I was trying to download some software on my computer and it installed some f$&@#% malware. When I went to delete it my wifi was gone and it only allows me to access internet via Ethernet. Win 7 platform. God damnit I f’ing hate windows.
Oh, and my question is: how the hell do I fix it?
I’m not a tech but the support site of MS has a clean uninstall program that you can download to try and uninstall the software you added although I doubt it will remove the malware as well.
I believe they also have a scan program that can detect and remove malware programs from the system
Once that’s done you should be able to simply reboot and get your wifi back as the OS should see it missing and reinstall it automatically
Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in, good luck!
It’s a “why the hell did you install that software” issue, not a Windows issue.
Reboot to safe-mode and system restore to a date previous to the time you installed the malware.
Might help, but sorry can’t do anything about Windows itself… 
I’ve done that before. Worked for me, hopefully it will for you.
Reformat and reinstall from a recent backup. You do backup, right?
I am a moderator on another forum. Recently one of the forum members posted a link to a website. Being a good moderator, I clicked on the link to check it out. Turns out the website downloads ransom malware onto the computer of whoever visits the site. It was a new and particularly heinous version of ransom malware. My malware protection program never even saw it.
After two days of trying to remove it, I finally threw up my hands and reformatted my hard drive. I was fortunate to have a three day old backup to reinstall from. The other new stuff I needed I was able to recover from my email server.
Two wasted days trying to avoid losing my hard drive data. Then reformatting anyway. The best part is that I got rid of all of the old junk hanging around on my hard drive when I reformatted.
Back up often. Don’t waste time trying to disinfect, just reformat and reinstall. It’s easier in the long run.
You beat me to it, Denny.
Around these parts, we call it “operator error.”
On a more helpful note, I’d download and run Malwarebytes to clean your system.
Your wifi should be able to be enabled via your internet settings. I know in Windows 7 they made it more complicated. If 8 is anything like it, you should be able to diagnose the connections from an icon in the lower right.
If the hardware is not recognized, you’ll need to go to your device manager and try to reinstall the hardware. Deleting it from device manager and rebooting typically takes care of it. I assume 8 still uses device manager.
I would try malwarebytes then spybot search and destroy then do the restore (possibly in safe mode)
Reinstall if none of that works unless you want to spend untold hours attempting to remove manually assuming you even can figure out how
A key point may also be to download Malwarebytes and Spybot from a different computer. Install via a flash drive. You may need to boot to safe mode to install.
A lot of times, the newer viruses will disable your ability to download and install removal software.
Worst case, pull your hard drive and scan it from a different computer via a usb enclosure.
Removal is possible. Reinstallation can be easier and faster if you can get your data off or have it backed up.
That’s BS, man. I was trying to install Beer Tools Pro and it wanted me to install some type of zip opener. Yeah, it probably wasn’t BTP fault but it sure looked like I needed it to instal the software to un-zip BTP.
I can assure you that security problems like this DO NOT EXIST on the Mac. I have NEVER had a problem with ad-malware taking over my computer on ANY Mac I EVER owned. Period. End of story.
Crap like this infuriates me. So, some f’ing a$s hat tricks me into installing a software I don’t need (and it was cleverly done) and I’m the problem. That’s wrong. This sort of thing should be illegal. This is invasion of privacy. This is like someone breaking into your house and hanging ads up that you can’t remove. It’s wrong. It’s not my fault someone company tricks me into downloading malware.
Doesn’t happen on Mac. Ever.
Good to see someone else who uses Malwarebytes. I love it.
OK, let’s back this up a bit…first, I’m sorry to hear about your problems. I know it can happen. But to explain my position, let me tell you I have been using PCs since 1982. I’ve also used Apples machines for about that long. In all that time I have gotten exactly one virus on a PC, about 20 years ago. I eradicated it quickly and easily. I have also seen friends who have Macs get malware on their machines. No, it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. About as often as I’ve had a virus on my PC.
So, sorry to hear about your problems. I hope some of the suggestions here help you. In the future, I know you’ll be more aware of this and hopefully not d/l anything you aren’t certain about.
BTW, Windows has zip/unzip software built into it.
That’s the problem. This looked like it came directly from the BTP website. It completely tricked me. I do not look at porn, don’t play on line games, barely look at facebook. I don’t do anything except this forum, gmail, google news and amazon. That’s it.
And I have Malwarebytes but apparently in needed updated. What a PITA to have to update constantly to keep your computer safe from predators. It’s like having to change the locks on your doors every couple of weeks.
Complete invasion of privacy. I can’t understand why this is legal. People who run these businesses should be thrown in the deepest pits of hell.
And BTW I’m surfing the forum from my Mac, at home, that’s been around for almost 10 years and while it’s slow, doesn’t have any problems. The HP laptop I have is barely a year old and all but one of the USB ports is fried and I’ve already had to have the HD replaced. That’s an HP problem, not a windows problems. But I swear I’ll never buy another HP computer again if I decide to stay with Windows.
OTOH, I’m using a 4 year old HP laptop that has never had a problem. Which of us is the anomaly? BTW, my laptop before this was a \Toshiba and the one after this likely will be. Still, not a single problem with this one.
Malware, spyware, computer virus’ in general really annoy me too. Fortunately to this point my inconvenience has been limited to that and not a more serious or costly invasion of my privacy. What I’m curious about is, who makes this sh!t? A$$hats indeed.
Its seems like most manufacturers have issues with lemons here and there. Personally, I had a Gateway from 1994 that I drove into the ground for over 10 years without and issue. After that I had a Dell laptop that was an absolute PITA, POS. That said, our IT guys at work seem to just love them. I currently run a MacBook from 2007 that is starting to slow but has worked really well and no issues AFAIK with malware or virus. I also have an HP laptop that is a little over a year old that I primarily use for GIS applications and minimal web exposure and its been good so far. Macs tend to be about twice as expensive though compared to comparable PCs that I would consider as alternatives, so there’s also that.
I breathed a fresh life into my 08 toshiba satallite by installing the latest Lubuntu. Ol’ laptop is pretty snappy now despite some pixels going out; one usb port failing and having shot speakers. As long as this machine works I see no reason to replace. And not to harp on the linux/ubuntu thing but viruses and malware are of no consideration at all to me.
Installing linux with a reformat is like a 15 minute experience. How’s the windows fresh install these days? I remember it being rather tedious.