Possible Virus (?) Help - printer starts printing on it's own

None | Today | Me

[Cold Heat]

Most of the new cd writing, dvd writing,playing progs like windows media 9&10 etc.

I tried loading some of that stuff on 98se and it would not run.

ME might run it, I can't recall.

[Cold Heat]

BTW, right click your device icons in the control panel to check your permissions for sharing.IIRC.

[Texasforever]

ME might run it, I can't recall.

It will. I have a Dell 1.5 box that is 4 years old I am about to go with a new machine and it will come with XP so I will probably give it a try. I may also set up a dual boot system so I can use ME also.

[Cold Heat]

Yeah, the drives are so huge now. Sounds like a good idea.

[Texasforever]

I just bought a 150 gig external drive for 65 bucks. Technology is the only bargain we have in this day and age.

[backhoe]

 

Things you need--(all FREE)
Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...

 Avast
Firewall
Kerio(Direct Download) Zone Alarm

 If are using zone alarm it may slow your PC. Try Outpost Firewall http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost or Sygate Firewall http://www.sygate.com/ both have FREE and Pro versions and are heads above ZA.
Misc.
IE Spyads SpywareBlaster Spyware Guard
Windows Update- you must keep updated, it is the start of a secure system-
get all CRITICAL Updates

Things you want(Still Free)
 

  I use Firefox PR1 and IMHO, beats the sox off MS Explorer. Life is good with tabs. Click the link and give it a try.

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D

SpywareBlaster
MS MVP Hosts file

Mike Lin's Homepage and get the Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor tools.

 

The best forum for malware removal:

-SWI Forums-

 

 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315720/posts

 Microsoft Releases Anti-Spyware Beta 1 To Public Today.
Microsoft.com ^

 

=================================================

 

 

Browser Wars, take two various FR links | 12-22-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1306815/posts ...and let your compiler of links drop out of Lurk & Link mode for comment and advice: Ditch IE. Honest to God, almost anything else will give you fewer problems. Try and compare- use IE, then run Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy... then try another browser and repeat. You will be stunned at the garbage IE attracts. Keep your OS updated & patched. Run a hardware firewall-- with today's LAN's, it's easy. You need a hardware firewall. Use a software firewall, too-- if you don't, you'll never know how many times your PC is trying to "phone home" and send your info across the web.

[benjaminjjones]

OK, I got the robe and slippers on and have fired up the WinME machine.

Sorry, the .SP* is old DOS shorthand talk. The star (*) is like a wild card joker when you're searching for something. WinME probably would've understood *.SP* better (but you would have had to had turned on hidden files searching). I just checked and the actual extension is .SPL (and sometimes .SPD).

Do you know what a file extension is? If not, it's ok, just post back, I'll try to show you how to turn them on.

Let's try this. If you are familiar with Windows Explorer, fire it up, otherwise find it at: Start menu, Programs, Accessories, Windows Explorer.

Once you get Windows Explorer running, on the left side you should see "My Computer". Click the plus sign next to it.

Then click the plus sign next to your C: drive.

Then scroll down until you seen the WINDOWS folder, and click the plus sign next to that.

Then scroll down until you see a SPOOL folder. Click on the SPOOL folder, then look at the right hand window pane. There might be some numbered files. If not, try the PRINTERS folder.

I'm guessing you don't have file extensions turned on so do be carefull. You're looking for a bunch of sequentially numbered files, like 00001 and 00002.

If you find a bunch of files in there, check their dates first then delete them. The date on the actual SPOOL folder itself doesn't matter, it's the dates of the files.

[Squantos]

It's free......

http://www.ccleaner.com/

[ViLaLuz]

Your printer is haunted by a ghost. You'd better sell it on eBay.

[ChefKeith]

Zone Alarm Suite

Ditch that and just use the free zonealarm only and get AVG for AV.

[GretchenM]

Thank you VERY much for that AVG link. My free antivirus software is expiring (becoming for-fee) and I needed another one. I had saved your data about AVG and it proved extremely timely. I've installed it and it's a better program than the one I had.

I should think it would be in the best interests of all companies that produce software to install or bundle such a product free, since the more PC's that have this up and running worldwide, the less damage virii can cause. Kind of like vaccinating a population against smallpox.

All you friends of Ayn, I do not normally make a plea for a product to be free, so please don't take the time to assault me for being a *whatever* on the subject. This is an aberrative stand rooted in a public "safety" issue, so to speak. A lot of people who have computers aren't techie enough to take care of this.

[Reagan is King]

You're very welcome for the link Gretchen. In fact, a Freeper had recommended it to me awhile back and I thought it was terrific (and you can't beat the price, lol).