Dell M6500 & Win 7

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bolster55

New member
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Hi all,
I run a Dell M6500 laptop with Win7.
When connecting to the internet it starts downloading "stuff', sometimes after 5 or 10 minutes, which I have no control over or find out where it is coming from. I have disabled auto update and my anti virus etc. If I go to explorer for internet history the files in doc and settings are locked. I have wiped the hard drive twice and started again from scratch, no luck.
I tried to load Win XP but it will not load it, is that because it is a Dell?
All my software is legal, and my anti virus is updated after notifying me it is doing so. When starting from fresh without any extra programs it does it also.
Any help suggestions greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
Thinking out loud here...

You could install ZoneAlarm and configure it for all Internet calls to ask for permission. That way you get a pop up which identifies each program/process that attempts to access your network or the Internet. Use this for a day or two until you find what is going on. It will be a "pain" to configure and use as you will frequently be distracted with program access request pop ups but it will help you find the culprets.

If you decide to try this idea, let me know and I'll write up suggested settings (installed default will not do what you need).

Regards,
GEWB
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
(7 different computers booting up to 10 systems)
OS
Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
Other Info
Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
Hello GEWB and theog,
I would like to try Zonealarm, on the web page there are several different types, which would be most suitable?

Regards
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
The latest and greatest malware reportedly places itself in the boot sector of the hard drive and actually loads itself before the OS does. From what I have read you have to format the drive to kill it. I'm just wondering if windows is doing a quick format during the install and thats not enough to get ride of it. If so I think I might delete the actual partition(s) and start over with a blank unformatted unpartitioned drive. Another option would be to go to the drive makers web site and have a look at the free utilities available. There should be one there that can write all zero's or all ones to the drive. The equivalent to a low level formate. If that doesn't kill it I think i would get out a big hammer. :eek:
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 10 Education 64 bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
Motherboard
Asus M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
Memory
8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
Graphics Card(s)
Zotac NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
Sound Card
VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
Screen Resolution
1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
Hard Drives
Crucial M100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
PSU
Thermaltake TR 620
Case
Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
Cooling
Stock heatsink and fan
Keyboard
Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M570 Trackman Wheel
Internet Speed
80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Other Info
HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
bolster55 said:
Hello GEWB and theog,
I would like to try Zonealarm, on the web page there are several different types, which would be most suitable?

Regards
Click to expand...

The free version is all you would need.

If you decide to do this, post in your thread you send me a PM - I'll spend some time to document some setting.

Regards,
GEWB
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
(7 different computers booting up to 10 systems)
OS
Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
Other Info
Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
The other replies, re: possible infection, are valid. Running a good set of scan tools should be the first thing to do. That said, I have used the free ZoneAlarm for many years - it has taught me a lot by seeing all the program calls to the Internet and reading the logs.

Regards,
GEWB
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
(7 different computers booting up to 10 systems)
OS
Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
Other Info
Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
Thanks for the replies, very helpfull, I'll update after I try these suggestions.
Thanks again.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
Hello All,
I tried downloading Zone alarm but after 61mb's the meter showed that I downloaded 95mb's and starting to over run the zone alarm down load. Can I clean my hard disk, including the boot sector so I can get rid of the "virus"? Being a Dell laptop can I delete the Dell start up? Or will I need a new hard drive?
I tried to load XP but it did not work, although it is a genuine disk. A lot of the folders in Win 7 are locked and even with admin rights I cannot excess them, is this also part of the virus?

Regards
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
Did that laptop come with windows 7 pre-installed? If it did, did you make a set of recovery disks for that PC yet? If you haven't you might want to before you go any further. If that PC did not come with a Windows 7 Install disk and relies on the recovery partition to re-install windows 7, you could break that functionality if you wipe out the boot sector. If this is the type of infection I think it is you will have to wipe out the boot sector to get ride of it. I'm no expert on this but I'm thinking when you do use the recovery/restore to factory settings option from the boot menu its not over writing the boot sector (system reserved partition), its just restoring the windows image to the second partition (c). If it was I would think that would wipe out any hidden nasties. So following that logic you would have to boot from some other media and erase the boot sector, maybe even wipe the whole drive, and start over.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 10 Education 64 bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
Motherboard
Asus M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
Memory
8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
Graphics Card(s)
Zotac NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
Sound Card
VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
Screen Resolution
1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
Hard Drives
Crucial M100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
PSU
Thermaltake TR 620
Case
Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
Cooling
Stock heatsink and fan
Keyboard
Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M570 Trackman Wheel
Internet Speed
80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Other Info
HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Thanks for that reply, the system came with Windows Vista and an upgrade disk for Windows 7, which I installed.
As it looks at the moment I would like to start again, I have backed up everything I need.
What would be the best software or method to completely clean that hard drive?

Regards
Phil
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
If you just want to start over and do a clean install I would probably do this.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C
During the install you can partition the drive, delete the current partitions and create new ones. I'm assuming you never intend to go back to windows vista. Deleting all the partitions will remove any factory Vista recovery option. You would have to use a recovery disk set, if you created one.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html
If you wait a little while I'm sure some other members will post their suggestions or alternatives and then you can pick the option you like.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 10 Education 64 bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
Motherboard
Asus M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
Memory
8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
Graphics Card(s)
Zotac NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
Sound Card
VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
Screen Resolution
1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
Hard Drives
Crucial M100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
PSU
Thermaltake TR 620
Case
Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
Cooling
Stock heatsink and fan
Keyboard
Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M570 Trackman Wheel
Internet Speed
80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Other Info
HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Did Dell send you a Upgrade installer Disk or a Recovery from Vista disk.
 

My Computer

OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
Yes, to the "theog", I have an installation disc for both XP and Win7, I'll format and start again.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
Hello All,
Xp is now running on my laptop.
Thank you all for your assistance, I hope I can help someone in the future.

Regards
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell
OS
windows 7
CPU
i7
Memory
4gb
Graphics Card(s)
quadrofx2800
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