hello BC users! i dont have a clue how linux works!

The Linux Mint ISO (installation file) with the malicious code was only online for less than one day. A new download will be safe.

 

Microsoft and other corporations donate HUGE sums of money to the various Linux distributions. Private donations only make up a small portion of the Linux revenue compared to what they earn selling services and technology.

okay that is great to hear!

and thanks for the information!

Again...go ahead and purchase the install medium of either a flash drive or DVD with the Linux distro of your choice. Until you do that you are just spinning your wheels.

 

Once you have the DVD or Flash Drive....boot your computer using it. You will see a screen that offers two choices...one is to run as live the other is to install. DON"T install.

Run as LIVE. Use it as LIVE to among other things that it is able to use the internet. Best to use a cable connection to your modem or router...not WIFI at first.

 

Again...you can purchase at OSDisc.com - Buy Linux CDs, DVDs, USB Flash Drives, Books, Software Repositories - Your source for open source.

 

If and when you see that Linux is okay then you can choose to install it. You will be reformatting the drive...which will wipe out ALL of Windows 7 and other software

including any and all malware. Then Linux will begin asking questions such as time zone and installing Linux.

sorry i wasn't too clear on my situation but i currently had no means of purchasing anything online.
i was able to get a cd to try and burn it onto though.

EDIT: i only have a CD-R, is it DVD-R i need to burn linux on to?

is the only difference between the two (live/install) is that live is configured to have internet via cord and install isnt configured to have internet via cord?

@Condobloke

haha very interesting. i didnt even know linux was so huge. haha i didnt even know about linux prior to learning about it now..

 

 

noobody QUOTE: I am also scared that the infection is so bad that maybe even my keyboard/mouse firmware could possibly be infected as well. There will be random times where my keyboard lights and functions completely stop working and shut off. Same with my mouse but it doesnt happen as often. Is there any way that my mouse/keyboard could be checked? Thank you for reading my post and thank you in advance if you can help me out!

If these are Wireless devices did you put new batteries in them?

 

Also, as I said before, I think you are wasting time moving forward until you test your Hard Drive.  I say this  because all the previous issues you are describing.  Installing to a damaged drive is a waste of time.

 

You can test your Hard Drive with SeaTools for Windows.   

 

Under Downoads:

You can use "SeaTools for DOS" from a Bootable DVD or USB.

 

Or just Install it to the Computer with "SeaTools for Windows"

 

Right above downloads are the Guides for each I've presented here.

 

This is your choice, if you think the drive is good because it is somewhat new etc. just move on, but drives are the first thing to go in a computer.

 

If may help to Delete all the files and folders in Windows Temp: C:\Windows\Temp.

 

Download Malwarebytes and run that also.

 

I thought your Windows 7 Install was running well enough to download linux and burn it to DVD or USB?  This would allow you to get started right away. 

 

no they are cable

i will check my hard drive now

i know this wont concern me soon enough and you dont have to answer if you dont want to but what exactly is in this C:\Windows\Temp   folder? and is there a folder of such in linux i need to watchout for?

damn it! is it a DVD-R i need to burn linux too? i only have a CD-R

@linuxvorpal
hey! thank you for reading and replying to my post!
hehe i have no idea what that is. or even what those texts mean
 

sha256sum file_in_question.iso
or
sha256sum -c sha256sum.txt

could you please elaborate on how i would do any this checking?

 

 

 

There's no need to leave anything behind at all. The Linux installer will be part of the LiveCD/DVD, and will load into into RAM along with everything else when you run it.

 

Just make sure sure you have your LiveCD/DVD or LiveUSB install ready before nuking your Windoze 7.....

 

 

Mike. 

 

how possible is it that i have something so serious that it manages to survive and infect my linux?

im not sure if any of what im about to say is possible and i might sound like a complete doofus but can your vc/motherboard/ram get infected from viruses/malware or whatever it is called?

and what on a computer can be infected and how can i go about checking these parts?

haha yeah im currently trying to figure out how im going to do this but i will be nuking my windoze 7 soon enough!! hahaha

so i downloaded the seatoolsforwindows.exe

and i scanned it on virustotal
https://www.virustotal.com/#/file/c181762a2f4daa32479fe2f85613e71e92d32a1026adab03db85b337fca47a45/details

it said 1/67 so it might be a false positive i dont know. how would i go about looking through the details to know if its a safe file or not?

like in the details i have no idea what any of that "Basic Properties" mean and "portable executable info" or "imports" or "contained resources" or "ExifTool file Metadata"

What exactly would i be looking for? and is this 100% fool-proof from executing a file i shouldnt?

