Hi all,
I’ll try to keep this as short as possible. (Took longer to perform this than type it out. Well…almost.)
I started my desktop PC (WIN7 HP) performed my usual duties, such as checking my web mail etc etc.
I decided to manually update my AV apps. (Malwarebytes, SUPERAntispyware, Spyware Blaster, Avast does auto updates),
then I manually updated Comodo firewall. Version 8.2.0.4674
(I do manual updates coz I had a minor glitch a while ago.)
Comodo said that it needed to re-boot the PC.
I delayed that operation.
I then proceeded to carry on with a few other things.
Afterwards I re-booted the PC…BUT (This is where it gets a tad weird),
The Welcome screen & Windows boot up all looked “normal.”
Except that all I ended up with was a black screen with my animated cursor doing it’s thing.
I waited for a while, but nothing appeared.
So…I went through the following…
Tried to load in F8 safe mode with networking & tried to find what was wrong. Result = Windows reported that it could not repair the files/system.
Tried a System Restore in F8 safe mode. Result = Nothing doing there either.
I tried to do a Windows Repair using my retail WIN7 disc. Result = Nothing doing.
Oh yes. A peek into the Event Viewer through the 3 finger exercise, revealed that I there was
“NO OS to be found on this disc.” ( My “C” drive…Really?)
By now, things are getting rather fruitless, as far as I was concerned,
so, I called my IT guy.
He duly arrived a few Hrs later & I explained the sequence of events.
We checked various things, such as virus logs, virus vaults, etc., etc.
Nothing was found to be hiding or interfering with anything nor was anything suss found.
He then managed to open Comodo in Windows safe mode & proceeded to examine the files &
all the features of Comodo.
Upon opening the Sand Box…Guess what he/we found?
Right at the top of the list was… wait for it…wait…for…it…
Comodo.exe…[edit]or a derivative there-of[/edit]…along with all my “normally run at start-up” programs.
He then proceeded to try to uninstall Comodo from Programs & Features.
This “partially” worked.
We tried to find the Comodo “un-installer” for version 8, but could not find anything.
Anyway, after firing up my laptop, we found the installer for Comodo, D/L’d it,
transferred it over to the PC.
We made sure, after a few re-boots & a thorough registry check & clean, that Comodo was nowhere to be found.
We installed Comodo CIS firewall, did some reconfiguring & re-booted the PC.
I am now typing this on that/this fully functioning PC with Comodo just
“doing it’s thing, as all good firewalls, should.”
NOW! The question.
Why/how the H%&& did Comodo’s Sandbox end up placing the Comodo.exe, [edit]or a derivative there-of[/edit], into that Sand Box, along with all my normal start up programs?
If anyone can answer that, I & my IT guy will be most happy to hear/read.
Sorry for the long post, but it was a rather involved process & took about 5 Hrs all up.
Check here, check there…re-boot…yada yada yada.
Thanks for reading & hoping for a reason WHY?
Ta muchly.