i need some help. i know this is off topic but i have one of those trojan virus in my computer and i cant get it out. i tryed spybot but it still cant get it out. i get these pop ups from my internet explorer but the thing is the program isnt running and when iam off line they still popup! i was wondering if anyone can help me. thanks.
"Dont be a fool for ur tool"
How many times have I told you that Trojan condoms aren't supposed to go into the floppy disk slot!
Hehe...jk.
Actually, to help you out we're gonna need a bit more information than what you've provided.
We need to know exactly what it's doing and the possible name of it.
You need to give more details for us to help.
Go here and download HijackThis:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html
After you do a scan, copy and paste the ENTIRE scan results here so I can read it. (the results may be a long list)
It will look something like this:
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://www.sharempeg.com/find/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.blazefind.com/search.php?search=%s
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.blazefind.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.searchalot.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.sharempeg.com/find/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.searchv.com/w/search.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.searchv.com/w/search.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.searchv.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.searchalot.com/search.htm
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.searchv.com/w/search.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.searchv.com/w/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL
You must be VERY careful with HijackThis because it doesn't tell you what needs to be deleted like other programs do.
You have to know what to look for.
If you mess up and delete the wrong file you're screwed and could mess up your p.c. bad.
Once either I or someone else reads it who knows what we're looking for, we can tell you what item/s need to be checked and removed.
Again, make sure you paste ALL of the results here.
It doesn't sound like you have a Trojan....it sounds like you've got a really bad case of malware/spyware that Spybot S&D doesn't recognize.
Post Edited (05-09-04 16:43)
well my virus scan i got running the only thing it says is that i have a "trojan" and every time i try to move it to a quaratine file, delete or clean it, it always fails. the popups are contuinous and it says that its from my "mircosoft internet explorer" which i dont have running. even when iam not online i seem to get the pop ups even though it says "this page cant be found". and the popups are all stupid ads.
when i run my spybot i always get this "advertising.com"and is says "tracking cookie or cookie of tracking site". this one seems to always come back everytime i run spybot like its not getting fixed.
"Dont be a fool for ur tool"
Forget what your virus scan is saying....anything that delivers targeted pop-up ads even while IE isn't running is spyware.
Run HijackThis and I can probably guarantee it'll be there.
this is it ash:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ibmpmsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapMn.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapMn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\S24EvMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\acsd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\PERSON~1\MPFSERVICE.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\QCONSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RegSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\PROSet\PRONoMgr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapMn.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\IBMTools\Updater\jre\bin\javaw.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\CONNEC~1\QCTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\8xxx\bbui.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\Winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPONSCR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY_1\TpScrex.exe
C:\Program Files\ClearSearch\Loader.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\slmss\slmss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\mwsvm.exe
C:\documents and settings\student\local settings\temp\58Sju.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NCLAUNCH.EXe
C:\IBMTools\Updater\ucsmb.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\aoltray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\dite.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\aolwbspd.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\odbc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\student\My Documents\My Pictures\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://server224.smartbotpro.net/7search/?new-hkcu
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://default-homepage-network.com/start.cgi?new-hkcu
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://default-homepage-network.com/start.cgi?new-hklm
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://server224.smartbotpro.net/7search/?new-hklm
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.seekseek.com/quicksearch.asp?session=30F27414-DDAB-4053-904A-AF6A81380CA4&version_id=18
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by St. John's University
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {707E6F76-9FFB-4920-A976-EA101271BC25} - C:\Program Files\TV Media\TvmBho.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}_ - (no file)
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\System32\Userinit.exe
N1 - Netscape 4: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://cpprod.stjohns.edu/cp/home/loginf"); (C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\default\prefs.js)
O2 - BHO: IE Agent - {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000221} - C:\Program Files\ClearSearch\CSIE.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {000020DD-C72E-4113-AF77-DD56626C6C42} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {0019C3E2-DD48-4A6D-ABCD-8D32436323D9} - C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.dll
O2 - BHO: MyWay Search Assistant BHO - {04079851-5845-4dea-848C-3ECD647AA554} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\SrchAstt\1.bin\MYSRCHAS.DLL
