Infected With Naggng Virus - How Best To Transf Pic Files To What Media?

[bangkokburning]

My netbook has serious worm that was persistent even when I did he factory reinstall [F9] - now I cannot locate the drive in most DOS utility. Can't partition in any. That is another story.

My netbook is DOA - I guess I have to take a trip to Asus at Fortune.

Just found another virus, on my girlfriends computer ACK!

AVAST AND Superspyware did not find either of this on either machine. Avast 6 is supposed to have real time protection as Superspyware.

I had Mbytes and Avast on my computer, only avast then SuperSpyware on hers as I was going to get rid of her clumsy XPUltimate install sooner or later.

OK MY QUESTION _ SORRY

Ineed to get about 30GB of travel photos off her computer (She snaps he hell out of her camera and then just dumps them on her drive!). Anyway...My concern is that the virus will jump to the new media.

500gb drive w/ two partitions

DVDs - can burn these

IF I copy to the drive - I only have to worry about cleaning this once. If I copy to disks, I will have to worry about 5 disks being infected -sound right?

I am very worried cause both of these seemed to evade my current detection scheme. How can I plug the drive into anything and check for malware and be certain?

[Supernova]

Boot from a Linux Live CD and copy the files over...

[bangkokburning]

the DL is 700mb - gotta pass on this one.

The iso wont run anyway without other files on the disk correct?

Won't the malware also potentially burned onto the disk when I make the Linux disk??

[Supernova]

You can also download via HTTP; the JAIST mirror usually gives the best speed, so you might want to try this one first. The download shouldn't take more than half an hour on a 4M connection.

BTW, Live CD is your best (and safest) option.

[bangkokburning]

Wow clicked on STANDARD Vers = 832MB

This is Linux?:-)

[Supernova]

Alternatively, you could also try UBCD4Win.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Most small computer shops will have a boot disk and probably move the files for you for a small fee.

[Supernova]

Alternatively, you could also try UBCD4Win.

I take that back... You have to build one, which isn't a viable option in your current situation.

Linux Live CD is your best bet.

[Supernova]

The iso wont run anyway without other files on the disk correct?

Won't the malware also potentially burned onto the disk when I make the Linux disk??

Burn the ISO to disc and boot from it.

I wouldn't worry about malware finding it's way to disc. Windows viruses don't run on Linux.

[bangkokburning]

Ive created all sorts of boot disks for the Asus bu only partition magic recognizes the drive. I cannot though partition it. Volume = *. Anyway, on my computer I am out of answers and worry that I may have even DLd the virus to her machine by looking at all these stes for boot alternatives although I am really careful where I go and what I click on. Even scan with Avast on DL.

OK - My pressing need to to clean and clear all media. My plan is as follows:

In computer with virus -

insert both 500gb drive and 15gb flash nto infected machine.

copy 8gb files from 15gb flashdrive to one partition on 500gb drive.

copy files from her desktop and from d:\ to partition on 500gb.

into system tools:

delete partitions remaining partition on 500b

delete partitions on the 15gb.

This way I will only have one suspect drive to contend with which is also fast.

[bangkokburning]

Supernova - so I could copy all my files to the computer. Boot from the disk (iso) that disk and do a copy...

Does Mint allow me to reformat an external that can be seen in Windows (easily)?

So I could reformat in Linux. Reload XP and copy ..without concern of virus or malware??

[Supernova]

OK - My pressing need to to clean and clear all media. My plan is as follows:

In computer with virus -

insert both 500gb drive and 15gb flash nto infected machine.

copy 8gb files from 15gb flashdrive to one partition on 500gb drive.

copy files from her desktop and from d:\ to partition on 500gb.

into system tools:

delete partitions remaining partition on 500b

delete partitions on the 15gb.

Bad idea -- there's a good chance those devices will get infected upon insertion.

But if you insist on taking this route, make sure you disable Autorun and Windows Script Host on the infected machine before connecting any external storage device.

[bangkokburning]

Right, they will get infected but I will copy al the files - then delete the partition = nothing can live o that drive(s) no?

I'm in process of DL Mint. I will do as you have instructed but can you help me out here -

Can I reformat all these in Unix and they will be seen in Windows? Reformat in Windows and then clean up the mess ..by copying for back.up????

[Supernova]

Supernova - so I could copy all my files to the computer. Boot from the disk (iso) that disk and do a copy...

Does Mint allow me to reformat an external that can be seen in Windows (easily)?

So I could reformat in Linux. Reload XP and copy ..without concern of virus or malware??

Yes.

The live cd has everything you need.

Use GParted (Mint menu > Administration) to manage partitions.

[bangkokburning]

OK, I will wait for the DL to complete, its not so fast and burn the iso.

I will then copy all files to a newly formatted drive in Linux from C and D and the insert the flashdrive and copy that as well.

I will then reformat all drives except her C drive in Linux

Next, I will reinstall XP to C

Plan?

[Supernova]

^ Yep, that's it.

Just remember to select NTFS (filesystem) when formatting with GParted.

