Do I have a virus? Should I reset my laptop? Helios 300

CrafterFan2020
CrafterFan2020 Member Posts: 3 New User
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives
I am no expert when it comes to technology, so I figured this is the best place to ask. For a bit of backround, I've had my Acer Helios 300 laptop for over 2 and a half years and it's been great. However lately (mid-late October) I've noticed some odd things, and I suspect I might have malware or something else nasty. Done multiple virus scans with Keperskey and nothing was detected. Heres a list of things I've noticed.
1. Laptop seems to take a little bit longer to boot up then it used to.
2. When left idle with google pages open, there have been instances when I returned, as soon as I clicked with the mouse all pages were closed at once. 
3.When left idle, there have been instances when I return, as soon as I started using the laptop it would go into a "sleep mode". Even when I used the keyboard and mouse it would take up to 15-25ish seconds to turn on again.

For the record, other than the things I listed, my laptop seems to work like normal. Id also like to point out #2-3 dont happen every single time I use my laptop, but longer boot up time happens every time I boot up the laptop. Now say I were to reset my laptop to ease my mind. Would Microsoft Windows automatically be reinstalled, or would I have to buy a new copy of the operating system? I would appreciate any feedback on what I should do. 

Answers

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    It's impossible to say if you have malware, most the time if you do it just sits in the background doing what is was made to do

    As for re installing, your licence key is saved in the UEFI , you can back this up using a powershell command if you really want as well

    You can download the windows media creation toolkit from Microsoft directly to install windows, or use system restore to go back to 'factory' settings which will have all the Acer stuff and drivers on it allready. Windows 10 also has a 'spring clean' option if you want to keep everything.

    If you choose to re install fresh, you probs will need to spend half the day getting drivers and all theittle apps like the predator sense and tb controllers

    Windows slowing down after a few years is pretty common :)
  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,774 Pathfinder
    Resetting would not help in case of virus or malware (assuming that's the case). You need a clean install of windows.
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  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    Wel it really depends on the persistence, if it was just a service a reset would get it but the chances of malware being the culprit are slim (but not impossible)
  • CrafterFan2020
    CrafterFan2020 Member Posts: 3 New User
    Leostat said:
    It's impossible to say if you have malware, most the time if you do it just sits in the background doing what is was made to do

    As for re installing, your licence key is saved in the UEFI , you can back this up using a powershell command if you really want as well

    You can download the windows media creation toolkit from Microsoft directly to install windows, or use system restore to go back to 'factory' settings which will have all the Acer stuff and drivers on it allready. Windows 10 also has a 'spring clean' option if you want to keep everything.

    If you choose to re install fresh, you probs will need to spend half the day getting drivers and all theittle apps like the predator sense and tb controllers

    Windows slowing down after a few years is pretty common :)
     Thanks for your input. Now how would AI know if I even have malware or a virus. Are there any tests I can do that dont require downloading any new software? 
  • CrafterFan2020
    CrafterFan2020 Member Posts: 3 New User
    Leostat said:
    Wel it really depends on the persistence, if it was just a service a reset would get it but the chances of malware being the culprit are slim (but not impossible)
    Hey thanks for your advice. What exactly do you mean by service? 
  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    There really isn't anything you can do, anti virus software can only detect suspicious behaviour and things it knows about, if it isnt flagging anything then there ain't much else you can do. You can try another anti malware product to see if that detects anything but they are all much of a muchness 

    A service is a way things start in windows , start ->services. Sometimes malware will add a service to start itself on boot (this was just background and there isn't a way of knowing a good service from a bad one!) 

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