[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] an issue

Drew King dking65 at kingconsulting.us
Tue Nov 14 12:19:54 PST 2023


Agree,

I have a 1 TB drive, so giving system restore the ability to go back 2 
weeks is golden.

I create a new restore point before doing anything with my computer.


Drew.


On 11/14/2023 3:17 PM, Robert Primak wrote:
> I like to have as many Restore Points as I can put into Windows. The 
> reason is, I might have to restore to a point up to a month ago, which 
> was my last Macrium Reflect System Full Backup time. Between full 
> image snapshots
> I do not trust anything in Windows to remain stable and "unimproved".
>
> Given the amount of software my system typical carries, and the fact 
> that some data also live onboard for everyday use, I allow several 
> gigabytes on my system drive for Restore Points in Windows 11. This is 
> probably vast overkill, but it's only a few percent of a 1TB SSD, and 
> it doesn't slow the system or hamper the speed of making a full system 
> backup (5 to 10 mins typically in my system, and about as much time 
> for the Verify step). You should probably also have at least one extra 
> copy of your system backups, on a separate external drive.
>
> I definitely back up my system before the Patch Tuesday monthly 
> Windows Updates. This is not just a Restore Point.
>
> A backup without Verification may surprise you in a very bad way. 
> Always verify system backups. And back up data separately and more 
> frequently than the system.
>
> But circling back to Restore points, do you really want only between 
> one and three? Are you THAT confident in Windows and software updates?
>
> More than three Restore Points might be overkill. And the default 
> value once System Restore is turned on may exceed that capacity. So 
> feel free to reset the maximum amount of disk space allowed for 
> Restore Points with the slider. You'll know if you undershoot. Better 
> yet, have a system drive on an SSD with plenty of capacity. 
> "Overprovisioning" in this way can improve the longevity of an SSD.
>
>
> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 02:45:03 PM EST, 
> <jjrudy1 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> I have 11 and the restore points are set, but a huge amount of space 
> is devoted to it so when I went to the Geek Squad to solve my malware 
> issue they reduced the space.
>
> John
>
> *From:* Drew King (dking65 at kingconsulting.us) <dking65 at kingconsulting.us>
> *Sent:* Saturday, November 11, 2023 1:47 AM
> *To:* Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com>; Robert Primak via LCTG 
> <lctg at lists.toku.us>; 'Smita Desai' <smitausa at gmail.com>; 'Adam Broun' 
> <abroun at gmail.com>; jjrudy1 at comcast.net
> *Cc:* 'Lex Computer Group' <lctg at lists.toku.us>
> *Subject:* Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] an issue
>
> This reminds me about System restore points.
>
> Your computer should if it is enabled periodically create restore 
> points that will allow you to revert your computer back to that state 
> pre-virus or malware or adware or whatever it is.
>
> It's worth checking your system restore settings and look for a recent 
> system restore point that you can go back to. That will clear up the 
> problem absolutely.
>
> I haven't checked for myself but somebody told me that Windows 11 has 
> system restore disabled by default if that is the case then you would 
> want it enabled and make sure you make a periodic restore point.
>
> I make one before installing anything on my computer and it has gotten 
> me out of a jam more than once by allowing me to revert my system Back 
> to Before the time when the software was installed.
>
>
> -- 
> Drew King
>
> On November 11, 2023 12:34:48 AM EST, Robert Primak via LCTG 
> <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>     I think this is adware, not a true virus infection. Which makes it
>     easier to remove and keep it from coming back. But you will need
>     to run anything you choose to try in Windows Safe Mode. This is
>     necessary to stop any services which prevent the entire unwanted
>     package from being totally removed. Registry cleanup is a must as
>     well, because it's through Registry corruption that adware often
>     reinstalls itself.
>
>     If you can handle a little Command-Line action, restoring any
>     corrupted system files would be a good idea after the adware is
>     actually gone and does not come back.
>
>     The Command Line tools would be sfc/scannow and dism/restorehealth.
>
>     But let's try to remove the adware first.
>
>     Two options:
>
>     ADWCleaner from Malwarebytes: You can run this one from Windows
>     Safe Mode, and that would be better than running it in Windows
>     Normal Mode. This program specifically targets adware and browser
>     corruptions.
>
>     If anyone knows of a portable antivirus app, which can run
>     independently of a booted Windows OS, this would be the next step.
>
>     Windows Defender lets you run Windows Defender offline (WDO). It's
>     an advanced option under the Defender Scan Options. It should be
>     the bottom option. But this scan won't work on every computer, and
