So I'm fixing a friend's computer...

[Skiz]

If he's done the job properly, there's no need to re-install.

By session's end, all 1909 were deemed "repaired".

Just gotta wait and see now.

[Jagarga]

they would have been 1909 variations of the same ferw virii, mutations as you will. also check the kernel and explorer.exe as there are in my experience the first to be fucked.

[peat moss]

Ask him to run this scan :

http://www.errordoctor.com/support.htm


Then sit back and smile .

[Chewie]

A couple of hours removing malware is much preferable to the inevitable hassle after clean re-install. It would have to be clean, too, as a repair install would leave malware installed on the system.

A clean install would elevate you to a heady status equivalent to a Tiny/Time/Dell/Compaq/HP helpdesk telephonist. Surely no-one can lambast companies for including factory-reset discs and then do the same?
How many times have you heard someone say they lost their kids' school work, lost all their mp3s, can't get to their email, had to phone AOL India for their account details etc?

30 minutes is nowhere near enough time to 'fix' a Windows installation.
If these people haven't got the wherewithall to install a firewall and/or AV then you surely can't trust them to remember even their email passwords.
It's usually not even enough time to backup documents, pics, mp3s, videos or any other valued user-files so you can put them back afterwards for them.

I tell people I'll fix their computer for £30. If they don't like that then I'll format/install Windows for £20 and it's an easy job.
I'd like to say that I get plenty of £20/hr quick jobs, but everyone wants the job done properly.

[clocker]

I tell people I'll fix their computer for £30. If they don't like that then I'll format/install Windows for £20 and it's an easy job.
I'd like to say that I get plenty of £20/hr quick jobs, but everyone wants the job done properly.

We got $120 for virus/spyware removal and $100 for reinstalling Windows.
Data recovery is an extra $100.
Recently we dropped the spyware removal option and made a package deal for data/reinstall at $175.
We are the cheapest around (AFAIK).

IMO, in this day and age there is just no excuse for the incredibly sloppy and careless manner in which people treat their precious data.
We have many small businesses that are running on "upgraded" (read "obsolete POS") PCs with no backup strategy at all. We see students who have major projects swallowed up by infected machines.
Many customers cannot remember their passwords because they autosaved them and never had to re-enter it.
Tough.

It's not like information/guidance/advice is hard to come by, if a user wants to remain willfully ignorant then they can just suffer the consequences.

Just this week I faced a woman who had purchased a new PC from us this summer- her 14 year old son had cruised every porn site he could find (DOH!) and the PC was essentially unusable.
To make matters worse, she had ripped off the Microsoft PID sticker ("It looked terrible").
When I explained that she basically no longer owned a copy of Windows, she went ballistic.
Her stupidity somehow became my fault (at least in her mind) and she expected us to bail her out- "under warranty", of course.
Ultimately her PC was fixed (yes, we know there are several ways to recover the PID, just like you do...) but she paid a premium for the service and vowed never to return.
Fine.
I wonder what the Geek Squad will charge her the next time (and there will be a next time) this happens.

[j2k4]

My PC was ready for a periodic re-install (general balkiness) and, on a hunch (and a dim memory of a Clocker-comment), I uninstalled SpySweeper.

Mission accomplished.

[clocker]

Are all of your memories dim or just the ones pertaining to me?

[j2k4]

Are all of your memories dim or just the ones pertaining to me?

And you are?

[clocker]

Asked and answered.

[Seedler]

All my data are periodically backed up onto DVDs and my USB harddrives.

I have no firewall, spyware/adware dection/antivirus software.

I follow the golden rule of interweb surfing of never running unknown .exes named funny.exe joke.exe etc etc.

I download and run the basic spybot and AVG free whenever a problem occurs. If problem is not fixed after 1 hour, fresh windows reinstall using approx.30min-1hr.

Every PC user should be just like me