I have been working on an old PC that was given to me. Ad-Aware, Spybot and Norton found and eleminated over 1200 adware programs and some 50 viruses. The way the system acted, I knew there was more there, but couldn't find them. I took Norton off the system and downloaded "Avast", and whatta you know.......it found four more trojans and one worm! Got rid of them and the system works great.

Try it, you'll like it....and it's FREE.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

 

Never heard of avast but I hate norton. I have adaware and bps spyware remover. Adaware scans much faster but doesn't always get everything so I use the bps also but only when I have time to wait. I use AVG by grisoft for virus protection.

 

I considered the AVG at the same time I chose Avast. I may try it on an old system just for the heck of it.

For some really good PC info, check out: http://komando.com/

I got on their email list and have picked up some pretty neat stuff.

 

Gonna have to try the avast now.

 

I run Norton Anti Virus Corporate and have had no problems. I have information that says that SpyBot while it removes Adware and Spyware it actually imbeds it 's own adware. Also when Spybot finds the virus, adware or spyware, be careful what actions you take then, I have lost quite a few workstations when you are prompted to FIX the problem and it DELETES the Registry Files from the computer. That is doing the same thing to the computer as if someone removed a few strands from your DNA, I have to reload the O.S. to fix it. (JOB SECURITY)
Other from Microsoft Updates, I do not trust anything that is FREE. On my computer what I do is partition my hard drive into about 50 GB incraments and only install the operating system onto the C:\ (boot) then redirect all of the program to save the data on D:, E:, F: and so on. That way if I have a problem I simply reload W2K and I loose nothing. But then I build a new computer about every 6 months anyway.
The new Microsoft program looks promising.
This is just whai I do..Jim.

 

I agree on downloading to a drive other then"C". I have two hard drives and put all the "play stuff" on the second one.

 

Jim you mean that a savy computer guy like yourself doesn't have a clean registry back-up?

 

On my computers after I set it up I will make a image and burn it on a CD but the way I set mine up it is really easy to simply reintall my operating system. I do this regulary when ever it starts running bad. Windows 2000 runs a bit slower just by design so that has to be taken into consideration. Even with my anti virus and firewalls I still get some trash but it comes from people I know sending me atachments. One thing you should do is take "My Documents" out of Documents and Settings and at least redirect it to the root directory. That way when you reinstall the OS they are not deleted. I have about 1,500 files I would loose.
I have the most problems from my clients, one in particular her kids come in and download games and play them on the workstations, or they will IM their friends and screw them up. I then get a frantic call when she cannot find her data. But hey thats is job security. I just go there every few days and back up all of the data files to a hidden folder on the server so it is easier for me. I also installed PC Anywhere on the server so I can check it from home.