EDIT:

@pcpunk

so i tried to delete everything in my windows folder the temp folder and it says this file is in use and cannot be deleted. Should i be concerned?

file called zlt010bd.tmp  size:256bytes

Edited by noobody, 11 February 2018 - 07:59 PM.

Where in the world are you...geographically?

You need a DVD or Flash drive. A CD would only hold one of the smaller Linux distros such as a Puppy. Ubuntu Mate and similar are

around 1.7 GB.

Using cable will be the most likely way that Linux will be able to access the internet without any hiccups. Later, after you have installed

Linux then you can attempt a WIFI connection and will have a working computer if you need assistance to do that. Do you have the ability

to use cable or are you only able to use WIFI?

Small steps...one at a time.

 

 

 how would i go about looking through the details to know if its a safe file or not?

Just install it and run the Long Generic Test.  It will take a long time, maybe two hours depending on how big your drive is.  At the end it will clearly say PASS or FAIL.

 

so i tried to delete everything in my windows folder the temp folder and it says this file is in use and cannot be deleted. Should i be concerned?

 

file called zlt010bd.tmp  size:256bytes

Sorry don't know what that is, you could use Virus Total to check it if you want.

Don't worry about the Windows 7 Infections In My Opinion, if you are blowing away Windows 7 we will just try to move on and Install Linux.  No infections will survive when Linux is Installed Over Windows 7.

I will leave this Tutorial also, it will be best for a beginner I think.  If you want to do some Advanced Partitioning once run a Linux Live Session then just say so and we will use another tutorial.

If you get to the Install without help it's quite easy.  Once you Double Click on Install Linux Mint just choose "Erase Disk and Install Linux Mint"

Once your done and Mint asks if you want to Restart or Continue Testing, I always choose Continue Testing.  This gives me a chance to take out the Install DVD so that it won't boot to it on the First Reboot.  It is supposed to work if you just choose Restart, but sometimes it doesn't ask to Remove the DVD, and will boot to it on Restart.

Once you finish the install and Restart, before anything else, you will need to Click on the Menu and Type in Driver Manager.  Let the Driver Manager load and find the drivers you need for Nvidia.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but you need Nvidia right?  Accept the Driver that is "Suggested"...let it install...when it's done Reboot and you should be all ready to active the Firewall and Update the system.

Edited by pcpunk, 12 February 2018 - 09:03 AM.

Where in the world are you...geographically?

 

You need a DVD or Flash drive. A CD would only hold one of the smaller Linux distros such as a Puppy. Ubuntu Mate and similar are

around 1.7 GB.

 

Using cable will be the most likely way that Linux will be able to access the internet without any hiccups. Later, after you have installed

Linux then you can attempt a WIFI connection and will have a working computer if you need assistance to do that. Do you have the ability

to use cable or are you only able to use WIFI?

 

Small steps...one at a time.

the western side

so its dvd-r cd's i need? or cd-r? on the cover of the cd i have says cd-r

and would i be able to install step by step with 3-4 cds?

what do you mean by hiccups? 

no i dont have a wifi card

haha thank you

EDIT: i dont have a flash drive

Edited by noobody, 11 February 2018 - 10:38 PM.

If you dont have a DVD drive or a DVD its not going to work.

You cant split a dvd sized iso on 3 or 4 CD's

If you need a medium there are other alternatives, got a USB thumb drive laying around?

Or if not you can get pre made USB sicks online

https://www.osdisc.com/products/linuxmint/live/linux-mint-183-cinnamon-16gb-usb-flash-drive-64bit.html

You will need some install media, if you dont have a DVD disk or drive then a USB drive is your a best option

If thats too much money you can get USB drives online as they are really cheap.

And you can go to brick and mortar stores too

Best Buy has them, Amazon has them and some places like drug stores like wallgreens have them.

Walmart has them, Target has them, they are very easy to find

There are tools to write the USB image so your computer can understand it, I recommend etcher:

https://etcher.io/

Etcher is perhaps the easiest tool to write the .iso to a USB and make is bootable.

