Computer help - whats my next step??

[roanjohn]

I've tried fixing my computer but I'm at a dead end......... and I think I did more damage than good :-(

I think my whole OS is corrupt.........IE won't run properly........it will load a page, but some images/choices would be absent. Windows media player 10 will not run.........clicking it says "an internal application error has occured". I can't do a system restore. I can't run a virus scan.........and security firewall from service pack 2 is non functioning.......:-(

I am beat and tired.

Is there a way where I can start fresh?? Restore everything?? I really wish I could do that.

The good news: Mozilla Firefox is running smooth :-) I love this thing.
I would thank some people but the other thread I started was locked.
RO1 :?

[robertwgross]

Is there a way where I can start fresh?? Restore everything?? I really wish I could do that.


Yes. That is why we make backups, isn't it? That is why we keep distribution disks of software locked up, for just a situation like this.

---Bob Gross---

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think I am agreeing with Bob's cryptic message... :?

It's time to "Format C:" and reinstall

A fresh install works wonders. 8)

Make sure all your data is backed up! .. then start from scratch :)

[roanjohn]

Please........show me the way> This is all foreign language to me.

The three things I care about are my photos, my music and adobe photoshop 7. The rest can pretty much get deleted.

Ro1

[robertwgross]

First of all, tell us that all of your important data is backed up.

Second, tell us that you have the original distribution software, including OS, for your computer.

If you can't tell us those two things, then find the person who administers your computer and ask.

---Bob Gross---

[uvadtmfub]

Sounds like your computer's been hijacked.
Try searching through this forum:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

[CyberDyneSystems]

RO1

Remind us.. we've allready been down the spyware utilities road .. correct?

[roanjohn]

Here is my interpretation of what happened:

I acquired a virus called backdoor.prorat

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/backdoor.prorat.html

I think it attatches into certain files.......and corrupts it.........

So I run adaware and spyware all the time.........and I noticed that adaware is erasing the shortcut for internet explorer everytime I run it. When Norton finally discovered the virus, I tried to get rid of it right away using the steps they gave me...........but on safe mode, every single one of those files that needs to be changed were not in my computer............so I think adaware or spyware quarintined these items and deleted them :-( So now I can't do all the things I used to do with IE and Windows MEdia Player..........mind you, my computer is running smooth otherwise........no pop-ups, no sluggish performance......everything is running fine excepet I can't run a full virus scan, I can't enable system restore, I can't enable firewall from service pack 2...........and I can't run a full virus scan............so my whole system is wide open...........

Ro1

[roanjohn]

First of all, tell us that all of your important data is backed up.

Second, tell us that you have the original distribution software, including OS, for your computer.

If you can't tell us those two things, then find the person who administers your computer and ask.

---Bob Gross---

My files are not backed up.......but I have a DVD recorder so it should't be a problem.

I have all my software including the OS for my computer.

I might send this to one of those repair things in the city.........I don't know what they're called and see if they can do anything for me.

Ro1

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well I would say it looks lke it's definately time to start from scratch. It's a pain.. but trying to patch together waht you have will be worse...

You may be able to have a computer shop do it for you. It can be quite intimidating and a lengthy process.


Back up all your image files to DVD.. then back up your "favorites"/bookmarks,. address book and maybe even your E-mail, plus anything of importance that yiu have in "My documents" etc..

Then send the bad boy to a local PC shop and have them format and reinstall.

One thing I would suggest,. if it is possible.. have them bust your hard drive into two seerate partitions.. C: and D: then ask them to move the "My Documents" folder to D:

This way if you ever have to do this again.. only the C: drive gets wiped and D: with all your data remains saffe and secure.

Also with a seperate D: drive you can store an "Image" of the C: drive on it.. if all goes south at some point.. you can NUKE C: and restore in one simple step from the "Image" kept safe on the D: drive.

[roanjohn]

Thanks CDS!!

:-)

[steven]

If you are concerned about data loss you could buy a new hard drive, they are getting pretty cheep.
Then install windows onto the new driver and make your old drive just a data drive. In this way you would be sure to have your data files.

What every you choose remember to scan any and all saved files for virus.

[roanjohn]

SO!!! I was browsing the internet.......and I found this site:

http://www.ny-computers.com/

.....called them.......they said I can bring my whole tower and they can give me an estimate on how much it will cost to get it fixed. COOL!!!

...........just hoping they won't charge me an arm and a leg.

Question: What is the usual charge for a whole system restore??