O2 - BHO: myBar BHO - {0494D0D1-F8E0-41ad-92A3-14154ECE70AC} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DefaultSearch.SeekSeek - {5074851C-F67A-488E-A9C9-C244573F4068} - C:\WINDOWS\ieasst.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {707E6F76-9FFB-4920-A976-EA101271BC25} - C:\Program Files\TV Media\TvmBho.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {82315A18-6CFB-44a7-BDFD-90E36537C252} - C:\Program Files\QuickSearch\QuickSearchBar1_27.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &SearchBar - {0494D0D9-F8E0-41ad-92A3-14154ECE70AC} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: QuickSearch Search Bar - {82315A18-6CFB-44a7-BDFD-90E36537C252} - C:\Program Files\QuickSearch\QuickSearchBar1_27.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PRONoMgr.exe] C:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\PROSet\PRONoMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EZEJMNAP] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPHOTKEY] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPKMAPMN] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapMn.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TP4EX] tp4ex.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QCWLICON] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UC_SMB] c:\ibmtools\updater\ucstart.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QCTray] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\CONNEC~1\QCTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bbui] C:\Program Files\Creative\8xxx\bbui.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stcloader] C:\WINDOWS\System32\stcloader.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ClrSchLoader] C:\Program Files\ClearSearch\Loader.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [slmss] C:\Program Files\Common Files\slmss\slmss.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bxxs5] RunDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.dll,DllRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\Program Files\TV Media\Tvm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Mwsvm] C:\WINDOWS\mwsvm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stcinstaller] c:\installer\id53.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [58Sju] C:\documents and settings\student\local settings\temp\58Sju.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dite] C:\WINDOWS\System32\dite.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NCLaunch] C:\WINDOWS\NCLAUNCH.EXe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\Program Files\TV Media\Tvm.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [odbc32] C:\WINDOWS\System32\odbc32.exe
O4 - Startup: Thumbs.db
O4 - Global Startup: America Online 9.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\aoltray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {01111F00-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} - https://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/access/sdccommon/download/tgctlins.cab
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com/computercheckup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {A8658086-E6AC-4957-BC8E-7D54A7E8A78E} (SassCln Object) - http://www.microsoft.com/security/controls/SassCln.CAB
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{0EAF0F61-AAE2-4C91-8B8E-EC9EE45BD234}: NameServer = 205.188.146.146
Or download Adaware from Lavasoft. Sometimes with Adaware you will find things Spybot will miss.
One note, too. With Windows computers, there are a LOT of shared files/code. Windows is a very integrated system. Soooo, you don't have to be actually running IE yourself for there to be an error or similar problem showing up as being in IE....something, somewhere is using a part of IE, which is very common in Windows systems.
After you get it cleaned up, get your necessary files backed up, etc, dump winders and switch to a real OS...Linux. Man, I seem to be giving this comment almost daily on one board or another. It's amazing how many headaches you will eliminate by doing this.
Checkmark and get rid of these:
O2 - BHO: IE Agent - {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000221} - C:\Program Files\ClearSearch\CSIE.DLL
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.seekseek.com/quicksearch.asp?session=30F27414-DDAB-4053-904A-AF6A81380CA4&version_id=18
(seekseek is a browser hijacker)
O2 - BHO: MyWay Search Assistant BHO - {04079851-5845-4dea-848C-3ECD647AA554} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\SrchAstt\1.bin\MYSRCHAS.DLL
O2 - BHO: myBar BHO - {0494D0D1-F8E0-41ad-92A3-14154ECE70AC} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
O2 - BHO: DefaultSearch.SeekSeek - {5074851C-F67A-488E-A9C9-C244573F4068} - C:\WINDOWS\ieasst.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {82315A18-6CFB-44a7-BDFD-90E36537C252} - C:\Program Files\QuickSearch\QuickSearchBar1_27.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &SearchBar - {0494D0D9-F8E0-41ad-92A3-14154ECE70AC} - C:\Program Files\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
(I'm assuming Mybar is another browser Hijacker)
O3 - Toolbar: QuickSearch Search Bar - {82315A18-6CFB-44a7-BDFD-90E36537C252} - C:\Program Files\QuickSearch\QuickSearchBar1_27.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ClrSchLoader] C:\Program Files\ClearSearch\Loader.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stcloader] C:\WINDOWS\System32\stcloader.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stcinstaller] c:\installer\id53.exe
STC and Clrsearch are spyware...seekseek is a browser hijacker.
The Mybar and Quicksearch bars I believe are browser hijackers also...that is unless you PURPOSELY installed them.
If you've got a toolbar or 2 that just showed up out of the blue one day then they're Browser Hijackers.
I'm not sure about the TV Media one...you may want to have at least one other person who knows HijackThis to read the log....maybe they'll spot something I missed.
Make sure you restart your p.c. after you delete those checked entries.
Let us know if that fixed things up for you.
Post Edited (05-09-04 17:55)
I highly recommend you download and install SPYWAREBLASTER.
It runs in the background and prevents websites from installing spyware and browser hijackers onto your p.c.
It doesn't cost anything and they update the huge database all the time so you're always up to date.
Go here to read more info on it and download it:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Oh and if you do get it, make sure you download several new updates and make sure that "Protection is enabled" for everything!
