how to get rid of a bunch of really nasty computer viruses?

[Knotical]

Just a quick clarification, when you are defragging your hard drives you are basically just having your OS reorganize where on the hard drive your files are stored. Over time as you add and remove things from your hard drive your files become "fragmented," which means parts of files are stored all over the hard drive. Defragging takes these fragments and puts them together so it does not take long for your OS to find certain files on your hard drive. This really has nothing to do with cleaning out viruses, spyware, or malware. It just moves it around.

 

[farouk]

Just a quick clarification, when you are defragging your hard drives you are basically just having your OS reorganize where on the hard drive your files are stored. Over time as you add and remove things from your hard drive your files become "fragmented," which means parts of files are stored all over the hard drive. Defragging takes these fragments and puts them together so it does not take long for your OS to find certain files on your hard drive. This really has nothing to do with cleaning out viruses, spyware, or malware. It just moves it around.

K: Oh okay. It's the anti-virus stuff that actually gets rid of it, then, I suppose?

 

[evenifigoalone]

If I need to reformat the harddrive I'd feel more comfortable with someone better with computers doing it. I'm probably the most computer competent person in my family now, but I'm not as knowledgeable as my dad was. He wasn't a professional himself, just learned a lot through trial and error.

I don't really have much use for that hard drive, so I wouldn't have much problem reformatting it, except I know my dad did store some important information on it and I'm not sure where it all is.

 

[farouk]

If I need to reformat the harddrive I'd feel more comfortable with someone better with computers doing it. I'm probably the most computer competent person in my family now, but I'm not as knowledgeable as my dad was. He wasn't a professional himself, just learned a lot through trial and error.

I don't really have much use for that hard drive, so I wouldn't have much problem reformatting it, except I know my dad did store some important information on it and I'm not sure where it all is.

questdriven:

Yes, well I'm really sorry for you guys; I'm sure you miss him in so many practical and supportive ways. Keep praying and trusting.

Often before hiring someone to come, though, it's good to be sure about what exactly they are being hired to do, and whether it's really necessary, because sometimes it's the call out fee rather than the complexity of what they do, that's significant.

Blessings.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Now for the next drama..... with all this formatting talk, I'll bet my paycheck we'll be hearing "But I can't find my OS disk!"

 

[Knotical]

K: Oh okay. It's the anti-virus stuff that actually gets rid of it, then, I suppose?

Indeed. But only if you want to go the software route, which includes possibly hours of waiting and watching your computer run it. Really, if a drive is badly infected the best option is to try to move some important files to a different drive, after they have been scanned, then reformat the drive and reinstall the OS. Security programs are really only good for the ongoing protection and periodic scanning and cleaning of viruses that might get downloaded to your computer.

A note should also be made for backing up your files, and for using utility programs to keep your registry cleaned up. Always backup your important files and pictures on an external drive, or possibly on a "cloud" that you can routinely access. As for utility programs, not only can normal files on your hard drive become fragmented over time, but also your registry (which is a bunch of files that makes up how your OS handles your files and programs) should be defragged. Also, over time there will be shortcuts and junk files that become obsolete or broken that a utility program will clean up as well.

This, unfortunately, is the reality of Windows. But as long as you keep your computer clean you can prevent unnecessary slowdowns in performance.

 

[farouk]

Indeed. But only if you want to go the software route, which includes possibly hours of waiting and watching your computer run it. Really, if a drive is badly infected the best option is to try to move some important files to a different drive, after they have been scanned, then reformat the drive and reinstall the OS. Security programs are really only good for the ongoing protection and periodic scanning and cleaning of viruses that might get downloaded to your computer.

A note should also be made for backing up your files, and for using utility programs to keep your registry cleaned up. Always backup your important files and pictures on an external drive, or possibly on a "cloud" that you can routinely access. As for utility programs, not only can normal files on your hard drive become fragmented over time, but also your registry (which is a bunch of files that makes up how your OS handles your files and programs) should be defragged. Also, over time there will be shortcuts and junk files that become obsolete or broken that a utility program will clean up as well.

This, unfortunately, is the reality of Windows. But as long as you keep your computer clean you can prevent unnecessary slowdowns in performance.

K: Ty & wow, a lot to think about, anyway.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Now for the next drama..... with all this formatting talk, I'll bet my paycheck we'll be hearing "But I can't find my OS disk!"

That may be a concern, actually. Not sure if I'd be able to find the disk or not. If I do format, I'll make sure the disk is handy first.


