? Yes, FYI, Safe and Sound is part of McAfee. [Starfish, per your question, I have an HP Desk Jet 420 printer and am wondering if I should make a separate thread about that. Pls advise. It worked briefly on an A/B switch with my Xerox DocuPrint P8 which I use daily. It did go offline when I took the CPU into the shop to be fixed but that shouldn't have mattered. Since I only really needed one, and, of course use the laser, I haven't messed with it. Now that I have the luxury of the iOpener and the HP is small I would like to put them to work together. It shows up on my Control Panel under Printers so I *ass-u-me* the software is installed on my desktop computer. Duh, I guess I should crawl around on the floor and unplug my laser and try to just run the HP--it could be the switch. I'll try that in the a.m.] Thanks, everyone. I am overwhelmed with the help and am tracking with most of what you are saying. I still am having a hard time getting across that I can't open whatever it is that I am supposed to be opening in Notepad or Wordpad, so going to msconfig is a big relief. I know I can do that. I still would like to GET RID of McAfee. Will checking off all these things do that or merely trick the system? It's a real memory hawg. 02-22-2001 19:47:33

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile No, Please Don't Start another Thread ! HP Deskjet 420 Printer Drivers and Downloads http://www.hp.com/cposupport/swindexes/hpdeskjet47670_swen.html They also List a Deskjet 420C > Question: What is the "if need be" reference? > Why or how would I be in Safe Mode? Proceed with Caution ! You have a "KeyBoard Virus" ! Your Fingers could mess up Your System ! You are Learning alot @ a Fast Pace. "Safe Mode" was in Hopes of giving You a "Warm Fuzzy Feeling" (Like the BLUE SCREEN) That Worse Case, You Could end up Where You have Been. I don't speak AOL very Well Relax, Your Doing Good, There is Plenty of Help Here. > Should I also check off all the "TSR"s that I see or just stick with the McAfee stuff? Did You Notice I Left that out of My PASTE from CKBONE ? As well as Backing Up Your System ? It's Called "The Scientific Method" Only Change One thing @ a Time ! Then You know what caused What. Go Slow. Having Said that, "Dealer's Choice Rules" Your Dealing with it ! Do What You Want ! > Yes, FYI, Safe and Sound is part of McAfee. If Someone Knew about this, It Could? Fix Everything??? I am Still @ Version 4.02, I will be Upgrading, But Not Right Now. I Will be Pretty Busy this Weekend & Monday, so I should be able to Post Tuesday. Saturday Morning or whenever Your Active Time is, Sit Down with a Cup of Coffee or Tea, & ReRead this Thread. Notice How Far You have Come & what You have Learned, & Where You have Been in Your System. The Name of Our Computer Club is "MyndWarp" The Idea being, We Have already Answered most of Your Questions. (Been There, Done That) We just need to Help You to Find where the Answers are ! (Your Answers are Here, You just need the Time to See Them.) If You can Surf & Print From another System, PRINT this Thread & take a Pen & Mark it Up & keep Notes ! (That's What I Have to Do !) Good Luck ! * StarFish * 02-22-2001 22:24:45

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile By unchecking the McAffee stuff using msconfig, you are simply not letting the McAffee programs start/run, some of them in the background. These are TSRs, terminate stay resident, programs that load up every time you restart Windows, some you see in the tray next to the clock, some you never see. Windows tends to collect them, I check this area frequently.......More than half of mine are unchecked. Most don't really need to run all the time....Real Player is an example, uncheck the thing, just takes a few seconds longer to load when you use it. The McAffee program, or what's left of it probably won't hurt anything....you could screw things up further by trying anything else. As with any changes you do to your system, something bad could happen...not likely here. And could always be undone in the safe mode. You know something....I'm amazed how much help is given on this BBS to anyone of the female gender....perhaps because of how rare females are in the hacking community. How do we really know you're a girl....huh? 02-23-2001 20:00:55

