Level 1

17 points

Wish I hadn't!! Tried download from Vuze (eeekkk!) In a mess now!

Well - I say 'I' - actually my son! He was after a particular piece of software which appeared to download fine through Vuze but to install it you had to change something in the Terminal??? He went ahead and fiddles about and blast the Mac screamed for help! I had to restore the while lot from OS disc which took about 4 hours! After reloading my Entourage was a bit of a mess - but managed (I think) to sort that. But we have also noticed now that certain programs refuse to open?? Vuze being one, Entourage was another which I resintalled. Don't feel at all confident about my Mac now. I trashed all to do with Vuze in the hope that I could reinstall it - but when the installation completes - open Vuze and it immediately refers you back to the web page? Cant get any further than that. Have a got a disc utility - I can't even show you now what he did as after the restore the trash bin was emptied?? Anyone help? Any Vuze buddies there? Any patient restores that can help in a way that doesn't take 4 hours? Thank you. SM

imac OS x, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 1, 2011 12:02 PM

Top-ranking reply

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,478 points

Posted on Mar 2, 2011 6:30 AM

Can I do an installation from the OS disc and then start up from a time machine back up?

Best bet would be to erase the drive and reinstall OS X from scratch, then restore your data from Time Machine. This will all be a waste of time though if the TM backup also contains Vuze. You'd have to pick a restore point before Vuze or the Adobe download was installed, if that point is still on the TM drive.

If I do that I guess I will lose all my latest files etc?

Not if you back them up first. By that, I mean a manual backup. Don't use a flash drive as whatever is on the Mac may transfer data to it, which could then be pulled back to a fresh install. Instead, copy any documents you've created, your email, iTunes library, etc. into a folder on the desktop. Burn a CD or DVD.

Others will have to tell you what to backup for iTunes or Mail since I use neither.

Or, how to restore just those items from your current TM drive after reinstalling OS X from scratch so you don't pull Vuze back and whatever other malware was installed with that Adobe download. Which would eliminate the need for the CD/DVD. Though personally, I would create that disk just to be sure I have those latest files somewhere safe.

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32 replies

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 12:32 PM in response to The hatter

Oh NO!! Now I am panicking..I have time machine set up on External Disc and it is this that I restored to earlier. I took the system back to yesterday before all this happened. So I guess that's not enough? Are you suggesting that I perhaps completely start all over again? Wipe the whole lot off and reinstall OS? When we have used Vuze before we have never kept the files on the vuze library etc so were unable to forward on any sharing.. I am a little confused I think. I was assured that antivirus was not necessary. I have Applecare but I guess admitting to Vuze will wipe that one out? A very stressed mum!

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 1:28 PM in response to thomas_r.

Thank you = reassurrsing. My iMac is MY iMac - just that my son who is used to using macs at school thought he was ok - and has been before. He most only definitely used vuze. Downloaded an adobe software program which needed to be launched from the Terminal with some script added in - as soon as we saw that this has caused a problem we shut down and inserted the OS disc for a restore to an earlier time - I thought that this would resolve the issues. Perhaps it has - maybe the Entourage was being a pig today for some reason - but that is fine now. Vuze itself, is playing up - when you open it and start a search it just reverts back to the Applications folder and nothing happens. I'll continue running the scan and see if anything shows up - and tonight before we sleep I'll do another restore to perhaps a few days ago and see where we are then. Both my son and daughter have their own PC laptops with Windows but as he was using a mac at school with photosop on it he wanted to have a go of the trial version download... but never again!

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 1:51 PM in response to The hatter

"A clean install and update of all of OS X alone should not take more than 45 minutes to an hour. Depends on how large or how much you need to restore. By keeping all the data and media files off the system drive should be easy to handle."

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever, on how to do a clean install - I could not imagine having to set everything up again. I recall late last year I had to do a similar thing and although I can't remember how I did it - I was not happy having to download all my applications again.

I have no idea how to use the time machine properly either - I did what we did today be trial and error really! I put the OX disc in, shut down, start up holding 'c' instal, Utilities, restore from back up. Is that right?

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 2:16 PM in response to The hatter

"A clean install is just booting from OS X DVD as you did only doing the install"

Ok I got you! I do already have the manuals - but when you're stressed and need immediate help you or rather I shout it out loud! I'll take my time and get this done properly. Can I ask you though please... If I clean install will I have to install all my apps again, itunes, photos software etc? The thought of that terrifies me... 😟

If you're fed up with me - no worries - I'll read the manual or ring apple care tomorrow.
Thank you all for your help. I will post back and let you know what happened!!

I have googled the Vuze disappearing problem - which is recognised - but all far to 'techy' for me to deal with!

SM

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Mar 1, 2011 3:25 PM in response to Stressed Mum

If you or your son could point at the download, or roughly describe any of the terminal commands - we might have a stab at guessing what happened.

Vuze itself, like any torrent/sharing application is fine enough (although Vuze does make it too easy to install a crappy toolbar add-on, which you really don't want)

Like any of them, or downloads from any source you've no reason to trust... handing over an admin password or running Terminal commands that aren't understood or trusted - is where you can come unstuck, through either malice or ignorance, or just user mis-typing.

There's a free trial of photoshop for most current versions at Adobe's site, I believe.