>     I never see it make a proper log which Defender can display.
>
>     Portable antivirus scanners can be put onto a USB flash drive, if
>     you have a way to make the flash drive bootable. RUFUS is one way,
>     and I think they allow you to create a boot drive with an AV
>     scanner and other tools included.
>
>     It's a little tricky getting into USB Boot under Windows 11 due to
>     new security keys required for USB boot devices. I have used
>     Ventoy to create flash drives with multiple CDs (ISOs) which will
>     boot and run their programs from USB. If one of these disk images
>     contains a good antivirus scanner, you can do the tool's database
>     update, ID the adware, remove it and clean up from outside of
>     Windows. Make any USB flash drive on a different computer from the
>     infected one.
>
>     If this does not clean up the infection, it's time to bite the
>     bullet and reinstall Windows. That may not work in extreme cases,
>     but a clean erase of the drive followed by reinstalling Windows
>     will in most cases produce a virus-free result. If you download
>     Windows 11 from Microsoft for a reinstall, be aware that you are
>     upgrading to the newest Fall Feature Update (23H2). RUFUS may
>     allow you to stick with 22H2 or whichever version you are on now.
>     Windows 10 does not have this issue.
>
>     I think ADWCleaner will root out this infection. It looks like
>     adware, and the browser is the most likely source of the trouble.
>     That makes this more of an adware infection than a true virus
>     situation. But you should try to get into Windows Safe Mode and
>     then run one of the group's recommendations, or some other
>     portable adware-targeting anti-malware tool.
>
>     -- Bob Primak
>
>     On Friday, November 10, 2023 at 05:03:43 PM EST, John Rudy via
>     LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>     I have rebooted twice
>
>     *From:*LCTG <lctg-bounces+jjrudy1=comcast.net at lists.toku.us> *On
>     Behalf Of *Smita Desai via LCTG
>     *Sent:* Friday, November 10, 2023 4:58 PM
>     *To:* Adam Broun <abroun at gmail.com>
>     *Cc:* Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>
>     *Subject:* Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] an issue
>
>     I would also reboot and keep disconnected from the internet.
>
>     Smita Desai
>
>     Sent from my iPhone
>
>         On Nov 10, 2023, at 4:08 PM, Adam Broun via LCTG
>         <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>         When do these messages appear?  Upon boot up?  After opening
>         a browser window? Other? That might narrow down where to look
>         (e.g in startup folder or registry,  browser settings, etc.
>
>             On Nov 10, 2023, at 15:59, palbin24 at yahoo.com wrote:
>
>             I’m reluctant to suggest major surgery and I hope someone
>             has a good idea
>
>             A middle ground might be reinstalling the OS. There are
>             tools from Microsoft and perhaps your computer vendor to
>             help. Wait to see if there are any other options before
>             going down this road.
>
>             Peter
>
>                 On Nov 10, 2023, at 3:47 PM, John Rudy via LCTG
>                 <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>                 
>
>                 They are back, so Malware Bytes didn’t do it.
>
>                 *From:*Adam Broun <abroun at gmail.com>
>                 *Sent:*Friday, November 10, 2023 3:39 PM
>                 *To:*jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>                 *Cc:*Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>
>                 *Subject:*Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] an issue
>
>                 Check the home page settings in your browser.  My
>                 guess is a script got triggered that put something
>                 funky in there.  And try running the inbuilt Windows
>                 virus scan.
>
>
>
>                     On Nov 10, 2023, at 15:27, John Rudy via LCTG
>                     <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>                     Starting this morning I began to receive these
>                     messages.  I assumed that they were a scam and I
>                     do not believe I have McAfee on my system.  I have
>                     not clicked on either t
>
>                     the Yes or No Thanks. But they are covering things
>                     up and I seem unable to get rid of them.
>
>                     I did close down mail and rebooted, but they are
>                     back.  Any thoughts?
>
>                     <image002.png>
>
>                     John Rudy
>
>                     781-861-0402
>
>                     781-718-8334 cell
>
>                     13 Hawthorne Lane
>
>                     Bedford MA
>
>                     jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>
>                     <image001.png>
>
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-- 
Drew King

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