Mac OS X Dissapointing: Back to Windows

[NewishMacGuy]

Hearing you on the lack of problem freeness. That's initially why I switched way back when in 2002, and it was true then. Things have gone downhill since on both the hardware and software fronts, I went from zero problems ever to fairly consistent hardware problems and occasional software problems. Some of our computers have even crashed a couple of times in the last three years! Still, for as much Apple product as I have in my house and for as many people as are using it, being the household IT admin and 24hr tech support has consumed FAR less of my time than it did when we ran a much smaller Windoze network with many fewer computers and peripherals.

 

[ElectricSheep]

I did install a few things to be able to view internet videos.

There's a DNS hijacker trojan floating around that uses this vector. It preys upon the ignorance of the user, and a little social engineering to convince you to mount the disk image containing an installer that applies the hijacker. Most places that I've run across that carry the trojan are porn-site mockups. There is an identical version for Windows that leverages Internet Explorer and/or ActiveX.

This is why you should only download software from reputable sources. This isn't a new concept and has been true for more than a decade. Do not download software from sources you do not know or trust, and if you do don't run the installer and type your password.

My laptop sits on my nightstand now, I haven't used it in almost 2 weeks. I got it back after the second virus was cleared and to be honest I wanted to game with a few buddies from work. Unfortunately my mac book wont run 98% of the games out there so I ended up lugging my pc over to the nominated house.

You do know that you can install Windows XP and/or Windows Vista on that Mac Book? Not through an emulator, but a full-blown copy of Windows? Or, maybe you didn't know and were convinced you had a $3,000 AU paperweight.

 

[DerekS]

A virus? EXTREMELY unlikely.

Several other, much more likely causes:

• Bad ram (it happens, even on Macs)
• Faulty hard drive (it happens, even on Macs)

In either event, you're warranty-covered and could get it fixed for free.

I would recommend running Rember for several hours (google it) to test the memory, and Apple Hardware Test (google it) for testing the remainder of the machine.

 

[Quillz]

Typical thread with typical Apple crusaders burning anyone at the stack who dare prefers Windows to Mac.

The important thing is you're using the OS that works best for you. For me, that's Mac OS X. For you, that's Windows. And that's great. The world's a better place with choice.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

I suggest you try reinstalling and starting afresh. Then install perian for quicktime and don't install any more codecs..

Am i right in saying that the only known virus for mac is through quicktime?

Yup. Perian is exactly what you need. Just reinstall OSX and then install perian. It will allow QT to play almost all of the videos except for may some real media and other crap. Give your MB one more try and if it still doesnt work than you always have the BOOTCAMP option.

 

[Quillz]

Why on earth would you buy a Macbook if you wanted to play games on it?

A MacBook is a very well built laptop, has strong build quality, good battery life, etc. And it can run Windows, so you can game. The GMA 950 is better than a lot of people seem to think, and can actually run many games, even ones that were only released a few years back.

 

[pjrobertson]

When you said the guy from the store installed some program that your wife paid for..... made me think he was trying to scare you into buying bloatware for your Mac.

A pity you've switched back to Windows, but if it works for you then that's all you need.

I switched about 4 months ago now, and I have had a few problems (I've had a few program crashes but no total crashes yet...) and OS X isn't as fast as I'd expecting (always want more 😉) but I have to say it's so much better than Windows.

If you want to give Macs another try, go out and install OS X again (it's really easy, easier than Windows 😛) and do as everyone else has said. Just DO NOT put in your password unless you're sure you know why you're being asked for it.


Edit; just seen your post Quillz

The GMA 950 is better than a lot of people seem to think, and can actually run many games, even ones that were only released a few years back.

He'll have the X3100, which is 'supposed' to be better than the 950 (when we get some decent drivers.)

 

[darkcurse]

Instead of blaming the thread starter, I'm more apt to put the blame on the person whom you spoke to at the "Mac store". Whether or not you were infected by a trojan is highly unlikely because if you practice even the most basic of internet security (which you coming from a windows world I'm sure you already know) it makes Mac OSX almost impenetrable. I would like to know how something like a trojan can lock up your entire Mac Book and why the person you talked to at the store immediately cited a trojan/virus as the cause.

 

[yellow]

I have to say, im a patient guy, but to sell me a product on the merit its hassle free / bug free / virus free and than for me to have it less than a month and a half and it crash from viruses twice (twice more than my pc)... sorry folks im over it.

Uh, exactly which "viruses" would those be?

 

[bigjnyc]

a little research before buying would have told you that macbooks arent good for gaming. if you were interested in gaming you should have purchased a macbook pro, then run bootcamp on it for games that are windows-only

 

[gnasher729]

Very nice prose, but the question is: Do we believe your sob story? I am sure if you post which Apple Store you visited, then some enterprising people here will be able to contact them and verify the truth of your story.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

Okay, a bit of a collection of the important points of the thread to help you, man.