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email CKBONE: Why are you amazed that help is given to someone of the female gender? Does it mean that we are not welcome or that we are bothersome or what? I can prove I am a "girl" by sending you a photo, if necessary. Unlike you, I have my e-mail address on my profile. BTW, "girl" may be a stretch--I told you I already put in my 35 years. (What you say above makes sense. Thanks.) Whatever, I am overwhelmed, awed, grateful, and *my* circuits are nearly overloaded. As per *Starfish*'s instructions (more like ORDERS), I am kicking back this weekend and trying not to do anything--rather to let all this sink in a bit. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-24-2001 20:11:14

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile First....There have been numerous topics started, such as yours here, which never went very far. As soon as we found out you were a girl, you were bombarded with help. Would the same thing have happened if that fact(gender) was never touched upon? I somehow doubt it. I only know (personally) one girl who was ever brave enough to take the case off a computer....and I don't know any who ever did a clean install of Windows. I'm sure there are some, just not very many. On this board I have only read posts from two girls....you're #2. Girls, computers, and hacking just don't mix very well......maybe that's why the unusual interest here. It's very possible someone else could realize that, and pretend to be female to get more help. I'm sure you know, or should know, chat rooms are full of people pretending to be the opposite gender. There is no way for you to prove you're female on this BBS. Even a picture could be faked. We here can only go by what you say....read between the lines....or take it on faith. My mother in her 80's, still called all her friends "girls"...."The girls are coming over to play cards." So calling a female of any age a girl, is not uncommon. I personally, would never fake being a girl.....just a "man" thing, I guess. I'm reading between the lines here.....since my faith in anything has to be proven. I hope you realize I'm just kidding around here..... You do know you have picked a rather difficult computer to play around with. It usually requires another computer to get it going. Taking it apart is a pain. You have no floppy, or cdrom to boot from, should anything bad happen. There are no manuals for the thing. They are relatively rare, so you just can't ask a friend to help out. You are basically stuck with this BBS for all your info or help. There is one thing to do to continue to get help.....feedback. Let us know how your problem is coming along.....We have all answered questions here, never to learn any outcome. Feedback is what keeps the interest going. Good luck.....ckbone 02-25-2001 05:23:19

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile First....There have been numerous topics started, such as yours here, which never went very far. As soon as we found out you were a girl, you were bombarded with help. Would the same thing have happened if that fact(gender) was never touched upon? I somehow doubt it. I only know (personally) one girl who was ever brave enough to take the case off a computer....and I don't know any who ever did a clean install of Windows. I'm sure there are some, just not very many. On this board I have only read posts from two girls....you're #2. Girls, computers, and hacking just don't mix very well......maybe that's why the unusual interest here. It's very possible someone else could realize that, and pretend to be female to get more help. I'm sure you know, or should know, chat rooms are full of people pretending to be the opposite gender. There is no way for you to prove you're female on this BBS. Even a picture could be faked. We here can only go by what you say....read between the lines....or take it on faith. My mother in her 80's, still called all her friends "girls"...."The girls are coming over to play cards." So calling a female of any age a girl, is not uncommon. I personally, would never fake being a girl.....just a "man" thing, I guess. I'm reading between the lines here.....since my faith in anything has to be proven. I hope you realize I'm just kidding around here..... You do know you have picked a rather difficult computer to play around with. It usually requires another computer to get it going. Taking it apart is a pain. You have no floppy, or cdrom to boot from, should anything bad happen. There are no manuals for the thing. They are relatively rare, so you just can't ask a friend to help out. You are basically stuck with this BBS for all your info or help. There is one thing to do to continue to get help.....feedback. Let us know how your problem is coming along.....We have all answered questions here, never to learn any outcome. Feedback is what keeps the interest going. Good luck.....ckbone 02-25-2001 05:31:02

