No Discs? What to do

[Keebler]

Hi folks,

I had given an older PowerMac G5 to a friend. He somehow got a virus/malware on it and it needs to be rewiped, but I don't have the discs and neither does he (at least, he can't find them). I had scolded him because when I gave him the G5, I explained to back it up with Time Machine, but he didn't.

So is there a way to wipe everything down to the most basic OS settings? ie. remove all content and start with a fresh OS install?

Not sure exactly what to do here.

Or maybe I should try to find and delete the malware?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[z970]

Go to Macintosh Garden, download the OS X Leopard disk image, burn it to a blank dual layer DVD. If you don't have dual layer DVDs, get 'em.

That's about as simple as I can put it.

 

[AphoticD]

Hi folks,

I had given an older PowerMac G5 to a friend. He somehow got a virus/malware on it and it needs to be rewiped, but I don't have the discs and neither does he (at least, he can't find them). I had scolded him because when I gave him the G5, I explained to back it up with Time Machine, but he didn't.

So is there a way to wipe everything down to the most basic OS settings? ie. remove all content and start with a fresh OS install?

Not sure exactly what to do here.

Or maybe I should try to find and delete the malware?

Thanks,
Brian

There's no factory defaults option on Mac OS like Windows (10), but without replacing the OS, it might be as simple as;

1. Backup documents, music, photos, etc
2. Create a new Administrator User Account in System Preferences
3. Log out and login with the new account.
4. Go back into User Account and delete the old user.

This will reset all of the settings and possibly prevent the offending software from running.

You could then manually remove any apps from /Applications which are suspect.

Also check locations like /Library/StartupItems for any suspect system-wide apps which are trying to run behind the scenes.

 

[Keebler]

Thanks folks! Appreciate the feedback.

 

[z970]

Thanks folks! Appreciate the feedback.

If you go with @AphoticD's route, I'd highly recommend you remove any offending applications with AppCleaner, which can be downloaded from here: https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner

Don't worry. It's trustworthy and I have it installed on all my OS's. Never had a problem with a single one.

 

[CooperBox]

AppCleaner is also one of the very first things I add to any new ppc acquisition. Invaluable, and so easy to use.

 

[z970]

any new ppc

Why just PPC? Should be all Macs.

 

[Keebler]

Thanks folks. It was called 'TeamViewer'. He's not sure how it got installed or what it was doing, but he was having issues with his banking. I deleted it then double checked the start items and activity monitor.

Then created a new admin account and deleted the old one.

Plus told him to buy an external so he would time machine it!

Cheers,
Brian

 

[AphoticD]

Thanks folks. It was called 'TeamViewer'. He's not sure how it got installed or what it was doing, but he was having issues with his banking. I deleted it then double checked the start items and activity monitor.

Then created a new admin account and deleted the old one.

Plus told him to buy an external so he would time machine it!

Cheers,
Brian

Good job. The Mac should run smoother and happier now.

Teamviewer is a screen sharing service. I have seen many businesses guide customers to install teamviewer during a tech support call so the technician can remotely login and control the customer’s screen/mouse/keyboard.

It’s not likely to have caused any security concerns though as the user needs to specifically give out the machine’s ID code and approve a remote login each time.

But as with any software, if you don’t need it, dump it. It’s just another background app using system resources.