Post Edited (05-09-04 18:03)
thanks ash for the help but iam still getting the pop ups not as muc h as before but thier still coming. ill show the hijack to somelse and see if they could pinpoint some more stuff. thanks again for the help. if ur every in NYC and get in some trouble look up PO andrini :)
"Dont be a fool for ur tool"
Rich,
Email me. I can get you a copy of PcCillin which will take it off for you. For legal reasons though, I cannot post it here.
If you go to the PC Protection forum on Freedomlist (http://www.freedomlist.com) someone there might be able to help you. Several of the regular users are quite experienced at dealing with this kind of thing.
Another program you might be interested in is F-Prot (http://www.f-prot.com) which is an antivirus program. The DOS version is free for personal use and scans for all Windows viruses as well. The advantage to this is that if you boot in DOS mode (or from a DOS floppy), you can run it without Windows needing to be loaded. Since most viruses target Windows, if Windows isn't running, neither is the virus. My friend had a virus under XP and the removal tools weren't working for him, but the DOS version of F-Prot got it.
Of course, no antivirus program is 100% effective...
Post Edited (05-10-04 05:13)
finally i got it out. i downloaded ad-ware it got it out. i just like to thank everyone who took out time and helped me. thanks.
"Dont be a fool for ur tool"
After you get it cleaned up, get your necessary files backed up, etc, dump winders and switch to a real OS...Linux. Man, I seem to be giving this comment almost daily on one board or another. It's amazing how many headaches you will eliminate by doing this.
Amen.
Posting this through FireFox on Linux
>After you get it cleaned up, get your necessary files backed up, etc, dump
>winders and switch to a real OS...Linux. Man, I seem to be giving this comment
>almost daily on one board or another. It's amazing how many headaches you
>will eliminate by doing this.
Of course then you have the problem of compatibility...
JohnL wrote:
> Of course then you have the problem of compatibility...
With what? Linux is useful, with TONS of useful software, lots of Winders sw runs under wine, etc. Okay, so there may be some stuff that doesn't, but there is probably an alternative.
I know A BUNCH of people using Linux, and I don't hear them complaining about lack of software...that's a complaint for 8 years ago that is no longer applicable.
>With what? Linux is useful, with TONS of useful software, lots of Winders sw runs
>under wine, etc. Okay, so there may be some stuff that doesn't, but there is
>probably an alternative.
>
>I know A BUNCH of people using Linux, and I don't hear them complaining about
>lack of software...that's a complaint for 8 years ago that is no longer applicable.
Unless you want to run specific software.
Ok, I admit it, I'm talking about games. For as long as I've had a computer, I've been into computer games. In fact, if I wasn't into gaming, it's doubtful that I would have ever gotten a computer in the first place. Of course I use it for more than that, but I still consider games to be an important part of why I own a computer.
I have no direct knowledge of this, but I'd be willing to bet that not too many modern games will run under Wine.
Also, I like this bit from someone's Usenet post about Linux;
>Yuhuh, thats whats always put me off linux, everytime its like "ooh this looks
>good...*downlaod*" oh i need gaylib 4.x, but gaylib wont install without cocklar
>3.1.2.3.1.3.4.6.3, of course cocklar wont run without cheesewizz, cheesewizz
>being only availble in an unstable beta. All for what, to echo your uptime in irc :P
I've seen this happen with ports of *nix programs as well. I gave up trying to figure out how to get a working WIndows version of The Gimp graphics program because you need about a dozen other things to make it work. Back on the Amiga, there were a lot of programs ported from Unix and without fail, all of them needed additional programs and support libraries to make them work.
There there is my, admittedly, limited experience with compiling programs on a Unix shell account. First you need to go through a 20K file and set all the configuration options, like;
Disable save blocking enable=0/1
"This option will disable the option to enable the save blocking function. This option can also be set in a local configuration file, where it will override the default, unless it has been set in a global confiruation file. It can still be overridden by using the command line switch DSBE=x, unless the option to disable the disabling of user enabled features has been set at the time of compile. If this is the case, then the only way to override it is to put the line DUEF=x in the local config file, although it can still be overridden by the global config file, or by using the DUEF=x switch on the command, which will enable the use of the disabling options..."
Post Edited (05-11-04 14:17)
JohnL wrote:
>
> I have no direct knowledge of this, but I'd be willing to bet
> that not too many modern games will run under Wine.
>
(1) There are many 'modern' games that run ONLY under Linux/Unix ... a lot of server based games are *nix games, for example.
(2) If by modern games, you mean DirectX based MS games, you need a variant of Wine called WineX, which implements the DirectX API.
