I need urgent help with my laptop! I downloaded what was supposed to be a Minecraft mod manager and even scanned it with Malwarebytes, which reported it as safe. But then, my apps started flashing all over my screen and the laptop began to act up. After going through Malwarebytes again, I quarantined and deleted the suspicious files I found. I tried using Wise Force Deleter to remove other files, but then my screen flashed blue and now it only shows a grey screen when I turn it on. I rely on this laptop for college and all my games, so I'm really worried. Is there a way to save it?
2 Answers
First things first, disconnect your laptop from the internet to prevent any potential virus from accessing your accounts. Your priority should be saving your data. If you have another computer available, create a bootable USB with something like Ubuntu Linux so you can access your files. Boot into Ubuntu, and if you can see your files, transfer them to a USB drive. After that, you can use a Windows installer USB to format your laptop and do a clean install of Windows. Also, remember to check your online accounts for anything suspicious and enable two-factor authentication as a precaution!
I managed to wipe the laptop using the power button and the shift key. Not sure if that was the right move, but I couldn't figure anything else out. Hopefully, this will let me access the laptop again.
Unless you stumbled upon rare BIOS malware, a clean install of Windows should wipe out any remaining issues. Just make sure your laptop is off the internet. You can also change your passwords and set up 2FA using a trusted device. To recover files, you'll likely need to borrow a friend's computer to create a Linux boot USB. Booting into Linux will help you safely copy important files before performing a clean Windows install to eliminate any malware. If you retrieve any files, remember to scan them thoroughly before reintroducing them to your laptop!
If you've done a proper reset and can access everything you need, you should be fine. However, a check-up wouldn't hurt, especially to ensure there are no lingering issues. Better safe than sorry!
I reset the computer with the shift key and power button, and now it’s up and running! I managed to reinstall Steam and get back my games, and I can access OneDrive for my school files. I’ve lost everything else, but honestly, that's okay. Do you think it’s safe now, or should I take it to a professional to check?
I don’t have another laptop. My accounts seem fine for now, and I’ve disconnected from Wi-Fi. I’m so nervous about my dad finding out—it's 4 AM and he'll be up soon. Is there any way to fix it without borrowing another laptop?