Posts by gerbil

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It will be buried inside one of your Chrome add-ons. Delete the lot and reload the ones you want.

"a worldwide swoop on ‘dark net’ sites. Some 16 masterminds of such sites have been arrested in an exercise that also took down more than 400 ‘dark net’ websites and servers."
Which is why a lot of onion sites are down...?
Locating the servers... was it really as "simple" as DDOS attacks on sites combined with the monitoring of web traffic at nodes? If that worked, then TOR needs many more servers as relays, the implication being that traffic would be less likely to be forced over owned servers.
Concerted efforts mounted against illegal trafficking/services sites might well be warranted, but sporadic use of TOR by individuals is hardly likely to be so targeted?

Well, there's Google...
But if you'd like some help, press the Report button and post the content of the notepad that pops.

I think, Dani, that it is around about now that you should consider introducing a lock to threads older than, say, one month, with perhaps a special request from the OP needed to enable reinstatement.
Yes, I know there is that long-running whopper commenced by HappyGeek about the life, times and near-death experience of XP, but you could tag such as exempt.
If he ever dares start one like that for Vista I would not expect it to arouse such fervour.

And so long ago, it probably doesn't even smell bad now.

Cuzintone has it pretty right. You don't have a SATA mode option in your BIOS simply because HP decided it was not necessary - they built the thing with a SATA drive, after all. But I'm guessing that your XP installation medium (CD?) does not have the SATA driver slipstreamed into it? And that is why you got the 0x7B error, because the XP installation overwrote the W7 bootloader files on the disk with its own MBR, but without the SATA driver XP cannot read the disk - hence the error and bluescreen. With that driver XP would load, but the only way you can introduce it is with a slipstreamed XP and reinstall XP. Seriously, though, I would not install a dual-booting XP on that machine because I do not think HP make its drivers available for XP, so you will face problems. Best is to run XP in W7 XP mode - read this:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7
Now to recover your machine. You will need a W7 installation medium, and then simply boot from it and run the Repair - it will automatically fix the bootloader and so W7 will boot again. Not so XP... it still does not have the SATA driver, and it is not straightforward to introduce it via W7.
So, either run your special programs in XP mode in W7, or build a slipstreamed XP medium (installing XP after W7 you will still need to repair the bootloader, but at the …

This appears to be a Chrome issue, but Microsoft has a fix for it :http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883260
Somewhat involved, but if you follow the instructions carefully about editing the registry you should be ok. It's the User's hive HKCU that is involved, so there is reduced risk of jamming up your machine.

So around this time you uninstall Avast (use the uninstaller from their website!) and then reinstall it if you so choose.
Any AV will automatically scan downloaded files (and also uploading files if you set it so), although some will delay the scanning of a downloaded file until it is accessed the first time.

Aw, heck... I thought the chap hoping to make a living writing batch files would have helped you with this. Because you mention dir I assume you are using the cmd window? Well, these two lines in a batch file will give you a listing.. put it on your desktop and simply drag any drive or folder from explorer into it.
dir %1 | more +3 >> c:\test.txt
start c:\test.txt
With a bit of fiddling you can remove the leading date/time charaters also.

If some page constructs (forms, elements, graphics...) like... as you mention, .gif files are not sometimes displaying correctly then it can often be as a result of poor page scripting, and minor/major incompatibilities with the browser you are using. Browsers differ. There is Google's Chromium Project which is setting up to become an open source standard for browser development, and both Opera 25 and Chrome draw from it. Do not expect all page features to work on it/them. As an example, I do not bother trying to open banking sites with Opera 25 - the result is too hit and miss. Firefox - open source, and extreme. It never fails to work with any web page in my experience; I use it for banking and other "sensitive" sites.
Try loading the same pages in different browsers and note how the treatment can vary. It shouldn't, but occasionally does. Html5 is the newest standard, not all browsers fully handle it; MPEG support varies, and so on.
I stick with an older version of Firefox (28) because I don't like not being able to hide Navigator bars as is not possible with the 30 series. Sure, there is full screening via menu or F11, but then you lose the Taskbar. And strangely enough , full screening varies too. You will find the whole screen used, but elements not expanding to take advantage of it. Horses for courses.
Anyway, try another browser... Firefox?.., and then which version series...? because with …

An administrator does not normally have access to the personal files of other users, those in their My Documents folder. But it's a computer, the stuff is there....

