Beware of Gamevance
By Connie
@connierebel (1557)
United States
December 22, 2009 4:11pm CST
I just lost my computer to a Gamevance virus. I don't even know how it got installed on my computer, because I don't play any games there, but recently I started getting all these popup ads that said Gamevance Ads on the bottom, even though I have Firefox set to block popups. I started having a problem with Firefox freezing up after almost every click, and then one day I noticed that Gamevance was installed. I went into the Add or Remove Programs and uninstalled it, but then it said in order for the uninstall to complete the computer needed to be restarted. When I restarted it, the computer would not restart. The first Dell screen comes up, but Windows won't load. So I guess it would be cheaper to buy another laptop than try to get this one fixed, as I don't have a disc for the computer (it was used when I got it), and it is 3 years old anyway. But I just wanted to warn everybody.
1 response
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 09
You ought to be able to order a repair disc for your PC from Dell. This should be free apart from, perhaps, a handling and shipping charge.
If your PC were actually operational, you could remove Gamevance by following the instructions here: http://www.exterminate-it.com/malpedia/remove-gamevance .
Another site that details removal is: http://www.pc1news.com/news/0914/number-1-viruses-adware-gamevance.html . You say, though, you have already tried removing it in Add/Remove programs.
Other alternatives are to buy a new version of Windows or to install Ubuntu or another version of Linux. If you don't know what Ubuntu is, it is a free (open source) version of an entirely different OS to Windows. You can download and create an install CD which contains not only the OS but many useful tools, including Firefox and the complete Open Office.
@connierebel (1557)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I don't think I can get a repair disc from Dell, because when I got one from HP for my desktop, I had to give them all sorts of information like the purchase date. I don't know when the computer was originally purchased, as I got it used. I am looking into getting Linux put it. I have a friend that swears by that OS, and I'm sure he can put it into my computer. I just am not sure whether I could do offers on GPT sites with it, or if they would credit.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
27 Dec 09
I understand about it being a used computer! There is no harm in trying, however. Dell have better customer support than HP but most large computer companies are concerned about supporting computers which may have been stolen, so they have a duty to ask, I suppose!
Linux is a very good OS. It isn't hard to install and it tends to be faster and more secure than Windows (but really only because more people write viruses for Windows than for Linux). I haven't any experience of using GPT sites under Linux but most sites will store your data on their own server so it shouldn't matter what OS or browser you use. Cookies work in much the same way under Linux as they do in Windows/Firefox.
