HELP!!! Virus in Windows 7 :(

[lakerkid08]

Hey everyone, so i just bought an authentic version of windows 7 pro for my Acer Extensa laptop. I booted from dvd, did a clean install, formated my C drive (partition 2), and eevrything was running smoothly. However, when I went online to download a driver for my touchpad, on accident I went to a "fake" site, and downloaded the driver from there. BAD BAD IDEA.

After downloading, my computer screen started flicking black and changing screen resolutions. During each black flicker, there were these little blue and yellow "character" markings all over the black screen. When I restarted, windows said there was a problem...and fixed it. The error said it was "bluescreen". However, the black flickering didnt stop.

THEREFORE, I am rebooting my computer from the disk again. I have 3 partitions, and noticed THIS time the 3rd partition labaled D: DATA (Primary) is not completely empty. It has a total size of 69.9GB but only 69.8GB are free. I am wondering if this is where the virus is hiding. Also, Partition 1: PQSERVICE (OEM Reserved) has size of 9.8GB and free space 4.6 GB.

My QUESTION to you guys is..this time instead of just formating the 2nd partition like the first time around, should i format the 2nd and 3rd to ensure I have whiped the virus clean? THANK YOU for your help

*note*
i would like to add that i also installed the systemics touchpad driver for vista from the REAL Acer site upon the same restart that the virus took full effect. At first i thought that the driver was causing the issues, then I realized it must have been the fake driver detector downloaded right before

 

[Captain Zero]

You 'bought' a genuine copy? BTW, cross-posting is lame.

 

[lakerkid08]

After i read this thread...

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/19121-bluescreen-problem.html#post274145

maybe it wasn't a virus afterall? I had the same error message when I restarted my computer. although that was some pretty sketchy software, called "driverbot". Hmm...

You 'bought' a genuine copy? .

yeah i did. Paid $51.00 to become a member of MSDNAA through my school, and downloaded a 100% real RTM version of windows 7 pro with authentic key

 

[Dinesh]

If you feel that its a virus, try running these apps to get the virus out of the computer:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Reviews and free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware downloads at Download.com
Best Free Antivirus: ESET! Try free antivirus programs for 30 days.

 

[lakerkid08]

If you feel that its a virus, try running these apps to get the virus out of the computer:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Reviews and free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware downloads at Download.com
Best Free Antivirus: ESET! Try free antivirus programs for 30 days.

Just ran bitdefender. All is well in the world lol. But then again, I also reinstalled windows from the boot dvd, so maybe that already deleted the virus. It was a strange black screen i tell ya... QUESTION: Can I re-enter my key again? Or will microsoft decline it because I used it the first time i setup windows 7?

 

[jfar]

The key should work again and again, as long as you dont change, lets say the motherboard.

 

[lakerkid08]

Thanks so much everyone for all of your help! Mods...for deleting my duplicate posts, jfar for the key advice, and dinesh for the anti-virus links! This website is definitely going to be in my favorites from here on out.

 

[Dinesh]

glad to hear that mate.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I may be too late for this, but don't enter your key in during setup. I have to honestly wonder why people are doing this with Vista and Windows 7. You are a prime candidate, and have given a beautiful example of why this is. Anytime you are doing the OS install, get it up and running, updated, and drivers installed first. Then, when you are happy with it, and feel that it is stable, then worry about putting in your key and activating.

You also could try deleting the OEM partition, assuming you made recovery discs. There's no need to keep that, if you have these discs. Besides, if your HDD dies, so will your restore method anyway, without the discs. If you think it was a virus, it is best to clear the drive, and the MBR, before reloading the OS.

 

[lakerkid08]

You also could try deleting the OEM partition, assuming you made recovery discs. There's no need to keep that, if you have these discs. ..... If you think it was a virus, it is best to clear the drive, and the MBR, before reloading the OS.

Thanks for the tip, before i read your post I actually rebooted the OS but only formated partition 2 (C: System) and not the other two partitions. Is it too late to also delete the OEM partition using the boot dvd, or would I have to re-install the OS again?

Also, when you say delete...you mean actually click "delete" on the win7 setup install right? And not just click "format"? Thanks!

 

[DeaconFrost]

Yeah, that's basically what I meant, but I prefer to remove all partitions before starting the OS install. I would think the delete option on the install screen would do the trick.

