Do-it-yourself what a computer-fixer would do

Assume that a computer is pretty badly messed up, as in it has a lot of spam, some virus's and trojans, etc, etc.

Normally people would take it into a computer expert to clean it up. What type of things do they do to clean it up?

Thanks in advance.

 

Usually a full reformat cleans everything away. but depending on the severity of the virus/trojan, it depends.

 

system restore

Run the computer in safe mode while using virus scanners.

Use Hijack this to remove bad spyware

Run many diferent anti virus/spyware programs.

reinstall windows

Not exactly in that order.. but something close. Hijack-this is a good program.. but you almost need to learn how to use it.

 

reformat and reinstall your OS will take care of your problems

 

You could theoretically clean it up, but you'd have to really know your stuff, and even then you can't be 100% sure it's clean. By the time you did that, you may as well just reload it like they say above.

 

by far the easiest thing (and what the "expert" would do) is reformat hard drive and reinstall windows OR "restore" the system (from a special restore partition that came pre-installed on your computer)

 

Format the hard drive and reinstall the OS

 

Just some advice I sent somebody else a while ago.

 

If you are able to remove the viruses and whatnot off you OS and HDD and if you OS is damaged, BSoD, then do a repair instead of a reformat. But if the viruses will not go away, then do a reformat. My desktop almost asystoled !!!!, but after a repair and some hardware changes, it is still running six years strong. Once you've become a veteran DIYer, then a reformat is usually the absolute last option to choose. Try everything before you do that.

 

How about put the HD on fire? Hehe jk

Format the HD and install the OS will do the trick.

JC

 

if you're not good with computers, and even if you are.....

it's very hard to make sure that ALL viruses are gone.

 

The #1 way to be sure is to format/install

 

sometimes with a computer that is heavily attacked by spyware/virus/... It'll take TOOO MUCH TIMe to scan.. and it won't fix the problem. Best way is format and reinstall the whole thing. IF you don't have the cds of your softwares... you might think of asking someone u know to back up your stuff and help u reinstall the windows.

Most of my friends brought their laptop to school and ask me to fix them. Some i have to do clean up the dusty fans instead of software