help fixing my computer (netbook)

Pict

Pict

Elite Member
Yesterday morning AVG anti virus detected a threat from 'DSC.EXE' it recommended that I click the box to move to the vault and restart computer to eliminate the threat.

Did all that and on restart got a message from AVG that the threat had been eliminated, however I can't now connect to the internet and the error says my machine does not have a valid ip address :confused:

Dell Inspiron Mini 10
Windows XP
Firefox

Help! Despite having studied electronics it was a long time ago and I have taken no interest in computers since, so pretty clueless.
 
Try doing a System Restore. That should take it back to the state it was at the last save point.
 
dsc.exe is used for some network activity, but is normally safe to disable. unfortunately, dsc is also a typical malware target, so your AV was probably right to pick it up.

Do you use a dedicated program to access the internet? Did this problem start aftering installing new software? Where was this dsc.exe originally located?

Unfortunately a system restore may not resolve your issue, depending on how old the restore point is; the next time the AV runs, it'll probably pick up the same threat, and re-quarantine it! If it's old though, and this DSC.exe message is new, you might be ok, but you'll lose any recent changes to the PC!

While your AV has quarantined the file, do a full scan against it. If it's merely a threat, and not an actual detected issue, it might be ok to restore it back to where it was.

Alternatively, if this program was installed as Dell Service Centre, try uninstalled that instead, and restarting. Then re-install by downloading from the dell site (assuming internet's all working again!)
 
Related grumble

..I *really* hate it when manufacturers hijack the vanilla windows network stack for their own ends...most of the software they install is "bloatware" (ie crap), and just hogs the machine. Some of it is nearly impossible to remove, and leaves crap everywhere even when it's removed (especially in the registry).

Anti-virus programs are actually the worst for this.

Personally, I always wipe a new laptop, and install a vanilla version of the OS from a Microsoft CD; it's nearly always faster, more stable, gives you more disk space, and less likely to cause upsets/false-postives on the Anti-virus program. I prefer to use something like Microsofts Security Essentials; doesn't hijack the stack, it's free, and has low operating overhead.
 
Last edited:
Pict said:
Mozilla Firefox, no, don't know
Click to expand...

Do you have something called "Dell Service Centre" in your list of programs? If so, try un-installing it, restarting, and see if that works. You might need to un-quarantine the dsc.exe file before attempting this.

Once done, go into c:\program files\ and make sure the Dell Service Centre folder has been deleted. If not - delete it!
 
How do I do a System Restore?

Went in to system tasks, unchecked the 'disable system restore' box, apply, OK. Nothing seemed to happen? I was expecting whirring or clicking or screens to jump about or something? Anyway, did a restart and it's just the same.

Couldn't see 'Dell Service Centre' but there was 'Dell Support Center' (when are they going to actually call the language 'American' so that we can get on and spell /talk in English??) which I thought was probably the thing you meant. Uninstalled but it wouldn't let me delete the folder in c:\programs, access denied to libea32.dll

Graeme - cheers, your solution was what I tried first before coming on here, but it didn't work this time.

Any other ideas folks before I seek professional help?
 
Pict said:
Couldn't see 'Dell Service Centre' but there was 'Dell Support Center' (when are they going to actually call the language 'American' so that we can get on and spell /talk in English??) which I thought was probably the thing you meant. Uninstalled but it wouldn't let me delete the folder in c:\programs, access denied to libea32.dll

Graeme - cheers, your solution was what I tried first before coming on here, but it didn't work this time.

Any other ideas folks before I seek professional help?
Click to expand...

Typical Dell crapware - won't even uninstall cleanly. You might need to restart before attempting to delete that folder. It's probably unable to delete some files if they are in use. I'm assuming you've unquarantined dsc.exe as well?

libea32.dll is part of the crappy network stuff from DSC.
 
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