I bought a Dell running XP Pro. It has a bunch of the previous owners stuff on it (empty folders etc) and is using Google toolbar. Almost every website I go to I get a message that google toolbar has encountered a problem and has to shut down. It then recovers the address and starts the problem all over again. I also noticed Halo program in it and when I try to delete it the firewall starts asking if I am to allow it . I tell it yes but it just keeps asking....

How do I get rid of Google tool bar and put the generic XP one in?

How do I dump the Halo?

Is there a way to get to a fresh start on this so my stuff is on there not beanie's?

Thanks

 

If you have the install disc's you could just reimageerase and install a new and clean version) the hard drive

 

I would suggest to reimage the hard drive. That way you know whats on the computer and don't have the previous owners garbage (possible spyware, viruses, etc).

 

START>CONTROL PANEL>GENERAL TAB>TOOL BAR> SET IT TO BLANK.

This might get you started until you can follow Jwendt advice and reinstall the XPPro, or what ever operating system you choose. Do you have the disks, including the applications disks?
If not, it could get a little costly to get the system loaded with what you want.
Good luck,

 

I did not get any discs with this. That will probably come back to bite me.

Thanks Davey I will try that.

 

why would he need the disk? he could borrow a dells restoration cd from a friend and use that. As long as he reinstalls the same operating system, he will be fine. Dells usually have the product key stamped on the bottom of the computer for the installed OS.

If he had xp home and installed xp pro without buying it from microsoft, he would be violating licensing laws, but as long as he reinstalls the same operating system he has now, it wouldn't cost him anything. Thats my understanding of the law.

 

I would go to the Dell support site and see what your computer shipped with.Some of them have a partition on the harddrive that you can reimage your computer with to get it back to the original configuration again.You can also find the keystrokes that the computer expects to make that happen.Get the service number off of the tag on the bottom of the laptop and they can tell you just what needs to be done.If the laptop is stolen or you cannot trace it to the owner that they have on file for it things may get a little more difficult but go with what you have for now.Ron G

 

I had a similar thing happen last year with a new to me HP laptop. I called HP, gave them the serial number off the computer and they sent me all three disks for about $29 shipped. I had the disks 3 days later.

 

Go to add and remove programs and unistall the google toolbar.
If there is a yahoo toolbar uninstall it as well.
Then do a search for firefox (Browser) and download it. Stop using I.E. it's junk.
If you don't have an antivirus, download the free version of AVG. Don't use Norton...it's garbage. Make sure you uninstall any antivirus on your machine before installing a new one. They don't play well together.
What is the firewall?
If it's the windows firewall do a search for ZoneAlarm Free and download that one. You don't have to uninstall the windows just allow Zone Alarm to control things.

 

Reinstall the operating system. Nothing else will give you peace of mind like starting fresh. Call Dell support, if need be.