Do I have a virus?

essexboy · 2015-10-09T12:31:58.000Z

It is a connection problem as your system is clean, as you have a new router and the Ethernet cables work, the next option would be that the card is damaged. However this would cost to replace as it is on the motherboard. The only alternative would be to try a wireless USB and see if that works better

bgranat · 2015-10-09T13:42:22.000Z

essexboy post:60:

It is a connection problem as your system is clean, as you have a new router and the Ethernet cables work, the next option would be that the card is damaged. However this would cost to replace as it is on the motherboard. The only alternative would be to try a wireless USB and see if that works better

What card do you mean?

What do you mean by a wireless USB? My computer has no capability for wireless.

I have been meaning for my IT technician to come and clean the fans in the computer, as the computer hums intermittently to a point that I can hear it and am annoyed by it.

But maybe I should just live with this connectivity issue and buy a new computer sooner rather than later.

I will say, however, and you should be pleased, essexboy, that the problem is much reduced. I think we’ve scared away the dinosaur about 80%. This being Friday, I think that is cause for celebration. Although I, as an independent editor, keep my own hours, I can still remember the joy of Fridays!!

essexboy · 2015-10-09T14:04:54.000Z

What do you mean by a wireless USB?

There is a USB on the market which is a small wireless transceiver so that you can change a desktop into a wireless capable one

http://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-add-wi-fi-to-a-desktop-pc-1569231692

bgranat · 2015-10-09T14:23:00.000Z

essexboy post:62:

What do you mean by a wireless USB?
There is a USB on the market which is a small wireless transceiver so that you can change a desktop into a wireless capable one
http://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-add-wi-fi-to-a-desktop-pc-1569231692

Interesting. Thanks for the info. One of these USB adapters seems the way to go if I need to solve the problem before buying a new computer. Btw, I edited the message above with a few comments… THANK YOU for all your help!

essexboy · 2015-10-09T14:24:06.000Z

Aye they are only £10 or so … I always keep a spare one just in case

essexboy · 2015-10-09T14:25:16.000Z

As it is better on a Friday then it must mean the gremlins have gone away for a weekend on the town

bgranat · 2015-10-09T14:35:10.000Z

essexboy post:65:

As it is better on a Friday then it must mean the gremlins have gone away for a weekend on the town

I got the “Aww, snap!” version of the message this morning. I forgot about that variation. I wish Chrome had more grown-up messages. These silly ones make a person like me think they’re looking at viruses, not formal messages from the browser.

Meanwhile, now I am thinking about whether I want to buy another desktop PC or if I want to buy a notebook. My main problem is that I don’t like the keyboards on notebooks and don’t have the space to come up with an alternate setup with a desktop keyboard. It would be wonderful to have all my work on something I can pick up and leave the house with. I know, I don’t ask for much.

essexboy · 2015-10-09T14:43:41.000Z

What about a standard laptop as they are quite compact now, with a wireless mouse (I find the touchpads awkward)

bgranat · 2015-10-09T14:48:32.000Z

essexboy post:67:

What about a standard laptop as they are quite compact now, with a wireless mouse (I find the touchpads awkward)

I use a wireless mouse now, and they’re great, but the laptop keyboards I’ve seen I don’t like. I don’t like my netbook, for example. I like a regular PC keyboard. But maybe I’ll look around and see if things have changed.

I don’t know why they don’t build laptops with regular keyboards, do you? I don’t need the number pad, really.

