Anti-Virus "ate" my .exe files!!

[Don'94R]

Sorry to bother you all with this, but I'm running out of places to turn. So as not to clutter up your forum with my "newbie" problems, please respond to me via email if you prefer.

I have an HP XT 878, AMD Athalon 1.3 w/356K Ram, which has worked just fine for me, so far. With the rash of new viruses going around, someone recommended Grisoft AVG ver 6.0 to me as being a good anti-virus program. I installed it yesterday, and it found 18 instances of the newest "worm" on my machine, 2 of which were in Windows system files. It "fixed" the other 16, and advised me to move the other 2 to the 'lockbox' which I couldn't do as they were immovable files. I ran the program again, and it found 17 more files, none of which were movable.

Immediately after, I noticed I could no longer bring up one after another of my installed programs, all were missing some file or another required to run the program. When I shut down the computer, I had to override the Grisoft program to even get it booted again.

I can't run 'restore' as a file needed to operatie the CD-ROM drive is missing as well. The computer is now booted, but won't run a thing. It appears nearly every file on the machine with a .exe estension is missing.

I'm betting this is something seen here from time to time, and any bits of wisdom would surely be welcomed at this point. My only Net access is with an OLD notebook, or I would be completely dead in the water. Those at tech support at Grisoft must be busy with others, as they haven't responded to my pleas for help.

Thanks

Don

[Johnny Zero]

Doing a 'restore' might be your only solution. Since you can get into Windows just fine, restart the machine in DOS mode and try to access the cd-rom from there. If you're still missing some device drivers and can't access the cd-rom even in DOS mode, then make a floppy bootdisk on your laptop and boot up with the floppy into DOS mode. (Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs --> Startup Disk)

[Bovon]

The first thing I would do if possible is...uninstall that SOB!

If you can get into Windows, even in safe mode try reloading Windows overtop of itself. You may also have to reload all of uou applications over top of themselves to get those files back.

Other than that, I really don't know..there is a way to access the cd drive from DOS with a boot disk with the cd rom drivers on it.

[PIETRO]

You could try to put the cdrom in the drive while you are booting...if the cd rom is a bootable cdrom it will take you directly into the restore or Windows install program. Usually newer motherboards support booting to cdrom...you can check in your bios and set the boot sequence to cdrom first.

Watch what files you open my man sounds like the virus did a number on your machine. Also check out norton or McAfee Anti-virus they do a pretty good job.

Good Luck!!

[Don'94R]

Of course I'm not too knowledgeable here, but I'm of the belief that the Anti-Virus software "did a number on my machine" as it has always worked perfectly before the installation of the anti-virus software.

I'm not really sure I EVER had a virus, but it appears the AV software has given me one now!!

Don

[PIETRO]

Well either way...I wouldn't use that software again :) You may be right it might have been the virus itself.

I work on a University and we support McAfee, it's not the best but it does a good job, it's worth a look...that is when you get your machine runnin again.

Good Luck!!