Self_Diagnose

Viruses have become so technically advanced that many of them are difficult for your Anti-virus software to detect.  Most of those are also difficult or impossible for the Anti-virus program to remove! The rest of them were probably already handled by your Anti-virus program so you don't know about each of those.
My intent with this page is to:
  • Save you money;
  • help you help yourself.
  • Limited training regarding Virus / Trojan / Malware infections
  • For help if you feel intimidated or overwhelmed.

Download:
 
This is used on every computer in my house & family:
 
I recomend getting the firewall, too. It will warn you when an attempt is made to send date out (call home).  You will be prompted for a "Allow" or "No". You will have to do some learning.  It has good help screens.

When WinPatrol is active, it will inform you of registry changes, all changes, good or bad, if the option is enabled.  You will find yourself busy with deciding Yes or No. (You can disable the feature.)

  • For most home users, I recommend you turn off this option.  The message pop-ups will scare you and you will not know when to click "no". 99% of what you see is normal operation... is okay. What's important is that this tool is already installed and ready to pull up reports if needed.
Note:
Newer viruses often disable your Anti-virus, and they block access to the tools we use to find and remove the virus. That will require my skills in the shop. To date, I have always been able to save personal data.

Install WinPatrol.
(You do not need the "Plus" version.)

I have no afiliation with WinPatrol! Download and install this free tool. WinPatrol is good to have on your machine before you have an infection so that you can send me the report as needed.

 I run WinPatrol on all my machines all the time. (WinPatrol does not defend you from viruses / Malware, etc. It simply notifies you of a change that could be suspect.)

  • If you are already infected, many viruses block you from installing this tool and many other tools.  If that is your situation, you already need me.
    • Be aware that other local businesess will not do what I do.  They only want to restore your machine or sell you a new one.  your data is either too costly to recover, or too expensive. I am not making a living at this. I only want to help you.
  • If you are already technically proficient with Windows. you will love this tool, and it might save you.
  • Otherwise, you can use this tool to build a report. Send it to me and I can analyze it for you, no charge.
  • If you bring your machine too me, WinPatrol is usually the 2nd or 3rd thing I do to assess the problem.

Most of the time the WinPatrol report can identify the problem (no one has just one virus). Often, the reason the problem is there is because of one or more of:

  • You did not keep your Anti-virus subscrition current
  • You turn off your machine at night (look at this one)
  • The virus is still running, and it often can not be quarentined.
  • It is so new, the Anti-virus does not know about it yet.
  • The virus is something called a "root kit" which efectively hides it from everyone, including Microsoft and me.
A second computer is required to deal with the last item.
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