Ro1

[Scottes]

Roanjohn - what Steven said is a VERY good idea, and probably cheaper than getting the system restored. Sure, you'll have to re-install all your software, but not your data. But if THEY install all those packages then:

1) They'll charge an arm and a leg.
2) They might not make the same decisions you would for install options.

A 120-gig drive can easily be had for $120 or less (probably less). Installing it is 30 minutes. Installing all the software will take hours though, and can be painful.

Installing a drive is not that tough.
Installing software is easy but annoying for time.
You get the benefit of another 120 gigs of space for photos. :)

[roanjohn]

Hmmm..........I have to look into this.

So basically what you guys are saying is that I should just buy a new internal hard drive........install it in my computer with my existing hard drive.

Then..........I install windows in the "NEW" harddrive and use the old one as a storage for all my photos, music...etc.........right??

I hope I'm following this right.

Ro1

[robertwgross]

Right now, you have one hard disk, and the general problem is mixed all over that hard disk, and you hardly know where to begin to correct it.

If you organize the computer into two disks, and put the OS and software applications on one and put all of the data (documents and images) onto the second, then if a general problem happens again, it will be confined to the first disk only.

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

Yep, that's correct. (Both Bob and Roanjohn.)

Be aware that installing SW can be a pain. But it can be eased by installing what you need when you need it or when you have time. Of course, just installing Windows can be a pain because you should get all the updates immediately, before you do anything else. Just my opinion, there, but highly recommended.

This is the method I use whenever possible.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Not to be a pssimist.. but istalling WinXp from scratch can be a major pain for the uninitiated.. not to mention hard drive installation etc.

Ro1,.. I got from reading these posts that your not feeling comfortable to try and tackle this task on your own?

Just ask yourself if you want to spend a week of your time futzing with all this stuff.. or just spend some $$ and get it over with.

The second hard drive is a spectacular idea... but you may not want to install it yourself. You could do exaclty what I described above with C; and D: drive for data only using a pair of hard drives..

Anyway.. good luck :)

[Scottes]

As CDS says, and I've hinted at. :wink:

Maybe NYComputers could install the drive for you? Installing Windows is a pain, but I don't think it's very difficult. Then again, I've done thousands, so my opinion is skewed.


True story: Back in the old days I had only one PC and a new girlfriend. She discovered the Internet (Mosaic 0.8!) and got upset whenever I kicked her off the system, so she wanted her own PC. So I got all the parts from the closet - case, motherboard, network card, HD, floppy, disks, etc - and told her "Build it yourself" and went back to surfing.

I then spent the rest of the night telling her what to do, from installing the motherboard to installing Mosaic, but never got out of my chair to help. By the end of the night she had her own PC, networked to mine, and both of us were surfing the net over the modem in my system.

One day, about a year later, I came home from work to find 3 systems in pieces spread around the dining room. When I asked her what she was doing, she said something about a scanner not working, though she used a lot of 4-letter words, too. I quietly slinked out of the room to watch TV, and she got everything running after a couple hours.

Yep, I married her. :D

[steven]

Price on HD are very cheep I bought 200gb drive for $85 yesturday.

So it might make sence to ask how much for someone else to perform a clean install on a new hard drive.

A reasonable place should not charge for more than a hour of labor and that should only cost around $100.

Then after they have done the install (make sure it includes getting the updates) you can take the system back and install the software you want.

One thing you might want to include is to get the virus protection at the same time you get the system installed.

So total you wouldn't expect to pay more than $250 for a new harddrive and windows installed with virus protection.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yeah.. installing hardware and an OS can be simple...

When it all works. :shock:

It's certianly worth a try Ro1

Again.. just make sure you have a back up before you start!

[roanjohn]

Thanks for these!!! I will hopefully have enough time to work on this by next week.

CDS - I will show the technician your advice........they should be able to understand this.

Scottes - great story!!!

Ro1

[Ikinaa]

One more general thought:
If you give your PC to a shop to have it reinstalled, make sure you've got your valuable data somewhere (CD, DVD, etc), perhaps even in two copies (I'm paranoid, that's why I have 3 copies of my pictures in different places :D ).
If you want to leave it to the shop to backup your data (very bad idea), you have to say them explicitly to backup data and cross all your fingers...
An acquaintance of mine once had a problem with his PC, of course no backup, brought it to the store, told them : 'There's data on the disc I want to keep', ok sure, no prob, got the PC back, asked where's the data : Answer 'What data?' Hope you get my point... Never trust the shops, they want the cash for the no work. They'll put in a restore disc, restore the system, perhaps even configure it correctly, but that's it (As I said already... I'm paranoid, but that's out of experience...)