OK, computer geeks - I need some (more) advise. BTW - your help was extremely valuable with my last problem (refreshing my webpages). Believe it or not, in my circle of friends, I am the resident "Computer Meltdown SWAT Team". Since I am the only one that can keep my systems running, I get to fix everyone else's. I'm talking about people who mostly use their machines for surfing, word processing, etc. Their computer slows down, freezes, gets viruses, etc - so they call me. My basic procedures include - install & run Norton Systemworks, a virus program if they don't have one, AdAware, Spybot S&D, run a disk clean up, disk defrag, download the Windows critical updates - the basic stuff that these people never do. Been fairly successful so far. But, now I'm stuck. Friend's computer is running Win 98, cable modem, 98% Net surfing, very few other programs installed. It's running slow and freezing up, the sound has disappeared and it won't download anything from the Net. I did a disk cleanup - barely anything there; a defrag - was not bad; installed Norton Systemworks 2002 and ran Win Dr and Disk Dr and that went well. He was already running Spybot S&D, so I re-ran that. I wanted to download AdAware and ZoneAlarm Firewall for him. Net connection was good, went to download.com for AdAware, clicked through to ftp.download.com/(all the AdAware address stuff) - should have been downloading, but all I got was a blank screen, "Done" in the corner. Same thing when I went to get ZoneAlarm. It had downloaded updates to MSN Messenger earlier. I changed every security setting in the IE Internet Options that I thought would be blocking downloads. Nothing. Still get a blank page instead of an active download. Tried shutting down, restarting, lather, rinse, repeat - you know the drill. My theory is - the system's full of Adware and Spyware and other junk. I need to get AdAware on there. Any suggestions on how to restore the ability to download stuff (save for wiping the system clean and starting over)? If not, how can I get AdAware and ZoneAlarm off my machine (or direct from the Net) onto a disk to install that way? (Personal aside - I have to fix this just to prove a point, as he has told me that I COULDN'T fix it. ah-ha! A challenge!)
Annie, Zone Alarm is a good product, but requires a LOT of setup to be able to surf without constant input needed. You need to download the Adaware and spybot onto your PC, then burn them to a disk. Also, download the recent definitions for each and install them from the CD. Seeing as how you can't get on the net to update them, this is a good fix. With Adaware, also download and install the VX2 plugin. With Adaware, just copy the update (.ref file) to C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Lavasoft Adaware. When it asks if you want to overwrite the existing file, say yes. With Spybot, download the update and douple click it. It installs by itself. I also bought and use Spy Sweeper. I install it on a client computer, run it, then uninstall it so I can use it on another computer. It is the best spyware software I have found, and I use them every day. Download Trojan Hunter. It is a free program for 30 days. After you install it and run it, just uninstall it. Download CWShredder and run it. Download Kazaabegone and run it. If you still have issues let me know. There are other utilities, but if you misuse them Windows blows up. If you want, you can press F8 several times as Windows boots up. When asked, select that you want to boot to a DOS prompt. At c:\ type the following: scanreg /restore This will take you to a utility that will allow you to restore the registry to an earlier time, possibly before the problems started. It will be obvious how to do it. Good Luck!
Have you Tried to reinstalled windows 98 sound like you may have lost or corrupted files run a scan disc set seting to fix and repair if that doesn't work i would reinstall windows Dave
I also recommend Spybot S&D and Adaware, but I now am adding a third one to the list, Spyware Doctor. This program found over 500 things on my computer after I had already run S&D and Adaware. It can take awhile to run, as it seems to be extremely thorough, but its worth it.
I've got Spyware Doctor on 2 of my computers too. It found things on mine the other 2 didn't. Seems like it's a lot better at identifying certain registry keys and cookies Adaware and Spybot miss. One other thing I just thought about, what browser are you using? If you're just using Internet Explorer and not having any luck downloading the programs yet. I'd look into seeing if you can download Mozilla Firefox. It's a lot more secure for browsers and faster. Just a thought.
You can try the free version of AVG for virus scans. Also, you can get Kerio Personal Firewall for free. It has other features that stop after 30-days if you don't want to pay, but the firewall keeps working. Its a fairly simple firewall that is easy to use. Whenever an incoming or outgoing connection is attempted, a window pops up asking you what to do. Allow or deny it, and you can click a check-box to have it remember your decision. The hard part is knowing what is okay to allow. When you boot and press F8, after doing the scan as suggested, reboot and press F8 again. This time choose Safe Mode (with networking). This will allow you to start windows without bad (or good) programs automatically running. If running in Safe Mode allows normal web activity, then it is definitely a malware problem. Also, running your virus and malware scans in safe mode will make removing things easier. Some stuff can keep the scanners from working, or you may need to reboot to remove an item if it is running in memory (meaning doing a whole new scan on the reboot). You could always remove his hard drive and put it in your machine for a virus scan. Sometimes, though, reinstalling Windows is the easiest solution. Don't install over the existing Windows, though. Save data he wants to keep and then reformat the drive and reinstall. After a new install, first put in any firewall before ever connecting to the net, then get all the Windows Updates you can. Have him use Mozilla Firefox for as much browsing as he can (some things will only work in M$IE, though), and make sure he doesn't use Outlook/Express (use Thunderbird instead). Better yet, install Linux instead (Mandrake is easy, Knoppix will let you try Linux from a CD that does not install). But that would be fixing the computer, not Windows.
