Installing a new OS

[meeja]

After a rather stressful weekend, I'm after a little advice!

I am in the process of building a replacment PC, which will run on Windows 2000 professional. (I have several applications that do not like XP at all!)

My question is, when I run Setup for W2000, it will be without any service packs (I bought W2000 a long time ago!)

Once I have completed the initial install, I will need to connect to the internet to download service packs.

Will my machine be vulnerable to things like "Blaster" in the period before I have downloaded all the latest patches etc?

[dontlift]

Yes,

So install something like personal firewall first and close all ports not required to do the upgrade

[meeja]

dontlift said:

Yes, So install something like personal firewall first and close all ports not required to do the upgrade

I suspected so..... If I download (on my existing PC, then burn to CD) Zonealarm's free firewall, would that do the trick?

Also, how do I close ports, and how do I know which ports to close?

(Showing my IT knowledge limitations here!)

[pdV6]

If you already have access to a 'safe' PC, then you can create a Windows install CD with any service packs & hotfixes you like 'slipstreamed' into the install process.

Now, I've never done this before, so don't try to pick my brains about it , but the instructions are at:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814847&Product=win2000

[Marshy]

If you go to www.ntlworld.com they have a handy link on the front page to the blaster and welchia fixes (and the removal tools). I'd download these first: they're small, and will leave you less exposed since you'll be online for less time than you would to download Zonealarm.

Install the fixes, reboot, run the removal tool to check you haven't got infected already (you'd be surprised how quickly you can get hit) *then* download and install Zonealarm.

Zonealarm's config wizard will allow nothing in, and a small amount of progams out by default, enough to get you online enough to go downloading service packs.

And you'll know if you do get hit by Welchia: you'll be online, but unable to connect to anything, and there'll be a running process called DLLHOST.EXE.

[206xsi]

NTL shut down our broadband connection last week because they said we had Welchia and/or blaster on the machine.

Ran the scans - empty

Afterall I do have a firewall and AV software - I am an IT engineer!!

[meeja]

What is the deal with NTL at the moment?!

There are several sites I've tried to get onto today (www.ebuyer.co.uk for one)

And I get redirected here:

www.ebuyer.co.uk">www.spacereg.com/df.html?www.ebuyer.co.uk

Anyone any ideas?!

The NTL status page is as much use as a one-legged horse with a sprained ankle on Grand National day.....

[liszt]

Just tried the ebuyer link and got
www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/

[meeja]

I still get re-directed to the spacereg.com site...


It happens with multimap.com as well....

it's getting really annoying, as there is no explanation on the NTL World status page....

[THeExcession]

meeja said:

dontlift said: Yes, So install something like personal firewall first and close all ports not required to do the upgrade I suspected so..... If I download (on my existing PC, then burn to CD) Zonealarm's free firewall, would that do the trick? Also, how do I close ports, and how do I know which ports to close? (Showing my IT knowledge limitations here!)

If you install Zone Alarm as you've described you will be fine - it blocks all incoming access by default.

Don' worry about having to close any ports off - just don't let anything act as a server until you are all patched up.

Alternatively load all the patches onto your other machine first and then copy them over from there to your knew machine making sure your internet connection is disabled whilst you do it.

best
Ex