Many games are compatible with this emulator. For example, Battlefield 1942 runs with WineX. For a general site on this topic, see
http://www.transgaming.com/
As for your other comments, they GENERALLY apply to older distros/versions of Linux. The compiling/library issues you mentioned are largely eliminated by distributed binary packages, such as rpm (Red Hat) and deb (Debian based), and others.
On the topic of editing config files, well, that's a small price to pay for the TOTAL increase in power and versatility Linux gives...and make no mistake. I don't think I have installed a single Windows game that ran correctly 'out of the box' without some tweaking or configuration setting. The point is, as is most always the case, you are more familiar with how to do these things in Windows, and thus probably resist 'the other way' used on Linux.
For general computer use, word processing, web surfing, email, etc, etc, Linux such as Mepis Linux is so far superior to Windows (and is free, and comes with a boat load of free software, such as KOffice and OpenOffice.org, and others) it is not funny. I know of many people use Mepis once, and never go back to Windows.
It's not fair to 'condemn' a very useful OS as having software compatibility problems when that statement has not been true for at least five years. Likewise, it is not fair to further condemn it for software distribution issues (compiling errors) when
(a) these are the fault of the developer, not the OS
(b) these issues have largely been solved for a lot of popular software.
And again, to keep things On Topic to the board (a little bit, anyway), the big CGI houses are *NOT* running Windows...one could argue they are the ultimate in computer entertainment, eh?
DoomIII is due out this summer, and includes a Linux client.
http://www.linuxgames.com/news/feedback.php?identiferID=6635&action=flatview
>(2) If by modern games, you mean DirectX based MS games, you need a
Yes, that's what I mean.
>variant of Wine called WineX, which implements the DirectX API.
>
>Many games are compatible with this emulator. For example, Battlefield 1942
>runs with WineX. For a general site on this topic, see
>
>http://www.transgaming.com/
Interesting site, thanks. I searched for several of the games that I own and a couple that I plan to buy at some point. Out of all the games I searched for, only one is listed as working perfectly. 17 are listed as having problems, some mild, some severe. 23 of the games are listed as not working at all. Here's the list;
Works perfectly
---------------
Half Life
Works, but has problems
-----------------------
Curse of Monkey Island
Escape From Monkey Island
Freespace
Half Life Blue Shift*
Half Life Opposing Force
Heavy Metal f.a.k.k. 2
Homeworld
Jedi Knight
Majesty
Mortal Kombat 4
Rune
Soldier of Fortune
Spiderman*
Star Trek Elite Force
System Shock 2
Thief Gold
Thief II
Doesn't work
------------
Aliens vs. Predator Gold
Aliens vs. Predator II*
Crazy Taxi
Grand Prix 3
Heavy Gear
Lemmings Revolution
Mechwarrior 2
Mechwarrior 3
Oni
Outcast
Populous The Beginning
Project Eden
Resident Evil 3
Serious Sam The First Encounter
Silent Hill 2*
Silent Hill 3*
Star Trek Armada 2
Star Trek Elite Force 2*
Star Wars Rogue Squadron
Starlancer
Tomb Raider
X-Com: Enforcer
X-Wing
I suspect there would have been more on the not working list, but some of the games I searched weren't found (like Carnivores 2, Prince of Persia 3D).
>The point is, as is most always the case, you are more familiar with how to do
>these things in Windows, and thus probably resist 'the other way' used on Linux.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not really a fan of Windows. Personally, I liked the Amiga, it was easy to use, there was a lot of free software for it (I don't think there ever was a commercial virus scanner on Amiga, they were all freeware), and if things went wrong with it, it was a snap to restore a backup copy of the OS. Unfortunately, it never had the kind of mainstream support that Windows did (that and Commodore just let the design stagnate for years...) so it died off. Unfortunately, for a lot of stuff, if you want to run it, it means using Windows. I've love to be able to dump Windows, but for years with the Amiga I sat back and saw all the great looking new games that I couldn't run because they were for IBM clones. Now I finally have one, and however much I hate Windows, I'm not about to switch to a possibly superior OS and be back to not being able to run the software I want.
>For general computer use, word processing, web surfing, email, etc, etc, Linux
>such as Mepis Linux is so far superior to Windows (and is free, and comes with a
>boat load of free software, such as KOffice and OpenOffice.org, and others) it is
>not funny.
I assume that there are Linux programs to play all the common video formats? Such as Quicktime 6+, Real Video 9, WMV9 etc? What about codecs like DivX 5.11, Xvid, 3ivx, VP3 etc? As well as DVD player software?
>It's not fair to 'condemn' a very useful OS as having software compatibility
>problems when that statement has not been true for at least five years.
Judging by the search results from the WineX site, the compatibility is still fairly poor for Windows games.