I should look around more, I guess. My IT tech suggests I buy http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-3647-small-desktop/pd?oc=fddnst315bw10&model_id=inspiron-3647-small-desktop. He says it’s got a better processor than the HP model with the same features.

essexboy · 2015-10-09T14:53:18.000Z

Hmm not bad but the monitor is extra

bgranat · 2015-10-09T14:58:17.000Z

essexboy post:69:

Hmm not bad but the monitor is extra

Yes, monitor is extra. It’s not too steep, though. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&sku=320-9775

essexboy · 2015-10-09T15:04:12.000Z

It also has integral wireless which is good

bgranat · 2015-10-09T15:13:45.000Z

I’m an HP girl since 1995, and I am resistant to switching to Dell, but Hakim (my IT tech) says Dell’s is a better machine than this: http://store.hp.com/us/en/ConfigureView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&catEntryId=1004653&quantity=1\. I guess the AMD processor isn’t as good. HP products don’t seem to offer the same quality as they used to, and they’ve gone overboard with their web design. So now I’m leaning toward Dell. And HP has a line called ENVY. Honestly! I would not own something called ENVY, though I did buy a pair of shoes called Mephistopheles once. They were wonderful shoes.

bgranat · 2015-10-09T15:43:13.000Z

essexboy post:71:

It also has integral wireless which is good

Anyway, I shouldn’t be chatting about buying decisions now that we’ve reached a conclusion of our business.

I want to thank you for your efforts – in fact, the gremlin seems to be keeping its distance this morning.

I have to go out soon, but I will assess the situation later and report back on the status. Maybe the little darlin’ will go back into his cave like Puff the Magic Dragon!

Thank you, essexboy!

bgranat · 2015-10-10T04:52:36.000Z

I’ve reset the router to the original DNS servers, and things appear to be okay now. I’ll close out this thread tomorrow if it continues to be good. So I’m not using the Google Public DNS servers but the Verizon ones.

bgranat · 2015-10-11T11:24:26.000Z

The problem has been solved by changing the DNS back to Verizon’s DNS. That was one of the first things I thought of, but everybody said it had nothing to do with the problem. It seemed logical to me that it did, though, and it turns out I was right, or that’s how it seems to me. Why people thought it wasn’t the issue, I don’t know. After all, the error message itself mentioned DNS server not responding.

Thank you again for all the time and energy you put into helping me! If I can return the favor (by giving you a little editing), just let me know.

essexboy · 2015-10-11T12:03:55.000Z

It would be unusual for opendns or googledns to be unavailable but not unheard of

Subject to no further problems

I will remove my tools now and give some recommendations, but, I would like you to run for 24 hours or so and come back if you have any problems

Now the best part of the day ----- Your log now appears clean

A good workman always cleans up after himself so…The following will implement some cleanup procedures as well as reset System Restore points:

Remove tools

Download and run Delfix
Select the options as shown

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/delfix.JPG

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programmes:

CryptoPrevent install this programme to lock down and prevent crypto ransome ware

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/CryptoPrevent.JPG

Malwarebytes

Update and run weekly to keep your system clean

Unchecky

Click on the link above to be taken to Unchecky.com
click the very large Download button.
click Save
Click Open folder
Right click on the Unchecky_setup and choose to Run as Administrator
Once open click the Install button.
Then click on Finish
Unchecky is now installed and will help you keep unwanted check boxes unchecked, this is a fire and forget programme

It is critical to have both a firewall and anti virus to protect your system and to keep them updated.

To learn more about how to protect yourself while on the internet read this little guide Best security practices Keep safe

bgranat · 2015-10-11T21:26:49.000Z

essexboy post:76:

Now the best part of the day ----- Your log now appears clean

I didn’t send you a log, though. (I realize you probably used text you’ve got for end-of-thread use, but we’ve had clean logs for a number of days).

I am a bit leery of doing anything else to this computer. Does that make sense to you? While I would be inclined to follow your suggestions, I find myself really worrying about doing so now that things are okay. I’m open to being talked out of my irrational position, though.

bgranat · 2015-10-12T11:30:27.000Z

I did the Delfix program to clean the tools we used. Now I’m agonizing over the other program.

bgranat · 2015-10-12T11:32:54.000Z

essexboy post:76:

It would be unusual for opendns or googledns to be unavailable but not unheard of

I don’t even know what the above means. Everything is fine now, and the only time I’ve seen the dinosaur is momentarily before a particular site loads. Otherwise, the Puff’s been staying in his cave.

Do I really need ransomware protection?

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