Is what my brother's desktop PC was when I came for a Christmas visit yesterday.

Their newest PC had died (I'm thinking it's a power supply problem, but
the power supply tester I brought with me doesn't have the right
connector for the PSU on the "dead" system.

In the meantime, they'd resurrected an older XP Home system. In
checking the resurrected system, I found a number of problems. 1: No
wireless security at all was enabled on their wifi router. 2: Firewall
on the router turned off. 3: No working antivirus/antimalware software installed.

Any surprise then that Trend Micro's Housecall online scanner found at
least one known virus, and some 50 trojan horses running on this thing?

So, I've spent a good portion of the day today fixing this system.
Found an XP install CD, and did the old W.A.R. on it. "Wipe And
Reinstall".

But, before I did the W.A.R., I locked down their router (no password
was set to access the router setup!), and locked down the WiFi
connection.

Then, found an XP install CD, and went to work on the desktop PC.
Needless to say, they've now got a fully patched XP Home system, that
has up-to-date antivirus/antimalware software installed (MSE to the
rescue here!)

Now, when my brother goes to Facebook, he doesn't get redirected to the hijacked search page the previously malware-infested system took him to.

Boy, my jaw nearly hit the floor when I found that there was no security
of any type set up on their system! None, zero, zilch, nada!


-=> Carroll McAllister on 12/24/2010 at 11:50 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Hi Carroll!

Their newest PC had died (I'm thinking it's a power supply
problem, but the power supply tester I brought with me doesn't
have the right connector for the PSU on the "dead" system.

Probably died from overwork because it wasn't secured!

¯ ®
¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
¯ @MSN.COM ®
¯ ®


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problem, but the power supply tester I brought with me doesn't
have the right connector for the PSU on the "dead" system.

Probably died from overwork because it wasn't secured!

I don't know. It was a warranty replacement Dell system. For whatever
reason, my sister-in-law said she didn't think Dell would fix this one.

I did go online and looked up the service manual for that model.
According to the service manual, a blinking amber power button light
means a power problem. She said they had someone local she was going to
take it to, that was reasonably priced. I told her to be sure and tell whomever she took it to what I had found out looking online.

I was surprised my power supply tester didn't have the right connectors.
I guess the ATX standard *is* getting a bit long in the tooth, so to
speak. <G>


-=> Carroll McAllister on 12/30/2010 at 1:09 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Hi Carroll!

problem, but the power supply tester I brought with me doesn't
have the right connector for the PSU on the "dead" system.

Probably died from overwork because it wasn't secured!

I don't know. It was a warranty replacement Dell system. For
whatever reason, my sister-in-law said she didn't think Dell
would fix this one.

Good that Dell replaced the power supply -- in this case free is good,
though if you had to get a replacement the good ones aren't that
expensive.

I did go online and looked up the service manual for that model.
According to the service manual, a blinking amber power button
light means a power problem. She said they had someone local she
was going to take it to, that was reasonably priced. I told her
to be sure and tell whomever she took it to what I had found out
looking online.

Yes, the more information the better. Seeing that blinking amber light
may or may not remind the servicing technician of something, and they
may or may not take the time to do a search for that information.

I was surprised my power supply tester didn't have the right
connectors. I guess the ATX standard *is* getting a bit long in
the tooth, so to speak. <G>

Oh-oh for me! <g> Still have a lot of ATX -- wait a minute: I just
replaced a power supply and it is ATX -- "20/24 pin motherboard
connector". Only thing I can think of that's new besides that is the
skinny power connector for the SATA hard drives,

¯ ®
¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
¯ @MSN.COM ®
¯ ®


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Good that Dell replaced the power supply -- in this case free is good,

No, Dell didn't replace the power supply that I know of. They had some
other problem with the first computer, and the 2nd one was the warranty replacement. The 2nd one is the one that wasn't working, and caused
them to resurrect an older system. The older system is the one that was insecure, and loaded with viruses, trojans and the like.

though if you had to get a replacement the good ones aren't that BM>expensive.

No replacement yet. My sister-in-law said they have someone local
that's reliable, that they're going to take it to. We'll see what

Yes, the more information the better. Seeing that blinking amber
light

I'd kind of figured it had something to do with a power problem, since
it was the light in the power switch that was blinking.

connector". Only thing I can think of that's new besides that is the BM>skinny power connector for the SATA hard drives,

The other power supply tester I had, that I didn't take with me, I think
had more pins. I'm not sure, because I can't find it right now. <G>


-=> Carroll McAllister on 1/2/2011 at 7:09 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Hi Carroll!

Good that Dell replaced the power supply -- in this case free is good,

No, Dell didn't replace the power supply that I know of. They
had some other problem with the first computer, and the 2nd one
was the warranty replacement. The 2nd one is the one that wasn't
working, and caused them to resurrect an older system. The older
system is the one that was insecure, and loaded with viruses,
trojans and the like.

Oh -- got a little confused there (obviously!). "Amazing" how many
people run around without their computer being protected. Almost would
seem like Windows should install their Firewall by default and then
people could either elect to not include it at their initial opening or
turn it off in favour of their own Firewall. But that's a different
story.

though if you had to get a replacement the good ones aren't that
expensive.

No replacement yet. My sister-in-law said they have someone
local that's reliable, that they're going to take it to. We'll
see what

Hopefully it's a different brand or a more robust model since this is
the second replacement.

Yes, the more information the better. Seeing that blinking amber
light

I'd kind of figured it had something to do with a power problem,
since it was the light in the power switch that was blinking.

