Should I give up? (Computer Issue)

[The Apprentice]

I don't know if this belongs here or in technical help, but I'm not asking for a solution so I assume it's fine here. My computer is crippled right now because of a virus and several Trojans I picked up in an idiotic download. Now my irresponsibility has cost me- it takes ten minutes for my computer to boot, when it does I'm at half the normal speed, and I'm posting this through Google Chrome.

This is the second time this year I've been hit with an infection from the internet. I'm short on patience right now because I have a cold, and I've been thinking of reformatting.

Here's the question. I've got McAfee on here and I could get some other anti virus software, and fight this stuff off, or I could reformat and start clean. Which will be less of a total pain, having to clear out the virus/malware or having to reinstall Windows? My dad is hesitant to help me reformat because he thinks starting clean would be too difficult, but he did the same thing to the living room computer in an afternoon. Is there any reason why it would be especially hard on a different computer?

[lordofduct]

NOD32!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Reformatting really depends on what you need to save. Is all your stuff already backed up? Is per chance on a separate partition from the OS? Or on disk?

Also how much stuff do you have to install? The Windows install is relatively simple, takes about 30 minutes. It's a matter of how much time you'll be spending getting all the disks for all your software together and installing the ones you want. And then copying over what ever backed up material you did.

[Niode]

If the virus is half competent at it's job then you'll never truly remove it. I say reformat. You have no idea what that virus is doing whenever you are turning your system on. For all you know it's harvesting all and every bit of personal data you have stored on your computer. This will only get worse the more you use your computer.

Everytime you get a virus you should always reformat. IF you haven't backed up data, serves you right. You should always backup important data. I have no time nor sympathy for people who don't take precautions.

If people used at least some concious thought when using the internet, there wouldn't be half as many viruses circling around on the Windows platform right now.

Then again, if people actually thought about what they were doing then I'd be losing out on money I can charge people to fix their computers.

[8bitCaged]

Just backup and reformat.
put all the stuff you need into one folder do a spy where/virus check on that folder if non backup on a cdr thumb drive etc...

[Droid party]

NOD32!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is NOD32 really that good?????????????????
I've been using AVG for years now without any issues at all. In saying that, I'm always happy to use something if it is step better.

[marurun]

I'd say back up and reformat. And while you should have anti-virus, you shouldn't rely on it to protect you. You still have to be careful about your on-line behavior. I never use anti-virus software and the only virii I've caught are easy to clean ones and I caught them because I did something I suspected I shouldn't have. This means that my browsing behavior was responsible for every piece of malware I've caught and that my knowledge of how to browse safely has kept me from catching anything truly nasty.

Anti-virus is a nice back-up but there is no anti-virus software (NOD32 included) that can truly protect you from promiscuous browsing. Use Firefox and install NoScript. It can be annoying to OK sites that don't work properly, but it's worth the protection. Also, be careful what you download. Or switch to Opera for most of your browsing. Chrome is kinda cool, but Opera and Firefox are the most functional of the safer browsers when used properly.

[Niode]

I'd say back up and reformat. And while you should have anti-virus, you shouldn't rely on it to protect you. You still have to be careful about your on-line behavior. I never use anti-virus software and the only virii I've caught are easy to clean ones and I caught them because I did something I suspected I shouldn't have. This means that my browsing behavior was responsible for every piece of malware I've caught and that my knowledge of how to browse safely has kept me from catching anything truly nasty.

Anti-virus is a nice back-up but there is no anti-virus software (NOD32 included) that can truly protect you from promiscuous browsing. Use Firefox and install NoScript. It can be annoying to OK sites that don't work properly, but it's worth the protection. Also, be careful what you download. Or switch to Opera for most of your browsing. Chrome is kinda cool, but Opera and Firefox are the most functional of the safer browsers when used properly.

If you never use AV software how do you know you had a virus?

[lordofduct]

He's a wizard! He hit me with his staff once... got the lump to prove it.

[elph]

She turned me into a newt!

...

I got better.

[marurun]

If you never use AV software how do you know you had a virus?

heh... Actually, I did tier 1 and 2 tech support for several years. While the newest rootkit baddies are beyond my experience as far as removal and cleanup goes (I've been doing lighter-weight work recently), a good tech always learns the signs of infection. I don't have weird network traffic going out. My computer crashes for only predictable reasons that are usually my fault. My computer is slow at times because it's old, not because some hidden process is dragging it down. And I always keep a good eye on running processes and my registry. I'm just very computer aware and compulsively tweak, customize, and just generally screw with every PC I regularly use.

I have Windows sixth sense, if you want to call it that. Once you are high enough level it becomes a class ability.