running adaware on my T61

So I do a scan, it detects 61 infections (which seems high for having it for a day) then this happens:
an error has occored in Aw-Aware 2007 pro!
Component:
TVirtualStringTree

Message"
Canvas does not allow drawing

The program then closes

Any idea what I can do to get this to work properly?

 

This is why the first thing I do when I get a new laptop is format it. Everyone should know that every manufacturer loads junk on the laptops that you don't need and will only cause you headaches. For instance I would never install Lenovo's thinkvantage junk. Will my thinkvantage button work? No but it's only one small button.

My suggestion: Don't sweat it, just reformat.

 

It takes some effort, but you can uninstall the junk and useless programs you don't want or need if you find the idea of reformatting to be intimidating. Also, you should use at least one other anti-spyware program; no single program will find and delete all the crap which can infest your machine. Spybot is pretty good, though there are others available at several free download sites, one of which is here.

 

Ya I also got spybot and that is running no problem. So just curious is anyone of the thinkpad programs actually useful or should I just use windows to uninstall all of them?

 

I was a big user of adaware and spybot until last year. I found that I could save a lot of time and frustration (and get away with just using AVG free edition) by doing three things:

1) Take the time to thoroughly uninstall "junkware"
2) Use Firefox rather than IE (simply because I've had fewer problems unwanted files showing up on my computer)
3) Be careful about the sites I visit and the attachments I open.

 

When running Spybot, Adaware, AVG make sure to boot into safe mode w/o networking. Therefore, update the program definitions prior to rebooting.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ Download Bart PE and run virus scans w/o accessing the OS including McAfee. This is how many tech's run virus scans.

 

Here are some realy dumb questions. Sadly I am rather unfamiliar with windows (long time mac users).
1. How do I boot in safe mode? I remember it is hitting a certain button during boot up....
2. Can you just describe that virus scanning a bit more? Am I dowloading macafee to do the scan or am I scanning that? Since in that part I am totally lost

 

one of the F button.. F8?

 

F8 to boot in safe mode.