Korean Job Discussion Forums

[the_beaver]

I had something similar once. I deleted through the add/remove programs thing. As I recall, it had the generic icon (looks like a computer and is the same one that windows updates have). The name seemed a little funny (different) but I can't recall exactly what it was.

[jazblanc77]

I'm sure you probably thought of this already but, are you doing all of this on the 'administrator' account?

Try running windows again in 'safe mode', make sure you select the 'administrator' account, and run hijackthis again with the fix. Once you are finished, run a search and delete and msconfig.exe files that you find. All of the bad files will have the description 'test1 module' associated with them in the 'details' window of windows explorer. It wouldn't be a bad thing to run spybot at this time too and delete any of the registry items associated with those files.

When you reboot, hopefully your problem will disappear.

As for windows messenger, you can get rid of it using Tuneup Utilities 2004.

[Draven]

[Demophobe]

Draven, I am not preaching here, but....

You have to get a legit copy of windows if you are going to use Internet explorer. all of the security flaws in woindows are via this program. It is so wrapped up with all of the OS, that when you let it loose on the net, you are opening up your entire system to the net as well.

Reformat, reinstall and use Mozilla with a good firewall and anti-virus.

Or, just fess up and buy Windows. I use a lot of pirated software, but my copy of Windows is legit...300 painful dollars legit, but I have NEVER had the kinds of problems I see from your post, and thousands of others who can't keep their windows closed through updates because it's a pirate copy.

Heck, use Windows 2000...no activation, and there are 4 handy service packs out with no worries if it's copied or legit.

Anyways, you have a major exploit on your system that could have come from any one of 1000 holes that have been patched via updates in the last 2 years.

You honestly shouldn't be surprised you have a problem, nor surprised that you can't mend it.

Personally, I would have just formatted my OS partition and got on with living.

No disrespect intended at all Draven...just speaking frankly because I am a bit tired.

Good luck mate!

[The Lemon]

[Thunndarr]

Updating pirated windows is possible, and, for that matter, is not that difficult. Just do a search on changing serial number or something like that.

Edit: Yeah, do what Lemon says.

[Draven]

[Demophobe]

Yes, you only need to buy the "Upgrade" version...it costs a bit less and will ask you for a previous copy of Windows to "verify" that you were a legitimate Windows user before, and this really is an "upgrade". Easy to fool. You just stick in a copy (any copy) of a previous version of Windows. You do have an old copy of '95, '98 or 2000? After the installer recognizes it as an old Windows product, you just carry on normally.

The "Upgrade" versiaon does NOT let you choose languages. Windows comes in a given language, and this cannot be chosen or changed.

If you decide to buy it, you will need the English version of it. As far as I remember, it was a bit tough to find. I had my parents send me a copy from Canada, just to be on the safe and easy side.

My rationale for buying Windows was this: It's the heart of everything I do on my system. The OS needs to be safe, stable, secure and especially with MS....updateable.

Honestly, the OS is almost the only thing I DID buy as far as software goes. It just seemed like the easiest thing to do and at $300, it weas an investment. I knew this OS was going to last me a few years, so at about $12 per month (average), it's cheap.

Anyways, I still contend that the easiest way to keep your Windows trouble-free is to not use Internet Explorer. I tell people this all the time, and it's true.

Use Mozilla. It's free, imports all of your IE favorites automatically, is just as fast if not faster and very, very secure when compared to IE. There are very few web pages, although there are some, that don't display correctly using mozilla. I have come across 2 or 3 a year. No big deal.

Http://www.mozilla.org

[Thunndarr]

I'm not really sure if this would be the greatest time to upgrade to XP though... I thought that the 64 bit edition was pretty much around the corner. It might make sense to wait for that before doing a legit upgrade if it's not too far off.

[jazblanc77]

IMHO, the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit isn't that big of a deal. For one, there aren't even many 64 bit programmes out there AND anyways, CPU speeds haven't even come close to catching up with 64 bit. 64 bit is extremely powerful and very few people in the world actually need this kind of power. Don't worry about 64 bit, it's just part of the bigger is better mentality of technology consumerism and nothing more.

Buy youre 32 bit OS and be happily on your way.

[Thunndarr]

Well, in my opinion, it's better to wait a couple months (in this case) and buy the latest operating system than shelling out money for a 3 year old operating system that will soon become obselete. It's not about whether you need the power or not, it's just money better spent.


If you absolutely need to update, just pirate the serial number and then do an update. Salve your conscience later buy buying the 64 bit edition if you want.

Edit: Windows 64-bit will be released in 2005, so that's about 6 months wait. And here's a link if you'd like to read about it.


http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/0,39020645,2134437,00.htm

[Draven]

[Demophobe]