Edited by MadmanRB, 11 February 2018 - 10:55 PM.

If you dont have a DVD drive or a DVD its not going to work.

You cant split a dvd sized iso on 3 or 4 CD's

 

If you need a medium there are other alternatives, got a USB thumb drive laying around?

 

Or if not you can get pre made USB sicks online

 

https://www.osdisc.com/products/linuxmint/live/linux-mint-183-cinnamon-16gb-usb-flash-drive-64bit.html

 

You will need some install media, if you dont have a DVD disk or drive then a USB drive is your a best option

 

If thats too much money you can get USB drives online as they are really cheap.

And you can go to brick and mortar stores too

Best Buy has them, Amazon has them and some places like drug stores like wallgreens have them.

Walmart has them, Target has them, they are very easy to find

 

There are tools to write the USB image so your computer can understand it, I recommend etcher:

https://etcher.io/

 

Etcher is perhaps the easiest tool to write the .iso to a USB and make is bootable.

i dont have a usb thumb and i can not order anything online

i have a dvd drive but no DVD cd's. i have some cd-r and thats about it. damn

i wont be able to get to a store for a little while but when i can i will get a usb thumb drive

Edited by MadmanRB, 11 February 2018 - 11:21 PM.

what exactly is in this C:\Windows\Temp  folder?

how possible is it that i have something so serious that it manages to survive and infect my linux?

im not sure if any of what im about to say is possible and i might sound like a complete doofus but can your vc/motherboard/ram get infected from viruses/malware or whatever it is called?

and what on a computer can be infected and how can i go about checking these parts?

 

Where in the world are you...geographically?

 

You need a DVD or Flash drive. A CD would only hold one of the smaller Linux distros such as a Puppy. Ubuntu Mate and similar are

around 1.7 GB.

 

Using cable will be the most likely way that Linux will be able to access the internet without any hiccups. Later, after you have installed

Linux then you can attempt a WIFI connection and will have a working computer if you need assistance to do that. Do you have the ability

to use cable or are you only able to use WIFI?

 

Small steps...one at a time.

 

the western side

so its dvd-r cd's i need? or cd-r? on the cover of the cd i have says cd-r

and would i be able to install step by step with 3-4 cds?

 

what do you mean by hiccups? 

no i dont have a wifi card

 

haha thank you

 

EDIT: i dont have a flash drive

 

Just a note on this. A DVD is a DVD. A CD is a CD. They are not the same and they are not related. It is apples and oranges. There is no relationship between a DVD and a CD.

This is just a brief note for future use. It is kind of important information because digital discs have been around for well over a quarter of a century and they are embedded into our culture. I am an old man and I saw the advent of digital discs from the very beginning so it kind of bugs me when people don't call these things by their proper names.

The technology and usage is completely different between a DVD and a CD. They do not do the same thing and they are not compatible or interchangeable.

Back to the story.

 

what exactly is in this C:\Windows\Temp  folder?

C:\Windows\Temp is one of a number of folders that Windows uses to place temporary files into. Processes create temporary files to help them perform some functions. Normally those processes delete the files once they no longer have a use for them, but from time to time they do not get auto deleted, so over time they can build up and can occasionally cause problems. Clearing them out manually from time to time is not a bad thing to do.

If you were unable to delete a particular file or folder inside the C:\Windows\Temp it is because that "temporary" file or folder was "in use" by its "parent" process at the time.

That parent process may be legit, or may be malicious, without knowing what it is, it's impossible to say.

 

how possible is it that i have something so serious that it manages to survive and infect my linux?

im not sure if any of what im about to say is possible and i might sound like a complete doofus but can your vc/motherboard/ram get infected from viruses/malware or whatever it is called?

and what on a computer can be infected and how can i go about checking these parts?

Not possible at all.  As I said earlier, when you install Linux to your hard drive, it formats your hard drive, and erases all data that is currently on it. No infection can survive that.

No your hardware cannot be infected. Computer infections affect your software only. There are some proof of concept infections that affect firmware, but they generally need hands-on access to install them. I've yet to hear of one that's actually being distributed "in the wild", and your chances of having one are so infintesimally small as to be non-existant.

