Sogna Digital Museum Forum

Non-Sogna/VIPER Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 07:12:37 pm

Title: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 07:12:37 pm
A while back, my computer was having a problem. It would tell me that LSA Shell (Export Version) had an error and must be closed. A few minutes later, a new box would pop up with a one-minute timer, saying that because of an error in lsass.exe (which is somehow connected to LSA Shell) NT/Authority was shutting my computer down in one minute.

I fixed this problem after much frustration when Hyperguy linked me to trendmicro's Housecall site. I ran the scanner on the site and it cleaned the problem up. However, for whatever mysterious reason, the error has returned with a vengeance. Before, I had half an hour or so before the error would occur. Now, it occurs the minute my desktop resolves after I turn the computer on, giving me maybe 2 minutes of time to do anything with it before it shuts down. This occurs both in normal mode and safe mode.

I need to fix this somehow. Since I have no time to run any sort of programs or access anything on the internet, I need something that can be run from safe mode, via CD. Until I fix this problem, it will be a hindrance on my efforts in school (I need my computer to do programming assignments) and on my participation in this site and RO. So, if anyone could help, I'd appreciate it.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Meat on August 12, 2006, 07:26:49 pm
I had a similar problem some time ago.  Luckily, my Norton Antivirus was able to delete the damn thing(I think it said it was a virus).  If your antivirus program isn't able to deal with it, maybe this trick can buy you some time(like, a year's worth) to look for a cure.

(http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8981/epicmanueverig5.gif)


image courtesy of http://epicxp.ytmnd.com/

Basically, you have to change your computer's clock back one year after the countdown starts.  I hope this helps.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 07:33:36 pm
Yeah, it ought to. Just hope I remember to set the clock forward again later. I'm hoping that housecall will be able to ace it again, so I won't have to go buy Norton (my roommates all said that too, but I don't have Norton on my computer).

EDIT: It worked. I have 364 days of time. However, the machine is running reaaaaaalllly sloooooow.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Ellendesu on August 12, 2006, 07:43:10 pm
Oh for the love of Pete man, go get AVG Free Edition or something, quick fixes only harm the PC more in the long run.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 07:44:03 pm
I have AVG, and it's not finding ANYTHING. It says I'm squeaky clean.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Ellendesu on August 12, 2006, 07:52:49 pm
Download standalone cleanup utlities for the following from Symantec.com

Klez
NetSky
MSBlast
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 08:06:37 pm
Alright. Setting the clock back slowed everything down so much (and actually prevented me from running Trillian or accessing some of my forums) so I just let it go. I'm gonna see if I can burn these to disc and run them from safe mode.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: tetsaru arigashi on August 12, 2006, 09:21:22 pm
i guess you could do a system restore if you had a fairly recent restore point to go to...

...or there's always the final option of "nuking" your hard drive...  >_<;

i've got AVG too, and i guess it's okay - i haven't really had many problems.  i've also got Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE, which does a pretty good job of finding spyware and other crap on your computer.  that's about all i can suggest, as i'm not too keen about all the critical system files and how to properly maintain them in the event of a virus infection.  =/
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 10:14:28 pm
My system restore has been off since the last time I fixed this thing. There's no restore point to go back to. As far as nuking the harddrive, I could do that right now without hesitation. Everything on it that I want or need is burned to disc or hosted somewhere on the internet. The problem with doing that is I have no CDs with which to restore the system to it's original, factory setting. I'd have to have them mailed to me (a week at most) or send it away to have IBM re-set it (a couple weeks). I could take it to the Information Technology Services department on campus, see if they can fix it, but I'm told that could take a full month. I don't have this kind of time.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Kiinan Yamasu on August 12, 2006, 10:42:30 pm
Ad-Aware? SPY STORMER IS BETTER =O
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 10:45:17 pm
No one spyware program is gonna catch every little thing. I use several in conjunction with each other, just to be sure I'm clean. Let's not go bashing people over their spyware programs.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Ellendesu on August 12, 2006, 11:02:11 pm
Tch. Whatever, Spyware this, Virus that, it would be solved easily if people would switch to Macintosh but NOOO the developers wanna make EVERYTHING for Windows.

