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Cynfelyn
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 25
Loc: Llangynidr
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I recently restored my Toshiba laptop to its factory settings because I had numerous viruses and my registry was crammed with rubbish. If you have lots of viruses which are hidden or have a corrupt PC you might consider this. You will have to backup your important files like documents and pictures etc. before you restore your PC to its factory settings because everything will be wiped clean and your PC will be back to the settings you had when you first bought the computer.
To do this you will need the recovery disk that came with your computer or if don't have one you can get one from your PC company website online(around £30). (My laptop was Toshiba, and i ordered it from here; https://backupmedia.toshiba.eu/ )
When you have the recovery disk, insert it while your PC is on then restart your computer.Keep tapping F12 when the computer is turning on(this will vary with different models). You will then be given an option to boot from a particular device. Choose your recovery disk to boot from then follow the instructions from there to restore your PC to its factory setting. It can take up to 2 hours depending on the size of your hard drive. After it has finished you will have to create a new administrator account. Then it is done! Just restore all your files that you backed-up and there you go!
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Fusion
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 4391
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Just to add, the backed up important files etc should be thoroughly scanned for nasties before you put them back into the System or you may well be back to square one with a 'hidden' virus(s)!
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Cynfelyn
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 25
Loc: Llangynidr
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Yeah your exactly right! haha 
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bricat
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 31986
Loc: belfast
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Quote:
I had numerous viruses and my registry was crammed with rubbish
why not just take security a bit more seriously then you won't get all these viruses .
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IF I HAVE SAVED YOU MONEY, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO HELP IN MY FIGHT AGAINST MALWARE.
 
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail. 
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Jonny555
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 5388
Loc: Cheshire, England
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Quote:
why not just take security a bit more seriously then you won't get all these viruses .;)
Exactly. I haven't had a virus since mid 1998! It's not hard to stay protected.
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spiraleye
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 243
Loc: Hither Green, London
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Quote:
why not just take security a bit more seriously then you won't get all these viruses .;)
Quote:
Exactly. I haven't had a virus since mid 1998! It's not hard to stay protected.
Aw, come on guys. It's only easy to stay protected and virus-free when you've learned what to do!!
I know some of us are just stoopid, but others have only owned a computer for a while - since 2006 in my case. I only needed a PC at work for emailing and word processing prior to that. I had no need to be interested in IT security 'cos an entire works department was devoted to it, which kinda makes you think computer security is a bit of a difficult, time-consuming and on-going concern.
Despite taking home PC security seriously, I found there was a helluva steep learning curve. My Dell/McAfee combo came out of the box with installation instructions and nothing else, and it didn't prevent me from getting some nasty problems. I did a factory reset. Twice.
Living with only a cat, a budgie and an extortionate telephone helpline, I was faffing about the best I knew how, slowly learning how to do very basic things, never mind posting HijackThis logs and the like. You're only one click away from disaster in such an unsupported learning environment, even though you might be trying to be sensible and cautious.
There's nothing obvious to many inexperienced users about how say, browsers might be compromised, or about a whole host of other security issues, because you only get the chance to stumble upon them by going online - possibly using that same insecure browser, maybe a poorly configured firewall and god knows what else that you just don't know about because, well, you just don't know about it.
I thought I was being really smart when I picked the brains of computer-owning friends before I got hooked up to the 'net, only to discover in hindsight that they weren't as security savvy as I'd expected.
It's true; it's not hard to stay protected, but acquiring the know-how can be fraught with difficulties. And some of us are still spending more time using our computers learning about PC security than using them for almost anything else!!
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Edited by spiraleye (Sun May 31 2009 02:18 PM)
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Fusion
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 4391
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You have some valid points there spiraleye.
I blame the manufacturers, and even the suppliers for selling a piece of kit that can reap havoc in the wrong hands.
You wouldn't expect someone who hasn't had extensive training to go into a lions den, but we see someone who's gone out and bought a machine without ever knowing how to turn it on prior to buying it, and being able to access, whether by accident or not, vipers nests where they are going to be stung so many times, and sometimes without even knowing it.
I suspect profiteering from other peoples misfortunes has a lot to do with it!
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Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 15405
Loc: Gallifrey
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This isn't aimed at anyone in particular, but it's what I think about security and the posts on this thread.
I agree with what both spiraleye and Fusion say.
Both my husband and myself used computers at work in the early 80s. After that, our experience was with minor off-line stuff on a 3.1.1 PC which someone gave us about 7 or 8 years ago.
We got this PC in 2003 and neither of us knew anything about security. We'd heard of computer viruses on the news, but that was about the extent of our knowledge, we'd never heard of spyware/adware or any other kind of malware. We had NIS pre-installed and, although it did automatic updated, we had no idea that the program required any input or intervention from us.
To cut a long story short, we were aware of our ignorance and both bought magazines such as Web User and visited forums like this one. It was, as they say, a 'steep learning curve'.
We are very fortunate never to have had a virus Trojan or any serious malware - we've only ever had tracking cookies and occasional minor adware, all of which is easily removed. In the early days, we were lucky not to get any serious infections, it certainly wasn't due to any pro-active behaviour on our part.
It would be nice if PCs came with a booklet or inbuilt program to show people the dangers they will probably encounter on-line, but unfortunately they don't, so people have to learn by trial and error.
Please don't be glib or judgemental about those who don't know as much as you do, they'll probably learn more as time goes by as you likely did, or were some of you born just knowing all about PC security? Somehow, I doubt it!
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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
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Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 15405
Loc: Gallifrey
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It's good to see that your tip got into the latest issue of WU. Congratulations, I think many people will find it very useful.
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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
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spiraleye
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 243
Loc: Hither Green, London
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Madeline, I'd lost track of this thread. A belated thank you for your response!
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Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 15405
Loc: Gallifrey
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I'd forgotten it too, but you're welcome! 
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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
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