Virus and trojans do not physically harm a hard drive, but can mess with your files, programs and apps installed on that drive.
So before cloning one drive to another, it's vital to get rid of the nasties before copying, because they too will be copied.

Formatting gets rid of everything...good and bad, and is used as a last resort.


IMO Windows 7 and Microsoft Security Essentials make a great team...on par with a Mac at a much lower cost.

Dave, I haven't paid for an anti-virus program in years, since I discovered AVG Free. It works great and did I mention it's FREE?
DonM

As for a virus or spyware, I definitely had one... it changed the wallpaper to a red WARNING and any process you wanted to do, it would show the warning. This is the one -- http://www.fasterpccleanclean.com/remove-warning-your-re-in-danger-wallpaper. I seem to have gotten rid of it, although I am not sure all registries and dll's have been deleted. I bought Spyware Doctor and am unsure what all it did.

As for the HD failure warning, in a previous thread, I wondered if it could have anything to do with the power supply overheating, as mine sometimes was getting super hot. My dog destroyed my Toshiba power supply by chewing it and I bought a third party one. Which functions but who knows, maybe it is not same quality as the original. I still wonder about that power supply.

SemiLiveMusic,

Try the ComboFix, it might save You from reinstalling everything on Your laptop.

As for the power supply, they all get hot to a some degree, but if they are too hot (You get uncomfortable while holding firmly in Your hand) that means laptop is drawing as much power from the adapter as it can (i.e. power supply is overloaded). Try to find the original power requirements for Your laptop (usually written on the back of the laptop and adapter, or in specifications sheet) and compare it with the values on Your current power supply. The important numbers are those designating voltage (V) and Amperage (A) they should be the same, or as close as possible.

Using incorrect power supply put additional stress to all the components, and can cause problems with hard disc (or any other component with high power consumption), but it's not necessarily the cause of the problem in Your case.

Also, it is not necessary to buy original power supply adapter (usually they are ridiculously expensive) even some 'no name' replacement will be as good as original if it gives the same power output.

Hi



Agree 100%

Regards
Jørgen

As for the Combofix recommendation, I tried to download it but got three "corrupt file" warnings. I posted in their forum about the bad download and I have been warned with...

Be aware that no one should be using ComboFix unless specifically instructed to do so by a Malware Removal Expert who can interpret the logs. It is a powerful tool intended by its creator to be "used under the guidance and supervision of an expert. Using this tool incorrectly could lead to disastrous problems with your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. When issues arise due to complex malware infections, possible false detections, problems running ComboFix or with other security tools causing conflicts, experts are usually aware of them and can advise what should or should not be done while providing individual assistance. Those attempting to use ComboFix on their own do not have such information and are at risk when running the tool in an unsupervised environment. Please read the pinned topic ComboFix usage, Questions, Help? - Look here.

Using ComboFix is only one part of the disinfection process. Preliminary scans from other tools like DDS, RSIT and GMER should be used first because they provide comprehensive logs with specific details about files, folders and registry keys which may have been modified by malware infection. Analysis of those logs allows planning an strategy for effective disinfection and a determination if using ComboFix is necessary. ComboFix was never meant to be used as a general purpose malware scanner like SuperAntispyware or Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware which scan individual drives or different folders on a computer for viruses.

I ask that you heed our warning about using this tool on your own without proper supervision.

===

Which gives me cause for pause.

There are always computer companies trying to worry Mac users into buying software they don't need. You can cite all the articles (or infomercials, as they usually turn out to be) you want, but actually TALK to Mac users (rather than dismissing their real world experience) and the picture changes radically.

I have been on broadband for at least 15 years, with no virus, Trojan, spyware or any other kind of security software of any kind. I have opened every single email attachment I ever got, surfed some VERY dodgy sites, used P2P software without restraints, and basically done everything that is GUARANTEED to bring a PC to its knees, even ones supposedly running expensive security stuff.

I have never received ONE piece of malware in the entire time. NOT ONE.

For me, the piece of mind I have actually experienced (not the paranoia that security software vendors would LIKE to engender) has been worth the slight additional cost of the computer. Tell me, how MUCH have you spent on security products, hosed drives, lost productivity and lost data in the last 15 years? Enough to finance the difference between a PC and a Mac, I am sure!

Before you surf the internet looking for support for your position (after all, EVERYTHING they say on the internet is true, isn't it? ) why don't you take the ACTUAL experience of those of us that have nothing to gain by lying, first?

I am no computer guru. And I doubt too many of us here are, either. If you simply want to use your computer as a TOOL, rather than have to learn all about how it works simply to be able to keep it running well (or pay someone else to do that for you), a Mac pays for itself pretty quickly...

Hi Diki

How do you know that you have not got no malware, when you dont use security software?

Try googling these three words (without quotes): virus attack mac
Then you will know, what some Mac users have experienced.

"A healthy person is someone who has not been adequately studied."

EOD from me

Regards
Jørgen

Hmmm, quite intimidating replay, but I have used ComboFix many times (under Windows XP Pro), and never had a single problem, not only that, but some PC-s where infected so badly they couldn't boot at all, and where fixed in 30 minutes.

If You have problem downloading ComboFix (do this only from the bleepingcomputer site), then try downloading with another computer (some viruses prevent You from accessing anti-virus sites or Windows Update service), transfer it to Your laptop (preferably with some spare USB memory that will be formatted right after to avoid infection, or via CD-ROM which is safe from virus) and run it there.

Before running, close all apps, and temporarily disable anti-virus. Also try to do this in Safe Mode (press F8 during powering up laptop to enter it).

If You are too scared to do the procedure, find some professional, but do this as soon as possible, or You might end up with (temporarily) unusable laptop.

P.S. Don't forget to scan all Your data backed-up to the external hard-disc but do this from uninfected computer.

Because my Mac never shows any symptoms of it (it is a piece of cake to watch all the active processes in OSX and see if there is anything new). Runs the same, all the time. Any malware I might have passed on came from a compromised PC in the first place (and didn't affect me). Not my problem...

All I can say is MY experience. 15 years and nary a hiccup. No security software. YMMV (especially if you have the Intel Mac boot into Windows!). Any PC users not IT specialists able to say that?

I doubt it.