Hi

I think i must have got a virus on my laptop. A few weeks ago it started turning itself off occasionally - maybe less than once per day.

Today it has started doing it every half an hour or so. Whatever I am doing, it closes all of the programs very quickly and within 10 seconds the whole PC is switched off. Usually, when I exit the PC the normal way, it takes far longer to close down.

The computer is a Toshiba Portege laptop. It is running XP and has all Windows updates loaded. It is using only 12 GB of its 40gb drive and is really only used for standard Office type work. No power hungry apps run on it at all.

I am using AVG free edition antivirus software which is updated daily and run once per week. I have run it today and it has found no viruses.

I did get a virus 5 months ago which disabled Norton that I was running at the time. Cleared the worm but Norton would never work again - hence use of AVG.

I have tried accessing www.antivirus.com today and couldn't view it - another result of the virus??

Any ideas or pointers greatly appreciated - as you've probably noticed I am not very IT-savvy at all!!

Thanks,


Marc

 

sounds like you might have the sasser worm it is a bitch and considering it has been out for a fair while Norton AV still does not detect it.

I suggest you look into a cure for sasser, if this is not what is causing it then at least it is one less thing for you to worry about.

Steve

 

Thanks for the suggestion Steve - have just run a scan for a Sasser worm and nothing was found.

 

Are you sure its not over heating and shutting down ?
Can you see or feel / hear any of the fans running or turning on and off?
Richard

 

The fan is working ok as it does switch on now and then when it is working hard.

The vent for the fan is clear and free of obstruction.

Thanks for the suggestion Richard - I'll keep an eye (ear) on it and watch it closely to make sure it does seem to be kicking in properly....

Cheers


Marc

 

Running AVG does not mean that you do not have a virus. I've seen it miss a mutltitude of viruses on peoples machines, even when forcing a scan.

 

Have you tried getting hold of the stinger tool from mcafee? Then boot up in safemode and run it. If you have a virus it will find it and remove it.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing as jpor - here is the link you need: http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

 

Also you can get a tool from symantec (Norton) similar to the McAfee stinger.

 

Tried the link that Kieran supplied but it was blocked (part of the virus?).

I downloaded the Stinger on a different computer and have just run it but it found nothing?

 

You could check what is running using task manager and processes Ctrl Alt Delete keys

It may show up there if its stopping you checking AV sites something must be running to check what you are doing

Only other suggestion is you go out to PC World and pay for AV software
Boot in Safe mode and install and run it

Stinger only catches some Malware

HTH Nick

 

msconfig might help as well - see what is loading up on startup and stop anything that looks like it shouldn't be there.

You did run stinger in safe mode?

 

Yep - ran the Stinger in safe mode.

I honestly wouldn't have a clue as to what should be there and what shouldn't at startup and I'd hate to delete the wrong thing!

I think I'm gonna have to get someone who knows to take a look at it before I cause any damage myself by trying to be too clever.

Thank you very much for all your help and suggestions - much appreciated.

Cheers

Marc

 

personally I think your machine is overheating, but if you think its a virus try and get onto www.pandasoftware.com and run the free live removal tool, if it has one it will remove it.

 

One Thought. Spyware/Adware. I take it you have tried searching these out also? Something on the lines of MS Anti-Spyware.
Have you tried running the Laptop just in safemode to see if it shuts down? If it does then It could be what has been suggested overheating Hardware. If it doesn't then possibly something software.

Have you checked the 'Event Viewer' ? This may suggest want maybe going wrong.

 

try a software called "hijackthis" it will scan you reg files and you can see whats running in the background even hidden stuff, but please be careful if you dont know what your doing you could **** up your computer, post your results here!