It does pay, once in a blue moon, to check AV review and test sites. Windows Defender is non-competitive, ranks lowly because it is basic protection. Try av-comparitives for objective tests and comparisons, or "commercial" sites for somewhat subjective reviews (that is just the nature of their reviews). If you are using free, then check the ratings for such AVs. Free sometimes is not the same AV engine.

Yep. It's called the Shutdown button. Cleans memory totally, quite risk free. The other software, called Restart, does not remove power from memory, so content is retained.

If you indeed found stuff using msconfig that you considered unnecessary, make sure to reallow it and then uninstall it correctly. Do not uninstall/remove while it is unchecked in msconfig else not all features will uninstall.

There is Java, and there is Javascript. Totally different.
Some applications use/require Java, and some applications that are run through websites for specific purposes, oh... like share trading displays, engineering functions and so forth. Most people don't require Java at all. It is not related to browsers, but some sites do invoke it. After Adobe products it is generally a user's biggest security risk, so if you do not specifically need it, don't install it. Javascript... used on many webpages - a lot of features (like some logins etc) will not work if it is not allowed in the browser's settings. Generally useful to "enhance your webpage viewing pleasure". Not much more a risk than is html.

Windows NT 4.0 ? There are no windows.exe files...
Anyway, formatting the drive works to uninstall, but copy out what you wish to keep.
Or... do you have a system folder named Windows.4? It may be that a Recovery operation failed and created multiple Windows folders; if so, then this is the method to follow.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888023
Remember to copy out files you wish to keep.

It seems that you have specified a paging file size that is rather too small. On the Performance Options page that pops choose the Advanced tab, then click Change on the Virtual Memory section; in the new Window set a Custom size, as a guess 1000MB min and 1500MB max, Set and OK your way out.

I take it that your phone numbers are strings, so you would start with this command to extract the fourth digit:
MID("Text"; Start; Number) - replace "text" with your cell number, so: MID(D1; 4; 1).
You will then need to compare the returned value with the contents of an array which would contain the reference digit for each company, and the company name; simplest would be a column of cells with company names. If only two networks than an IF THEN statement would suffice.
Looking at your phone numbers it may be that you will require leading zero stripping?

I'm gunna guess that he wants w8.1 in Macedonian (Windows 8.1 for Emerging Markets). Or just W8.1 with the Macedonia language pack. Easy enough, you just select and pay M$.

I consider that processor, the AMD Dual-Core A4-1250 1GHz almost cripplingly slow, more for a tablet than a laptop.
Forget games. It's for simple office stuff, processes which are not at all demanding. I would not expect it to perform well with video editing/playback. Okay, I'll say it: Acer should be ashamed to have put it into any laptop.

Hello, Tazman. I suggest you update and re-run MBAM; in Settings, Detection and Protection set PUP detections to "Treat as Malware". When MBAM completes have it quarantine and delete all that it finds.
Your various PUP detections are pests.
GMER log is okay.
I suggest you also get a good file cleaner: may I recommend CCleaner? Free, and very useful. CCleaner auto-detects your browsers and other softwares which create logs,temp files and so on - a run with standard settings is fine, but optimise to suit yourself.

This is BIOS not detecting the hdd. Of course, with the power off you first try replugging it a couple of times to clean the contacts, try with the plugs almost fully engaged to get a different contact area on the pins and sockets, try different mb sockets and power lines, and finally you try cooling it in the fridge and running it cold. Next step I think is feeling sad.
Does your BIOS detect other, similar drives?

I use Restoration.exe because it will run from a UFD [thumbdrive], so reduced risk of overwriting deleted files.
Recuva is another good free software.

Reference the sheet named sales in the formula for the cell in your sheet named stock, so:

='sales'.cellname
eg. =F16-'sales'.F16 or =F16-'sales'.C16
Consider arrays.eg {B3:B10-'sales'.B3:B10}

I know, Jennifer. But all that BD would ignore were my entries in that place... :)
It carried on blithely.
I have limited patience with stuff that should work.