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile First....There have been numerous topics started, such as yours here, which never went very far. As soon as we found out you were a girl, you were bombarded with help. Would the same thing have happened if that fact(gender) was never touched upon? I somehow doubt it. I only know (personally) one girl who was ever brave enough to take the case off a computer....and I don't know any who ever did a clean install of Windows. I'm sure there are some, just not very many. On this board I have only read posts from two girls....you're #2. Girls, computers, and hacking just don't mix very well......maybe that's why the unusual interest here. It's very possible someone else could realize that, and pretend to be female to get more help. I'm sure you know, or should know, chat rooms are full of people pretending to be the opposite gender. There is no way for you to prove you're female on this BBS. Even a picture could be faked. We here can only go by what you say....read between the lines....or take it on faith. My mother in her 80's, still called all her friends "girls"...."The girls are coming over to play cards." So calling a female of any age a girl, is not uncommon. I personally, would never fake being a girl.....just a "man" thing, I guess. I'm reading between the lines here.....since my faith in anything has to be proven. I hope you realize I'm just kidding around here..... You do know you have picked a rather difficult computer to play around with. It usually requires another computer to get it going. Taking it apart is a pain. You have no floppy, or cdrom to boot from, should anything bad happen. There are no manuals for the thing. They are relatively rare, so you just can't ask a friend to help out. You are basically stuck with this BBS for all your info or help. There is one thing to do to continue to get help.....feedback. Let us know how your problem is coming along.....We have all answered questions here, never to learn any outcome. Feedback is what keeps the interest going. Good luck.....ckbone 02-25-2001 05:31:14

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Damn....Sorry about that. I just started using Netscape 6.01....don't have a clue how that happened. After the reply I just backed up, got some strange messages, finally reloaded the whole BBS. I'm back using 4.76 now.....hope there's no more repeats. 02-25-2001 05:47:55

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email CKBONE: Surely you can tell that I am a woman by the way I "blabber" on here...for which I have been (properly) censured by *Starfish*. I have watched a lot of the posts over time and they are all very straightforward. I think that men typically don't display their desperation, or their ignorance, quite so blatantly. Sort of like the reverse of the male stereotype of not asking for road directions. I am not afraid though--I just need to decide what to do. The expression, "Less is more," comes to mind. Cheers. 02-25-2001 06:39:28

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile The computer I'm posting from had some McAffee programs when I got it. I deleted everything that said McAffee...but still kept a McAffee splash screen upon booting. Using msconfig here's what I unchecked: McAfee Guardian VstartEXE VsecomEXE Vshwin32EXE Vshwin32EXE (two separate entries) I haven't seen any sign of McAffee since I did that. Other versions of McAffee may have some other/different TSRs. I think you will be pretty safe here, deleting any McAffee related entries. 02-25-2001 09:26:41

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email CKBONE: Thanks! Just out of curiosity, what did the V* things have to do with McAfee? (I get the distinct impression that Starfish is trying to keep me in the Keep It Simple Stupid Mode which is why I ask.) 02-25-2001 12:15:52

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile I think it was their logo or something. V-Shield equals Virus Shield. The tsr names that start with "V" ....who knows? Keep looking for Network Associates.....That must be the Home company. I actually have one TSR that I unchecked.....it had no name at all, just a blank space. Could have been spyware of some sort....maybe a virus. Anyway, the less you have checked, the better. These programs that run all the time in the background, really slow down an I-Opener. Uncheck all the McAffee stuff at once....see what happens. Probably nothing will, except any MacAffee problems should disappear. 02-25-2001 12:41:30

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Here's another easy/safe thing you can do to check on what's running in the background. After you uncheck something using msconfig, reboot and then do this: Start Programs Accessories System Tools System Information Software Environment (double-click this) Start-up programs This is a list of currently running programs, along with a short description. You can tell here if there are any McAffee programs left running, or anything else you don't want. If you have a virus on your system, it will usually show up here. It may be of help to you to know exactly what's going on. 02-25-2001 13:05:22

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Here's what I plan to UN-check from the msconfig startup display: Real Tray Alog serv McAfee Safe & Sound Scheduling Agent (leave alone?) McAfee Virus Scan Service I'm not sure about Machine debug Manager so I think I should leave that alone? 02-25-2001 19:06:02

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) starfish Profile > As per Starfish's instructions (more like ORDERS), > I am kicking back this weekend and trying not to do anything. I'm Lost. I don't Know where I posted this. & it was Not My Intent ! I want You to Focus on 1 thing @ a Time & Try ! It would be Nice If We could get something done Soon, this Thread is getting Long. Your Posted Plan seems ok to Me. 02-26-2001 00:12:41

