how to get rid of annoying spyware and popups

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

thats what i want to do is lose everything and back to originial date

and i dont have recovery cd's i bought this from a person and it came with no cd's and then the motherboard crashed so i got a new one installed

its a dell 240 optiplex how can i do a system restore to a previous datei am doing the search and destory right now its taking forever lol

is it supposed to

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

If it was a preassembled computer (Dell, Gateway, etc.) then you should have a "restore CD/dvd" that has the original image of the hard drive on it and can put it back to the way it was rec'd. But you will lose everything
EDIT: I was beat to it

A lot of newer computers will offer to back up your user data files (i.e. Documents, pictures, etc.) and restore them upon the Windows reinstallation. However, of course, you run the risk of the computer continuing to be infected ...

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

thats what i want to do is lose everything and back to originial dateand i dont have recovery cd's i bought this from a person and it came with no cd's and then the motherboard crashed so i got a new one installed

its a dell 240 optiplex how can i do a system restore to a previous datei am doing the search and destory right now its taking forever lol

is it supposed to

Yes it takes awhile to scan.

You could do a clean install of the OS that it is running on. Thats even better then a restore CD IMO because then you only have on it what you want, not what Dell wants you to have on it.

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

ok well the computer is only a 2001 or a 200s i think and its a dell windows xp professional so where can i find a cd to put it back to the originial stuff that was on it and delete everything else

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

how would i do the os resotore

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

Borrow an XP CD from someone. Then if it doesnt activate online call microsoft with the phone verification and say you are reinstalling on the same machine. It works everytime.

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

well i will jsut do the spyware destory for now and see how that goes its half way done and hasnt found anythin i guess

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

well i will jsut do the spyware destory for now and see how that goes its half way done and hasnt found anythin i guess

If it doesnt work there is a system restore function in Windows that you can try before doing a clean install. I dont remember how to pull it up. Go to your desktop, hit F1, and search in the help for System Restore Wizard. It will pull it right up

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

If it doesnt work there is a system restore function in Windows that you can try before doing a clean install. I dont remember how to pull it up. Go to your desktop, hit F1, and search in the help for System Restore Wizard. It will pull it right up

Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Restore

To the OP, I recommend borrowing a bootable XP disc from someone. Do as antoher poster said and call Microsoft to get it activated. The only problem is that you'll have to re-install all of the drivers once that is done. This can be a problem as you won't have an ethernet card to connect to the internet. When I did this to my gf's Dell, I used a usb wireless adapter to connect to a wireless network and downloaded the drivers from Dell's website. You can download the drivers and write them to a CD before you re-format though. This way gets you the cleanest install.

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

you could do a system restore..and go back to a different date before you gave him the computer.

I always just system restore my computer with the discs when it gets real bad. I lose everything but I dont really care.

Ive done it about 3 times

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Restore

To the OP, I recommend borrowing a bootable XP disc from someone. Do as antoher poster said and call Microsoft to get it activated. The only problem is that you'll have to re-install all of the drivers once that is done. This can be a problem as you won't have an ethernet card to connect to the internet. When I did this to my gf's Dell, I used a usb wireless adapter to connect to a wireless network and downloaded the drivers from Dell's website. You can download the drivers and write them to a CD before you re-format though. This way gets you the cleanest install.

He said he just got a new motherboard ... which would have come w/ a driver disc ...

 

[jer_stud56 10+ year member]

For your future surfing....

http://www.getfirefox.com Download Mozilla Firefox 2

http://adblockplus.org/en/installation Download Adblock Plus

http://easylist.adblockplus.org/ Scroll down to (1) Easylist & install it, (2) EasyElement & install it.

Now be happy to be blocking 99% of ads/pop ups/etc.

In fact I haven't seen a pop-up in over a year.

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

ok thanks so if i do the system restore will i have to reload any drives or ethernet plug in and the erthernet is built in to the computer it came like that

 

[crunktimes.com 5,000+ posts]

I would first to go dell and enter your service tag and download your ethernet, sound and video drivers before doing an OS restore, burn them to a CD or flash drive then do the OS re-install and load your drivers from CD once you are done.

I would also take a blacklight to your keyboard chances are you have been rubbing your fingers in your buddies jizz since you got it back.

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

I would first to go dell and enter your service tag and download your ethernet, sound and video drivers before doing an OS restore, burn them to a CD or flash drive then do the OS re-install and load your drivers from CD once you are done.
I would also take a blacklight to your keyboard chances are you have been rubbing your fingers in your buddies jizz since you got it back.

Black lights are useless without them special goggles.