Most of our PCs are vulnerable to viruses, spywares, worms … This article is meant to let users protect and repair their PCs, so that they create a protection shield for their PCs.
First, you must scan your PC to know what kind of viruses are infecting your PC. I would suggest Ad-Aware 2007 from Lavasoft from the fact that it can specify what is infected : files, folders, registry keys, registry values, modules, processes …
Now that you have scanned your PC for viruses and removed as much as you can, you can install a great Anti-spyware, Spyware Terminator which provide all the features you need (guard, auto-update …) for FREE !
It can remove many types of spyware like Backdoors, Trojans, Worms …
Now you need a firewall program like Comodo Firewall Pro 3 which won many awards in 2007 and is FREE.
If you check your e-mail on your desktop (MS Outlook, Thunderbird …), you have to use a E-mail Scanner which is provided in most of the Anti-virus softwares in the market. In my opinion, using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5 is good enough to protect your inbox.
You have a big problem ?? Check this
The viruses don’t let you install an Anti-Spyware or any kind of virus remover?
The viruses can’t be removed from your PC (with an error like “This process is in use”) or you’re receiving message alerts “from NOWHERE” !
Try this :
- Restart (or Reboot formerly) your PC
- Press on “F8″ before you reach the Windows Screen
- Choose “Safe Mode”
- Use Ad-Aware 2007 Free Edition to scan your PC
- Remove the viruses
- … and Restart (or Reboot) to get as normally to your Windows Account.
Still got problems ??
You’re PC may have lost some important files from Windows Folder.
You will have to backup your files before doing this.
(Try not to backup the folders containing the viruses !!)
Now :
- Insert the Windows CD
- Wait for the Autorun or run the CD from My Computer
- Choose the setup: “Update” (don’t choose :”New Installation”)
- … and Click “Next”
- Choose the Directory : “C:/” for example (and as a default in most PCs)
- Click Next …
- … and the setup will go on and your PC will be restarted so to finalize the installation.
By choosing “New Installation” you’ll delete everything in your Hard Disk, which mean s you’ll format your PC.
By choosing “Update” you’ll loose everything in My Documents, My Music, My Pictures … and your Address Book if you didn’t backed-up. Your programs (or applications) will still be installed but not all of them will work properly. (:S I’ve tried so on my PC, it didn’t worked). Your files outside these folders won’t be deleted :
- Desktop
- My Documents
- C:/Program Files/ (some files or folders might be deleted if they are related to Windows OS)
- C:/Documents and Settings/ (this folder will definitely be deleted because it contains the user’s data (Desktop, Mails, Address Book …)
The safest place will be something like : C:/My Backup Folder/
or if you have another Hard Disk, it will be easier and safer !
N.B: Don’t get confused between a “Hard Disk” and a “Hard Disk’s Partition” because both of them are mentioned in “My Computer” Folder.
How to identify a “Hard Disk” ?
- Click right-click on “My Computer”
- Choose “Manage”
- Then click on “Device Manager” then “Disk Drives”
- Now you can view how many Hard Disk are attached to your PC
Why asking ??
A “Hard Disk’s Partition” will be deleted (through “Update” and “New Installation”) if it’s a partition of the Hard Disk containing Windows, while a secondary “Hard Disk” (not containing Windows) won’t be deleted.
Finally,
I would suggest these 3 programs installed on a PC :
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5
Comodo Firewall Pro 3
Spyware Terminator
Posted by Wissam El-Kik 