I’ve been getting this error when I turn on my computer. It started about a week agO: I turned on my computer, and after running for a few minutes, I got this message:
It gives me one minute to stop whatever I was doing, then the damn thing restarts. And once it finishes restarting, it does the whole damn thing over again. After a while, it seems to stabilize, and I can use my computer (hence this thread). It’s done this on three different days, and has worked fine on the days in between. Today, when it started doing it again, I fired up my older, backup computer to log on here and ask this, and that computer started doing the same thing! Both PCs are running Windows XP.
Can anyone tell me why this is happening, how I can stop it, and who I need to kill for it happening in the first place?
Okay, I managed to download and install all the patches (lotsa fun when your computer won’t stay on for more than three minutes at a stretch: thank God I’ve got a fast internet connection and the files were small) and it seems to have cleared things up, at least for the moment. Thanks for the help, Askia and Daizy. I promise to name my firstborn child after both of you.
Just for the hell of it, now that the problem is fixed, can anyone explain exactly what the problem was, and what the fix did? I hate not knowing what I’ve installed on my machine.
I’m told by a colleague that’s more into the ‘hacking’ world that the code was just released a few days ago to the public domain that exploits the most recent bug in MS Windows NT (all versions and flavors). Buffer Overrun in RPC Interface.
Looks like some malevolent soul has already used the code to create a virus/trojan/worm.
You have been hit by the RPC-DCOM exploit. This allows a remote user to gain administrator access to your computer by exploiting the Remote Procedure Call service, thus allowing them to install programs of their choice, access your files, or use your computer to attack remote users. You will know you’re infected when you see a message about an “NT AUTHORITY” error saying that the system will shut down in 60 seconds.
First, install the patch from Microsoft. You can download the patch and read more information at Microsoft Technet.
After this is installed, go to start, run, and type in msconfig. Go to the startup tab and UNCHECK “msblaster.exe”. Restart the computer, enter safemode by pressing the F8 key before windows loads and choosing Safemode from the menu that appears, and delete msblaster.exe. This is one of the several viruses that may have been installed.
WARNING: It is entirely possible that other viruses or trojans could have been installed. Furthermore, there may still be keyloggers or file servers running. Keyloggers will send your passwords or any credit card data you type in to a remote user. A file server could be hosting child pornography, pirated software, or other illegal content. I strongly suggest that you format your computer, then install the patch on a clean system BEFORE you connect it to the internet.
If you’re running Xp, firewall the internet connection before you go on line to windows update. Go to Control panle/network connections, Right click the connection, properties/advanced & check the box to firewall the connection.
This will (theoretically) allow you to stay connected long enough to get the update.
Yes, THANK YOU everyone. I just got done fighting this, myself as well as trying to imagine what kind of soulless creature would inflict this on purpose…