[Supernova]

GParted - Full tutorial - There's a lot of information presented here, some of it relevant and irrelevant to what you're trying to do -- which is a simple reformat.

This will give you a better understanding of how to use the software.

[bangkokburning]

Hey sorry - will I have to locate gparted or is it default when presumably I click on whatever to reformat. In other words, do I need to locate gparted then do the part/format or is it just there?

On another note - and I won't drag this out...I've been seriously thinking about moving to linux for awhile. I am worried about wireless connection and to tether my mobile to computer (in this case a nokia) - also the biggie and why I always decide against it - no iTunes.

I'm thinking about setting up a dual boot system and just using w7 start for itunes. How much disk space does a Unix OS generally need? Is setting up dual boot easy?

Do you love Mint or is this just flavor you are recommending for my immediate needs?

I'm looking at distrowatch.com now...pretty clueless bout Unix. Should have learned it years ago, just lazy.

Thanks for all the help.

[Supernova]

Hey sorry - will I have to locate gparted or is it default when presumably I click on whatever to reformat. In other words, do I need to locate gparted then do the part/format or is it just there?

You need to use GParted.

Mint menu > Administration > GParted (Gnome Partition Editor)

[Supernova]

On another note - and I won't drag this out...I've been seriously thinking about moving to linux for awhile. I am worried about wireless connection and to tether my mobile to computer (in this case a nokia) - also the biggie and why I always decide against it - no iTunes.

Support for wireless is a bit dodgy. Works for some, not for others. YMMV.

I'm thinking about setting up a dual boot system and just using w7 start for itunes. How much disk space does a Unix OS generally need? Is setting up dual boot easy?

A Mint/Ubuntu installation uses < 5GB disk space. However, you may want to allocate at least 10GB ~ 15GB for obvious reasons. Setting up dualboot is a piece of cake.

Do you love Mint or is this just flavor you are recommending for my immediate needs?

Just the first thing that came to mind.

I dualboot Windows 7 and Linux Mint Debian (LMDE).

[bangkokburning]

Thanks. I don't know how to read that smiley wink but I thank you. I am totally bewildered by all the flavors and then there are variations on those as well...

My DL will complete in 12mns. Thanks for your help SuperNova.

[Supernova]

With Linux, you can actually test a given distro *without* having to install it. That's what the Live CD is for. Also, you don't need to worry about antivirus or firewall.

[bangkokburning]

Thanks. I have the DL and burned it to DVD. Forgot I need some sort of boot files....Nero ROM recognized it and I THOUGHT would burn bootable disc - evidently not. Been toying with it..It does not allow me to select DVD/iso and DVD. When I add file - kicks me out. Frustrating sure! ALL I have are DVDs. Nero ROM7 on her computer.

Yeah, there are huge pluses for linux and I will look hard at the LiveCd when the impending disaster has passed. Even have Aurora for the EEPCs. Wireles, itunes, tethering...Idont need much but I really need it.

[bangkokburning]

Hope you are still with me. I DL a different software to burn the iso. The disc still wont boot but does auto run and I get a popup dialog (IN THAI!). 3 buttons and a bottom button. If I run this from here will it install to the C drive or &lt;deleted&gt;???

Appears to have burned the iso disc correct for booting. Do I need to mess with the bios perhaps???

What a headache...

[Supernova]

The ISO is bootable.

If using Nero, select "Burn Image to Disc".

[Supernova]

Make sure CD/DVD is the default boot device in the BIOS.

[Supernova]

Can't get Nero to work?

Burn ISO Images with ImgBurn

[bangkokburning]

HEY! Im writing to you now via Mint running of the optical drive :-) yea!!

OK, the first burn job ws no good, my bad. Second there was an error with the burning sw. Did not complete correctly. BUT...other issues (fyi), I did not set the ios correctly, went back and saw the error. I had to exclude the HDD (this acer is really funky). BUT IM UP!!!

OK - so I format a drive, copy all our photos to that drive, reformat all the others drives in linux...

Reload the operating sytems on both drives, reformat thedrives for Windows and the copy back as I need.

???

Man, I so love the Unix look. I was so envious of the workstation operators when I worked in IT. Big Sun workstation and me with my 486 running W98.

I have some directions for making a usb boot but am lost with these diections (for mint6)

@terminal type:

sudo su

apt-get install

usb creator

Nothing. But seems to crap out on the last comand (listening to the drive at least). UNABLE TO LOCATE PACKAGE

WIRELESS no less and up in minutes - I love it :-))

[Supernova]

Whatever you do, don't format the wrong drive. But yeah, all you gotta do now is move your data off the infected drive...

Using GParted, refer this guide if there's something you don't understand.

BTW, I haven't actually got around to doing USB boot, so I can't comment on that.

[bangkokburning]

Thanks - your the hero. The USB thing is pretty messy. All sorts of solutions on the internet - none really work. Running of the CD doesn't help either I suppose.

So I did myfirst GPart. Great - did not know I could format to FAT32/NTFS

THANKS!!!!!!!