Kara-Moon Forum

This is Thom(aka elwoodblues1969,propellerhead91)...with a different crisis this time.When I logged into my desktop earlier this morning,my start menu had been altered and I could no longer access my Goggle Chrome browser....but managed to access Internet Explorer.
My computer seems to be in Safe Mode & I cannot access my files.Here is the error message I encountered; "Failed To Connect To A Windows Service Windows could not connect to the system event service.This problem prevents standard users from logging onto the system.As an administrative user,you can review the System Event Log for details about why the service didn't respond.

I can't keep up with all of these attacks on my computers & my brain is too Neolithic to trouble shoot all of this technological warfare...I can't tolerate much more of this.Maybe I should sell everything I own and move into a grass hut on some remote beach on the island of Togo. ::)

I tried resolving the issue using this kid's method via YouTube...it worked for other Windows 7 users,but not for me; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2yMTPJO1RE

I tried a Clean Boot to try and troubleshoot the problem,but whatever caused this problem,is preventing me from entering Safe Mode.As I see it,I have two options...either throw away a $600 computer,or spend who knows how much,at a repair shop and spend the rest of my life,spending hundreds of dollars,repeatedly taking my PC to a repair shop to fix a problem that will continuously pop up...because apparently,it's in Microsoft's programming,to create these self destructing programs!

I think I may have to throw in the towel and forget about the internet,K-M and my music,because I don't have the aptitude-nor the money,to continue on like this.

Thom, try this: http://windows7themes.net/en-us/winsock-fix-for-windows-7/

Scroll down to fix winsock via batch and follow those instructions.

Let me know how you make out.

Thanks Mario,

But that YouTube link that I had posted here,addresses that very same method and it did not work.I'm in real trouble here...my computer is running like sh*t and my computer is not saving any of my log in information,for ANY of my accounts.

By the way,the Winsock method is something that I had tried manually.I thought I would try the Batch download,but something is preventing me from downloading the file.I think I am completely f**ked here.

Umm...I have more problems....in the start menu,I noticed some Chinese or some other Asian lettering,alongside my Alzip icons.Also...when I made a second attempt to reset my computer via Winsock,I received a warning message notified me that another user was on my PC!?

I don't have a goddamn clue as to what is going on,but I do know that I will get absolutely nowhere,until I figure out how to get into Safe Mode.

Thom,

Many windoze users will resort to Linux to find a cure when Microsoft cannot supply one. If your computer is well-and-truly hooped, you may as well learn to deploy the Linux tools that will bail you out.
http://houldsworth.wordpress.com/dual-boot-virus-protection/

This is NOT rocket science - it just requires patience and a methodical approach to problem solving.

Oren,

After about 9 hours of trouble-shooting,I am just a little more than punchy & I am no longer capable of thinking or reading any more at this point...so please summarize...are you talking about installing a Ubuntu program on Windows,or installing a Windows program on a Linux computer?

Well...before I look into it,I first have to determine whether or not a virus caused my problem(if possible)..but I have learned that log in issues & registry problems are quite common on Windows and I even tried doing a registry edit to fix the problem,but with no results.

Thanks for the link...I'll have to look into some other time,as at the moment,I need to vacate my apartment and go for a long walk. :P

Mario,

Any thoughts on this error in the attachment?I'm having a lot of trouble trying to nail down the exact same problem,as nobody else seems to be experiencing the precise problem I am,so I can't successfully Google up any solutions & instructions on how to fix this.

 The dude has this to say -

     "I am going to assume that most people have Windows and would like to install it (Ubuntu Linux) alongside their current windows operating system with the choice of which operating system to run appearing at boot time.  I have personally installed it alongside Windows 7 and windows Vista, and I’m told it will happily work with Windows XP.

Important note:  Before you start, please take a backup of your system and make sure that you have Windows boot disk available.  I have not seen it wreck anything yet, but I would hate someone to send me an email describing how they lost everything.

There are instructions on the Ubuntu web site for installing Ubuntu alongside Windows..."

Thom what is your operating system (XP, Win 7 etc)

What is your antivirus?  Is it up to date?  When was the last time your ran a full scan?

Do you have any other anti-stuff like Anti-Malwarebytes?  If so is it up to date?  When was the last time your ran a full scan?

Do you have Ccleaner?

Oren, it has been a year or so since I checked a Win computer with Ubuntu but when I did I ran Ubuntu from a disc.  Can you still do that now?

I ask because of Thom’s situation.  If he is infected like I think he is then loading any software onto his system might get corrupted.

Indeed, Mr D., Ubuntu can run a computer from the dvd drive, without installing to the hard drive.  :-* ...  :D

Sorry to hear you're under attack again Thom. What kind of connection to the 'net have you got?

Almost all reasonably modern routers have a built in firewall, and it is recommended that to start off with you set it to block everything inbound.

I strongly recommend everyone to visit this (https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2) site from time to time.

