Heeeelp!

[starrylizard]

I stayed home today to work from home on my thesis. So far though, I've spent the morning and some of the afternoon installing anti-virus/spyware/adware updates and trying to find the evil that has infected my laptop.

Okay, my laptop computer has something going on such that I can't type in word. I type a meaningful sentence and instead what comes out is "n 8hfg hfhr9876 jdfheo7" etc.

I'm assuming from my tiny computer knowledge that this is some sort of Macrovirus that is affecting word, but I really have no idea.

I've run my virus scanner (Norton antivirus), as well as updated my ad-aware SE, Spyware Blaster and Spybot search programs. Spybot picked up 18 random things and Ad-aware killed some cookies, but my Word program is still stuffed.

Anyone know what else I can do? Is there a particular file in the word program that this "thing" must be inhabiting? Might narrow my search.

Is there a program that searches Word for virus programs? Something like that.

I'm so frustrated, I was really all systems go - gonna get this damn chapter fixed up and ready, and now I can't do anything.

I could move the files I'm working on to this computer, but I'm too afraid I'll just infect it too.

*HEAD DESK*

Help! Please!

Comments

[lark_ascends]

Have you got disks there for microsoft office? If so, nuke office, and reinstall. Because that, is just plain whacked.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Ah I do, but it's a different version. I have student, whereas the one previously installed was from work. Do you think it makes a difference if I reinstall a different version? They're both XP. I'll lose some programs I guess. I could ask the guy at work to reinstall the full one for me. :(

[lark_ascends]

It might have some slightly different programs, but word should be there. I'd suggest if you want to get work done today, reinstall with the student version you've got, and then get the guy at work to install the full one later.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

*nods* Sounds reasonable. *sigh*

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

You can also try cleaning out your macros. I forget where they are offhand in MS Word, but there will be a place where you can setup your macros. If it is a macro 'virus', because it isn't a virus in the true computer-virus sense, it isn't really kill-able using anti-viral software. (And yeah, this is *one* type of problem that can happen on a Mac running MS Word too, btw).

If this is the problem, literally erasing each macro should do the trick.

An alternative to consider is to export your document as text-only, then grab a really good Open Source application such as NeoOffice (which is MS Word in Open Source code), and import. That *should* get rid of any icky macro bits. Also, you'll probably find that apps like NeoOffice work as good or better than the expensive commercial ones. And they're *free*. :-) Really!

*hugs my Open Source apps!*

The all-time best-ever documentation app, though, is FrameMaker. Unfortunately, TPTB at Adobe decided to nuke it on the Mac side some time ago, so it is only available on the PC side at the moment. Fantastic application -- very stable. Can do wondrous things without ever once pulling the type of crap that MS Word is justifiably famous for. ;-)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Umm, seems more widespread than just word now. I tried using the search function in a folder and had the same issues.

I may need to reinstall windows or something if I can't find the bugger. Calling work to see if I can get a hold of an IT guy. This si so frustrating.

Thanks

[reedfem.livejournal.com]

Did you try system restore? Pick a date a couple weeks ago, before you noticed any problems. Not sure if that will help, but I don't think it will hurt.

Also, try running your scanners while in safe mode, they sometimes catch more things that way.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

I can't use safe mode on my computer, Last time I tried about a year ago my computer got stuck in a loop and the IT guy had to remove the harddrive and do something to make it restart. :(

How do I system restore?

[reedfem.livejournal.com]

XP, right?

Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)