Computer problem

My computer - when turned on - turns itself right off after a minute. And then it turns itself on and off without me touching it. Anybody know what I can do to fix this? I'll most likely reply in a week, as it'll most likely happen again. (It's been like this for the past three weeks)

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That happened to me a long time ago, I think your computer has a virus maybe

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Sounds similar to what happened to me a few times, your power supply (the one attatched to the mother baord) may be running out of juice, so try and see if replacing it fixes your problem.

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I actually had a virus that did pretty much what your explaining about a year ago. I nearly lost everything, but a friend of mine fixed it by reinstalling the OS. You might also have to reinstall your OS, so see if you can get your stuff on your hard-drive backed up elsewhere ASAP.

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I don't know any computer jargon. What's the OS?

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OS = operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux). It would be safe to assume that you're running Windows.

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The program that's running is Windows, yes. And surprisingly, it's deciding to work again. How do I back up my data?

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Just burn your important stuff to a disk, ~700 MB can hold alot of stuff. If you don't have a disk, even better - stick it on a flash drive, USB, SD card, whatever works. Space is of no matter if you have multiple computers (as I do), since you can move the content from one computer to the other in multiple trips.

I got that same virus once, and I had to back up my ROM hacking stuff to a disk (I poured alot of work into it), and have the computer's HD nuked. You could probably get the computer to start without restarting if you put it in safe mode, because it's probably a self-installing virus; installed progrms run when the computer turns on, and safe mode doesn't run installed programs on startup.

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How do I start it in safe mode?

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I think you press F12 as the computer starts up.

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Quote: Goldensunboy

Just burn your important stuff to a disk, ~700 MB can hold alot of stuff. If you don't have a disk, even better - stick it on a flash drive, USB, SD card, whatever works. Space is of no matter if you have multiple computers (as I do), since you can move the content from one computer to the other in multiple trips. I got that same virus once, and I had to back up my ROM hacking stuff to a disk (I poured alot of work into it), and have the computer's HD nuked. You could probably get the computer to start without restarting if you put it in safe mode, because it's probably a self-installing virus; installed progrms run when the computer turns on, and safe mode doesn't run installed programs on startup.

My dad's computer had this problem, he did not have much on it so he nuked it as well, and that worked.

But nuking the HD is a last case scenario. GSboy's plan sounds pretty good, try that.

BTW when you're on your very 1st loading screen, I think it's F8 to go the your advance options.(It will say what key to press on the top or bottom) You should be able to set your computer to safe mode from there. DJ XD bet me to the post.

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And how do I "nuke" my computer?

Good to know my options

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By "nuke", we mean erase the entire contents of the hard drive, and go with a clean start. This would require buying a new hard drive and re-installing Windows, or formatting your hard drives. (formatting a HD does erase the contents, amirite? )

I think some programs could find your virus, but there are ways to locate malicious files without one. One method I've used in the past is to let the computer start up normally with the virus working, and quickly (after it's running) press ctrl+alt+del. This brings up task manager, and you can look at every program running under the Processes tab. If you see something suspicious, that may be the virus. If you don't know, don't try anything. Under the column "user name", the virus is notgoing to be named "SYSTEM", LOCAL SERVICE", or "NETWORK SERVICE", to eliminate about half the list; the virus WILL be one of the programs on there. If you right click a process and "end process", and the computer doesn't restart or act funky, that may have been the virus. Perform a search on your computer for that exact filename, and if the file is located in some deeply ingrained folder like "C:/Document and Settings/Default User/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files/Content.IE5/8XIN8H6B", you should probably delete it. Maybe not if it's in Program Files.

Alot of the time, viruses situate themselves in a folder inside of Temporary Internet Files, or even more commonly, Content.IE5. Be on the lookout for programs that run from those folders if you find a suspicious one running from them. You could go to those folders and sort everything by file type, then delete every single .EXE file you come across. (deleting anything from those folders won't hurt your computer) You may need to allow "Show hidden folders" to find that location I mentioned.

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Yes formatting anything will wipe everything off the hard drive.

Thanks for the clarification, Al.

To silenttype:

To simplify my last comment, here's something that has a very large chance of deleting your virus:

1. - Start up the infected computer, go into the control panel, pull up "Folder Options".
2. - Under the "View" tab, find "Hidden Files and Folders" and select the option that allows you to view them.
3. - Navigate to C:/Documents and Settings/*User*/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files/, the "Local Settings" folder will be transparent. The folder "user" may be named differently.
4. - Press Ctrl+A, then shift+del.
5. - If it comes up with an access denied or "program running" message for anything while deleting files, that file is 99% most likely a virus.
6. - Continue deleting every file in that folder, until you are left with a few undeletable files.
7. - Press ctrl+alt+del to open up the Task manager, and go to the processes tab. Right click any process whose name exactly matches an undeletable file you found, and choose to "end process tree".
8. - Go back to Temporary Internet Files, and shift+delete all the previously undeletable files.
9. - Delete any funky .EXE files in C:/Documents and Settings/*User*/Local Settings/Temp. If you see something signed my Microsoft or familiar like WinRAR or BitTorrent, pass over it. Some file with a weird name and no identification (.EXE's only) should be deleted. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for files that won't delete.

Now, some files similar to the ones you just deleted could be lingering in subfolders of Temporary Internet Files, in a hidden folder called "Content.IE5". In my experience, this folder has been sometimes unviewable even with "View hidden files and folders" turned on.

10. - Go to the desktop, right-click and create a shortcut; manually type in (or paste this) C:/Documents and Settings/*User*/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files/Content.IE5, replacing *User* with the appropriate name.
11. Perform steps 4-8 in all the strangely-named sub-folders.

Let me know if that fixes your problem with the virus... it may or may not work, but it has a really good chance of working.

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So I kept on trying to do what you guys suggested, but the computer would always shut itself off before I could even do anything! But on Sunday, May 25, 2008, I got a new computer! Unfortunately, it has the Windows Vista, but it's something I'm still getting used to. I'm not even sure if Stepmania will work on it!

But thanks guys for all your help and advice; I'll be sure check this thread if a similar problem arises.

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StepMania will work... I also prefer XP over Vista, but for some reason our wired internet on the PC with XP is really really slow. The wireless internet on the laptop with Vista is fast, so it's my choice simply because of speed. I think it's a connection/settings problem rather than an OS problem, though.

Nice that you have a new computer! If you want to recover any files from the infected harddrive on the old computer, open up the back of the motherboard and disconnect the HD; then, attach it to a spare HD port on your new computer. Since Vista will be running off the brand new HD, none of the viral programs on the infected computer will run, and you can safely transfer your files.

The hard part is actually figuring out with the HD's and connecting them properly; sometimes you cannot connect an extra one. Or if your Vista came with 2+ HD's, you could remove one and replace it temporarily with the infected HD to copy files to Vista.

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I transferred my files in a more tedious way: Flashdrives and memory sticks.

I have a question for the Vista program:

How do you not share files?

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Make a password-protected account for yourself? Vista itself is on my own laptop, and my brother and mom have their own laptops for stuff, so I never looked into it and can't give you a definite answer.

I've never really had files to hide form others, anyway.

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