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StuartMW
Premium Member
join:2000-08-06

StuartMW

Premium Member

"My Computer is Acting Strangely"

quote:
I'm certain that something like this has happened to you. You're at work/home/shopping and a friend/coworker/family-member asks/phones/sends-a-telegram to you basically stating: "My computer is acting strangely, do you think I have a virus?"
...
The correct response when suspecting a compromise like this on a non-enterprise device is to simply buy a new hardrive and an external enclosure for you old drive. Then install fresh, and migrate what you need from the old drive.
...
But it's the only way to be sure, and it's non-enterprise equivalent to nuking-from-orbit.

»isc.sans.edu/diary/+My+C ··· y+/15256
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

2 recommendations

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: "My Computer is Acting Strangely"

first time I have heard of buying a new drive.

Talk about tech support for a profit!

Format and reinstall is just as good.

vaxvms
ferroequine fan
Premium Member
join:2005-03-01
Polar Park

1 recommendation

vaxvms to StuartMW

Premium Member

to StuartMW
But I don't have my OS disc. Guess it's time to buy a Mac.

Ctrl Alt Del
Premium Member
join:2002-02-18

Ctrl Alt Del

Premium Member

said by vaxvms:

But I don't have my OS disc. Guess it's time to buy a Mac.

While new Macs let you re-download (for free) the OS from the internet, doesn't Windows 8 have a similar built in refresh feature that is close?
WeenieAlso
join:2002-01-29
Pasadena, MD

WeenieAlso to Kearnstd

Member

to Kearnstd
I agree with Kearnstd. This could get real expensive and a little over reaction. Plus finding your license information could be a pain. If I understood Microsoft correctly if you have 2013 only ONE install is allowed, so I guess you have to buy office 2013 again.

nwrickert
Mod
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL

2 recommendations

nwrickert to StuartMW

Mod

to StuartMW
When my wifes computer was acting strangely, I reinstalled from a recent backup.

It continued to act strangely.

I ran memory tests, and got lots of errors.

I removed the RAM modules, then reinstalled (reseating). The computer has been fine ever since. However, I did reinstall again from a backup, after the memory reseating. The computer had been acting wildly enough, that I could not be sure there was not file corruption.

My point: It isn't always viruses. There can be other causes of weird behavior.
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to StuartMW

MVM

to StuartMW
said by nwrickert:

When my wifes computer was acting strangely, I reinstalled from a recent backup.

For some reason, I read "when my wife was acting strangely, I reinstalled from a recent backup..." Ooops! :facepalm:

Depends on how much troubleshooting one wants to put into something I guess.

Regards

nwrickert
Mod
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL

nwrickert

Mod

said by HELLFIRE:

For some reason, I read ...

I guess I did accidentally omit an apostrophe.