[jpete]

Did I mention I hate computers?

My new Asus laptop suddenly decided that the internet doesn't exist, it shouldn't open any windows like the Control Panel so I can actually look and see what might be wrong, and when I tried to "repair" my Windows partition, I think it vaporized everything.

Wonderful......

 

[Mike]

Being new ,I'd think you would have either a restore disk or partition that'll put you back to OEM new.
Sound's like malware or virus got on it.
What were you using for a/v & malware protection?

 

[jpete]

I didn't really want it OEM new.

I was using Avast, and "somehow" it got turned off. As well as System Restore. I'm thinking virus too.

After running Linux so long on my desktop, I got a little lax on my security.

Only "lost" one thing and I can reinstall that no problem(maybe). I was trying to keep everything on the D: partition just in case this happened so as long as the whole drive doesn't take a dump, I'm OK.

I still have my pictures and such so that's good. I think I lost a few I downloaded from my phone yesterday but not a huge loss.

Now I can't get it to connect to my home network anymore. I think it's time to start drinking. This has been a rough day in and out of the computer world.

 

[Tegguy]

Defiantly a virus. Try booting to safe mode with networking and see if you have internet then. If you do then you can try to download an anti virus program like malwarebytes or security essentials or avast. If you can't access the internet try to install anti virus from a CD or other media. After this try to run a scan and see if you can clean some stuff up. After that boot to regular windows and try to run it again.

 

[DaleM]

What OS (specifically - XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Home, Home Premium, Professional) are you running? If it's a virus, which it sounds like, often you can boot to safe mode, activate the administrator account and then run something like Malwarebyte to remove the virus.

I clean several PCs of these a year for a company here in town. No antivirus program will catch them but users typically wait too long to report the problem and it only gets worse.

The wife was looking for some various umbrella trees. Did a Google search and there were a group of images of different trees. Clicked on one and voila, Virus Security Alert virus began running. She's smart enough to call me immediately when it happens so I can control the damage, other tend to either ignore whatever is running or, worse yet, click the supplied buttom to 'fix' the problems.

 

[jpete]

It's a Windows 7 machine. It was working fine the night before and when I turned it on in the morning, it was junk.

I used the rescue disc to refresh the C: partition. I try to keep anything important on the D: side so I didn't lose much.

 

[Mike]

Suggest you download and use Avast -free antivirus , and Comodo free firewall.
Adding MalwareBytes -free antimalware (Download now button for the free one) and Spybot (scroll down for the d/l) doesn't hurt.
All these have keep me safe for years and all are free.
I know Microsoft has their Security Essentials if you care to use their stuff.

 

[Tegguy]

It's a Windows 7 machine. It was working fine the night before and when I turned it on in the morning, it was junk.

I used the rescue disc to refresh the C: partition. I try to keep anything important on the D: side so I didn't lose much.

For future reference windows 7 had a feature where you can do an in-place reinstall. If you have an actual windows 7 disc (not recovery discs) you can put them in the drive and run a windows 7 setup. As long as you don't format the drive windows 7 will reinstall any damaged components and you won't have to reinstall everything. I don't know if this would have helped in this situation but it does come in handy.

I have been happy with microsoft security essentials since I started using it

 

[jpete]

Only have the recovery disc. My main computer is a Linux box because I hate giving Bill Gates any more of my money.

After ME and XP, I had my fill.

I was using Avast at the time of the crash. When I got it going again, I went with AVG. I'll see how it goes...

 

[DaleM]

I'd bet that AVG isn't going to do anything Avast wouldn't or stop any virusus that cause this type of problem. I use an AV program (MS SEcurity Essentials) but I've found the best so far is the paid version of Malwarebytes. It stops many potentially IP addresses from being opened in my browser.

IMO, free software is worth just about what one pays for it.