It all started on Monday when i came home from work and opened my brand new laptop i had just purchased for 1,500 bucks about a month before.
I start setting up to play FFXI, however, when i went to the "Select Character" screen, i got a pop up that said POL had an error and needed to restart. WELL, i restarted and still it wouldnt work, and kept giving me the same error.
Then i remembered that my Zone Security anti-virus software had expired...
So i had my co-worker load AVG 7.0 anti-virus and it found a virus and a trojan already in my computer. It said it deleted them, so i tried getting back on FFXI, but to no avail. Then i was told i should probably delete POL and all of FFXI off my harddrive. And so, painfully, i did.
But guess what
It now refuses to load back on.
Please help me out. Im just a helpless girl that hardly knows much beyond art, music and her Tarutaru. ;_; Any help would be greatly appriciated <3
EDIT -
Ok, so i did a System Restore for October 3rd, a week before i got the effects of the virus.
Now, its saying that POL doesnt have the data required to start Play online. Should i try reinstalling?
Edited, Fri Oct 14 16:01:23 2005 by sabasian
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Help a girl out! I got a virus ;_;Follow
I sure hope this ends better than my initial experience did. Here goes....
( ._.)> the operative question is; did you right-click and "delete" the FFXI folder or did you use Add/Remove Hardware?
If you used the right-click method, as I did on my first computer, you may not be able to re-install FFXI at all. ><; Other than that, I know very little. Is the virus gone?
( ._.)> the operative question is; did you right-click and "delete" the FFXI folder or did you use Add/Remove Hardware?
If you used the right-click method, as I did on my first computer, you may not be able to re-install FFXI at all. ><; Other than that, I know very little. Is the virus gone?
Do a system restore, its the only way I think at this point.
Nah i used the add/remove feature so slowly remove ffxi, pol and all expansions.
And well, AVG SAID they got rid of the virus and fixed it.. but im still getting effects as if it were still there, so i duno exactly.
And well, AVG SAID they got rid of the virus and fixed it.. but im still getting effects as if it were still there, so i duno exactly.
#5REDACTED,
Posted: Oct 14 2005 at 1:16 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) My advice would be to close your legs and be more fastidious when it comes to clientele.
AVG is a great virus program because its FREE, but it is by no means the best.
If you're having a serious problem, consider buying a virus protection suite like Nortons Internet Security. They're worth it. (especially since you're having a problem).
Also, pop ups generally aren't viruses, but spyware/adware.
Download Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoft.com)
and Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html?tag=lst-0-1)
These should get rid of any spyware and adware.
If you're having a serious problem, consider buying a virus protection suite like Nortons Internet Security. They're worth it. (especially since you're having a problem).
Also, pop ups generally aren't viruses, but spyware/adware.
Download Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoft.com)
and Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html?tag=lst-0-1)
These should get rid of any spyware and adware.
Wow, if you dont happen to like my post, then pass over it and leave me alone. Im having enough problems as it is. Stop trying to start something. Im just trying to ask for help from people that are kind enough to say something worth reading.
Quote:
These should get rid of any spyware and adware.
Im dont think its spyware, it was one of those popups/alerts from windows saying POL found an error and needs to shut down. That sort of thing.
But thank you for the links, ill check into it anyways.
Did a flame get deleted or something? I've seen nothing but people offering advice or sharing their own experiences in the matter. Anyways, try going to control panel, then Add or Remove Programs. Remove FFXI and its expansions if you believe they've been hit by a virus. Afterwards, run a full scan with AVG or whatever antivirus package you like. Finally, reinstall FFXI and the expansions and brace yourself for some massive update downloading ; ;
SpinShark wrote:
Quote:
Help a girl out! I got a virus ;_;
My advice would be to close your legs and be more fastidious when it comes to clientele.
And, most importantly, stop with the stupid fuc[i][/i]king faces, and the playing of the "girl card" on the internet.
Sounds like someones teddy bear isn't on speaking terms anymore. Try your pillow pal.
Saba,
I would also reccomend booting into safe mode and running AVG, ad-aware, spybot, all that good stuff. You can catch more in safe mode than not.
Also, if you have a friend that is proficient with PCs, have them download and run Hijack this. It will help see what is running on your PC and such, and help to remove virus's from starting up, as well as browser hijacks and the like.
I would also reccomend booting into safe mode and running AVG, ad-aware, spybot, all that good stuff. You can catch more in safe mode than not.
Also, if you have a friend that is proficient with PCs, have them download and run Hijack this. It will help see what is running on your PC and such, and help to remove virus's from starting up, as well as browser hijacks and the like.
Quote:
Did a flame get deleted or something?
Yes, it did. Sorry about my post.