What a bunch of fuckheads.

I use Spybot by the way, it seems to keep me in ShipShape.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 12, 2006, 11:03:05 pm
Spybot + Adaware combo for me. I tried your 3 tools, they turned up nothing.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 13, 2006, 12:47:12 pm
So...does anyone else have any good suggestions? The ITS department here at school isn't open until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning and my computer is getting worse every time I try to boot it up and figure something out. =(
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: elevator_kart on August 13, 2006, 01:16:05 pm
I've seen this problem in almost every computer in the University that I'm studying in.

I'm not sure if this could fix the problem but you could install Windows in another drive and format the old drive that had this problem
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 13, 2006, 01:26:51 pm
I don' know how I'd do that though. Also my typing cursor seems to be randomly stopping and fucking up the letters.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: tetsaru arigashi on August 13, 2006, 07:38:10 pm
hmm...  i dunno man, it seems like you should just go ahead and initiate function Ctrl-Alt-Delete Hard Drive to me if it's screwing up THAT badly.  if you don't have your original Windows disks, i guess you could always borrow one from a friend or your school.  at my college, the library often has software you can rent out for a while.  and if it's not up to date, i guess you could always go to microsoft's website and download whatever updates you need.  i know time is an issue for you, but that's about the quickest way i know to get everything fixed, unless you know someone who's REALLY computer-savvy.  =/
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 13, 2006, 08:01:39 pm
I used the clock trick to get to housecall. It finished, but for some reason wouldn't fully load the results page so I could remove everything. I'll check the library out tomorrow, but first I'll take it to ITS.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Qwerty1 on August 16, 2006, 10:27:15 pm
Oh, shit. You got the Clev worm or however it's spelled. Heh. It's a bitch, man.

Service Pack 2 takes care of it, but if you have it when you install, it may or may not remove it. Can't remember how to get rid of it, but it takes a long time. I'd back up and format, then *before getting on the Internet(!)* not even to any website including Microsoft.com, install SP2. Then you're good to go.

These guys will tell you how to get rid of it, but you might have to wait for them to contact you if you. Might take two or three days at most. http://www.castlecops.com/forums.html

I could start you out, but might as well get the info with links to the removal tools from there.

Good luck! :)
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Ellendesu on August 17, 2006, 12:44:31 am
Klez!
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 17, 2006, 11:50:11 pm
I tried to install Service Pack 2 and it got halfway done, said "Access is Denied", then undid everything it had just done trying to install Service Pack 2. At that point, I was like "fuck it" and went to ITS.

HOWEVER, the guys at ITS havent' done shit to it. I went there today to find out how much progress had been made (I need my laptop back by Wednesday next week) and found them playing cards.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Qwerty1 on August 18, 2006, 12:31:25 am
Too bad. :(
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: tetsaru arigashi on August 18, 2006, 12:40:55 am
i still think you should've nuked the hard drive...  it's a painful process, but it seems to work most of the time.  =/
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 18, 2006, 12:42:42 am
"Too bad" is the understatement of the year.

Tetsaru: I'd have done it if I had any way to do it. I don't have anything with which to clear the harddrive and re-install Windows XP Professional on it.
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: Snorlax.RAYZR on August 18, 2006, 01:00:41 am
 I had these annoying Software Distribution Service 2.0 problems a while back...


Nothing like a good format. xD
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: tetsaru arigashi on August 18, 2006, 01:28:33 am
I'd have done it if I had any way to do it. I don't have anything with which to clear the harddrive and re-install Windows XP Professional on it.

waitaminute, how can you NOT be able to format your hard drive??  even if you don't have Windows on your computer, i think you can still go to your basic operating system when you start up your computer and access a drive format option, can't you?  the times i've ever had to format a computer, i always had some help, so i don't remember the exact method on how to do it, but i highly doubt a virus could penetrate into your BIOS...

also, did you check your campus's library for any Windows CD's you could use?
Title: Re: Computer Trouble
Post by: ROMate on August 18, 2006, 12:46:48 pm
Library doesn't have 'em, ITS does. ITS isn't going to release my computer to me still broken (at least I don't think they will).