Well, if that would have been said to me by my father when I was 2 years of age, I would have understood. But when today, my own computer tells me that when I am 34, I wonder why I spent 00 on my computer hardware and software just to enjoy the (un-realized) benefits of this great and revolutionary information technology?
Today’s cyberspace is hazardous. None of today’s Pc users can claim that they never had a computer virus issue or a Pc safety breach. Now, if you count today’s amount of Pc users worldwide, they will soon be 1 billion by 2010 according to analysts. When I see all the computer viruses, infections, trojans, and what not around me, and correlate it with the 1 billion innocent computer users around the world, I simply feel sorry not only for those billion users but for myself too. But again, as a base user myself, I must admit it was not all doomsday for the whole business since 1987 when I started to use computers. So, as a responsible member of this great It revolution, I must share some of the best tips and tricks that I learned to use to make the minimum room for productivity on my computer.
Hawk
Please note this is a tutorial for person who has basic know-how of computer usage. For those who are newbies, I would advise request a local expert’s help before trying anyone out mentioned in this tutorial. In that case, make room for payment from deep pocket. For your own convenience, print this tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
Whenever my computer is infected, I act on any of the following options;
1. Format Hard Disk: I back up all of my data on a Cd-Writer if it is still accessible. And then format the whole hard disk drive and re-install each and every application.
2. Use Software: I exhaust all anti-virus and other software options. This is regularly my first priority as compared to formatting the whole computer hard disk drives.
Now, let me elucidate both options in detail;
Pre-Requisites: Make sure you have a Cd-Drive (Writer), empty writable Cds, Windows Os Cd (bootable) that contains files such as Format.exe, Scandisk.exe, Fdisk.exe, and Attrib.exe files. Microsoft Office Cd, Anti-Virus Cd, GoldenHawk Cd Writing Software in Dos (copy2cd.exe and cdtools.exe), Serial Numbers of your License, Driver Cds of Motherboard, Vga, Network, Sound and Modem devices. Optionally, download (using http://www.download.com or http://www.tucows.com) these software from any Internet Café when your own computer is inaccessible and save it on a Cd so that you can use it anytime for safety purposes;
Golden Hawk Dos based Cd Writing Software
Htech Fireman Windows based Cd Writing Software
Driver Genius Pro
Partition Magic
Avg AntiVirus
SpywareBlaster & SpywareGuard
Spybot hunt & Destroy
Ad-Aware
Ie-SpyAd
ZoneAlarm
HiJackThis & Cwshredder
I have intentionally avoided mention of many commercially good and more friendly software’s mention here as I wanted all to do Free without any added costs apart from the usual Os licenses. For your own convenience, you can investigate Google or Yahoo hunt engines find added information about such commercial software and their availability / pricing.
1. Format Hard Disk
I know it is painful and surgical type of solution, but sometimes, it is the Only solution left after exhausting all of our efforts to revive our computer engine after a virus attack. Succeed this procedure;
Booting Up: Try booting your computer regularly first and see if you can login easily. If you can’t or your computer hangs up, try retention F8 key when starting Windows and you will get the Safe Mode. Even if you don’t get the Safe Mode, don’t worry.
Power up your computer and press Del key or F2 key to login your Cmos. In Cmos, go to Boot Preferences and make Cd Drive as boot drive as your first boot drive and turn the hard disk drive as the second boot drive. If you don’t see your Cd Drive in the boot-up options, your Cd Drive is not properly installed. Check the connectors or ask your Cd Drive supplier for instructions to setup the Cd Drive. Now, when your Cd Drive is ready, insert your Windows Os Cd in the Cd Drive and restart your computer machine. When prompted, take the option “Boot from Cd with Cd Option”. When you get the prompt, notice the Cd Drive letter that was allocated to your Cd Drive when it installed the Cd Driver. It is regularly D: drive or the last drive letter depending on the amount of your partitions. Note it down as it is the actual drive letter where you will have to type a Dos command like d:
You should now be able to run all software utilities such as Format, Scandisk, Fdisk or Windows factory Setup.exe files. Right now, simply make sure they exist by typing a Dos command dir at the Cd drive letter. If you don’t find it with this straightforward directory command, use dir/s filename to hunt the file. For example, to hunt fdisk.exe file, type dir/s fdisk.exe.
Backing Up Your Data: Before formatting your hard disk drive, please make sure you have proper back up of your valuable data files such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc files on a Cd or any other media for backup that you have way to. In this tutorial, we assume you have a Cd-Writer installed for taking backups on Writeable Cds. Their capacity is regularly 700Mb or less. Here, you should seriously reconsider using Zipping software like WinZip or WinRar.
