Another strange problem

[geoscomp]

I have a customers machine here..little gateway desktop with Win ME on it..which boots into windows and seems to run fine EXCEPT...freezes on NAV scan and on online game play. Online virus scan found only JS Noclose virus in a temp file..which is a webpage redirector (sound familiar NooNoo? lol)..machine will not install anything..will not reinstall windows from the boot cd..starts to boot, then tries to replace files, then freezes..The odd thing is, all the files in the windows folder filenames have been replaced with a combination of random ASCI characters and lines. I am thinking this is a purposeful hack rather than a virus, since there are none of the typical sign of a virus in startup, etc. I suppose it is possible a klez variant did this, but given the three file sharing programs on this machine, I am begiining to wonder..any ideas?

[NooNoo]

The customer came into the chatroom? Or was it you in disguise!!

You run adaware on it yet? It will probably have a nervous breakdown... but you can then see whats going on.

[geoscomp]

I'd love to run adaware, but the machine won't install any programs..another odd thing is that there are three files in the windows folder that aren't renamed which all have the name roland.cor and no..neither the customer nor I have been to the chatroom today. Far as I know this is their only computer, and the person who does most with it is about 12 years old and not at home.

[grandam_99]

did you check the video card sometimes video card frezzes the system like this or memory(ram)

[confus-ed]

all the files in the windows folder filenames have been replaced with a combination of random ASCI characters and lines. I am thinking this is a purposeful hack rather than a virus

Well that looks like a virus to me... & if you can't install...

Time for FDISK.