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I went to Accessories/Stystems Information/Startup to see what I had there and then went to run msconfig. (Startup has a couple of things that msconfig does not.) Here's what I did in msconfig: Unchecked Real Tray, Alog Sev, McAfee Safe & Sound, and McAfee Virus Scan Service. Accessories/Systems Information/Startup contains: MSOffice Startup, Scan Registry, Task Monitor, System Tray, Load Power Profile (twice), Scheduling Agent, Machine Debugging Agent, msconfig has the same but does not have Scan Registry or Task Monitor. I restarted, not shut down, my computer, and it did not eradicate my error messages telling me that that sys.ini was still looking for McAffee. I will now shut down completely and see if that helps. If I don't come back here with another thread, that means it didn't do any good. 02-26-2001 05:58:24

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Success! Windows with no delays. Now I need to print this whole thread and figure out: (a) how to get my printer to work; (b) whether I can make a CD-ROM work (will the drive configure itself when I plug it in)? Then I'm gone. Thanks everyone. I am s-o-o-o happy. "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 02-26-2001 06:22:10

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Well good for you.....It wasn't so hard after all. E-mailing yourself the correct driver for your printer might be the easiest way. I have been having some troubles getting drivers lately from California-based companies......probably related to their power problems. As far as I know, Win98 will not have the correct drivers for any USB cdroms.....or any parallel port cdroms either. You will have to E-Mail yourself the correct driver before any of these things will work. Besides, you never told us if you had the Win98 cab files or drivers on your hard drive. Often, when you add an external device, Windows will need those files to get the thing working. If you had a USB cdrom working, you would be all set....I'm assuming here you have the Win98 install disk. On the way home today, I found a Philipps USB cdr/cdrw for $119, Best Buy (open box). These things are getting common, and I see many in the open box section. Why? I got my HP USB 8200 this way.....works good. If you have enough space on your hard drive, it's probably smart to put the Win98 cab files there. You could always re-install windows from that file if you're having problems you cannot fix. You could even do that from the safe mode....or from a DOS prompt, if windows won't boot. This is an alternative to a real back-up device. There's a lot of hardware specific information available on this BBS, not so much OS related stuff. I've always found it a real challenge to get Windows 98 working well on a low-powered computer, such as the I-Opener. By tweaking the many systems on the I-Opener, including the OS, you can really make this thing a pretty good little computer. My original I-Opener, a Winchip2 V2, after a whole lot of software tweaking, has proven to be a reliable, reasonably fast, fun computer. You don't need a soldering iron to do it either. 02-26-2001 17:04:39

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email I goofed. I guess I was so used to hitting the space bar twice to get past the sys.ini file missing screens that I didn't even notice that it still was there. It is. It doesn't bother me to have to do that. As long as it doesn't do any harm to my system, I don't mind NOT getting right to the Windows 98 screen. Is it okay to just leave that garbage there? If not, what did I fail to uncheck? Please see a couple of screens above. Thanks. 02-27-2001 05:33:47

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile You didn't miss anything. These errors are entries in your system's registry. While those entries are in your registry and the files don't exists on your harddrive, you will get these errors. If you can live with hitting space twice then all should be OK. If you want to get rid of the errors, the easiest way is to re-install mcafee, then unistall. Just a reminder, when you unistall software, do it through the unistall that came with the program, or the windows unistaller. 02-27-2001 15:12:59

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile If you can get into your BIOS screen (requires a std keyboard)....in the first screen, there is a setting called "halt on". Change it to "no errors". Worth a try...completely safe. 02-27-2001 18:18:58

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email CKBONE: Great! I bought this iO from Netpliance with a splitter so I could swap myuregular keyboard from my desktop for the purposes of doing your BIOS solution. Please tell me how to find BIOS. TEXMAN: Thanks. McAfee is only partially installed--when I get to the screen that asks me if I want to install or uninstall and I check off Uninstall, it goes to install anyway, and then not completely, of course. Then, since parts are missing, it gives up. Like a closed loop. Bottom line: I can't uninstall it that way. Control Panel isn't any better. I'm sort of with you. I kind of want to try the complete install over again, then not reboot and go for the uninstall right away. I'm still just a little scared. The luxury and enjoyment I get out of having this on my kitchen table is something I would hate to lose. I'm still working up my nerve. 02-28-2001 04:56:01