Via Windows: If you can luckily login to your Windows Os, you should run the Cd-Writer software such as Htech Fireman to back up all of your data on an empty Cd. If you don’t know how to do it, read their user hand-operated for detailed schooling set. If you can’t way your Windows Os, read on.
Via Dos: Some of the files that you wish to make back-up, may be hidden. To un-hide them, use attrib *.* +r +s +h.
Now, use the software from Golden Hawk file named as copy2cd.exe to backup your data files or directories on a writeable Cd. Before using this command, make sure you are in an suitable path on the computer such as E:/ where the actual file copy2cd.exe file resides;
Copy2cd c:data*.* f:
Here we assumed that f: is a Cd Writer drive. Now, repeat the same for all of your files to back up. When finished, run cdtools.exe command i.e. Cdtools f: to conclude by selecting option “Disc Finalization”.
If you can’t back up your data using the above-mentioned procedure, either ask an surface expert’s help personally or via internet. If all fails, forget your data forever and carry on installing a new Os as mentioned in this tutorial.
Backing up Your Drivers: An entertaining tool to mentioned here is a software that automatically backs up all of your drivers of Cd, modem, sound card, vga, usb, printer or just about anyone that is currently installed on your system. But this software works only in an operational windows Os, and not in Dos. It is a good and time-saving institution to keep a backup of all of your drivers on a Cd by using such a software. Its name is Driver Genius Pro and it is commercial software, not a freeware.
Using Fdisk: You may skip this option and go level to Formatting Hard Disk option, if you wish to use other beneficial partitions that may contain your data. Before going ahead with this option, Make sure there is no beneficial data left on your computer to be backed up. This option will delete all of the computer partitions and originate new ones.
i) Boot up your computer using Windows Os Cd.
ii) Run this command
fdisk
iii) Press option 3 to delete all current partitions.
iv) To originate a new partition, take option 1 and take Y to riposte the maximum size request by the program.
v) Next, take option 2
vi) Press Esc key to quit and restart your computer to
See the Url [http://www.compguystechweb.com/troubleshooting/fdisk/fdisk_scr.html] for detailed instructions alongwith screenshots. Now, that you have created the customary partition, you can continue to format the newly created partition. There is a very user-friendly but commercial software called Partition Magic by PowerQuest to carry on your partitions verily after factory of Windows.
Formatting Hard Disk: Now that you have created new partitions, It is time to format them so that you can start installing Windows. This is how you make your C: drive usable by your Windows Os for installation. Boot up your computer with Windows Cd and type format c: command at the prompt. When prompted for maximum size, press, Yes. After complete processing you will be presented with the flourishing article about the formatting of the C: drive. take your new drive name and press Enter to finish.
Installing Windows: Microsoft has made it very easy for a newbie to setup a wholly new Os on a newly formatted partition. It is all wizard based and you simply have to click Next each time whenever asked a question. Boot up your computer from the Windows Cd and take Start with Cd Option. When on Dos prompt, turn to the Cd Drive that it just created which is regularly d: if you have only one partition C. Now type command setup.exe to start the windows factory process.
During installation, make sure you properly name your Pc as per your preferences and take your regions and Time zone. When finished, the computer will re-boot and during next re-boot it may ask some drivers of your Sound Card, Vga, Network, or other devices attached. Provide the valuable driver Cds and find the paths of the suitable drivers. If you are not sure, leave it like that and press Next to ignore. When your windows factory is complete, you can setup Microsoft Office, setup internet connection and start using it as regularly as you would. Please make sure you setup all the safety software such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, adware, and other software as mentioned in the next section.
2. Use Software
Installing Anti-Virus: Download free Avg Antivirus software and setup it. Make sure you get its free key from their website by registering. This software is not auto-updated for valuable viruses and for an auto-update version, you will have to pay. If you wish to pay, we would advise world’s most beloved brands Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micros instead. No matter what Anti-Virus software you install, make sure you enable its Auto-Protect highlight for self-acting safety of your computer’s resources and in-coming or out-going emails from any virus attack. Some software even allow you to setup silent detection and destruction without any disturbance to your work. Further, they are auto-updated via internet at the regular interval that you setup. Hence, you can rest assured that whenever a safety threat is spread all over the world, your software will automatically download the valuable updated version and setup its defense on your computer.
Browser Security: To setup your browser (Internet Explorer on Windows) for maximum safety against the usual threats, Succeed this procedure;
i) Start up your browser
ii) Go to Ie > Tools > Windows update > stock Updates, and superior safety Updates to be automatically updated. Microsoft releases patches and safety patches from time to time to make sure your system’s safety is up-to-date.
iii) Now, go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press ‘default level’, then Ok. Now press “Custom Level.” In the ActiveX section, set the first two options (“Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to ‘prompt’, and ‘Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe” to ‘disable’. Now you will be asked either you want ActiveX objects to be executed and either you want software to be installed. Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.