That would tend to be a good indicator! <g>

connector". Only thing I can think of that's new besides that is the
skinny power connector for the SATA hard drives,

The other power supply tester I had, that I didn't take with me,
I think had more pins. I'm not sure, because I can't find it
right now. <G>

I can relate! Here the Computer Room is a mess: too many projects going
on at the same time with too many on hold for whatever reason. After
work I intend to buy some 'Bankers Boxes' ==> those letter/legal sized
white cardboard boxes for storage. Decent size, plus a consistent size
which makes stacking easier. Rather than marking directly on the box to indicate the contents I use a sheet of paper folded in half and hung
over the side as the label. ...Not really a New Year's resolution but
can use it if I need to list something. <g>


¯ ®
¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
¯ @MSN.COM ®
¯ ®


...
What do you call a bunch of chickens playing hide-and-seek?
Fowl play.
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people run around without their computer being protected. Almost would BM>seem like Windows should install their Firewall by default and then

It does for SP2 and later.

Hopefully it's a different brand or a more robust model since this is
the second replacement.

Well, it's a Dell (and that wasn't an on purpose rhyme, either.) <G>


-=> Carroll McAllister on 1/4/2011 at 1:46 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Boy, my jaw nearly hit the floor when I found that there was no security
of any type set up on their system! None, zero, zilch, nada!

I can well imagine!

Whenever I set up a new PC, there's a weird scary feeling in my stomach
until I get the thing patched up and ready to go. It's like having unprotected sex in a world full of AIDS. That's the feeling. I kind of
hold my breath while Windows downloads and installs all its updates.

Seeing a system like the one you set up would give me nightmares.
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unprotected sex in a world full of AIDS. That's the feeling. I kind of DP>hold my breath while Windows downloads and installs all its updates.

The first thing I load on a newly set-up system is antivirus software.
I've been setting systems up with Microsoft Security Essentials, though,
so unless you've got an install CD/DVD with the latest updates, there
are a few updates you have to download before you can install MSE. I'm
sure it has to be at least at SP2 level. I seem to recall there was a requirement for a newer version of the Windows Installer service, but I'm
not sure.

Seeing a system like the one you set up would give me nightmares.

I didn't get to update/fix anything until Christmas Eve day. Of course,
we couldn't find the restore media for the older Dell system. Found the drivers disc, the disc to install Office 2003, and other stuff like
that, but couldn't find the restore media for XP Home.

However, I was able to download an .iso file for XP Home from our
office's Technet subscription. Fortunately, it already had SP3
integrated, so there weren't quite as many updates to get from Microsoft Update.

It was installed clean, MSE was installed, and everything was as up to
date as I could get it by the time I left the day after Christmas.

The old Windows system was so loaded with malware, that every time they
entered a web address, it went to a hijacked home page, and you had to
enter the web address in the search field of the hijacked home page.

Oh, and the older system (the one I wiped and reinstalled) had a minimal
amount (256 or 512MB, I'm not sure) of *RAMBUS* ram. If they were going
to keep this system up and running for any length of time, I'd have
recommended upgrading the ram in the system, but last time I saw prices
on RAMBUS, they were quite high.

The "new" system (the one that the system I "resurrected" replaced) has
2GB of ram, running a dual-core system with either Windows Vista or
Windows 7. I don't remember for sure.

But, with a power supply problem, it's basically a book-end/end table.
;-)


-=> Carroll McAllister on 1/5/2011 at 1:28 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Hi Carroll!

people run around without their computer being protected. Almost would
seem like Windows should install their Firewall by default and then

It does for SP2 and later.

Obviously I haven't been keeping up on things like that! To me a
default installation of a firewall makes sense, with the option not to install, of course. (Hopefully if elect not to install Widows' firewall
to install a different one.)

Hopefully it's a different brand or a more robust model since this is
the second replacement.

Well, it's a Dell (and that wasn't an on purpose rhyme, either.) <G>

You forgot to sign off as The Longfellow from Searcy!

¯ ®
¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
¯ @MSN.COM ®
¯ ®


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It does for SP2 and later.

Obviously I haven't been keeping up on things like that! To me a

Yes, it's been installed by default for a while, now.

install, of course. (Hopefully if elect not to install Widows' firewall BM>to install a different one.)

Hopefully. As far as "the open system" was concerned, it went from
"Hey, I'm wide open! Come on in!" to Shields Up finding all ports in
stealth mode. Turned the firewall on in the router, of course loaded
Windows' firewall, and set up WPA encryption on the wireless connection.

My brother and his family live in a semi-rural area. They're not that
close to their neighbors. Still, having a wide-open wifi connection was
just asking for trouble.


-=> Carroll McAllister on 1/7/2011 at 2:32 PM <=-

Coming to you "almost live" from Searcy, Arkansas

carrollmcallister@earthlink.net




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Hi Carroll!

It does for SP2 and later.

Obviously I haven't been keeping up on things like that! To me a

Yes, it's been installed by default for a while, now.

That's good. I don't think the average computer user would know to
install that 'option'.

install, of course. (Hopefully if elect not to install Widows' firewall
to install a different one.)

Hopefully. As far as "the open system" was concerned, it went
from "Hey, I'm wide open! Come on in!" to Shields Up finding all
ports in stealth mode. Turned the firewall on in the router, of
course loaded Windows' firewall, and set up WPA encryption on the
wireless connection.

Which reminded me: I haven't checked the ports since getting the new DSL Router! ...Tested: all green! :) Did whine about failing the Ping
Test which leaves me a little vunerable.

My brother and his family live in a semi-rural area. They're not
that close to their neighbors. Still, having a wide-open wifi
connection was just asking for trouble.

The good news is distance is protecting them but being wide-open is not
a Good Thing. Better to have some protection against trespassers.


¯ ®
¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
¯ @MSN.COM ®
¯ ®


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