Help needed - Computer malware problem

Home computer | October 22, 2012 | self

[editor-surveyor]

My wife's Dell 640 laptop has picked up some malware that affects the display.

It shows up as faint rainbow colored horizontal bars across the screen, plus a circular, concentric, variable rainbow graphic in the upper left corner of the windows startup screen.

The machine is running XP professional.

The AVG software on the machine doesn't recognize it, nor did Trend Micro Housecall.

[editor-surveyor]

It also changes the top bar (title area) of every window and action/alert panel to a scrolling band of rainbow colors.

[editor-surveyor]

Experienced help needed!

[nuconvert]

sounds psychedelic

[ShadowAce]

[justlurking]

That sounds like a video problem (i.e. hardware), not a malware (software) problem.

[A Navy Vet]

Sounds like a computer or monitor problem to me. But then, I know jack nothing.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Sounds like a bad heat sink. Dell has had a lot of those. However, if you think it is Maleware, either Maleware Bytes or Kaspersky are the best tools for it.

[Paladin2]

I tend to agree with the h/w issue as a quick diagnosis.

I'd try booting the unit with something like knoppix to see if the problem persists.

[ShadowAce]

...variable rainbow graphic in the upper left corner of the windows startup screen.

You don't have a magnet up there, do you?

[UB355]

I can not offer you any advice in this matter, however if anybody has set up a repeater to work with a uVerse router let me know.

[joe fonebone]

dell also had issues with bad solder.....

I had a dell burn up on me from overheating and the bad solder..

I bought a little fan unit you put the laptop on top of...

for about 40 bucks it is a great insurance policy

[Signalman]

I agree. It’s not likely that it’s malware. It’s a problem with the screen or with the video chip on the motherboard. I would take it to a computer repair place. It may, or may not be worth fixing, depending on the current value of your laptop.

[rstrahan]

I agree, sounds like an electro-magnetic source near the monitor. Normally a malware tries to take over the computer and you can’t run other programs.

So, look for that first. If you are concerned about malware, get Malwarebytes. Best on the market.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Could be a ribbon problem.

[techcor]

Try windows offline defender tool.http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-defender-offline-download . It will boot to the CD. That way if you are still having the problem when you boot to it, it is probably hardware or your video driver is corrupt.

[mmichaels1970]

That sounds like a video problem (i.e. hardware), not a malware (software) problem.

I agree.

Try booting into safe mode. Restart and press F8 a couple of times during the boot process. Select "safe mode". This will default your video adapter to basic VGA settings. If you are still seeing the rainbow, I'd bet you have a video problem.

The fact that you are seeing it on the startup screen is a big sign that the issue is video card/hardware related. Malware, except for some extreme "root-kit" related instances will usually take hold after you log into your computer.

If you are REALLY convinced it is malware, you could try downloading combofix from bleepingcomputer.com. If you have some sort of malware that is infecting you before windows starts, you're going to need something like combofix. Combofix isn't for the feint of heart, but it is designed to rip out rootkit viruses.

[Hardraade]

Get Malwarebyte.

It’s the best and lightest there is for new dirt.

[A Navy Vet]

"...Kaspersky are the best tools for it."

Maybe the free stuff works, but I prefer the updates and support of a highly regarded anti-virus/firewall like Kaspersky. I've had zero problems since.

[Buckeye McFrog]

either Maleware Bytes or Kaspersky are the best tools for it.

I think you mean Malware Bytes.
Maleware Bytes is probably a Lesbian dating site.