If you use an additional one browser such as Firefox or Netscape, see their documentation on how to securely set it up against any such internet threats.
Installing Anti-Spyware: Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today. By simply browsing to a web page, your computer may come to be a victim. You can setup SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard to effectively guard your computer from such internet threats.
It includes Fast Real-Time Scanning engine for known spyware and heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch new / mutated spyware and Download safety along with Browser Hijacking safety in real-time.
Simply download the software (free) from their website and setup it on your system. Make sure you download its newest update too or enable its Auto-Update highlight to be updated automatically in the background. Now, when you are ready, run the software to check the spyware on your computer. When spyware are found, it reports accordingly. Press “select all”, then press option “kill all checked”. Although it won’t protect you from 100% spyware, But it is a very leading extra layer of protection.
Next, setup an additional one software that is called Spybot hunt & Destroy. It works exactly like SpywareBlaster, but it never hurts to have a double layer of spyware detection alongwith Spybot R&D.
Installing Anti-Adware: Adware is a base term used to communicate potentially risky websites and scripts that do data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, superior customary Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. There is a very good software called Ad-Aware ready to scan and remove such nuisances from your system.
To start using it, simply visit Lavasoft Usa website and download its free non-commercial version of Ad-Aware Personal Edition. Run its setup agenda and setup it. When prompted, ask it to scan your computer. If there are any adware found, it is detected and removed automatically by Ad-Aware. Run this software on a weekly or daily basis, if inherent to keep your law clean.
In increasing to the Ad-Aware, Internet Explorer comes with a very handy tool that allows you to block exact sites that may carry well-known advertisers, marketers, crapware pushers to the Restricted sites Zone. If you had to input 50000+ of such sites manually yourself, it would takes years. Luckily, there is a software that does it all automatically and it is called Ie-Spyad. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these fellowships will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your Pc while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your Pc. It is not an ad blocker. It will stop top unwanted crapware from being installed behind your back via “drive-by-downloads”; prevent the hijacking of your home page.
This Restricted sites list is based in part on info from: discussions in the SpywareInfo Forums and other forums that specialize in crapware dismissal major crapware reference sites: doxdesk, cexx.org, Kephyr.com, PestPatrol and SpywareGuide.
To start using it, simply download it from their website and run its install.bat file. Make sure you run its update as well soon after its installation.
Installing Firewall: A firewall software acts as a defense shield against hackers, intruders, and blocks way attempts to your computer. ZoneAlarm is a pro firewall software that works in a stealth mode automatically and makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet.
Download it from ZoneLabs website and run its setup for installation. I advise you use its Express Settings which automatically configures your most ordinarily used software like browser, chat messengers, ftp software to way internet, while blocks every other internet traffic in real-time. If any software or service tries to upload or download any data, it pops up an alert whereby you can allow or disallow such internet traffic.
Computer Slow Down: It is very base to see many complaining about their computer slow-down. The fastest and easiest cure is using Windows’ built-in Defragmenter utitlity that you can find in Startà Programs à Accessories à law Utitlities à Disk Defragmantor and run suitable defragmantation. It will take a while before it ends.
If your system’s execution does not heighten after running defragmantation utility, reconsider scanning your computer via a software utility called HiJackThis which you can download and setup on your system. Use this tool carefully as it is intended for advanced users only. HijackThis is a tool, that lists all installed browser add-on, buttons, startup items and allows you to inspect, and optionally remove superior items. The agenda can originate a backup of your customary settings and also ignore superior items. added features contain a straightforward list of all startup items, default start page, online updates and more.
Cwshredder is a utility for removing CoolWebSearch (aka CoolWwwSearch, YouFindAll, White-Pages.ws and a dozen other names). This tool will find and destroy all traces of the CoolWebSearch (Cws) hijacker on your law including redirections, Ie slowdowns, start page changes, un-authorized increasing of sites in Ie Trusted Zone, and blocking way to Ie options or setup.
Download Cwshredder from their official website only as there is a similar named virus/trojan on the loose at discrete websites which you may accidently download and install, hence come to be more infected than being cured instead. When it is installed successfully, run the software to scan your local machine. take the fix button & it will get rid of all related to CoolWebSearch. Close All other programs & windows, including Ie, before running Cwshredder. Reboot after doing this.
I know there is still a lot left, but as I wanted to keep this tutorial as brief as possible, hence I covered only the valuable elements here. I am sure you will have fewer breakdowns (if not Zero0 and more efficient hours on your computer. I would advise you to setup all the software’s auto update and auto-check options to free your time for more efficient things than just playing hide and seek with spywares, adwares or viruses. Happy and safe computing!
Web and Computer protection
Friends Link : Pheromone Real estate files Artist Florist Cell phone