P.S.
Sadly, it's also recommended that you disable wireless connectivity unless it is essential, as even the most recent protocol can be hacked on some routers :(

My OS is Windows 7 64 bit SP1.I have Windows Security Essentials installed and I am also running IObit anti-virus and I scan my PC everyday.I ran a scan just before my PC went haywire and no threats were found.
Now however,my IObit has been rendered inoperative....but my Windows Security Essentials is functioning.No...I don't have Ccleaner on this PC.

I have a DSL connection.I had done a registry edit and it fixed a couple of minor problems...but on the whole,my computer usage is minimal...as most of my software is inoperative.

Thom, you should not have to anti-virus programs running at the same time.  One may counter the other so neither of them may be working correctly.

Do you run a full or quick scan?  I always run full scans.

Here is what I do and I strongly suggest you do it also:
1-DL the free Ccleaner and run the cleaner only
2-do a full Essentials scan
3-DL the free version of Malwarebytes anti-malware and run a full scan.  This program looks for bugs that no anti-virus looks for.  If you are infected you can run this in safe mode.
4-go back to Ccleaner and run registries scan and backup up then fix the registry.  I have found that this registry cleaner is one of the best.
5-buy one or two external hard drives and back up everything on your computer. Win 7 has a backup option to do this.  If you do this then restoring a really infected computer is only a couple of hours job. This has saved my ass a couple of times on my wife’s computer.

I know that like me you have a lot of money wrapped up in software.  Without doing what I have listed about you are at risk for loosing it all.  There are hackers out that are locking computers up tight and without paying them a ransom you loose everything.  With backups you can, if this happens to you and/or you get a really bad virus/trogan, format the hard drive then restore your computer via the backup drives.  Of course you periodically have to backup your drive(s).

If your computer is so messed up that you can’t DL or anything is their another computer where you can DL the above mentioned programs?  If so DL them, burn them to disc and pray that you infected computer will run them.  If not then I suggested taking it to a computer tech.

Good luck. 

PS an after thought, if you do buy external hard drives then do a back up and unplug the HD and put it on a shelf.  If it is connected to the computer it could also get infected. I have five externals sitting on a shelf, two for my music computer with the rest for the other computers in our house.

Thom, have you looked at msconfig/start menu.  In Win 7 search for msconfig and run it.  Look under the start menu and unclick anything that you don't know you have.  Sometimes bad guys add things there. Immediately after this then DL and run the programs that I suggested. 

Note that sometimes there is a program that will reinstall the bug so you may have to go back to msconfig a couple of time.

Mario,

I am unable to download the Ccleaner.I am currently in the process of backing up my main music computer.I've been working around the clock to burn everything to DVD and I am 50% there.External drives are not an option(as I have zero funds to buy them) and this way,I don't have to worry about storing viruses on my DVD's(as far as I'm aware).

As for my other PC,I am currently running a restore point,in order to fix my User Profile Log In problem...so maybe that will fix that PC.I let you know how I make out.

Thanks for all of your help...much appreciated!

Thom if your main music computer is bug free then yes your DVD backup will be bug free.  BUT if your computer has bugs then your DVDs will have those bugs.  Recording to a DVD does not eradicate bugs.

I can't afford to go to a computer technician right now & depending upon how much it will be...I won't know when I'll be able to go to a repair shop.
Apart from that,I don't know what else to do,because I am blocked from going into safe mode...so all that is available to me that I can do,is to at least have my personal files stored on DVD(assuming that I can somehow re-install them,without re-infecting my computer....or maybe once the re-install is done,perhaps I can somehow re-gain the ability to go into safe mode and scan my PC.

By the way(as you can tell from my K-M handle),I got my other PC up & running and everything is intact on it...so maybe there is hope for my other PC.

Thom, can you DL Ccleaner and anti-malwarebytes on this computer? If so do it, burn them to a CD and install them on your infected computer.

I plan on doing this,but my other PC has been running for 2 days & I only have 70% of the back up completed...so it appears that the burning process will go well into tomorrow...so I don't think it's a good idea to try and run Ccleaner while this is still going on.

No you can not install and run Ccleaner and Anti-Malwarebytes while it is backing up.  After you finish DL both programs on your good computer, burn a CD then install them on your infected computer.  SOMETIMES this will work.  If it doesn’t let me know because the next option will be to put the HD out of the infected computer and disinfect it that way.

Mario,

After burning 24 DVD's and still only being at 73%,I gave up on backing up my files.After I had run the Ccleaner,I was able to scan with my IObit AntiVirus....but then after I uninstalled it and tried to launch Malwarebytes from my USB stick,I was unable to open the file.
As for the Safe Mode thing,the only thing that happens when I repeatedly hit the F8 button,is that it takes me to a Boot Up screen with a few options.

Thom, that’s how mine works also.  After pressing esc the immediately press F8 and that should take you to safe mode.  Also pressing the reset button on your computer will also take you to safe mode.

Depressing the ESC button didn't help.By the way...this is the 4th PC I've had in the last 10 years and until now,I have n-e-v-e-r needed to press the ESC along with the F8 button,to go into Safe Mode....so something is terribly wrong here.

Even if I had the money to go to a repair shop,it would be the very last thing I'd ever want to do....because I NEED to know WHY this is happening to me...because I refuse to continuously go to repair shops,every time this happens.

