Computer Problems (virus?)

[silvertable81]

Very OT Computer Problems

Sorry to go so off the subject, but my computer is having problems with the search engines. I had the virus which changes your network settings and finally got that straight, but now, it seems my computer doesn't recognize search engines. I've tried MSN and Yahoo, but I get nothing. An adult oriented search engine works fine. I use Windows XP on a Dell Dimension 8200. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[thatdarncat]

Sorry to go so off the subject, but my computer is having problems with the search engines. I had the virus which changes your network settings and finally got that straight, but now, it seems my computer doesn't recognize search engines. I've tried MSN and Yahoo, but I get nothing. An adult oriented search engine works fine. I use Windows XP on a Dell Dimension 8200. Any help would be appreciated.

few things you can try:

1) run Adaware and remove any spyware it finds.
2) Symantec have an online virus scan you can use to detect viruses on your computer. Run that.
3) call your ISP and ask what DNS settings you should have. Verify that you have the correct settings by going to start, run and typing "cmd" to bring up a command prompt. at the command prompt, type "ipconfig /all". This will display your network settings for all connections. If you have the wrong DNS setting, try manually setting it in your network connections.

We have a computer forum, you might want to try posting there next time

 

[Shadow64]

I've had to fight problems like this quite a few times. I would recommend going here: http://www.spywareinfo.com/ and check out the help they can offer.

There are two pieces of software that can help you (both available at the site above), the first is called BHODemon, the second is HijackThis!. I've used both of these to great success to rid systems of the problems you are having.

Rather then trying to give you a full on explination here of what to do go check the forums at spywareinfo, they have a wealth of knowledge and tips about how to clean up system problems.

Good luck, you will probably need it.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I had a worm/trojan horse, that changed my DNS address. It also screwed with my registery that affected search engines just as you describe.

 

[noretoc]

Check this post. I had the same problem and the lionk allanon gives helped me figure it out. If it sound like your prob and you need more help email me

 

[Psionicist]

Open c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (or C:\windows\help\hosts if it won't work) and remove everything below

127.0.0.1 localhost


The file should look like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

 

[Psionicist]

Open c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (or C:\windows\help\hosts if it won't work) and remove everything below

127.0.0.1 localhost


The file should look like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

It probably looks like this (below 127.0.0.1 localhost)

88.88.88.88 elite
207.44.194.56 www.google.akadns.net
207.44.194.56 www.google.com
207.44.194.56 google.com
207.44.194.56 www.altavista.com
207.44.194.56 altavista.com
207.44.194.56 search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 uk.search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 ca.search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 jp.search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 au.search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 de.search.yahoo.com
207.44.194.56 search.yahoo.co.jp
207.44.194.56 www.lycos.de
207.44.194.56 www.lycos.ca
207.44.194.56 www.lycos.jp
207.44.194.56 www.lycos.co.jp
207.44.194.56 alltheweb.com
207.44.194.56 web.ask.com
207.44.194.56 ask.com
207.44.194.56 www.ask.com
207.44.194.56 www.teoma.com
207.44.194.56 search.aol.com
207.44.194.56 www.looksmart.com
207.44.194.56 auto.search.msn.com
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com
207.44.194.56 ca.search.msn.com
207.44.194.56 fr.ca.search.msn.com
207.44.194.56 search.fr.msn.be
207.44.194.56 search.fr.msn.ch
207.44.194.56 search.latam.yupimsn.com
207.44.194.56 search.msn.at
207.44.194.56 search.msn.be
207.44.194.56 search.msn.ch
207.44.194.56 search.msn.co.in
207.44.194.56 search.msn.co.jp
207.44.194.56 search.msn.co.kr
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com.br
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com.hk
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com.my
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com.sg
207.44.194.56 search.msn.com.tw
207.44.194.56 search.msn.co.za
207.44.194.56 search.msn.de
207.44.194.56 search.msn.dk
207.44.194.56 search.msn.es
207.44.194.56 search.msn.fi
207.44.194.56 search.msn.fr
207.44.194.56 search.msn.it
207.44.194.56 search.msn.nl
207.44.194.56 search.msn.no
207.44.194.56 search.msn.se
207.44.194.56 search.ninemsn.com.au
207.44.194.56 search.t1msn.com.mx
207.44.194.56 search.xtramsn.co.nz
207.44.194.56 search.yupimsn.com
207.44.194.56 uk.search.msn.com
207.44.194.56 search.lycos.com
207.44.194.56 www.lycos.com
207.44.194.56 www.google.ca
207.44.194.56 google.ca
207.44.194.56 www.google.uk
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.uk
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.au
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.jp
207.44.194.56 www.google.jp
207.44.194.56 www.google.at
207.44.194.56 www.google.be
207.44.194.56 www.google.ch
207.44.194.56 www.google.de
207.44.194.56 www.google.se
207.44.194.56 www.google.dk
207.44.194.56 www.google.fi
207.44.194.56 www.google.fr
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.gr
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.hk
207.44.194.56 www.google.ie
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.il
207.44.194.56 www.google.it
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.kr
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.mx
207.44.194.56 www.google.nl
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.nz
207.44.194.56 www.google.pl
207.44.194.56 www.google.pt
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.ru
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.sg
207.44.194.56 www.google.co.th
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.tr
207.44.194.56 www.google.com.tw
207.44.194.56 go.google.com
207.44.194.56 google.at
207.44.194.56 google.be
207.44.194.56 google.de
207.44.194.56 google.dk
207.44.194.56 google.fi
207.44.194.56 google.fr
207.44.194.56 google.com.hk
207.44.194.56 google.ie
207.44.194.56 google.co.il
207.44.194.56 google.it
207.44.194.56 google.co.kr
207.44.194.56 google.com.mx
207.44.194.56 google.nl
207.44.194.56 google.co.nz
207.44.194.56 google.pl
207.44.194.56 google.com.ru
207.44.194.56 google.com.sg
207.44.194.56 www.hotbot.com
207.44.194.56 hotbot.com

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Yeah, I remember when somebody did that to the computers at the local library. One of the security guards solved it for them...

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* This was after the library switched to a web page instead of the card catalog for looking up books. Guess what other page got added to the above list.