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile OK....remember one thing: when you make any BIOS changes, write them down so you remember what you did. There are hundreds of possible settings/changes you can make here, so it's important to remember the changes in the different screens. You can always restore the settings with a reboot...but only if you know what you did. This is important.... Hopefully your splitter is ok....some of them don't work right. You will have to attach your standard keyboard to the mouse connector, your mouse to the keyboard connector. This is a strange thing about the I-Opener....only computer I ever heard of that had this problem. Also some keyboards just won't work with an I-Opener. And some keyboards work slightly differently. Normaly during the boot process, just after hitting the power button, you repeatedly strike CTRL,ALT,ESC, until the BIOS Screen pops up. With some keyboards you may also have to strike TAB, after the first set of keys. It's different on all three of my I-Openers, and varies between keyboards. If the BIOS screen won't pop up, let it boot to windows to see if the keyboard/mouse is actually working. Then reboot and keep trying. Once in the BIOS screen, open the first screen, change the "Halt on" setting to "no errors". Use the page up, page down keys to do the changes. Save your changes using the appropriate button...reboot. See what happens.You can always go back and make more changes here, or restore your previous settings. Just don't make any changes you don't know about. Record everything you do. 02-28-2001 16:59:34

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Cadet...there are still many options out there for you, one is to just leave well enough alone and hit spacebar twice at bootup. Mcafee isn't a 'system altering' application so you should be ok if you choose this route. Personally, I would do the rinstall, chances are it will go good and all will be OK. I would first do a search for '*.cab' on your harddrive and make sure you have the windows cabs, just in case. (Cabs are 'cabinet' files, Micrsoft's version of a zip file). This is just a safety net. If you don't feel comfortable reinstalling, there are lots of utilities that clean up the registry. I personally don't like these becasue I prefer the control of manually cleaning the registry. If you are interested I could ask around and see what people recommend. Another option is to have someone e-mail you these missing files (vshinit.vxd and FBWING.vxd) and then place them in the appropriate directory. This would not re-install Mcafee, but would satisfy your registry. However, this is only a bandade. Finally, you could manually clean your registry (not recommended unless your sure of what your doing). The two files above are mentioned in your registry (verbatim). You cold run a program called regedit and do a search for these files, then deleting the keys. These are the steps I would take to clear your two errors at boot up. 02-28-2001 22:38:08

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Cadet, I just re-read the thread, going into your BIOS and changing anything in there will not affect the two error message you are getting. The 'Halt on' setting in the BIOS refers to POST (power on self test) errors. For example, if you don't have a keyboard plugged in, you will get an error stating you don't have a keyboard (and the option to hit F1 to continue...go figure), but this is a POST failure. Once POST is completed, your Operating System takes over. This is when you are getting errors. 02-28-2001 22:44:04

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Dear Texman, I have 113 Cabinet files so I am covered there. That's a very good idea about those VXD files. If someone with the latest McAfee could e-mail me those two files that are missing at bootup (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VSHINIT.VXD and C:Progra~1McAfee1\McAfee2|Safe@Sound\FBWINGS.VXD) which are the ones I accidentally deleted from McAfee, then I believe I could get McAfee's un-install wizard to work instead of defaulting to trying to install (and failing, of course.) (Please make sure you have updated your virus definitions!!) If someone actually does this, please tell me where they are in the "lineup" so I will know where to put them, just in case this is important. However, this is most definitely a "nice-to-have" and not essential. I would like the memory back, but having the benign error messages doesn't bother me. 03-01-2001 14:32:14

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Cadetpc....There is a free program that may help you out of your registry problem...if that's what it is. It's called Registry Cleaner. There is a brand-new version available here: http://www.nonags.com/nonags/ Today(Mar 1) it's on the first page. Normally you find it under Power Tools. I've used it on my I-Openers...works fine, and should be able to clean the registry of the McAffee stuff. Click on the first tab (software) and check off any McAffee entries. A tour of this site will amaze you....there are hundreds of totally free programs...many different types....no strings attached. 03-01-2001 18:20:29