Maybe I could format it and put Ubuntu as the operating system...I'd be interested in trying that out. We did have problems when installing Ubuntu before, though, so IDK.

 

[farouk]

That may be a concern, actually. Not sure if I'd be able to find the disk or not. If I do format, I'll make sure the disk is handy first.


Maybe I could format it and put Ubuntu as the operating system...I'd be interested in trying that out. We did have problems when installing Ubuntu before, though, so IDK.

questdriven:

Pardon my ignorance, but what is Ubuntu? (Sounds like a healthy, African-American name! )

 

[evenifigoalone]

questdriven:

Pardon my ignorance, but what is Ubuntu? (Sounds like a healthy, African-American name! )

It's an operating system. Based off Linux or a product of Linux or something, I think. It's free, or at least was a few years ago.

 

[farouk]

It's an operating system. Based off Linux or a product of Linux or something, I think.

quesdriven:

Oh okay; ty. Shows how much I know about it, anyway.

Blessings.

 

[Sparkey]

Routine backup of data from computers is oftentimes the most neglected part of computer use.
When doing so, people normally look to the "My Photos" or "My Music" folder of their drives found under the /Users directory.
But some programs will save data in sub-directories under themselves, for instance, the program called "Cool Program" might have a sub-directory called "Cool Program/Data".

One of the easiest things to forget when backing up data are the bookmarks your browser uses. After years of collecting them the minute it takes to export to file and save is a minute well spent.

More tips: when downloading, I seldom select the "Run" option and instead will save the file to a /Download sub-directory then run it from there. That way, if I do need to re-install the operating system, I can go there and continue to rebuild. After spending money for a program online, my habit is to back it up redundantly - in yet another (separate) folder. I'm just cheap that way.
I've created an email folder so I can send emails with my "Product Key Codes" to myself and have a place to find them.

As far as anti-virus software, free and available on the internet, one of the better programs that I've found is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Home (Free).
There is also a 14 day free trial of their "Pro" version that you might want to look at.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/
I like it because it has an option to run during the bootup that allows stubborn viruses to be removed.

 

[Knotical]

Just a quick comment on what Sparrowhawke said in regard to bookmarks, Google Chrome has done something really cool. If you have a google account, you can save your bookmarks within it so you can pull them up in any google chrome browser on any computer you log into.

 

[tim-from-pa]

That may be a concern, actually. Not sure if I'd be able to find the disk or not. If I do format, I'll make sure the disk is handy first.


Maybe I could format it and put Ubuntu as the operating system...I'd be interested in trying that out. We did have problems when installing Ubuntu before, though, so IDK.

I'm going to be honest. Ubuntu, at least in my experience has been a little attitudinal to install in spite of the fact that many people claim otherwise. It only loaded without a hitch on this Dell Inspiron laptop. On my clunker upstairs, it was extremely difficult (took 5 hours), and on my son's old XP computer, impossible so far even with Lunbuntu, the lighter version. In all fairness, I built cheap computers and they are also old computers so the hardware may be the issue in my case, e.g. the CD ROM may be too old to read the newer CD's. It will either work or it won't after a few tries but..............

once installed, I love it. At least it's OK for normal functioning, surfing the web (Firefox), emails, web pages, the free office stuff (Libre) is phenomenal, and other personal computing, and files. I don't like all their software from their software center, and some of it is downright buggy. But what most people use it's good in that regards the important stuff runs very well from my experience.

I always say this... if there's a favorite program and/or game that only Microsoft can handle properly, then keep the Microsoft, but I would suggest it as a stand-alone unconnected to the web. If you are into web based gaming, then something like the xbox or similar would be the way to go. But don't trash the family Microsoft computer with a web game just because Microsoft gets a virus at the drop of a hat. Microsoft has a very poor handle on preventing viruses as you well found out, and that is MUCH more of a hassle and security risk than having a little trouble installing something else, but then it works right without viral infections all the time.

 

[EJJ]

What you can do is wipe the whole C drive, the whole hard drive clean. You can call the company that makes the computer and order the Recovery Discs. Then insert the discs, one after the other, and the recovery discs will wipe your computer clean and reset your hard drive back to the factory settings as when the computer was first purchased. of course this will delete everything that was saved on the computer after it was purchased, but at least you will save the computer and not have to purchase another computer. What you should not do is download any software claiming to be an antivirus program, because sometimes these programs are viruses themselves.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Did a couple more scans, one with Windows Defender. Caught some more. Avast caught 4, and afterwards Windows Defender caught 2.

Considering formatting.