Blaster removal slows internet

I removed Blaster virus from friend's computer and since then her Bell Sympatico Hi-Speed Internet is very, very slow. Has anyone else had this happen to them after removing the virus? Also, we downloaded the MS patch needed plus all the others she had never done, but most of the others came back as FAILED when checking the Installation History. (It took about 45 minutes just to download the XP Service Pack 1 upgrade)

 

Hello steelwool,

"Also, we downloaded the MS patch needed plus all the others she had never done, "

Curious as to why this many updates all at one time. Now no idea as to which caused the problem.

SP1 should have been done by itself.

The slowdown may or may not have been caused by the blaster fix/patch, haven't heard that, but chances are its one of multitude prior to it.

Best advice, start all over again with SP1 by itself and alone, then the others a little at time with SR points between so they can be undone if a problem. And by a little at a time, I mean spread out over days, at least.

To start all over: go into the add/remove applet and uninstall as many as can be uninstalled - SP1 can be for instance. Then roll back the system prior to this mass update attempt with System Restore.

Regards - Charles

PS: A firewall, XP's ICF included or a properly set up router, protects against the blaster worm. So you don't have to be that anxious about it as long as a firewall is running.

 

Charles,
I guess I should explain all that we did before the internet slowed down. First we stopped the virus shutdown process by typing in the ocmmand "shutdown /a" (without the quotes). Do we need to reverse this command somehow now that the virus is gone? Then we downloaded the patch needed for the Blaster virus. Then the McAfee Avert Stinger removal tool. Didn't work for us so we did a manual removal. Then, we updated her McAfee virus definitions--not updated since Dec--and it took way too long -- about 20 minutes. Then we did install SP1 by itself, first. After taking 45 minutes to download this one, we went back and downloaded all the rest of the critical patches (about 37). There were so many because my friend has never downloaded the patches since buying her computer last Dec. Only about 6 installed, the rest said FAILED with no reason why. I'm not comfortable about starting over with System Restore because on the same date we downloaded the patches on Aug 15, we also got rid of the virus, so if we start over we'll have to go all through that process again & believe me, we're not experienced enough, nor have the time. I think maybe I'll try part of your suggestion and try downloading the rest of the patches one at a time with several days in between. If you haven't heard that the virus slowed down the internet, then it's probably something else we did that same day. She also installed McAfee firewall Aug 14 but couldn't access internet so she disabled it temporarily. She's also never scanned the hard disk nor done a defrag -- would that slow it down that much?

 

Hi steelwool

Your in a tough spot. The basic problem is.... to many variables. With so many areas not managed and or ignored does not present itself as a easy fix, for pro or newbie. I would suggest finding a knowledgeable local or a trusted professional to help resolve these problems. IF your up to it, IF your responsive in replies, there are gifted individuals on this forum which can guide you. The cleanest solution... copy all of your personnel files, (maybe image the disk, then you have everything) and wipe the drive clean and start over. But, the user will have to understand if they continue to ignore proper updating / system maintenance, the problem will come back.

 

Thanks for the help Dennis. If it was my computer, I would try your suggestion of getting help from this forum, but since my friend would want to keep her computer at her house, it would take too long for me to keep going to her house to try out the suggestions. I think I'll just dp the routine maintenance on her computer, and if that doesn't speed it up, then she could take it to a pro.

 

Hi steelwool,

In light of your subsequent post, I have to agree with Dennis!

If you don't find a fairly quick answer, the best bet would be to reinstall the OS and start from there. In the end, it would take less time because there is a very good chance of constant trouble(s) with the current situation, it would be one nagging problem after another.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi steelwool,

This may be of interest to you http://www.windowsbbs.com/newreply.php?s=&action=newreply&threadid=21429

Same symptoms.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks Charles. I'll try out the suggestion in the link you provided.

 

Hi charlesvar

Tried your suggested link....
Took me to a "reply page for a different post "
Your like me, the fingers move faster than the brain

 

Hey Dennis,

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.


http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?threadid=21429

Regards - Charles

 

Dennis L

I would like to ask why you suggest an image of the full drive ? At least I believe that is what you mean.

I fail to see where that would solve anything.

Why would you even think about imaging what appears to be a messed up system.

The image would be messed up the same as the system is now.

BillyBob

 

Hello,

I had the problem of serious slowness of the internet.

Do a ctrl+alt+del and search for an UPPER CASE 'DLLHOST.EXE' running.

Once this is closed, there will be no further slowness. It's probably another part of the virus.

Delete the file also, it's in your \system32\wins directory.
(Or rename it.)

Regards

 

Naturally, the last USE of image would to be used as a "restore disk ". Have you ever been in a situation when the enviroment is so "new - complex - foreign" that you don't have enough basic knowledge of the situation to even "ask" an meaning question or worse yet, answer one. The owner of this hardware would be of little assistance in what should be back up and worse yet... where she could have stored that "precious picture of great grampa holding her as a baby ". How ever did she managed to put it in the System32 folder we will never know. I don't know what professionals do in this situation. I maybe over cautious, but that has only cost me time, never created a problem. I should / could have also suggested... "Is there anything on your computer you really need - or - do anything we want, just get it working again. Both are reasonable options.... since neither of us know what she deems valuable.

 

I know what image files and and backups can be used for.

But I CAN NOT see ANY SENSE to backing up a possibley already messed up system.

WHAT PUrpose would it serve,

Making images and/or backups as you go along and get thing fixed is a great Idea.

But backing up an already mesed up system IS A complete useless waste of time and space. And if one was made and then used the party would right back where they started. With a S.c.r.e.w.e.d system AGAIN.

If you are going to make backups/images etc. you start with a good solide sytem. Not a messed up one.

BillyBob

 

OOPS !! I messed up.

Backing up individual program data file and as you say pictures etc. is a good idea with which I will agree.

These files should actually be on a partition other then C: anyway.

But I just do not agree with imaging the full possibly messed up OS.

BB

 

BillyBob says
"Making images and/or backups as you go along and get thing fixed is a great Idea. "

Good suggestion...
Hopefully yourself, the friend or the owner of the computer can approach it this way. I don't know how involved they want to become in this task, how patient they are in waiting for a solution or how much money there willing to spend if they turn it over to a professional. All you can do is ask.
My only concern... there has been times when I tried my best to make it better, and then Mr. Murphy showed up and made it worse than when I started. It's never planned that way, it just how things turn out.

 

I agree. I have had the same.

But I just do not see any sense when Murphy is already there. And the suggestion was made to wipe out and start over. Without the wipe out the image idea would not be so bad

This is one reason I STRONGLY SUGGEST that the C: drive be Just large enough to contain the OS and associated software.

And EVERYTHING else on other partitions.

Things like My Documents which a lot of programs use to store stuff can be put on another partition.

Favorites can be but on another partition.

I myself use Eudora E-mail which is on another partition.

That way if I should have to redo the OS a lot of stuff WILL NOT be lost.

ALL downloaded stuff and any backups I do make are on other than the C: drive. In fact a great many of them are on another HD entirely which I can plug into any one of my three PCs and use.

BillyBob

 

Great disk and storage strategy BillyBob. I think all of us would agree, when a computer user is grinning ear to ear, he had good backups from a stable system... when Murphy paid a visit.