A weird thing happened to me today – my hard drive sounded as though it was spinning fast enough to lift the tower off the table. I assumed it was hard disk activity because someone was attempting to hack my PC so immediately started to look through the log files of my firewall software (Outpost Firewall Pro 4). It did look like there were a lot of constant hits using the svchost.exe / UDP scanning through all port 1000 to 5000 and then back again so I went on to the Outpost forum. No one seemed to be able to help and I got distracted doing something else.

The hard disk noise went away so I stopped worrying but considered removing my router (Linksys WAG2000G) and connecting up my old SpeedTouch modem which I can connect and disconnect manually whereas the router logs on automatically when the PC is powered up.

So I went to eat and when I return the hard disk was spinning loudly again – obviously I wasn’t doping anything but the PC was online so I assumed there was a hacker afoot. I began looking at the routers configuration file to see how it varied from the Cisco 2600 routers we use on the CCNA course I’m doing at college and it is different in look and feel being a GUI interface as the Cisco boxes are all configured from the command line which you have to have in your head and enter then in logical strings. The Linksys has each area grouped together and its easier to get an overview of the set up for Wireless security for example on one screen.

While checking and changing the configuration set up for the router, the final save settings’ attempt failed and the PC shut down. When I rebooted I discovered that the router setup had gone completely (luckily I have a back up of the config file, but not used it yet), and to add to this lots of executables wouldn’t run ad I’m talking Word, Excel, System Restore!

A few months ago I got an MBR virus which resulted in the PC not even booting into Windows (the virus was on track zero of the hard disk and this is the code to instruct the hardware which OS (Windows / Linux / MacOS) to load. So a few months ago I remembered getting a CD with a PC magazine called The Ultimate Boot CD which claimed to rescue your PC from “anything”. I had nothing to loose. So after a few hours in DOS, remembering the commands and structure of this CD I finally, more by accident installed various software that rescued by Windows XP installation and restored to MBR information – the PC was back up and running although to this day I still have to click an extra screen at startup (or wait 30 seconds) – its some sort of screen that gives you the option to boot into more than one OS – even though I only have XP installed – at least I think it solved the MBR problem along the way… I’m too scared to remove it in case the problem returns.

Anyway today I inserted the same magic CD hoping it would resolve my current problem but after a while I realised I needed to boot into Safe Mode and do a System Restore from there – it worked but took a lot longer than previous (30 mins) and I expected the PC to freeze any moment, but luck was on my side. Only time will tell.

I seriously need to back up all personal files and downloaded computer program / TV programmes / films and music, and then look into strting from scratch an installing the copy of XP Pro that I’ve had for a few months.