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email CKBONE: Neat site. I downloaded the s/w and deleted mcafee programs and then shut down. Came back up and the darned messages are still there. Tomorrow I will go into file types and get rid of .vxd? 03-01-2001 20:24:57

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Cadet, I don't understand why you are going into files types. Your results with the reg cleaner is why I prefer to do things manually. Different registry cleaners will give you different results. I am 95% sure your problem is with the registry, on very rare occasions, the files are in your sys.ini (this has been my experience anyway). The fix for your problem has been stated above many times. If you have the courage to run a reg cleaner, why won't you reinstall mcafee? 03-01-2001 20:39:02

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Okay, TEXMAN. You are right, as usual. But, this was a Registry-fixer with a friendly screen on it for people who didn't know how to use DOS, BIOS, or anything else. It was quite cool and it seemed straightforward-- it has a screen for anyone with half a brain to delete software named (McAfee), which I did. Only thing is that it didn't work. You are right. The only thing left, if I want to get rid of McAfee, which now doesn't work anyway, is to reinstall and un-install--without daring to reboot in between. 03-02-2001 04:54:30

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Cadetpc....The Win98 cab files are normally kept in one folder called Win98, aprox 178mb. If you have them on your hard drive, I suggest a simple re-install of Windows. It's pretty safe to do.....after all, that's how your drive was probably done originally. During the install it shouldn't ask for a serial #....or even need proof of Windows ownership (if the version is an upgrade), because you already have Windows installed. Just open the folder, click on setup,follow instructions. This may clean up any registry problems, or any other OS problems that exist. It's a lot easier to fix your system this way, than any other method. 03-03-2001 04:17:15

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Randy Profile The complete set of mint installation files for Windows 98 can be found in CadetPC's subdirectory: \ windows \ options \ cabs \ win98 03-03-2001 22:29:00

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile ckbone...a reinstall of windows will read her registry, unless she does a wipe and reload (NOT RECOMMENED at this point). To be perfectly honest with you a reistall of Macafee is the easiest/fastest/simplest/etc way to fix the two errors she is getting on bootup. Look everybody, I have been trying not to bring this up (don't want to blow my own horn), but I do things like this everyday (8-12 hours a day 5-6 days a week)....I am a network engineer, I maintain several 100+ PC networks (running NT, Novell and/or Unix). Please cadet, just reinstall mcafee and then delete it properly. We can then move on to any other issues you may have. 03-04-2001 00:22:54

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Texman is right in that a good install of a program, followed immediately by a good uninstall, will clear up registry problems. However, should the install not go smoothly, not be complete, the uninstall may also be a failure, leaving you with the sort of problem that cadetpc has. A visit to the McAffee website will reveal a large batch of info regarding failed installs, booting problems, and other difficult problems to solve. I personally would never attempt a McAffee install on any computer I own. This is why I suggest doing the easy things first, before attempting difficult fixes.You have to take into consideration the whole situation. How you would fix a computer on a desk before you, is a whole lot different than trying to help a new, not so technically inclined, I-Opener owner. Cadetpc should never be told to manually edit the registry, such as you might do to your own computer. The results of a failed attempt here by cadetpc, could bring down the whole OS. Remember....she has never opened the case, and no doubt doesn't want to. If I were in her shoes, I would try a reinstall of McAffee, followed by an uninstall. But I'm not. If unsuccessful, I would take out the hard drive, format in another computer, set up the drive again for another clean install. She probably can't or doesn't want to do this. That's why I'm suggesting covering the easy bases first. Her safest option would be to ignore the minor boot-up annoyances. They probably won't cause any further harm. Cadetpc....we are all trying to help you, it's just our approaches to your problem differ. 03-04-2001 05:44:41