So where do we get Spyware Doctor? I'll do a search when done here but sure it will be a question others will have.
OK, I'm trying to NOT have to wipe the system and reinstall everything. He said that he had that done not too long ago, and that is when the sound stopped working (I'm not worried so much about the sound!) I'm formulating a plan of attack for this weekend. I am going to take all the AdAware & Stuff recommended (I'm downloading them onto my computer - THANKS! - Trojan Hunter found a few things, Spyware Dr found 200+ things and is still running) plus a firewall. But before I do all that, I want to get through the Windows stuff first. I have run Norton Systemworks 2002 Disk Dr and Win Dr. Is that the same as running a Scandisk from the DOS prompt? I plan on disconnecting the cable modem, starting the machine, F8 to DOS, run scanreg/restore. Not sure if there is a good restore point, but we'll try. While I'm in DOS, what is the Scandisk command? Is it "scandsk" or "scandisk"? Been a long time since I had to use DOS commands. Is there anything else I should do while in DOS? Truzi - how do I run the virus and malware scans in safe mode? Do I have to run them from the disk, or will they run from the Start menu?
Spyware Doctor You can download it here: Spyware Doctor I downloaded it, ran it, found 240 items, but it won't remove them unless you pay for it. Trojan Hunter: Trojan Hunter Free for 30 days CWShredder and a bunch of others, including Kazaabegone: CWShredder
It should only be the advanced features that you have to pay for. Removing the bad stuff should be part of the free program. It worked for me. Maybe you hit the wrong button?
Another good program is Microsoft's Anti Spyware-- beta. It works well. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx frank
Minimum system requirements for Windows AntiSpyware (Beta): Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher A 300 MHz or faster processor with at least 64 MB of RAM Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 At least 10 MB of available free space on your hard disk Internet access with at least a 28.8 Kbps connection to use SpyNet Figures, microsoft comes out with something good and it only works on their most expensive software.
Annie, you'll have to run those programs from the start menu when you are in Safe Mode. Also, you'll have to install the latest libraries before you run any of those programs. Simply installing and then running will not remove the latest malware because the program won't know the latest stuff to look for. Spybot and AdAware are very good. Perhaps not the best, but the best cost money. Research something before using it. A few anti-malware programs have been known to list things that you don't actually have - so it seems they are better. From what I've read, though, Spyware Doctor is as good as people say. When getting one of these programs (like Spybot Search & Destroy or Spyware Doctor) make sure you are at the right website. Many malware programs will use similar names so you find them instead when you search. I've removed a few for-pay spyware removal programs (with names like spybot something, or spyware something) that really didn't do much, and had their own spyware. I've read reviews of the M$ tool, some good and some bad. However, a worm has already been released that disables it. Also, even though it claimed to have found more than Spybot and Adaware, the latter two found stuff that M$ didn't. Its usually best to run more than one of these programs to cover all your bases. (Spybot defaults to "backup" stuff it removes. Even though the malware are disabled and harmless at this point, they will still be found by other programs. You can have it delete them automatically, though.)
GAH!!! grrrrr..... OK, I was trying to avoid wiping his system clean and doing a complete re-install of Windows 98 because I was (mistakingly) under the impression that just recently this had been done. Well, I have now learned that it was done 2 YEARS AGO!! :rant: Geez, no wonder the system is FUBAR. It would just be easiest now, and in the best interest of my sanity and his physical safety - to begin with a complete re-install of Win98. I have done this before on my system, so shouldn't be a problem. QUESTION - Looking through his disks, the only Win98 he has is one called a "Quick Restore". Will this re-install the whole of Win98 after I wipe the hard drive clean? grrr.....could've told me this earlier......
How old is the computer? What processor does it have? I don't know if a quick restore disk will be enough. It may. When I bought my Dell desktop 4 years ago, it had Windows ME(total crap OS) on it. It had a quick restore disk also, wasn't enough to restore the computer. I went out and bought a copy of Windows 98SE until XP came out. Then I upgraded to that. If you can find someone with a full version of 98SE, I'd go that route. Lot less problems in the end. If the processor is new enough to handle XP, in my personal experience, I'd do that over anything else. Just personal preference.
Wow, 2 years old? Windows tends to self-destruct in less time without malware infections. I'm not sure about the restore disk. It might just restore the applications and kernel to a new state. However, since its Windoze 98, it is possible that it could be an image of the complete OS - its not that big for 98. Before wiping the hard drive, put the CD in and see if an autorun program starts and tells you what to do. It may pop up and let you select what to restore. Also, you could put the CD in and reboot - see if it runs a restore program. Either way, it should tell you how it works. On the other hand, it may be time to upgrade. I've gotten XP to run adequately on 500 Mhz machines, and 2000 is no problem - so long as you have enough RAM. If your friend mainly browses the web, look into linux