The .sii files are encrypted now to prevent editing. You need a decrypter... : http://eurotrucksimulator2.com/mod_tools.php

Silly question, really, but does your router know the correct IPs of your new DNS?

I use split solutions.
BitDefender. Nope. Tried it; could not get it to ignore softwares/files that I did NOT want it looking at. It deleted them every time I touched them. Binned it fast.
Avast. It is a fairly low-rating AV solution, if still extremely popular. Bugs you with ads and offers.
AVG. I'm using it, have been for about 4 months. Occasionally (once or twice a month) pops a paid-for-solution window. Clean interface, ignores stuff you want ignored, much lower system load than BitDef and Avast, has never hung stuff. OS loads faster with it. I'd be happier still if I could direct it where to place its signature update files. I'm happy with it. I still follow AV reviews every few months.
Vipre. Yike. Read this... http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2429401,00.asp
It rates as standard, meaning it scrapes through with better than half marks. Works fine on old malware, not so well on newer malwares, and the false positives drag it down.

I saw a report recently that showed US missile silo installations still running software that is loaded from 8" floppy disks

That's nothing, Midi... I saw a report where it was found that a junked Russian sub was loaded with two live nuclear missiles still.
Ulp.

I suspect that a lot of security scare stories will circulate, they make easy copy, sell a few pages.
I remember the exploding butane lighter stories, those deadly things with the power of 3 sticks of dynamite.... anyway, in the mining game we use lots of explosives but of course there are masses of regulations covering the use and transport of them, so we gaily switched to tossing cartons of Bic lighters down the holes. And life was easier.

Hello, Karen, to help us understand where the problem might lie, would you please run the little bit of code below? It is a non-invasive query; will not damage your machine. Copy the code below into notepad, save it as RQ.bat to your desktop, then dclick RQ.bat to run it. A black cmd window will show for a second or two. Post the content in the notepad that pops.

`

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Shell > C:\DWebrq.txt
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v UIHost >> C:\DWebrq.txt
start c:\DWebrq.txt
sleep 1
del c:\DWebrq.txt

`

And if you're not very careful, you end up here... [Link] and then your day is gone.

Aw, Rev, why did you have to put that link up?
The comments and links from there wasted so much of my time!
Thoroughly enjoyable.
skip[42] indeed.

I sense happiness.
Cheers.

bootsect /nt60 sys -that should repair the system volume boot sector code. Operates in the same way as bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
You've tried these, and possibly this one also? Your system partition is Active, isn't it? That's the Sys Res 100MB partition where your boot files are written.
bootrec /rebuildbcd - here, were any installations found? If yes, you add it.
Time then, I think, to remove the old BCD store and replace it. Your problem might be that when you tried to merge partitions and it failed the bcd store was not updated with the correct boot partition sector offset (that is how windows finds partitions...). So bcd info is wrong, and perhaps the System reg hive info about partitions is wrong also (bootmgr checks that). So deleting the bcd file and rebuilding it might work, but bootmgr might find wrong info in the reg file. Oops.
Start with these commands, report back.

bcdedit /export c:\bcdSaved
del C:\boot\bcd
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Restart to see if that works. If not, then a pic of your partition layout would help. It may be time to replace your hive info with the backups.

Hi. Deleting ei.cfg is only useful if you wish to use the same iso for installing different w7 flavours. Either way, it does not hurt. Leave it there...
Using Rufus....
-it will auto-detect your UFD
-select the MBR type
-FAT32 and default cluster size
-Quick format
-create bootable disc using ISO image!! Browse to your W7 iso.
It will take 10 - 15 mins to burn to stick.

Those things work only if the MFT has not been corrupted/overwritten. With a recovery... only the slightest chance of success.

You remove the password; the owner will of course notice this.
Look, it's a Windows OS; if you lose the laptop, it is OWNED by the taker, so don't use complex login passwords. They are NO protection at all. Your favourite food, dog, town.. anything simple will do.

And just for fun, if you are going to burn the iso to a UFD instead of a dvd (I use Rufus for this) you might wish to delete \sources\ei.cfg from the UFD - having done this, on any susbsequent running of Setup you will be presented with the option of selecting Home, Pro or Ultimate from the one iso. Choose to suit your activation key, of course...
To do it with a dvd burn you must first open the iso on your hdd, delete the file, rebuild the iso and then burn to dvd.