First: Anyone who's directly attacking you, ignore. It's ridiculous and unneeded.

That said, you do not have a virus. Like many have said, a trojan is entirely possible and possibly likely if you were installing some shady things. You may not realise they're shady, but if you didn't know they were reputable, they're probably not a good idea. There are no viruses for Mac OS X, meaning no downloads can hide themselves, install themselves, and replicate themselves, unless you the admin give them your root password.

Two: Don't blame yourself, or give up. These things can happen really easy, and even when you're being careful, no one is 100% foolproof. "Hey, this looks like a neat addition to my quicktime, let's download it." can be very tempting. I'd recommend what other's have and just reinstall Mac OS X and give it another go. Keep your Windows box and your Macbook with you, come on here, look through the Macrumors cool programs lists and guides, customise a bit, and just do stuff. After you're pretty happy, spend a while just doing things normal without much downloading and stuff, and see what you think then. I'm sure most here would agree when I say that Mac OS X is a wonderful Operating System.

Third: Don't get too stressed out, give it another go, and if you decide it's not for you, then who cares? Just go back to Windows, because as long as you're using something that helps your workflow and isn't too stressful, what does it matter what it is? Linux, Sun, Windows, OS X, just use whatever you like best.

On a side note, though, how the hell does a Macbook cost $3000 in Australia?! That's like 14-1800 more than in the U.S...

 

[gnasher729]

No, just general browsing. I did install a few things to be able to view internet videos. But I mean you do tend to take on a sense of invincibility when your told viruses bounce off your Mac Book like dead flies.

Let me take a guess what kind of "internet videos".

 

[minicoop503]

Okay, a bit of a collection of the important points of the thread to help you, man.

First: Anyone who's directly attacking you, ignore. It's ridiculous and unneeded.

That said, you do not have a virus. Like many have said, a trojan is entirely possible and possibly likely if you were installing some shady things. You may not realise they're shady, but if you didn't know they were reputable, they're probably not a good idea. There are no viruses for Mac OS X, meaning no downloads can hide themselves, install themselves, and replicate themselves, unless you the admin give them your root password.

Two: Don't blame yourself, or give up. These things can happen really easy, and even when you're being careful, no one is 100% foolproof. "Hey, this looks like a neat addition to my quicktime, let's download it." can be very tempting. I'd recommend what other's have and just reinstall Mac OS X and give it another go. Keep your Windows box and your Macbook with you, come on here, look through the Macrumors cool programs lists and guides, customise a bit, and just do stuff. After you're pretty happy, spend a while just doing things normal without much downloading and stuff, and see what you think then. I'm sure most here would agree when I say that Mac OS X is a wonderful Operating System.

Third: Don't get too stressed out, give it another go, and if you decide it's not for you, then who cares? Just go back to Windows, because as long as you're using something that helps your workflow and isn't too stressful, what does it matter what it is? Linux, Sun, Windows, OS X, just use whatever you like best.

On a side note, though, how the hell does a Macbook cost $3000 in Australia?! That's like 14-1800 more than in the U.S...

I agree. I don't know what it is with you people, but why do you tend to flame and totally bash anyone that doesn't prefer Apple or OSX and treat them as some deity?


To the OP, that stinks to hear you had problems. I'm currently using windows, and I had an eMac, and although I liked it and all I also had some problema and I'm sort of used to windows for now. Maybe that will change as I continue to use the eMac more often though.


Good luck if you decide to try to fix your Mac Book

 

[farbeyond]

First of all mate, sorry to hear you had some problems with your new Mac. There is nothing worse then forking out a fairly decent amount of money then only to find the damn thing fails on you in the first 30 days!

I'm just wondering, what version of the OS are you running? I know of 1 or 2 exploits in the wild currently but with 10.5.2 and 10.5.3 (soon) you would be fairly safe. Second point is, you seem fairly switched on so I doubt you'd install something from an untrusted source? If you did then unlucky and be more careful next time. Also on a final point, who was it who looked at your laptop? It's sometimes good to get a second opinion, especially if you've taken it to a run of the mill computer store where the people who work there are not trained to deal with Apple problems.

 

[cohibadad]

I'm feeling the need for a newbie forum

 

[applefan69]

First of all mate, sorry to hear you had some problems with your new Mac. There is nothing worse then forking out a fairly decent amount of money then only to find the damn thing fails on you in the first 30 days!

I'm just wondering, what version of the OS are you running? I know of 1 or 2 exploits in the wild currently but with 10.5.2 and 10.5.3 (soon) you would be fairly safe. Second point is, you seem fairly switched on so I doubt you'd install something from an untrusted source? If you did then unlucky and be more careful next time. Also on a final point, who was it who looked at your laptop? It's sometimes good to get a second opinion, especially if you've taken it to a run of the mill computer store where the people who work there are not trained to deal with Apple problems.