Most likely a virus did cause this problem....however...registry issues & log in issues are so common in Windows and there's a plethora of reasons behind these issues.

It seems to me,that as long as I continue to use Windows,I will never be completely safe from these problems.That being said...the only viable solution,would be a Sweetwater Creation Station computer....but they are so damn expensive for the specs that you get(though still cheaper than Mac's).
If I go this route when I'm ready to,I think it's my best bet,because of Sweetwater's remote PC access tech support(which will eliminate my need to resort to going to a repair shop and their tech support is for a lifetime.

At this point,I am seriously considering selling my infected PC(since my other one is operational now).

Wow....it seems that there is something to be learned about computers for everyday of one's life! Shortly after my previous post,I decided to type into Google,my specific problem.
As it turns out,my gaming PC for some reason,is set up a bit different from your standard PC...in that with my particular PC,I first have to hit the F2 button...& once I reach the screen that pops up,I then have to hit F8 to enter Safe Mode.

I let you know how that goes....

Mario,

Whatever virus I have,is so sophisticated,that it has infiltrated my Safe Mode & interferes with every anti-virus program I throw at it.
If I go into Safe Mode with Networking,it will delete any downloads upon implementation and if I go into Safe Mode without Networking...then it even disables my programs I had stored on my USB stick.

At this point,I am going to see if a computer repair shop will buy my PC.Once I sell my PC,I will take this computer offline.My parents have a laptop that they no longer want,so I will just use that to use the internet.

Thanks again for all of your help,as I am eternally grateful to you,Oren and Will for all of the input.

If you want to try one last thing and you want to pay for shipping both ways you can pull the HD from your computer and send it to me.  NO promises but I might be able to kill the virus; I used to do this in a computer shop and I still do it for friends.  It might take a while but I have had great success.

That's a very generous offer Mario...but I am not certain of anything,as of yet.First....I want to see how much I can get for my PC.If the offer for my computer isn't worthwhile....then I will have to see how much the shipping is for me to send it to you and back.

Right now....I don't have any petty cash,as I recently re-modeled my bedroom(as my wooden bed splitting in half,prompted the re-model.

I suppose that if I were to remove the HD from my PC,the shipping would be reasonable?Never removed a HD from a PC before,so I have no idea how to pull that off.
If the shipping turns out to be pricey,there's plenty of online virus removal services(via remote access)...which is tempting and considering how much I have invested in my music PC....maybe spending $80 is the way to go.

I've got a lot to consider and plenty of time to think on it,because it will be a while before I can scrap up the coin to do any of this.

If you get to the point where you figure the computer has no or little value .... try putting a linux on it. It's been working for me for many, many years with no virus problems.

I've become fed up & aggravated enough to consider selling it...but if I have the option to restore my PC and save my personal data(which is valued at over $1,000),then spending $80 for a virus removal service is what I need to do.

If I were to install Linux on it,then all of my PC-based programs will be rendered useless and I will lose a very high dollar amount worth of music software.
Besides which...one of my DAW's(my most important one),has the ability to run without an internet connection...so obviously,if I have the PC offline,then my computer is perfectly safe and I don't have to forfeit most of my software that is dearest to me.

Linux systems are very limited to those that are heavily involved in music software(most of which is PC and Mac based).

Thanks for the thought though.

For what it's worth I really hope you get this sorted without too much more trouble.

As an aside, even with Linux, my music machine never gets connected to the 'net unless I am doing a software install/upgrade, and even then I grab a disk image immediately beforehand.

Eventually I would suggest you get some really cheap S/H computer for your on-line presence, document writing etc. and install Linux on it.

I realise that's not a lot of help to you right now, but mayby something to have in the back of your mind.

Will,

I do have a used laptop coming to me(gratis) and just waiting to take possession of it and since it has Windows Vista on it.. ::) ..I would be more than happy to install Linux on it! :D

I just lost my other computer....I can't even access the internet,as it's completely locked up.I am either suspending my Verizon DSL service or I may just cancel my DSL for good.After this post,I will no longer use this computer until it's fixed...because I can't risk having my bank account & credit decimated by some thieving hacker.

So long guys....I don't know when I will be back.....

Just to give everyone an update,I decided to cancel my Verizon DSL service(it was the slowest speed 350kbps max.) and I was paying $37 a month for it.
What made it even more expensive,is that because I was also using my phone company's DSL service along with my basic phone service(I was disqualified from receiving the low income discount)...so in total,I was paying on average,$65 a month.

I really needed the to allot this amount towards my credit card bills anyway,as once I bring down my debt a bit,I'll get cable internet and along with a Magic Jack device,so I'll have my internet & phone taken care of.

Thom, did you try to perfrom a system restore. This can help: in this case you restore the pc to a previous state when everything was OK. Doesn't allway work, but can do wonders.
Moon

Moon,

On my main music computer,the system restore points have been altered...so any dates preceding the date of infection,have been deleted.On my other PC however,I managed to successfully restore that computer...but shortly afterwards,I was infected with the same virus as my other PC.

What you have to understand about this virus,is that it will infiltrate every area of your PC and lock it down completely.

Thank you for the thought though.