If you already reinstalled W7, you could still use a partition manager to delete the OEm partition, move your existing partitions to the beginning of the drive, and reclaim that space for your data partition. This is all assuming you made your recovery discs.

 

[lakerkid08]

Yeah, that's basically what I meant, but I prefer to remove all partitions before starting the OS install. I would think the delete option on the install screen would do the trick.

If you already reinstalled W7, you could still use a partition manager to delete the OEm partition, move your existing partitions to the beginning of the drive, and reclaim that space for your data partition. This is all assuming you made your recovery discs.

I don't have much on here so I might as well re-install the OS again. I shouldn't keep activating my key though haha, I should just wait the 30 days then activate, in case I have to reinstall again. Ok, so when I re-install there are three partitions...

Partition 1: PQSERVICE 9.6GB-Cap 4.6GB-Free (OEM RESERVED)

Partition 2: C: ??GB (System)

Partition 3: D: DATA 69.6GB-Cap 69.8GB-Free (Primary)

...you are saying format parition 2, delete partition 1, and format partition 3? and then install os on c drive like always? Thanks again for the help...

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm going to make an assumption that Partition 3 is empty, based on the info given...so keep that in mind. I'm also making the assumption you have recovery discs, and no longer need Partition 1.

If it was me, I'd delete all three partitions, so the drive was blank and unformatted. I'd create my C partition to be the size I wanted. You'll get a message about a 100 MB partition being created for Windows 7 System Reserved. Finish your install as normal. Once you are up and running into Windows 7, you can go into Disk Management, move your optical drive to E: and then create a D drive out of the remaining HDD space.

Just be sure, during the install, to choose the version of Windows 7 that your license is for, Home Premium, Business, etc. You can then choose not to enter a key. I wouldn't recommend waiting the full 30 days, but it is designed to give you this "test run" before you activate. This way, if something is borked, and you need to reinstall, you haven't ever activated yet.

 

[lakerkid08]

I'm going to make an assumption that Partition 3 is empty, based on the info given...so keep that in mind. I'm also making the assumption you have recovery discs, and no longer need Partition 1.

If it was me, I'd delete all three partitions, so the drive was blank and unformatted. I'd create my C partition to be the size I wanted. You'll get a message about a 100 MB partition being created for Windows 7 System Reserved. Finish your install as normal. Once you are up and running into Windows 7, you can go into Disk Management, move your optical drive to E: and then create a D drive out of the remaining HDD space.

Just be sure, during the install, to choose the version of Windows 7 that your license is for, Home Premium, Business, etc. You can then choose not to enter a key. I wouldn't recommend waiting the full 30 days, but it is designed to give you this "test run" before you activate. This way, if something is borked, and you need to reinstall, you haven't ever activated yet.

ok getting ready to start that process. When you say recovery disk though, you mean just the windows 7 boot dvd? Because I do have that.

 

[johngalt]

No, what he is talking about is the recovery disk that you make from inside your original OS when it was still installed on the system.

Since you are not a proficient user, I am going to assume in the opposite direction from DeaconFrost in that you do not have the disks made.

I have upgrade my laptop but left the original recovery partition in case I want to sell it - I can re-install the original OS complete with all the original apps, etc., and I am not missing more than about 7 GB of space. If I honestly really am going to worry about 7 GB of space...I need a bigger HD to begin with.

Your current method is perfectly fine when it comes to your installation - until you are 100% sure you'll never want that old OS again for *any* reason (remember, you cannot transfer your MSDNAA license to anyone else - that is yours) I'd stick with your current setup and be done with it.

 

[rddash]

You 'bought' a genuine copy? BTW, cross-posting is lame.

My comment too... you "bought" a genuine copy? Do you have a time machine?

 

[DocBrown]

Some of us had a TimeMachine & went to TechNet on Aug 6th

 

[Jacee]

After i read this thread...

yeah i did. Paid $51.00 to become a member of MSDNAA through my school, and downloaded a 100% real RTM version of windows 7 pro with authentic key

This was posted, so assuming that this is the case, then LakerKid has a genuine RTM.... although Students: $19 Windows 7 Pro through MSDNAA ???

 

[johngalt]

That entire thread is now showing that the MSDN-AA for students not going through their University only get access to other things not W7.

I am not sure if this was intentional, but I think the $51 MSDN-AA through the University was the legit one.