Exactly, if im gonna blame anyone, im gonna blame the person who looked at your computer. I REALLY wouldnt be surprised if that prson wasnt experienced with OS X at all. So what he would do would be something like this:

*looks at laptop, sees it locked up*
*decides ... "well, I seen this happen before on Windows, so its probably the same in OS X, its a virus"*
*he googles "OS X anti-virus software"* he finds some random website made by some random company that thoguht this would be necessary*
*he buys and install it*
*charges your wife for the software... plus 20 bucks because hes a greedy douche*

*You get your laptop back, its not fixed at all, because the software he boguht really wasnt right at all. You feel like OS X is a piece of crap, you let us know of your opinion, but get flamed by n00bs*

There we go i think that summarizes what happened.

Im sorry to hear this, I hate to sound like im bashing computer tech guys and such but for some reason i cant force myself to trust them or give them credibility. Whihc in a way is a little hypocritical, because I consider myself a computer tech guy, and im always willing to fix my friends computers and stuff... i guess the difference between me and rest of them is i do it for free because im nice and its really not that hard to do.

 

[yadmonkey]

As others have said, it would probably be a good idea to do a clean install of the operating system using the disks which came with your Mac. Then proceed to enjoy your Mac, but be careful about what software you choose to install. Go through reputable sites like Macupdate.com and read reviews. If you have any doubts, then come to these forums and ask before installing something.

Macs are very secure, but no computer is invulnerable to trojans. But the fact is a trojan doesn't install itself - you had to give it your password.

Oh, and don't get scared away by the freaks on this forum who decided to attack you rather than help. There are lots of friendly folks here who will help, but yes, there are also a fair number of mildly psychotic people who attach an unnatural amount of their sense of self-worth to their choice in personal computers. Ignore them. They won't go away though.

 

[esXXI]

I like how this chain of thought goes:

- MacBook's internet stops, crashes/freezes/etc.
- Reseller who makes money selling you things says it's a virus and sells you software to "fix" it.
- MacBook gets 're-infected'.

How about your HDD is faulty? Or your airport card? Maybe a wireless driver has screwed permissions. I don't see where the leap to virus/trojans is coming from.

There's like three trojans even known enough to potentially cause harm like this. One is the result of trying to pirate Office, another is from installing a plugin from a porn site (which anyone stupid enough to fall for needs their virtual wrist slapped - nothing good comes from installing anything from a porn site). It doesn't particularly sound like your problem though.

Have you done a clean re-install of Leopard? Run the hardware check? Phoned Apple support?

 

[Wireless Buddy]

Instead of letting your computer sit there doing nothing, why not just reinstall the OS? This will get rid of your trojan and give you a computer again.

 

[applefan69]

Instead of letting your computer sit there doing nothing, why not just reinstall the OS? This will get rid of your trojan and give you a computer again.

he probably didnt realise how easy it is with OS X. In windows its not that simple.

OR, better yet if you TRULY just wnat to use windows, then use Bootcamp on your mac to install Windows... and there ya go you have yourself a nice windows laptop. Any new macbook should be able to run windows XP VERY VERY VERY well, better then your current desktop. (unless you have some super powerful/brand new desktop)

 

[Quillz]

he probably didnt realise how easy it is with OS X. In windows its not that simple.

OR, better yet if you TRULY just wnat to use windows, then use Bootcamp on your mac to install Windows... and there ya go you have yourself a nice windows laptop. Any new macbook should be able to run windows XP VERY VERY VERY well, better then your current desktop. (unless you have some super powerful/brand new desktop)

I wouldn't say VERY VERY VERY well, my MacBook can run Vista only marginally better than my older Inspiron can.

 

[mashny]

Yup. Perian is exactly what you need. Just reinstall OSX and then install perian. It will allow QT to play almost all of the videos except for may some real media and other crap. Give your MB one more try and if it still doesnt work than you always have the BOOTCAMP option.

Between Perian for Quicktime, VLC, Flip for Mac, and the still-proprietary Real Player, there's nothing I can't watch (unless the media file is corrupt). Best thing is, all these players/utilities are free and well-established programs.

 

[The General]

Man, you Windows people have THE WORST luck ever. Your MacBook got a virus? I'm sorry but I actually laughed allowed when I read that. 😀

Well, at least this thread was good for a bit of a laugh, that's about it. 😀

 

[Sesshi]

Not through an emulator, but a full-blown copy of Windows? Or, maybe you didn't know and were convinced you had a $3,000 AU paperweight.

I have little to add because it occurs to me that the OP might have problems with any OS, but to say that I'd rather have a $3,000 paperweight than install Windows full-time on the Flambébook - I'd much rather it be installed on something that does actually 'just work'.