# Remote Procedure Call System? Shutting down my computer.

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 12, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703 "2003-08-12T19:11:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/1 "2003-08-12T19:11:54Z")

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I have twice gotten the message that the Remote Procedure Call system has been terminated, and Windows has to be restarted. Is there a way to fix this? Do I have a serious problem with my computer? Thanks for the help.

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### Author: ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/2 "2003-08-12T19:16:35Z")

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[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=203867](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=203867)

Ignore the “reformat your system” posts, and scroll down for the scoop.

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### Author: ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/3 "2003-08-12T19:18:23Z")

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You most likely have been infected with the w32.blaster.worm. Look at some of the threads currently in GQ about this, or look at [Symantec’s information](http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.html) about the worm.

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### Author: ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/4 "2003-08-12T19:26:12Z")

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Or for those that stumble into this thread…

Fix for w32.blaster.worm [top of this page](http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html) .

Go download ALL your critical updates. In particular…you need [this patch.](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B331953)

Do consider getting a firewall. Zonealarm and Outpost are still free.

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### Author: ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/5 "2003-08-12T20:14:48Z")

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Thank you all very much. I guess I have been living in a cave!  
The patch link was especially helpfull, as the worm was shutting down my computer before I had time to download all critical updates.

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### Author: ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/6 "2003-08-12T22:11:44Z")

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" The patch link was especially helpfull, as the worm was shutting down my computer before I had time to download all critical updates."

That is one clever worm.

Maybe your local computer shop would have something you can use on a floppy if it ever gets to that.

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### Author: ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-procedure-call-system-shutting-down-my-computer/194703/7 "2003-08-12T22:17:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by moejuck \*  
> \*\*The patch link was especially helpfull, as the worm was shutting down my computer before I had time to download all critical updates. \*\*

You _should_ be able to stave off the shutdown by opening a command prompt ( **cmd** in “Start-\>Run” and typing **shutdown -a** to abort the pending shutdown. Just keep doing that every time you get a shutdown warning.

I haven’t tested this myself, but I’ve heard that it should work.