And anyways, i did everything you said to do, its just that its not letting me reinstall everything back on. I get a networking error from POL, as if the update from yesterday is still going on.
17 posts
if it a new laptop and you dont have much on it and still kant get ff to instal consider reformating the pc and starting all over.i dont recomend this unless you know something about it,but maybe this will help you.
The only thing I can think of, is a similar problem when I first started playing FFXI. I couldn't start up the game because it kept giving me an error. When I called a GM and asked them what was wrong we went through a list of things until he asked me "Is your Graphics Card integrated into your motherboard?" Well it was, and he told me that FFXI won't run on such cards and that I had to buy a new one. So it cost me 150 bucks to play a game that I bought for 30.
Don't really know if this helps but this is the closest situation I know about. I've deleted my share of bugs and such from my computer and never once have I had one that interferes with my game play. Could be that whatever this is was in your computer from the beginning, in which case a serious heart to heart talk with your provider is in order.
Don't really know if this helps but this is the closest situation I know about. I've deleted my share of bugs and such from my computer and never once have I had one that interferes with my game play. Could be that whatever this is was in your computer from the beginning, in which case a serious heart to heart talk with your provider is in order.
Its never too good to announce you're a girl on the internet.. but..yeah.. as someone said before me, system restore should work lol =)
[ffxivsig]346334[/ffxivsig]
Mecorx - Ifrit 75WAR/75WHM [Retired]
Mecorx - Odin 99WAR/99WHM/99DNC [Retired]
Mecorx - Ifrit 75WAR/75WHM [Retired]
Mecorx - Odin 99WAR/99WHM/99DNC [Retired]
Either use a system restore point, or just reformat your entire machine. It doesnt seem like you have alot of data to lose, so I would start asking friends to reformat the harddrive for you, reload Windows, and reinstall FFXI from scratch. Sounds painful, because it is.
If you manage to restore your machine however, good for you.
If you manage to restore your machine however, good for you.
I agree. You've just purchased it so there can't be anything terribly important on your HDD yet. Best to do a system restore, get a good anti-virus proggy and a software firewall. Might also want to try microsoft's antispyware that you can DL from their site.
As far as the window - that's one of those system error windows where it says it has a problem with appcompat.txt etc when you click the tech info. Not to much you can do about this.
Try the following:
Open Windows Explorer and go to C:\windows
In the top bar go to extras > folder options > view (I'm using german xp ;) )
UNcheck the box that says hide contents of system folders and say yes.
Then Check the box that says show all hidden files and folders
Check Show contents of system folders.
Close all that and go back to c:\windows
Find a folder called prefetch. Delete everything in this folder.
Check if there's a folder called MiniDump. If there is, delete everything in it.
Also check the Temp folder and delete everything in it.
Now go to c:\documents and settings\"your login name here"\Local Settings\Temp and delete everything in that folder. You may get a message saying access denied for one or more of the tmp files in there so just leave those alone and delete all the ones you can.
Then restart your pc and try again.
---TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK---
Click start button
click run...
type in regedit and hit enter
The registry window will be open.
Double Click Hkey_Local_Machine
Double Click Software
Scroll down on the left and see if you can find a "folder" called PlayOnlineUS. If it's there click PlayOnlineUS once. Press the Delete key to delte the key.
Go to File > Exit
That will delete the POL information from the registry incase it's still there.
Using the registry editor can be dangerous. If you follow the above steps you won't hurt anything.
Let us know what happened.
As far as the window - that's one of those system error windows where it says it has a problem with appcompat.txt etc when you click the tech info. Not to much you can do about this.
Try the following:
Open Windows Explorer and go to C:\windows
In the top bar go to extras > folder options > view (I'm using german xp ;) )
UNcheck the box that says hide contents of system folders and say yes.
Then Check the box that says show all hidden files and folders
Check Show contents of system folders.
Close all that and go back to c:\windows
Find a folder called prefetch. Delete everything in this folder.
Check if there's a folder called MiniDump. If there is, delete everything in it.
Also check the Temp folder and delete everything in it.
Now go to c:\documents and settings\"your login name here"\Local Settings\Temp and delete everything in that folder. You may get a message saying access denied for one or more of the tmp files in there so just leave those alone and delete all the ones you can.
Then restart your pc and try again.
---TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK---
Click start button
click run...
type in regedit and hit enter
The registry window will be open.
Double Click Hkey_Local_Machine
Double Click Software
Scroll down on the left and see if you can find a "folder" called PlayOnlineUS. If it's there click PlayOnlineUS once. Press the Delete key to delte the key.
Go to File > Exit
That will delete the POL information from the registry incase it's still there.