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Thanks, everyone. I can't reinstall Windows, because I have no way to do so. Someone else whom I don't even know built this system for me. I have a self-contained unit with no external drives, no knowledge of how to start from scratch and the only computer I've ever messed with inside is my Winbook. In the old days when I bought that, they guaranteed guaranteed tech support for life. It is so old that it has literally fallen apart physically. I am just afraid that if I do the reinstall and uninstall and anything fails that I will lose my iOpener even though I trust what you have said, Texman. I don't mind the irritant screen messages as long as they are just that--minor irritants. I think this has to be the compromse solution for me. Some day I will review this thread in depth and attempt to get my printer to run. THANKS EVERYONE! xxxooo's "With an open mind, you will be open hearted." 03-10-2001 06:31:47

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Randy Profile Actually, you can reinstall Windows, per my message above. (I'm the guy who hacked your i-opener for you.) If you can find a coworker or friend local to you who knows PCs very well, let him know that the complete set of mint installation files for Windows 98 can be found in this subdirectory: \ windows \ options \ cabs \ win98 Finally, the EASIEST and SAFEST thing you can do on your own at this point (irrespective of the debates you've seen back and forth) is to go ahead and reinstall McAfee, then uninstall it (using the resultant uninstaller program) without rebooting in between the install and uninstall. That will be SAFE and EFFECTIVE for removing the irritating boot screens you mentioned. Randy 03-12-2001 04:39:09

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Randy....If I read this whole thread correctly, her original problem was caused by a failed McAffee installation....not unusual with this software. Unless the install is good....which it wasn't....the un-install program will also fail, leaving her with her original problem again. Throw the DAMMED McAffee stuff in the trash. I still think her registry problems can be fixed using the Registry Cleaner program she down-loaded. Although by now, she is probably too confused to go any further. 03-12-2001 06:29:49

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Texman Profile Randy, good to see you support your work. Cadet, re-installing Mcafee is your best bet. You can also just live with it (this will just be an annoyance). The call is ultimatly yours. Whichever you decide, you will be fine. You also have one of the best resources available to you if you need more help, this BBS. Anyway, please let us know your results. 03-12-2001 10:15:49

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Hi, Randy, Texman, CKBONE, et. al. As I mentioned earlier, using the shareware Registry edit s/w I deleted Mcaffee programs and then shut down. Came back up and the darned messages were still there. I *could* go into file types and get rid of .vxd. That seems to be the file extension that Mcafee uses. BUT, I think I would still have Mcafee in there--it just isn't bothering me. But it *is* hogging space presumably. I guess I'll only know how much when I go to download something I really want and get the message that I have no room. That's when I will get up the nerve to install and re-install. By then, Mcafee Corp. will have licensing problems with me probably! But, if so, I will have saved this thread and will e-mail it to them. It's about 25 pages long. Great court document. Randy, I don't want to have to take this iOpener to anyone else. I searched first in the Washington area and came up blank. I have a feeling that you all are rare. Thanks again for all the help. There is a literal wealth of information here. I appreciate it very much. 03-12-2001 13:54:50

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) Randy Profile Well, I wouldn't say that I "support" my work, lol. Actually, I told CadetPC to try to find local assistance (someone familiar with Windows and i-opener, etc.) where she lives since these things can get so sticky. Moreover, shipping the box off to me (or any other long distance correspondent) would be a giant waste of time and energy if a local Windows/iopener friend could be made. Anybody in the Washington DC area care to lend a hand to CadetPC? Randy 03-13-2001 03:25:41

RE:Locked out by a virus--is it hopeless? (modified 0 times) cadetpc Profile | Email Randy, you did me a great service at a ridiculously nominal fee to put this iOpener together in the first place. To expect support after that would have been asking too much. If I ever shipped my iOpener to anyone, knowing what I know now I would want to send my own software, printer diskette, my WinFax Pro diskette, probably Office 97 vs. 2000, etc. Plus I would want a knowledgable person to try McAfee again to see if it installs itself properly. If someone wants to take me on, let me know. Otherwise, I am satisfied with the double hits on the spacebar to "get in". I LOVE my iOpener. And, not to gush, but I love all of you for being so totally responsive. This is better than any commercial help desk could ever be. Some companies should take a look at this and pay heed--it's textbook Harvard Business School case study customer service. Over and out. 03-13-2001 09:36:35

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