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 12:11 AM in response to Kurt Lang

ok - I am getting a clearer picture of all this now. I restored again overnight and had to rebuild data base - clicking my way trough and hopefully succeeded. I would be a lot happier though doing a clean reinstallation of OS to ensure that any virus has gone. I can't tell you what he did exactly - but downloaded and installed the trial version. The closed it and had to go to Terminal and add in some script between too long numbers he says. The reopen the software and deactivate it?? Simply didn't do what he thought it would do and then called for help. 😟 So, I did give him permission to do this but was naive enough to believe it was as straight forward as downloading from itunes etc. Very silly me! So; I am going to find a way of reinstalling my lovely Mac to how it was before Vuze EVER came into it! Can I do an installation from the OS disc and then start up from a time machine back up? If I do that I guess I will loose all my latest files etc?

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 7:35 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Thank you - I have erased the HD through disc utility this morning and completely erased the whole lot. I installed OS X again but when I tried to pull in from time machine I was not given the option on the screen. So I tried Migration Assistant and that too did not bring up the External HD where back ups are. So from there I had to boot again from OS disc and restore using Time Machine - it has restored but I am still having problems even though I chose a restore point before the ****** download (or adding, writing extras into Terminal) So now I cannot open Entrourage and get a warning that Office Database is damaged. I cannot reinstall the office as when I do I am told that a newer version already exists. I am so fed up now - just about to call Apple Care back YET again

Trying to save iphoto 60,000 files, iTunes 68GB+ Entourage - 6 years worth! Would take me about a week constantly burning to disc. Oh gosh do I need some help!

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 9:38 AM in response to Stressed Mum

So far so good - but strangely not convinced! I have managed to rebuild the database for office albeit a bit hit and miss. At the moment is appears ok. All other applications 'seem' ok - but as I didn't get the clean install that I wanted I am not feeling totally convinces that my Mac is free from damage 😟 Also, it is impossible to load Vuze now - but 'maybe' that is for a good reason .... it just keeps disappearing every time I open it and that's also after trashing and downloading afresh. Anyone have a brilliant ideas of a quick way to clone/copy/back up all my files and applications I'd be interested. (Not time machine)

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 11:17 AM in response to Stressed Mum

and also ... I have Office 2008 installed but recently had the 2011 upgrade which was part of the 2008 package. I do not have disc for this - it was download directly from Office. Should I do anything still - I have only copied over the three folders to external hard drive up to now.

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 1:37 PM in response to Kurt Lang

I think it is the student/home edition purchased when I bought the MacOh! I really don't know! Purchased when I bought the Mac and upgraded on line. although my hubby upgraded for me and he said I recall at the time that Outlook isn't included - but I do have Outlook! Although it was too much hassle to transfer from Entourage so I left all email, contacts and Calendars with Entourage. I have just opened Outlook and there are emails in there, contacts and calendar but I don't think they are up to date - I think my hubby did this when I transferred over from the Windows PC?? Hes not here so I cannot ask.

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 1:53 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Yuck! Kurt - thank you - you have been so helpful and patient with me. Do you know, I don't think I gonna to do any of this - Entourage seems ok at the moment, my calendars (very important to me) are appearing untroubled. My emails are coming through, and my contacts are there. The next hurdle will be seeing what happens when I sync with iPhone. I not bothered about using Outlook at the moment. I am not too bothered about Vuze messing about either- so I think I should be grateful that I have got some normality and start slowly backing everything up so that I can do another erase and clean install not using TM. The worry I have mainly is how do I back up my applications? Quite a few apps have been downloaded and Im not sure I remember where they all came from! Can I copy them over to the external hard drive and bring them back from there?

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 2:12 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks - you've been very helpful. My eyes are sore now - so I am going to quit for the day. Just tried exporting all my photos over to the external hard drive but it tells me there's not enough space! Tut, probably have to delete some time machine back ups to do that 😟. I am going to see how I go and try not to stress to much. Thanks again. SM

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Mar 2, 2011 2:59 PM in response to Stressed Mum

You need to have a spare drive or two to reshuffle, organize, build a new foundation to go forward.

Don't put your files and system where you have to delete to make room.

A 1.5TB drive like WD Green for $70, and a USB/Firewire case for $50.
Put a small system partition (50GB) and 400GB? for an "image" of your internal drive, and 800GB or so for a new backup set.

http://www.macsales.com/firewire

http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-CostEffectiveBackup.html

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 3, 2011 6:13 AM in response to The hatter

Thank you for your help - I have started making copies! So far I have copied each individual iPhoto Event one by one to External Hard drive. I have copied the entire Music folder - I did this as one complete folder even though I have 6 iTunes libraries in it! (Will that be ok?) I have copied all my documents over. Shortly will copy entire Movies folder. Waiting to hear back from Entourage regarding which folder to save/copy for emails, contacts, calendars. You will see that I have discovered that I have more than one main identity folder??? I have checked through all Applications to see if I can redownload - most of them I can. Do you think I need to copy anything else? My Quicken is already backed up but I will probably transfer that to Accountz anyway. Is it worth saving my Download folder - I am worried that somewhere is there is this bloomin virus? Not in too much of a rush to do all this - but I would like to get started and do it thoroughly!

Stressed Mum Author

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 12:14 PM in response to a brody

Okay..... so after changing the password etc. What do I do to check out this Trojan?

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Wish I hadn't!! Tried download from Vuze (eeekkk!) In a mess now!