This is for my mom's computer, again.

She paid some online tech support company $100 to help her with her computer problem, only to be told that because she had Windows ME that they couldn't help her. I told her to get her money back, but I'm not sure she will. I mean, if they can't help people with ME, then they shouldn't have taken her money, right?

Anyway, I know I used some free online tool to find and rid my computer of spyware. But I don't remember what I used. Any recomendations?

I'm going to be at her house most of the day tomorrow so I thought I'd see what I could do to help speed things up with her computer to buy her a couple extra weeks before she buys the new one.

Thanks!

I think Adaware is free...we were using that for awhile, then got slammed with a Winfixer bug....:wall: what a nightmare! So I shelled out I think $20 or $30 for Webroot Spy Sweeper and I LOOOOVE it!! :clap: No popups, no problems with spyware...money well spent.

I've got Norton. Does a very good job!

Ad-Aware and SpyBot Search & Destroy. Both free and do a good job.

Duh! :doh:

You told me that already. That's what I used on my computer. :blink:

Thank you!

Yeah use the two togeather, sometimes one will miss an the other will catch it, you can also git ahold of that piece of software microsoft bought from giant, it's free right now as well, an if you cain't find it I've got a copy Sarah can send you. An for cryin out loud!! Make your mama stop shellin out money to idiots..... gee if she's jes gotta pay someone I can think of folks far worth thier weight in money.

I know, I know. I had no idea she was going to pay so much. It's my fault. I should have helped her out sooner. I didn't know the problem was as bad as it is.

What program are you talking about that's free?

It's blasphmey I know but Microsoft Anti-Spy will find some things that the other can miss too....


But My two favs are Spybot S&D and Adaware... They find darn close to everything.... With Adaware make sure you get the VX2 Plugin, and ... heck I can't rememebr the other plugin..... they're both seperate downloads....


You can also check out Major Geeks Spyware resources They have some useful advice and usually links or mirrors to some decent Malware removal utils....

Yeah as far as shelling out cash...

Have her run the prob past you first, post it here, and I'm sure the rest of the Christian Geek Squad and I will be happy to give a hand if we can....

Just rememebr Give us as much info as you can

Make / Model of Computer (and if it's problem with a specific piece of hardware Video CArd / Modem etc teh make and model of it as well if you know it.....)
Operating System
Full error messages
Symptoms
Last time anything new was added or deleted or modified on the system.... What was Added / deleted / modified.....
Everything that was tried so far....

OK, I downloaded Adware and Spybot yesterday and removed more than 3,000 "incidents". Her computer went from 22% performance to 80%. Now the plan is to reformat her hard drive next weekend. I'm scared, but I think I can do it. She only has a floppy drive, so I told her to get a zip drive so I can use it to store her files. Then I'll try to reformat it. I'm a little scared. But I'm counting on you guys to help me.

rememeber to backup the install files for Adaware and Spybot and the first thing you load after you finish your reformat and reinstall of OS is Adaware and Spybot, and update them, and run Spybot's immunize. Then your Virus Protection, everything else can wait for those three programs...

You getting her another OS than ME?

OK, thank you.

Now, the OS...

I'm concerned that if we go out and buy XP, her system won't be able to handle it. Then it'll be a total waste of money. My other option, is to go back to Windows 98. Which is better? I mean, I'm thinking if I do what you said to do, and have the spyware stuff in from the start, then we should be good...even with ME.

What do you think?

ME itself is problematic at best.

Microsoft leapt away from that OS quick, and they usually stand by their sinking ships...

Win2K was great NT version of ME....

The two best I've worked with from the MS family were 2k and XP.....

If ME worked for her before I'd go ahead and keep with it.,.. but if the Spyware was just the icing on the cake of more drastic ME issues go witht eh new OS....

I might have a couple OSes around the house somewhere if you need to change the OS

May I interrupt this thread and ask what "OS" means? I am NOT blonde...but am computer illiterate (obviously).

OS = Operating System

Sorry sometimes I forget that regular folk can't speak redneck or geek.....or Rich.....

OK, thank you.

I think ME worked alright for her. She hasn't seem to have had that many problems. but then she doesn't use it that much. She works all day, so she really uses it a couple hours at night and a little on the weekends. I think if she was using it all day, it might be more of an issue for her. But it's not like she's working from home.

Raspy, can you give me instructions for reformating the drive? Maybe send me a link with info or something? I just want to be able to print it out and have it in front of me. I'm thinking I'm going to mess this whole thing up.

Before reformatting after all teh MalWare (Malicious Software for the uniniated Spyware and adware and the like) was removed is it back in accpetable shape or is it still laggy and freezing?

1st thing 1st. Back up ALL important documents and Files, or know where you can download them from again quickly.

2nd thing
Have the OS desk handy.
No OS Disk don't even attempt it because you'll be stuck witha blank drive and no way to get it up and running

It seems to be running fine now that I've cleaned it all out. Does that mean I should NOT reformat it for now?

Since she only has a CD and floppy drive, I told her to get a zip disk so I can save all of her documents. Then I will make sure we have disks for all the programs - OS, printer, MS office, etc. Then I was going to back everything up, and reformat it.

BUT, and this is a big but...if it's working ok, and I can skip all of this, I'd be more than happy to.

If it's working acceptably for your mom, then i say let it go... Still back everything up just as a precaution though


If it's fitting her needs let it go, if it's holding her back do it...

Give her a week or two to make sure it's working fine...

Sounds good to me...and it totally frees up my Saturday!

Thanks for all your help Raspy!

NP glad to help....