Re: Post New o/s instalation after virus infection

[standeb]

Hello Moderators,

Greetings. I have not been here for a while. I have just returned from abroad a few days ago and on using my computer found that  a clean installation of my Operating system was done. I run Windows XP Pro, SP2. System information is as follows: -

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name HOME
System Manufacturer ECS
System Model M825VXX
System Type X86-based PC

Viruses were the cause for the installation.

I am informed that after the re installation backup files were returned  to the system. I ran a virus scan with avast this afternoon and the initial scan revealed 12 instances of virus infections to certain files listed hereunder: -

Virus list:
A0000549 exe System Volume Information\restore…10/28/2006 9:49:02… 8/11/2007 10:09:01…Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
A0000549 exe System Volume Information\restore.10/28/2006 9:49:02… 8/11/2007..10:09.01…Win32:VB-EEA [Trj]
A0000550 exe System Volume Information\restore. 8/11/200710:09:05 8/11/2007. 10:09:01 Win32:VB-BCG [Trj]
A0000551 exe System Volume Information\restore.9/1/2006 12:54:48 8/11/2007.10:09:04 Win32:Trojan-ge [Trj]
A0000561 exe System Volume Information\restore 10/28/2006 9:49:02 8/11/2007.10:10:05 Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
Caedmon. exe C:\recycled 10/28/2006 1:49:02 8/11/2007. 8:26:45 Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
Caedmon.exe C:\Documents and Settings\Smarty 10/28/2006 1:49:02 8/11/2007. 8:23:14 Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
Caedmon.exe C:\recycled\recycled 10/28/2006 9:49:02 8/11/2007. 10/07/03 Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
SVCHOST exe C:\Windows \System32 SCHOST 9/02/2006 6:41:32pm 8/11/2007.8:26:58 Win32:VB-BCG [Trj]
Trz 2.tmp C:\Windows \System32 SCHOST 9/01/2006 12:54:48 8/11/2007.10:17:00 Win32:Trojan-g. [Trj]
Unph5470260.tmp C:\Windows\Temp\Avast 4 10/28/2006 9:29:02 8/11/2007.10:18:01 Win32:VB-EAA [Trj]
Wuauserv.exe C:\Windows\ System32 9/01/2006 4/54/48pm 8/11/2007 8/27/07 Win32:Trojan-ge [Trj]

These files are situate in the Avast Virus Chest. Further checks have revealed that no other files have been infected. The files were or appear to me to be backup files from my backup cd. and I am not sure that the new system needs them. May I add here that previously, the Operating system was Windows 98. Windows XP SP2 was installed on top of it. With the new install the now Operating System is only Windows Xp Pro Sp2. The backups were done prior to the new installation. I opinion that the infected files can be safely deleted because the new installation would contain its own files and thus may not need the infected ones to work properly, hence this post.

Please advise whether the infected files can be safely deleted without disrupting the system or whether another Clean reinstall is a must.

Thanking you in advance for your kind consideration and advice.

Standeb.

[Lisandro]

I opinion that the infected files can be safely deleted because the new installation would contain its own files and thus may not need the infected ones to work properly, hence this post.

You're right. You can delete the files from Chest. Anyway, why to be in a hurry? Files into Chest are safe and can't harm your system.
Upgrading from W98 to XP requires reinstallation (repair) of avast antivirus as the drivers and a lot of files are different from one operational system to another.

[standeb]

Hi Tech,

Thank you for your reply. Quite frankly I am still pretty new to computers and was terribly unsure what I should do.

Your thread was indeed a great help and I am most thankful for the same. The words "Virus and Trojans" frightens me greatly.

Thank you again and best regards to you and all moderators at the forum.

standeb.