Did anyone suggest the "hosts" file? This wonderful bit of text can easily tell your computer that if you type in one thing you really mean the other. Great fun to tamper with someone's host file and do just that. There are some scripts that will do that also. If they do the internet related things will always be going to whichever site they are told. It won't matter which browser. Now, you might still have the virus/script but at least you could get on the internet.

First, open your favorite text editing program and go to:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

or perhaps

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\hosts.sam

I'm on Win 8 box today, Win 7 box is dead, so I don't have the exact place. Besides, it kinda don't matter as long as there is only one and it is in the path. So look everywhere in Windows.

Stare and the one you have. Unless you know for certain there is supposed to be an entry, everything should be commented out with # except the two directed to localhost.

The entry goes something like:

name/ip entered  name/ip redirected to

# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

127.0.0.1       localhost
::1             localhost

Look for this. Even if you find the problem with this, you still have to look for whatever put it there.

What put it there was a Java vulnerability which was exploited.

Yep, I just noticed a Java update come out today.

Yup. A for real pain ...... all yesterday and today. Fortunately the restore partition worked and I'm back online.  I'm looking at Windows Aero .......

Where's all mine SD ODNT stuff. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

j/k     

Now that you're back up and runnin', once you uninstall all the bullshit, make a back up so you can skip the drama next time.

Edit: Although, it was entertaining to watch.

^This.

@carguy1 ... I'm glad you enjoyed it. *dripping with sarcasm* 

Actually I did have backups but they're suspect. Right now access to them will have until wait until Monday. I said this will be from scratch.

Uvah, you're one of the nicest person here. Sorry to hear you've been through all these nightmares.

I think they're just trying to keep me from the thresholds of sanity.

Never that. Good old yrag... He really was quite gentle with you.

That probably won't happen again, so please resist the urge to dl everything in sight, and keep updated.

My one real recommendation would be:

1. Get all the crapware and bloat ware off your c drive and do it using ccleaner set to moderate., and the registry/detritus files as well.

2. After installing all your SD stuff, and MS's security updates, run a smart defrag (SmartDefra2), and a registry defrag.

3. Back that drive up.

4. Create a restore point and emergency boot disks. Fix your Bios boot order to put boot from CD/DVD drive first on the list.

Keep the drive and backup updated.

I believe yrag will agree with my recommendations, but please feel free to run them past him.

Well, if you backups are suspect, i don't advice your to access them ever... maybe there is some bad thing waiting for you in these backup... best to never use/open these backup and throw then in the garbage bin... once you computer is fully restored, with all windows update, drivers, software, make a new backup...

Don't come monday saying "i have access my old backup and problem are back"... well, i will enjoy to see a duck going postal...

People need a driving license for use a car... can be a good idea to make a worldwide computer driving license... something like the ECDL ( european computer driving license ) : http://www.ecdl.org/programmes/media/ECDL_ICDL_Syllabus_Version_51.pdf ... it is very basic but the limited knowledge will greatly reduce the "i need somebody help for fix my computer" 

@yrag ..... I was kidding. I'm not downloading anything and I didn't. Unless of course it has something todo with SD. Many thanks for all your help.

@Thoumsin .... I'll pass on that one. One drivers license is enough thank you.

@Doc .... That last one was scary as shit. Without the recovery partition or the Pro version I'd be more than just up shit's creek. I need to put this thing back where it was. Interestingly enough the restore included another 30 day free trial of Norton. Guess who's gonna be the first to go.

Ya know ... when the regular backup failed I did a manual backup of My Documents, the Download folder, the Pictures folder and Users. All of them are on a separate partition on the external drive. So I really lost nothing. What I'm not going to do is bring all of that back to my C drive, there's about three gigs worth of stuff there. Plus all my graphics work, all the psd's are there too. I'll treat it like a repository.

The only flaw in all that is that it's on the hdd in your computer. One of the reasons to have an untouched external backup is hdd failure. If your hdd fails, your backup is gone along with the rest of your hdd. Please have an external backup.

I don't put backups on my HDD. Doing that defeats the whole purpose of having them. Besides ... I have an 8 gig flash drive that I'm reconfiguring to hold at least one backup for those times when I can't access the external drive. I always have at least two backups, sometimes three.

Here's the next thing you need...

It will save you a lot of hassle and protect us from having to read all this crap...

You can fit a backup in an 8 GB flash drive?  My last Win 7 image was 108 GB.  

No no no ...... the flash drive will be for copies of the graphics I'm working on. My external drive is for the partition image which I know is 'HUGE'!!!. Got a PM from yrag. He scares me but I will follow his advice. I can't afford to lose this one.

Oh ..... I hear you can install XP on a flash drive. Windows on a stick. Who'da thunk it.

Suggestion: After reloading everything back on with the Recovery discs, and uninstalling all the crapware, run Windows updates.  Stop!

Make an image of that clean,"bare-bones"install. Save it somewhere,It won't take up much storage space and it will give you a fast reload of your OS , minus the bloat if when needed.

No need to ever use the Factory recovery CD's again.

I know it's too late for this step now, but it's something to keep in mind the next time.

Be afraid....be very afraid.....

@Wiz ...... I plan on it.

@RnD ...... I are. lol