My desk looks so empty with the tower gone, but as of right now my computer is in the hand(s) of a the Geek Squad I can't get rid of a damn virus and along with c and several other problems I had to take it in. For diagnostic and repair it cost 200 dollars but a normal repair job required 5-7 days so I forked over another 150 to have them work on it so that it might be ready in 24 hours. Before leaving a agent was already working on it and wasn't looking good. There could be a chance that the registry is fucked and everything could be lost games, movies, and yes even movies including my favorite A Yank at Oxford(1938), and The Civil War by Ken Burns. I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious about what could happen or what other bad news could be waiting for me.

But I guess the important thing is that it is being worked on now rather than later. Before I took it to Best Buy I started training a 5 day skill on Eve Online, so at least I am progressing on that front. I just wish I could play video games on this laptop but it is not for gaming but for college work. At least I can watch some Yale Courses on You Tube and I have plenty of books to read and old TCM movies that I have TiVo'd one of which is a Yank at Oxoford

Peter the Great

Snet

United States3573 Posts

November 15 2009 04:45 GMT

Couldn't you of just cut your losses and bought a new hard drive for a third of the price? You downloaded those movies before, you could do it again. Games can be reinstalled as well.

I wouldn't of paid for this service unless I had some seriously important files that I needed to save.

Anyway, hope it works out for you.

Sadistx

Zimbabwe5568 Posts

November 15 2009 05:07 GMT

the Geek Squad I can't get rid of a damn virus and along with c and several other problems I had to take it in. For diagnostic and repair it cost 200 dollars but a normal repair job required 5-7 days so I forked over another 150 to have them work on it so that it might be ready in 24 hours.

Hi, you got ripped off. Were they the ones to tell you about the virus or did you diagnose that yourself?

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

November 15 2009 05:11 GMT

On November 15 2009 14:07 Sadistx wrote:

Show nested quote +

Hi, you got ripped off. Were they the ones to tell you about the virus or did you diagnose that yourself?

I did. I have been trying to get rid of it for almost a week with Webroot and other virus tools so I finally gave up and took it to Best Buy. I figured what the hell at least while it's there I can get them to install upgrades etc that is if my operating system etc. doesn't need to be wiped.

XinRan

United States530 Posts

November 15 2009 05:22 GMT

On November 15 2009 14:11 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:

Show nested quote +

Did you post a HijackThis log on their forums? Although I've never used it myself, I hear that's a surefire way of fixing things ups.

MiniRoman

Canada3953 Posts

November 15 2009 05:54 GMT

My friend works for geeksquad. Protip: make sure there is nothing incriminating on your PC or it will end up on the internet.

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

November 15 2009 05:56 GMT

On November 15 2009 14:54 MiniRoman wrote:
My friend works for geeksquad. Protip: make sure there is nothing incriminating on your PC or it will end up on the internet.

Nothing but movies, like I said in the OP. As well as tons of music.

Always

United States376 Posts

November 15 2009 06:11 GMT

bummmmer dude. sorry about your computer. it really does sound like you got ripped off a bit though-- backing up the important stuff, buying a new HD, and installing a fresh OS isn't as expensive as what you paid.. =\

Jank

United States308 Posts

November 15 2009 08:55 GMT

Yeah I definitely don't endorse geek squad unless the person's completely computer illiterate. You can fix anything with a linux live disc even if you can't boot to windows. And as to buying a new hard drive like people suggested, thats just silly. If you can't recover your install then just format it and clean boot sector.

Manit0u

Poland17420 Posts

November 15 2009 13:00 GMT

#10

Umm... For 350 bucks you can almost buy a new computer man...
And like Therapy mentioned, if you can't fix something yourself or with the help of teh internatz then just format it.
Also, it seems hard to believe that there are viruses out there you can't do anything about. Have you tried various anti-vir software like Avira, Avast! etc.?

floor exercise

Canada5847 Posts

November 15 2009 13:07 GMT

#11

Problem is they are just gonna format it and say they couldn't recover anything

EscPlan9

United States2777 Posts

November 15 2009 13:10 GMT

#12

I know a little too late now... but I find that using a good high quality anti-virus program (I recommend Avira), anti-malware program (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware), and running a sweep using ComboFix fixes the majority of problems. After running all those scans, use a program like CCleaner to remove junk files and remove unnecessary startup items.

HiJackThis is a bit more advanced and I would only recommend using it if you either REALLY know what you're doing, or you post the logs on forums dedicated to eliminating malware.

Manit0u

Poland17420 Posts

November 15 2009 17:27 GMT

#13

On November 15 2009 22:10 EscPlan9 wrote:
I know a little too late now... but I find that using a good high quality anti-virus program (I recommend Avira), anti-malware program (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware), and running a sweep using ComboFix fixes the majority of problems. After running all those scans, use a program like CCleaner to remove junk files and remove unnecessary startup items.

HiJackThis is a bit more advanced and I would only recommend using it if you either REALLY know what you're doing, or you post the logs on forums dedicated to eliminating malware.

This.

Or, if you really use your comp mostly for movies/music, just migrate to Linux (like I did) and enjoy a happy life without malware/viruses and most of the other problems associated with Windows.

HowitZer

United States1610 Posts

November 15 2009 21:29 GMT

#14

Use firefox for surfing questionable sites and backup what you need to a usb drive and reinstall windows from scratch.

JeeJee

Canada5652 Posts

November 16 2009 02:14 GMT

#15

On November 16 2009 06:29 HowitZer wrote:
Use firefox for surfing ~~questionable~~ all sites and backup what you need to a usb drive and reinstall windows from scratch.

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

November 16 2009 02:21 GMT

#16

Got the comp back. Need to start upgrading this thing the most important being a OS. Such as Windows 7, then a new monitor, then video cards.

It's going to be a long winter.