Because you are using W7 you must use the program bcdedit.exe to repair your boot manager files. I have not ever had my hands on an upgrade disc, so I shall take your word for it that it cannot help. But you can download freely the w7 setup isos from Microsoft's download partner Digital River, and via the Repair option run bcdedit from there. Here on this site are the official links:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/page-2#post-124821
On the list down the page one of the top 6 should do (media refresh + SP1 isos)... just make suree to get 32 or 64 bit version as suits.
Instructions for bcdedit are here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html
Or, use this simplified guide which perhaps better suits your situation:
https://neosmart.net/wiki/recovering-windows-bootloader/
That site gives a detailed instruction for repairing the booot manager (you still need that disc from DigitalRiver), as well as offering a 1-click cd for 20 bucks.
Come back if you need help with bcdedit... it IS logical, just a bit confusing at first, and everyone forgets how to use it cos they use it so rarely... :)

If MBAM staff cannot recover all your quarantined files, then I won't bother even thinking about it.
Query: can your machine recognise/load a dvd, read its files? If so, you could transfer your image files from UFD to dvd.
ImgBurn could do that.

Don't delete C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore - it is your update history; wuaus checks that. The service will download a couple of files that it needs if you delete the rest of SD.
Can the Administrator account succeed with desktop saves?

Digitalriver.com is where you go - it's the official download site. This site gives the links to available versions. :o
Pretty much with W7, you choose SP1, media refresh, and 32 or 64 bit. Then, before you burn your disk (or load your UFD) you simply delete a file (sources\ei.cfg) and so will be presented with the choice when installing of Home, Pro or Ultimate (match your licence!). Downloads are free.
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/14709-Windows-7-Digital-River-direct-links-Multiple-Languages-X86-amp-X64/page59?p=470600&viewfull=1#post470600
Why delete that file before loading? Simply, it gives you access to all W7 flavours. May save a future burning/download. You do need a software such as Isoburner to open the iso, then to recreate it. Or WinRAR plus Imgburn. Whatever.

Midi, it would be churlish of me to offer a solution to your problem. Cos you're having so much fun, and further, investigation is a great source of (self) learning.
Besides, I don't have one...
Okay, I think your BIOS sucks... I might try flashing it if it was mine.
Ha... and then the whole page loaded (freaky delay), I read up and saw that you had fixed it.

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Michael, use one of these online scanners:
http://www.eset.com/int/home//products/online-scanner/ If you do not use IE it will load and run a temporary installer.

Using IE: http://www.f-secure.com/en/web/home_global/online-scanner

Either will identify the locations of malware files and allow you to remove them.

MBAR found nothing? Interesting.
==Download TDSSkiller from this link, save it to your desktop:
https://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/utility or http://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.exe -you may need to download it to a clean computer and then transfer it to the desktop using a USB flash drive.
=Start TDSSKiller,(((( click Change Parameters. Under Additional options check both boxes, Verify Driver Digital Signature and Detect TDLFS file system; click OK. ))))
-click Start scan;
-choose Skip for unsigned files;
-choose Cure if TDSSKiller finds a rootkit and prompts a Cure or Delete [a reboot may be required];
-do not Delete or Quarantine any files.
Post the log from C:.

Michael, I do not know where you got to in your installation attempts, but if the MBAM program folder exists, check in there for chameleon.exe; if it exists then run it, and again try to install MBAM immediately afterward (no restart beforehand).
If you don't have chameleon, then here it is for download: https://www.malwarebytes.org/chameleon/
It unzips with a help file.
IF that works then update MBAM and post a quick-scan log. Retry GMER.
CCleaner is preferable to AFT. And you likely have an infection (a rootkit malware) which is preventing MBAM from installing or running; chameleon is to deal with that problem specifically.
Given that, you should also run MBAR before attempting to install MBAM... https://www.malwarebytes.org/antirootkit/
The page has the simple instructions.

Then I don't know... BIOS doesn't seem to reach the stage where it hands over to the boot source. I think the next step is to swap your memory out... leave just one stick, then try the other. If there is no change then perhaps try to flash BIOS - it could have corrupted... but I would definitely check the RAM sticks first.