I’ve been building and repairing pc systems as a hobby for about seven years now. My worst nightmare (and this seems to be the majority of my work) is a windows pc full of spyware, and sometimes viruses, to the point where the pc is too crippled to even run anti-spyware/anti-virus software on it. I usually end up backing up important documents using a Linux Live-CD, then format and reinstall, but in a lot of cases, the customer has neglected to tell me about some of the stuff they needed to keep, or they assumed that it came with windows, and then later they’re surprised when something is missing, but by that time its too late to get it back. So how does your average technician deal with these things?
Backing up the data and running on a live CD to fix the problem is usually the best way to fix it, like you are doing
Just warn them of what you’re doing first.
edit: ok in that case try a different flavor like PCLINUXOS. try pclinuxos.com it works wonders. i had it installed on all the machines that refused ubuntu. and it runs faster and smoother. pclinuxos2007 is you best bet.
good luck
Report Spam/Abuse
I’m not a technician but I’ll tell you what I do.
Apart from using the obvious freeware virus/adware/spyware removers (which always find the viruses that ARN’T bothering me ironically) like Spybot and Adaware, I run combofix.
It’s a neat little program I recently found when dealing with the stupid ‘XP Antivirus’. It can also use predefined scripts to deal with viruses. So if running it alone doesn’t clean it up, try googling for a script that will help you (written by some nice guy out there).
Another aproach is always to manually remove virsues but obviousy it isn’t an easy job unless you know what you are doing.
But if you can identify the virus with a name or some sort you can always google and find steps to manually remove it.
Not sure if combofix has a website but just google it for a download
Personal experiance
Report Spam/Abuse
The best of way getting rid of
Spywares is by using a Software called
“”Spybot – Search & Destroy”" -The best software which I’ve been using from many years.
Believe me friend the regular updates provided r also worth.
the system’s performance remains d same, &
the security of ur system is Doubled.
&
Regarding the best Anti-Virus go for
Kaspersky Anti-Virus – The Most Rated Software by Professionals.
I hope my information was useful for u.
with regards,
Chet Rockz
Personal experiance
Report Spam/Abuse
To remove all the spyware/virus without formatting the system, its only possible by running an antivirus software. But as you have mentioned its too crippled to run it, then there is only one way to do it. Run an avitvirus software in SAFE mode (i.e while booting your system press F8 key and then select Boot in Safe Mode). This is more effective way to run any antivirus software.
Try with this, it might work. Its definately worth a shot.
Personal experiance
Report Spam/Abuse
I work as an IT support in a MNC and I seldom reformat PC due to virus.
The best way is to remove virus is to install portable version of ClamWin anti-virus in a USB pen drive and scan your PC with it.
Use another clean PC to download Clamwin portable anti-virus and install it on a USB pen drive.
Download here
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portable
Document on how to configure ClamWin
http://support.real-time.com/open-source/clamwin/index.html
1) Start Clamwin anti-virus and update the latest anti-virus definition files.
2)Select the tools menu bar, set the preferences to remove virus.
3)Start the infected PC in safe mode by pressing F8 during start up.
4) Run the Clamwin Anti-virus that is installed on the USB pen drive to scan the infected PC.
5)After removing the virus, install crap cleaner (ccleaner) to get rid of the viruses left over setting in the windows registry.
ClamWin is a Free Antivirus for Microsoft Windows that uses the GNU General
Public License by the Free Software Foundation and is free (as in freedom)
software. It can detect and remove more than 400,000 Trojans and viruses.
Report Spam/Abuse