a really ****ed computer + help?

[bob saget]

so my grandparents :o:o asked me to fix up their computer for them because they say that the viruses are getting really bad. I have not seen how bad it is yet, but they say that you cant get past that "windows loading" screen.
Short if buying a new machine for them, what should be the general steps i take?
If there are fine general guides online, maybe post some links?
All they use it for is the regular internet/watching movies/ streaming TV. I dont think the specs matter, but i could list them later if i find out. I know its an AMD64 cpu.
If this is not appropriate for a "thread" discussion, we could also do in PMs.
Thanks a bunch guys. ;)

[Butter Bandit]

Honestly, trying to "clean" the computer out would be too much trouble.

I'd just tell them that the only option is to wipe the hdd, reinstall windows, and load them up with the latest anti-virus/anti-spyware of your choice.

[bob saget]

Honestly, trying to "clean" the computer out would be too much trouble.
I'd just tell them that the only option is to wipe the hdd, reinstall windows, and load them up with the latest anti-virus/anti-spyware of your choice.


Ok, thats what i was worried about. I know reformat is a choice but i was hoping to do something else. Well, thanks for your reply, lets see what some others have to say :)

[nekrosoft13]

sometimes trying to clean very infested machines is close to impossible.

if they have some files (pics, videos etc...) try to back them up and reformat that sucker

[methimpikehoses]

Try spybot first if you can.

[Butter Bandit]

He's hanging up on the windows loading screen though....

If you can't boot into Windows, you could try yanking out the HDD, sticking it in a different PC, and running spybot on the drive from there.

The main problem is going to be that the registry is probably ****ed up beyond all repair. It would take less time to backup all the photos/documents they have, and reinstall windows.

That will definitely be the most "effective" course of action.

[bob saget]

just doing the recovery process now....
Lol the cpu fan is busted, and because the case is like micro, the stock one i have from my cpu doesnt fit....I just left the side of the case off....Recovery is going along ok so far....

[Butter Bandit]

Plenty of computer gurus around here, just let us know if you run into any problems. :)

[einstein_314]

I'd say that because grandparents aren't the most knowledgeable about computers, they probably don't know what they're talking about. How do they know viruses are causing it? Could be just a simple windows problem, not related to viruses/spyware at all.

That being said. A reformat is probably the way to go. Trying to fix a seriously broken computer sometimes works. But it won't last. In no time it will be back where it was and you'll have to fix it again. Just backup all the important files and wipe that sucka!

[crainger]

Plenty of computer gurus around here, just let us know if you run into any problems. :)

Surely you're talking about guru3d. ::D:

[six_storm]

Format sounds good in this situation.

[DaveW]

Just thought I'd mention this, its wonderful:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

It boots into a windows environment from CD and has a bunch of tools including SpyBot S&D. This avoids the usual headache of Spybot complaining that it can't delete certain files because they are in use.

[CaptNKILL]

If you have another PC capable of running anti-virus software, the best way to start getting rid of viruses is to remove the drive and put it into another PC. Scan the drive with spyware and virus software, then put the drive back into the computer, boot into safe mode if possible and run hijackthis and any anti-spyware or anti-virus software you can run.

If you can't get into safemode after scanning it on another system, you're out of luck. Your best bet after that is to copy any data that needs backed up onto the other PC and then format and reinstall windows.

If you don't have another PC to do stuff like this it gets more difficult. The boot CD that dave linked to is probably the only way you can fix it.

[SLippe]

Send it to Russia for some top-quality, grade-A tech service! ;)

[bob saget]

thanks slippe :lol:

so i went through the recovery process, and everything is much much better. I told them all about installing various stuff that bogs down machine like toolbars, etc.
Now if only i could get skype fixed for 'em....
For some reason, the mic in the camera is "repeating" everything for the person on the other side, they hear a "echoing" / repeating effect. :(

[dxx]

Plenty of computer gurus around here, just let us know if you run into any problems. :)

Computer gurus? Please. You're not a guru if you don't rise to the challenge of a malware-ridden system and fix it by fixing it. Formatting and reinstalling is something a 90 year old woman could do, and the fact that my gran can knit as well as reformat and reinstall Windows basically means that my gran is simply superior to you as a human being, because I bet you can't knit. Yeah.