Using the registry editor can be dangerous. If you follow the above steps you won't hurt anything.
Let us know what happened.
So far, reformating sounds like my best bet i suppose, since my laptop is rather new and i havent loaded it with stuff yet. I just hope that virus isnt hiding somewhere and lurking to come back out and corrupt more data when i get everything set back up. ;_;
Thank you for your help everyone! I really appriciate it!
Thank you for your help everyone! I really appriciate it!
I hate Norton with a passion. FYI, previous versions of norton actually contained spyware of their own. While newer versions don't, I will never forgive a company that pulled that crap under the guise of protecting the ignorant. I personally recommend Freedom internet security. Been a loyal user for the past 3 years. Never had a pop-up, never had a virus, and it's got a pretty comprehensive bundled firewall available as well (if you don't like SP2's).
A bit of information for suckers with ad-ware and spyware.
I have been using mozilla firefox for the past 3 years or so, and I have never once got a virus or spyware. Delete your ineternet explorer icon from your startmenu, from your desktop ect. Never open IE, never ever. If it opens due to another program opening it, close it.
Do this, and your computer should run in top condition.
Also, be smart about which programs you download. Many free programs now adays are bundled with spyware, especially limewire, kazaa, ect.
Good luck with your problem though.
I have been using mozilla firefox for the past 3 years or so, and I have never once got a virus or spyware. Delete your ineternet explorer icon from your startmenu, from your desktop ect. Never open IE, never ever. If it opens due to another program opening it, close it.
Do this, and your computer should run in top condition.
Also, be smart about which programs you download. Many free programs now adays are bundled with spyware, especially limewire, kazaa, ect.
Good luck with your problem though.
IE works just fine. For those of you that want an alternative, go nuts, get Firefox or another alternative. But don't complain that Adware and Spyware are caused by IE, because it's bullsh[/i]it.
The biggest enemy you have to face with Spyware/Adware is [i]yourself. Be intelligent about what you download, open, expose and you should have few problems.
Don't make Malware into a browser war, use what you like to use. I'm so sick of people saying stupid crap that equates to: "OMFG NUKE IE AND DOWNLOAD FIREFOX NOW!! IT R TEH ONLY BROWSER YOU CAN USE!"
Edited, Fri Oct 14 15:01:44 2005 by Stunted
The biggest enemy you have to face with Spyware/Adware is [i]yourself. Be intelligent about what you download, open, expose and you should have few problems.
Don't make Malware into a browser war, use what you like to use. I'm so sick of people saying stupid crap that equates to: "OMFG NUKE IE AND DOWNLOAD FIREFOX NOW!! IT R TEH ONLY BROWSER YOU CAN USE!"
Edited, Fri Oct 14 15:01:44 2005 by Stunted
#22REDACTED,
Posted: Oct 14 2005 at 1:57 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Spin, your other posts were funny but this pissed me off. I WAS GONNA PLAY THE WHOrE CARD >_>
Scholar
43 posts
Quote:
When I called a GM and asked them what was wrong we went through a list of things until he asked me "Is your Graphics Card integrated into your motherboard?" Well it was, and he told me that FFXI won't run on such cards and that I had to buy a new one.
That isn't true. I play on a laptop a lot of the time. My laptop has integrated graphics. I run an mobility radeon 9000 IGP. It's not your top the the line chipset, but it works well for ffxi.
I'm not even sure if this helps. I just saw that in your post and wanted to correct the info the GM gave you.
Do try a System Restore, it might well work. That feature of WinXP is surprisingly useful. Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore
I'd also definitely consider doing what Skycatcher suggested, that's a good post and there's some smart information in it. It could be that the virus is gone and FFXI has been uninstalled, but that a registry entry is making your computer think that you still have the game on the hard drive. In which case, deleting the entry should fix the problem.
Good luck!
Edited, Fri Oct 14 15:24:33 2005 by midnightjade
I'd also definitely consider doing what Skycatcher suggested, that's a good post and there's some smart information in it. It could be that the virus is gone and FFXI has been uninstalled, but that a registry entry is making your computer think that you still have the game on the hard drive. In which case, deleting the entry should fix the problem.
Good luck!
Edited, Fri Oct 14 15:24:33 2005 by midnightjade
Ok, so i did a System Restore for October 3rd, a week before i got the effects of the virus.
Now, its saying that POL doesnt have the data required to start Play online. Should i try reinstalling?
Now, its saying that POL doesnt have the data required to start Play online. Should i try reinstalling?
nuzin wrote:
Sounds like someones teddy bear isn't on speaking terms anymore. Try your pillow pal.
That wouldn't work. His mom would find out when she changed the sheets.
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