Martin
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Post by Martin on Apr 23, 2010 6:45:09 GMT
I assume that anyone reading this post does NOT use this security software (unlike me). Yesterday afternoon the latest software update caused my pc at home to shutdown and now I cannot access the Internet or even open any browser. Well done McAfee!!!!  This is a global software fault which has affected many corporations and home users worldwide. Whilst I patiently wait for a fix (although I have no idea how I will get it if I cannot open a browser) I would welcome any suggestions! Anyone else affected (or I should say infected  )? Martin |
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Post by grant on Apr 23, 2010 7:42:19 GMT
Hi Martin I'm no expert - perhaps a PM to Dave! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif But at the very least you will have to uninstall your Mcaffee software and that should unlock your access to the internet. I believe there are several free to download packages and I know several of the main security providers offer one months free trials - that should get you over the initial problem. I would have thought though, that McAfee themselves would be offering their own solutions from their download site. Good luck! Grant |
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Post by starbuck on Apr 23, 2010 10:55:02 GMT
I use Avast which is free and very good all my tech friends use this.
restore your computer to earlier date and then uninstall Mcafee with the computer off the internet. Then restore the internet and install Avast and run a full system scan.
Hope this helps
Monte
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Post by mihizawi on Apr 23, 2010 13:40:40 GMT
Hmmm... If McAfee releases a solution on the internet, you can download the update file on another computer, copy it into a pen-drive or an external Hard Disk, and then run it on your PC.
Michal
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Post by amptique on Apr 23, 2010 13:42:40 GMT
Hello Everyone,
McAfee hit us on Wednesday. Our Corporation had hundreds of PC's that would only re-boot, over and over again. On some, McAfee deleted a critical system file. We lost about 4 hours of production time before we could get things back to normal.
Bill
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 23, 2010 13:46:15 GMT
I assume that anyone reading this post does NOT use this security software (unlike me). Yesterday afternoon the latest software update caused my pc at home to shutdown and now I cannot access the Internet or even open any browser. Well done McAfee!!!!  This is a global software fault which has affected many corporations and home users worldwide. Whilst I patiently wait for a fix (although I have no idea how I will get it if I cannot open a browser) I would welcome any suggestions! Anyone else affected (or I should say infected )?Martin Hi Martin, if you can read this  I don't use McAfee (though I have done in the past) and it appears that their Wednesday update wrongly identified a critical operating system file as a virus, on Windows XP (Service Pack 3). Clearly, they did not test it sufficiently before relasing the update. It removed the Windows file, causing shut-downs and repeated restarts and reboots. For those who can read this (perhaps on another PC), and who don't already know, the official "fix" for personal users from McAfee is here: service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100969&cid=77152Good luck! Cheers, Dave |
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Post by martindn on Apr 23, 2010 23:14:48 GMT
Once again I thank my lucky stars I don't use McAfee (or Norton). I once had McAfee on a work PC, and it was a pain.
It is true that any software release can go wrong, and it is truly scary the amount of automatic updates that go on on Windows machines that have the potential to do serious damage. We all trust these automatic updates, and usually they are OK, but occasionally they cause problems.
I would much rather have control over what gets installed on my computer, as on most other operating systems, but it seems that is not the Windows ethos. Pity.
Martin
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Martin
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HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Apr 24, 2010 7:35:43 GMT
Hi Everyone Many thanks for your advice. For the moment I am attempting to follow the fix procedure provided by McAfee but am having many problems along the way. I will perservere a little longer but if all fails then I will ditch McAfee for good!  Martin |
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Post by Richard on Apr 24, 2010 8:56:18 GMT
...I will ditch McAfee for good! Or bad and ugly!  Richard  |
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Post by Tasslehoff on Apr 25, 2010 2:51:59 GMT
Edit: Oops the below certainly won't help if Mcafee did delete your svchost.exe file  . That link Dave provided seems like the only fix. Have you been able to restore your svchost.exe file to the windows\system32 directory yet if it was missing? You could try my Svchost fix which is basically the same as the bloated file McAfee provided which may or may not work . Just be sure you're in Windows Safe mode prior to running it (Keep tapping F8 at startup, or tap the F Lock key once and keep tapping F8 on Microsoft keyboards. mini svchost.exe fix for MartinI used to use Mcafee too, although it really became 'bloatware' once they started integrating the firewall and other junk. I made worryingly simple personalised shutdown scripts a few years ago to go with each version (hehehe). It was a bit out of date however I've come back out of retirement and updated it to include Security Suite 2009 if you have that. I've included several shutdown scripts if you have an included product for you to try out to see if you can restore internet connectivity. However I'd recommend uninstalling Mcafee if possible, rebooting, running WinsockXP fix which can be downloaded -here-, reboot again and then, if internet is restored, try reinstalling. Tasslehoff's 1337 McAfee Windows XP compatible shutdown scripts: www.members.optusnet.com.au/~tassburfoot/mcafee/McafeeStop%20Start_v1.5beta.zip |
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Martin
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Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Apr 25, 2010 9:22:38 GMT
Hi All I finally got my pc back to status quo but only after some help from McAfee support. Thanks again everyone for their assistance. One thing I noticed in between McAfee being uninstalled and reinstalled was how quicker my pc ran!! This only proves my suspicion that this particular product has become "bloatware" (thanks Tasslehoff for this word ). When the licence expires I will be looking for something a little more efficient. Martin |
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Post by martindn on Apr 25, 2010 19:16:20 GMT
Hi Martin,
Yes, that's my experience with McAfee. Makes your PC crawl. Most of the others aren't much better though. I'm using AVG Free, and that too is certainly slowing my machine down.
Martin D
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Post by Sandy Wilderness Girl on Apr 26, 2010 13:23:12 GMT
Hey yeh the reason your comp slows down hey if you check u task manager hey and do a search on the programs running while u on the net hey u will find that probably at least 5 of those that are running are your virus programs and they are UPLOADING your info to the websites hey....for research purposes hey.....just check your task manager hey  ...and yeh they all do it now hey,,,,,,, Sandy xxx |
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Post by jamesrlucas on Apr 26, 2010 15:04:57 GMT
:wink: I use the free one form microsoft (Microsoft Security Essentials or something like that, I found so far it runs better than when i used AVG ( but not by much). You need windows Vista or 7 to use it though AVG kept finding viruses in files that I knew were not , and was slow. And i certainly don't pay for any stuff like that - the free ones work well enough |
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Post by martindn on Apr 26, 2010 19:51:11 GMT
Yes, somebody at mork recommended the Microsoft one to me today. Did't realise it doesn't work on XP though!
Martin D
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I don't use McAfee (though I have done in the past) and it appears that their Wednesday update wrongly identified a critical operating system file as a virus, on Windows XP (Service Pack 3). Clearly, they did not test it sufficiently before relasing the update. It removed the Windows file, causing shut-downs and repeated restarts and reboots.
. That link Dave provided seems like the only fix. Have you been able to restore your svchost.exe file to the windows\system32 directory yet if it was missing?
...and yeh they all do it now hey,,,,,,,