[bob saget]

...............................

[mullet]

Format = working 50 hours a week and doing a favor for someone.

Virus/trojan/spyware/maleware/ = you don't have a job and living in your moms basement arguing with kids on XBOX LIVE. :p

[dxx]

Format = working 50 hours a week and doing a favor for someone.

Virus/trojan/spyware/maleware/ = you don't have a job and living in your moms basement arguing with kids on XBOX LIVE. :p

Format = Clueless n00b who likes to think he can fix things, but really doesn't have the understanding to

Fixing it = Requires vastly more skill, experience and intelligence, and provides far better customer service and satisfaction. Oh, and it means working more hours too, so I get paid more.

[XDanger]

Format = Clueless n00b who likes to think he can fix things, but really doesn't have the understanding to

Fixing it = Requires vastly more skill, experience and intelligence, and provides far better customer service and satisfaction. Oh, and it means working more hours too, so I get paid more.

Not only do you con old ladies you are also conning yourself.

The OP is doing this for his grandparents, Would you treat yours the same as you've indicated if you were charging?

I'm just saying...

[CaptNKILL]

Format = Clueless n00b who likes to think he can fix things, but really doesn't have the understanding to

Fixing it = Requires vastly more skill, experience and intelligence, and provides far better customer service and satisfaction. Oh, and it means working more hours too, so I get paid more.

I can always recognize someone who has PC repair job when they get this pissed about someone formatting their PC to save countless hours of work...

I did this for a couple years and I can say without a doubt that a format is a much better option in many cases. If the end user has nothing important on the computer and has no special needs as far as software, why spend 8 hours running virus and spyware scans on a system that barely functions when you can just wipe it clean, protect it from future attacks and give it back to the owner in a few hours?

[methimpikehoses]

lol, stop starting flamewars bob.

[Bman212121]

I can always recognize someone who has PC repair job when they get this pissed about someone formatting their PC to save countless hours of work...

I did this for a couple years and I can say without a doubt that a format is a much better option in many cases. If the end user has nothing important on the computer and has no special needs as far as software, why spend 8 hours running virus and spyware scans on a system that barely functions when you can just wipe it clean, protect it from future attacks and give it back to the owner in a few hours?

QFT. There are so many reasons what formatting is better in a lot of cases. Almost always the computer is going to be faster and more responsive after a fresh install, and you're knowledge of software will help keep the pc in better condition. You don't know what they've done to the pc to cause it to finally stop responding, so you can look at Hijack logs, run virus scans, spyware removal tools, use root kit scanners, search the registry and still not completely fix the problem. It's like putting a band-aid on a head wound, you can fix what you can see now, but other problems are going to keep coming up because there were a bunch more things that were screwed up than what any software will catch. None of that software is going to tell you that DHCP won't start because some DLL files are deleted somehow, or there are other files corrupted causing the computer to lose data from time to time.

If you start fresh, put all of the updates on the pc, install antivirus software, install a spyware program, have them put passwords on user accounts, make a few tweaks here and there it will run a lot better. Simply explaining a couple little things like you should click that little box which asks you to update your computer so it gets software updates will help. Then if the computer gets a virus, it will be much easier to simply remove it and fix what is wrong because the rest of your security measures were put into place.

[mullet]

Bman212121, amen brodah. What is funny is you try running a company trying to find all the virus's and so on your business will go under, you waste to much time not to mention the system is old or a single core CPU. The SMART guy backs up/Formats/Done and on to the next machine.

[bob saget]

lol, stop starting flamewars bob.

GTFO