Rootkit malware hides on the UEFI Boot and Recovery partitions
Sometimes the only way to get rid is to nuke the drive and reinstall clean.
Microsoft Safety Scanner is a scan tool designed to find and remove malware from Windows computers. Simply download it and run a scan to find malware and try to reverse changes made by identified threats.
The security intelligence update version of the Microsoft Safety Scanner matches the version described in this web page.
Safety Scanner only scans when manually triggered and is available for use 10 days after being downloaded. We recommend that you always download the latest version of this tool before each scan.
Safety scanner is a portable executable and does not appear in the Windows Start menu or as an icon on the desktop. Note where you saved this download.
I have still got the original SATA Seagate ST500DM002 hard drive and had replaced it with an SSD drive to speed things up.
I understand your logic of replacing the HD and doing the clean install, but the SSD drive is still under warranty so if I do a clean install on it and if I still have the problem I'll send it back.
You do not link a site where dell supports non dell hardware and phones not from dell. So My original Statement stands. You have not provided a PPID for DELL Cell phones or a Model Number for Dell Cell phones or DELL ISP service.
You have not found ANY page where Dell sells 3G 4G phones and supports Internet via a tethered phone aka Android or Apple. Microsoft bought nokia and then threw in the towel essentially making Android and IOS the only game in town.
Dell does support Skype headsets and Desk phones made by poly-com and other vendors however there are ZERO Cell phones.
“tethering.” The connection can be done VIA a USB CABLE OR BLUETOOTH OR standalone WIFI hotspot device, which Verizon calls a Jetpack
No cable is needed for WWAN card because its internal to laptops as is the SIM card slot.
The other bad news is that 3g will soon be retired. Only 4g and 5g will be available at that point.
We’re phasing out our 3G network by February 2022 to make room for 5g that will improve your experience.
Talk and data services won’t work for wireless phones and devices that don’t support at least 4G LTE and HD Voice.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 05:00
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download
This is not a panacea.
Definition of panacea
Rootkit malware hides on the UEFI Boot and Recovery partitions
Sometimes the only way to get rid is to nuke the drive and reinstall clean.
Microsoft Safety Scanner is a scan tool designed to find and remove malware from Windows computers. Simply download it and run a scan to find malware and try to reverse changes made by identified threats.
Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (32-bit)
Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (64-bit)
Note
Starting November 2019, Safety Scanner will be SHA-2 signed exclusively. Your devices must be updated to support SHA-2 in order to run Safety Scanner. To learn more, see 2019 SHA-2 Code Signing Support requirement for Windows and WSUS.
Important information
The security intelligence update version of the Microsoft Safety Scanner matches the version described in this web page.
Safety Scanner only scans when manually triggered and is available for use 10 days after being downloaded. We recommend that you always download the latest version of this tool before each scan.
Safety scanner is a portable executable and does not appear in the Windows Start menu or as an icon on the desktop. Note where you saved this download.
This tool does not replace your antimalware product. For real-time protection with automatic updates, use Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10 and Windows 8 or Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows 7. These antimalware products also provide powerful malware removal capabilities. If you are having difficulties removing malware with these products, you can refer to our help on removing difficult threats.
The Gaer
1 Rookie
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13 Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 09:00
I have run Microsoft Defender Offline Scan and Microsoft Safety Scanner (full scan), both have returned with nothing detected.
I think it is time to do a do a clean install.
Not sure when I will do it as I need the computer at the moment and it takes only a minute to disable and unable the network driver.
Thank you for all your advice. I am extremely grateful.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 09:00
buy a new drive and reinstall on that clean.
https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-Internal-Drive-3-5-Inch/dp/B07H2RR55Q
Put old drive in a dock or use drive wire to recover the data.
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-FIDECO-Converter-5-25-Inch-DVD-ROM/dp/B077N2KK27
if you set to AHCI and use OEM dvd it cannot be infected during install
Home or Pro dvd does not matter because the disks are the same.
https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-64-bit-installation-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350237
They are not making any more of these and $12 is a good price for a forever disk.
I recommend you buy this today because when they are gone they will never be restocked
Windows 7 is EOL as is windows 8.
In the future its 64 bit only windows 10 only.
20H2 does not accept windows 7 coa keys.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
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9.4K Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 10:00
"Dell absolutely does not support cellular tethering or cellular 3g 4g ISP."
So I couldn't find proof of that. However, Win10 has plenty of support for cell phone tethering.
The Gaer
1 Rookie
•
13 Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 10:00
I have still got the original SATA Seagate ST500DM002 hard drive and had replaced it with an SSD drive to speed things up.
I understand your logic of replacing the HD and doing the clean install, but the SSD drive is still under warranty so if I do a clean install on it and if I still have the problem I'll send it back.
Thank you.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 4th, 2021 14:00
Dell absolutely does not support cellular tethering or cellular 3g 4g ISP."
@bradthetechnut
So I couldn't find proof of that.
You do not link a site where dell supports non dell hardware and phones not from dell. So My original Statement stands. You have not provided a PPID for DELL Cell phones or a Model Number for Dell Cell phones or DELL ISP service.
DELL Does support Gobi and other Internal cards made for specific dell laptop models where the SIM slot is in the battery area. Those are NOT Cell phones. And the Service is Verizon or ATT etc not DELL. WWAN CARDS https://www.amazon.com/Dell-DW5630-Qualcomm-Wireless-0269Y/dp/B00WKELN6O
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=r7hfp
You have not found ANY page where Dell sells 3G 4G phones and supports Internet via a tethered phone aka Android or Apple. Microsoft bought nokia and then threw in the towel essentially making Android and IOS the only game in town.
Dell does support Skype headsets and Desk phones made by poly-com and other vendors however there are ZERO Cell phones.
“tethering.” The connection can be done VIA a USB CABLE OR BLUETOOTH OR standalone WIFI hotspot device, which Verizon calls a Jetpack
No cable is needed for WWAN card because its internal to laptops as is the SIM card slot.
The other bad news is that 3g will soon be retired. Only 4g and 5g will be available at that point.
We’re phasing out our 3G network by February 2022 to make room for 5g that will improve your experience.
Talk and data services won’t work for wireless phones and devices that don’t support at least 4G LTE and HD Voice.