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

[Skiz]

So I'm fixing a friend's computer b/c he says he has tons of pop-ups and his PC is really slow. I get over there and his PC is slow as shit.

I run AdAware SE. His definitions are 605 days old and it finds over 700 files.

I then run S&D which finds another 56 files.

I download HiJackThis! and play with that for about an hour, deleting tons of shit.

I then ask him what anti-virus software he's using so I can run that as well. He says he's not sure he has any. :pinch: Ends up he doesn't. I download AVG and get this - it finds 1909 viruses. :wacko:

Fix all that which takes about another hour.

I left and everything seemed to be OK surprisingly. I'm shocked that his PC was even responsive with all those problems.

Friends shouldn't let friends buy computers. :dabs:

[Busyman™]

With all 1909 viruses there I'm sure you did a nice fresh reinstall....right?

It's hard to believe that they were all deleted properly.

[Chewie]

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

[Mr. Mulder]

i would have re-installed the friends face for trying to use a computer

[100%]

I hope you left the homepage on ie/fox, he had become accustomed to :naughty: :P

[Smith]

Dont forget windows update.

[clocker]

If he's done the job properly, there's no need to re-install.
In theory, I agree.
In practise, I no longer perform virus/spyware removal at all.
A PC riddled with malware typically has been so mishandled and badly managed that a fresh install is actually the best and most efficient use of (my) time and (their) money.

[Gripper]

30 mins to do a re-install as opposed to fuckin about for 2-3 hours trying to get rid of the crap,I'm with clocker on this one.

[Busyman™]

30 mins to do a re-install as opposed to fuckin about for 2-3 hours trying to get rid of the crap,I'm with clocker on this one.

Hey and and with me, with me tooooo. I said it fiiiirrrst.:sadwalk:

[Busyman™]

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

1909 viruses?

I think not.

[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. :whistling

[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? :huh:

[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:yup:

[MCHeshPants420]

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:yup:

You sound like you could be one of Clocker's customers tbh.

[JPaul]

I re-install windows every Saturday.

It seems the only sensible course to take.

[Snee]

I re-install it, and then re-install it again, just to be sure.

[100%]

Make sure to re-install it on a new partition everytime.
(uberbackup C -Z)

[Proper Bo]

noobs, I buy a new pc every other day.

[JPaul]

I backup my PC onto a new identical PC every day.

Then do a fresh install of windows.

I also never access the internets or install any programmes for fear of virus contamination.

I also have an actual wall of fire all round my estate, reaching 20' into the sky.

[Proper Bo]

That last part is probably true, I imagine it runs around the edge of your moat.

[JPaul]

That last part is probably true, I imagine it runs around the edge of your moat.

It's on the moat.

One of the oil wells feeds directly onto the water.

[Proper Bo]

that'd be kwality:smilie4:

[Jon L. Obscene]

On a pc as riddled as that I would go with Clocker and co. on this one............oh and Busyman :P fresh install but if thats not an option for you for some reason I would strongly recommend running pest patrol (cos adaware not only sucks but blows at the same time) I would also run cwshredder and regcleaner then crapcleaner (or eq) then restart and run it all again also might be worth running avg in safe mode too, but as said by others, with that much shit I would expect it wasn't/wont be cleaned completely cos if the person is anything like some of the people I fix puters for they will have installed a ton of shit too such as limewire and screensavers and weird media players etc etc.

Jonno :cool:

[MCHeshPants420]

Pussies. I purposefully install viruses on my PC to slow down my uberfast connection and superhawt processor. My computer has more viruses than a crack whore with a latex allergy.

[JPaul]

I own the internets.

[Jon L. Obscene]

I have a super Tri-Trinion cpu running at overclocked 19.6ghz, 22mb of ddr 9000 ram and 4 x 9TB 45krpm SATA drive and a 4000meg tehnet connection.
I got a virus yesterday and it turned my computer into a penguin.......oh well I guess thats what you get for buying used from NASA :(

Jonno :cool:

[100%]

My axe has a speed of 33ghz, Sharpness of 0.0000001mm, and weighs at a mere 30kilo's and comes free with rubber gloves.

[Seedler]

My cawk jacks itself.

[JPaul]

My cawk jacks itself, Officer.

Fixed.

[Snee]

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:yup:

You sound like you could be one of Clocker's customers tbh.
More like the son of one, if you catch my drift.

[JPaul]

I saw what you did there, you said Seedler was a total wanker, without actually saying it.

Nice one.

[Gripper]

I have a super Tri-Trinion cpu running at overclocked 19.6ghz, 22mb of ddr 9000 ram and 4 x 9TB 45krpm SATA drive and a 4000meg tehnet connection.
I got a virus yesterday and it turned my computer into a penguin.......oh well I guess thats what you get for buying used from NASA :(

Jonno :cool:

I think I see the problem there,it's the 22mb of ram thats slowing things down.......tsk noob:dry:

[brotherdoobie]

I have a super Tri-Trinion cpu running at overclocked 19.6ghz, 22mb of ddr 9000 ram and 4 x 9TB 45krpm SATA drive and a 4000meg tehnet connection.
I got a virus yesterday and it turned my computer into a penguin.......oh well I guess thats what you get for buying used from NASA :(

Jonno :cool:

I think I see the problem there,it's the 22mb of ram thats slowing things down.......tsk noob:dry:

-An unequalable bottleneck...indeed!

Peace bd

[j2k4]

I think I see the problem there,it's the 22mb of ram thats slowing things down.......tsk noob:dry:

-An unequalable bottleneck...indeed!

Peace bd

BD!

How you be? :)

[JPaul]

I think I see the problem there,it's the 22mb of ram thats slowing things down.......tsk noob:dry:

-An unequalable bottleneck...indeed!

Peace bd

Yo Brother,

Respect, how are you doing like.

[brotherdoobie]

-An unequalable bottleneck...indeed!

Peace bd

BD!

How you be? :)





-An unequalable bottleneck...indeed!

Peace bd

Yo Brother,

Respect, how are you doing like.

I be like...great...lyke. How's it hanging j2k4 and JPaul. I'm working
for an electronics company,untill I finish school. I quite like mucking
around with electrical doohickeys (I apologize...if I'm being too technical.)

How are things going for the two of you? I hope fantastic.

Peace bd

[j2k4]

I am not unwell.

So your future is a little less concrete than your...past, I guess? :P

Put the tall boots away, buddy, and congratulations. :)