 

thank you for clearing explaining the temp folder situation to me!
 

and thank you for re-assuring me. im really glad to hear that!

 

 

Where in the world are you...geographically?

 

You need a DVD or Flash drive. A CD would only hold one of the smaller Linux distros such as a Puppy. Ubuntu Mate and similar are

around 1.7 GB.

 

Using cable will be the most likely way that Linux will be able to access the internet without any hiccups. Later, after you have installed

Linux then you can attempt a WIFI connection and will have a working computer if you need assistance to do that. Do you have the ability

to use cable or are you only able to use WIFI?

 

Small steps...one at a time.

 

the western side

so its dvd-r cd's i need? or cd-r? on the cover of the cd i have says cd-r

and would i be able to install step by step with 3-4 cds?

 

what do you mean by hiccups? 

no i dont have a wifi card

 

haha thank you

 

EDIT: i dont have a flash drive

 

 

 

Just a note on this. A DVD is a DVD. A CD is a CD. They are not the same and they are not related. It is apples and oranges. There is no relationship between a DVD and a CD.

 

This is just a brief note for future use. It is kind of important information because digital discs have been around for well over a quarter of a century and they are embedded into our culture. I am an old man and I saw the advent of digital discs from the very beginning so it kind of bugs me when people don't call these things by their proper names.

 

The technology and usage is completely different between a DVD and a CD. They do not do the same thing and they are not compatible or interchangeable.

 

Back to the story.

 

oh haha sorry! that couldnt have been more clear!

okay everyone that has been trying to help me heres an update. i now have a usb for linux mint
before i start this i wanna assure everything i am doing is right!
I have a 
Intel CPU
Nvidia GTX580
8GB RAM

and i forgot which motherboard =\
is linux mint viable with my current listed hardware?

I plan on not having any windows with this linux. i want to be exclusive for linux mint
What should my first steps be after i install or live it?
also if i straight install it instead of live, will i have problems  connecting to the net with my ethcord?

and lastly, what first few steps for security should i take right away to absolutely secure it (allowing auto updates from a secure database)(finding the secure database)
when you guys mention like chrome secure apps like as in (Antivirus?)(Malwarebtyes?) or is there different type of browser security things you guys are talking about

I also read not to use a antivirus but what about antiviruses made for linux viruses/malware? (or kernel attacks?)

sorry this is taking so long and steps are very tiny and slow hahah
thank you for your help again all!


EDIT: and is there any ports or anything i should worry about closing before actually connecting the eth cable to my computer after live/install?

I cant decide on linux mint or Ubuntu MATE. Which is more compatible with my hardware?
you guys mentioned mate was

Edited by noobody, 12 February 2018 - 07:13 PM.

I would recommend Linux Mint Mate 18.3 (64 bit) or Linux Mint 18.3 Xfce (64 bit).

Look at this guide.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Download iso from here.

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

When installing make sure you have a wired internet connection.

Just follow the prompts when installing and all should go well.

Edited by The-Toolman, 12 February 2018 - 08:09 PM.

1. Yes

2. Okay

3. This was outlined completely in my Post #34 on this page.  Follow the Video Tutorial I linked to.  When you boot Linux you can use it like that, it's called "Linux Live Session" and then you can Install or just shutdown and eject the USB.

4. You should be fine with Ethernet, you will know once you boot it up and look at the Ethernet in the bottom right just like Windows.  You will also be able to browse the internet to test it out using the inbuilt Firefox.  It does have it's limits, but you can do many things with it "Live".

5. I already addressed Enabling the Firewall, you can ask more questions once you get up and running.  Don't be so paranoid, you will be fine just using linux the way it is to start with.

6. Again, don't worry about Ports and Firewall settings for now, I've never changed the Default once in the years I've used Linux.

Again, my choice would be Mint Mate, as I've tried both and had a customer with Ubuntu Mate.  Changed him to Mint Mate and he liked it more also.  He is a total noob and an older gentleman that just browses the web, email etc.  He never gets infected and don't worry about AV programs or firewall settings.  The default firewall settings are quite robust as they are.

Edited by pcpunk, 12 February 2018 - 08:13 PM.

Post 42   by The_Toolman........ .........Go for it !

 

Post 42   by The_Toolman........ .........Go for it !

Yes perfect.