Computer Problem

[stinkynuts]

I am having major computer problems recently, and need help.

My computer got infected with some kind of virus. I took it to a shop and they told me that I would need to reinstall Windows and delete everything. So I had Windows XP reinstalled.

They told me that I would have to update Windows by myself. I installed the internet software, but before before updating Windows, I visited a few sites. My computer must have downloaded something, because it started to act strange. I can view websites fine when I first connect to the internet, but after a while, I get more errors viewing them (cannot be displayed), until finally I cannot view any, so I have to restart.

I tried to do a system restore, but it won't let me do it. So now I am stuck.

 

[papasmerf]

Reformat and stay away from them sites

3rd time is not the charm for some sites

 

[papasmerf]

try a different browser like firefox but first update windows...if you are infected again well you can try installing an antivirus program but some viruses will prevent you from doing a scan in which case you will have to reinstall windows again....

On that note
go to trend micro and do their free check

 

[anthony0975]

Restore the registry to the default install

Hey,

Whenever you install Win xp, a backup copy of the registry is saved in the c:\windows\repair folder. This is a copy of the registry after a successful XP install.

To avoid reinstalling do this
NOTE: if you installed apps like MS office you might have to do a repair install

This part of a Kb on the microsoft site.
Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.
Note This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:\Windows folder. Make sure to change C:\Windows to the appropriate windows_folder if it is a different location.


If you have access to another computer, to save time, you can copy the text in step two, and then create a text file called "Regcopy1.txt" (for example). To create this file, run the following command when you start in Recovery Console:
batch regcopy1.txt
With the batch command in Recovery Console, you can process all the commands in a text file sequentially. When you use the batch command, you do not have to manually type as many commands.

AFTER you're done, install a virus scan then go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and do all the updates. Also look into a spyware scanner such as ADaware

Hope it helps.
That's enough geek talk from for today.

 

[stinkynuts]

Thanks for your help!