The General "Computer Issues" Thread

[En Sabah Nur]

In case anyone remembers my post in this thread from a few days ago, my computer caught a computer virus, and it basically shut down my computer for a few days. I couldn't even go into "Safe Mode" after a while. I ended up having to reformat my computer to get it to work (by clicking F10 when you start the computer up). So that got my computer working long enough that I was able to get all of my family photos and documents of importance onto a thumb drive. From there, a friend of mine gave me a copy of Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Malicious Software Removal, and it detected two viruses, one of which it removed, and the other of which it "quarantined"...I'm hoping that solves the virus problem.

So now that my computer's been reformated, it's like it's starting over (this is a 5 year old computer, it came with Windows XP). My question is: what should I download to get it back up to snuff with where it was at? What version of Firefox and Internet Explorer should I get? I needed to download a version of Microsoft Word...or Open Office. Which do you recommend and what version of Word/Office? I started to download the new Microsoft Office 2010, only to discover I needed to download Windows SP3...which my computer can't handle. Should I download Windows SP2 instead? Do I need that?

What are essentials that I should download, and is there a specific order I need to download all this stuff in?

Any windows XP computer can handle SP3, its just a service pack. You need to update your PC to SP3 then do all the following updates. Latest IE version is IE8 and latest Firefox version is 3.6. Once your windows updates are done, just download any software that you previously had that you still want. BTW Microsoft Office is not downloadable from the internet, you have to buy it. Windows XP can handle Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007 as well.

 

[wonderfly]

Any windows XP computer can handle SP3, its just a service pack. You need to update your PC to SP3 then do all the following updates. Latest IE version is IE8 and latest Firefox version is 3.6. Once your windows updates are done, just download any software that you previously had that you still want. BTW Microsoft Office is not downloadable from the internet, you have to buy it. Windows XP can handle Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007 as well.

Yeah, well, I had downloaded SP3 and ran the program, and it told me to reboot the computer to execute the program, and when the computer came back on, it refused to start up windows properly. I was told by a local computer repair shop that my computer possibly couldn't handle SP3...

So I went into Safe mode this morning (which allowed me to access my computer) and tried to delete SP3 through the "Add/Remove Programs" section, and it listed SP3 as one of my programs, but when I tried to remove it, it said it couldn't find the program, and thus it wasn't removed. So I reformatted the computer yet again, (taking it back to the original version from when I bought the computer) and that removed SP3...

Also, here in just the last little bit, my web browsers (both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox) are scrolling up and down weird. When I scroll down a webpage, it's jarring, like my web browser can't handle it, making it look streaky a bit when I scroll down (if that makes sense). Is that because I haven't uploaded the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox? Or...is this all happening because the virus is still on my computer somehow? I'm a bit concerned that my computer program said that it had "quarantined" the virus, not destroyed it...

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

I would recommend just downloading Open Office. It's free, legal and works just fine.

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Yeah, well, I had downloaded SP3 and ran the program, and it told me to reboot the computer to execute the program, and when the computer came back on, it refused to start up windows properly. I was told by a local computer repair shop that my computer possibly couldn't handle SP3...

So I went into Safe mode this morning (which allowed me to access my computer) and tried to delete SP3 through the "Add/Remove Programs" section, and it listed SP3 as one of my programs, but when I tried to remove it, it said it couldn't find the program, and thus it wasn't removed. So I reformatted the computer yet again, (taking it back to the original version from when I bought the computer) and that removed SP3...

the local computer repair guy is an idiot. And SP3 can not be uninstalled by conventional methods such as add/remove programs. If the computer supports windows XP, it can handle the service packs as well unless you have a really really old component in it.

Also, here in just the last little bit, my web browsers (both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox) are scrolling up and down weird. When I scroll down a webpage, it's jarring, like my web browser can't handle it, making it look streaky a bit when I scroll down (if that makes sense). Is that because I haven't uploaded the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox? Or...is this all happening because the virus is still on my computer somehow? I'm a bit concerned that my computer program said that it had "quarantined" the virus, not destroyed it...

You have to update your video drivers so your browsers and everything else can be smooth again. And its downloading not uploading. If you formatted the computer and restored it to factory default settings, any traces of the virus should be gone, unless you have that virus on any removable storage devise that you keep plugged in as well. That is rather unlikely but scanning your flash drives and external and additional internal hard drives/partitions would be beneficial.

 

[wonderfly]

You have to update your video drivers so your browsers and everything else can be smooth again.

Okay...how?

Speaking of "video", since I've reformatted the computer, when I first turn it on, I get a message saying "Found New Hardware: Video Controller (VGA Compatable)." When I try to install it, (whatever it is) it says it can't install it properly, and says it needs software to install it...

Last year, I installed a new video card that allowed me to play some games that the factory default video card couldn't handle...since I've restored my computer, is it trying to reinstall this video card again? I don't recall needing any software last year to install the video card...

Is this all related to what you were talking about above? Or something completely different?

Totally different question: I'm also having a pop up appear that says "SpySubtract" is not working properly...I've never heard of "SpySubtract", is that a virus, or a program that has it been compromised by the virus?

 

[Wonderwall]

Your battery most likely needs to be replaced. If your drive says its a blu-ray drive then yes you can play blu-ray discs. What update does it give you? You need a blu-ray player to watch blu-ray movies, like cyberlink's powerdvd.

Yea I thought as much when it came to the battery. At least that's a quick fix. The update it gives me is for Dell Media Direct which is the only one of the video players that can actually "play" a Blu Ray on my laptop.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Okay...how?

Speaking of "video", since I've reformatted the computer, when I first turn it on, I get a message saying "Found New Hardware: Video Controller (VGA Compatable)." When I try to install it, (whatever it is) it says it can't install it properly, and says it needs software to install it...

Last year, I installed a new video card that allowed me to play some games that the factory default video card couldn't handle...since I've restored my computer, is it trying to reinstall this video card again? I don't recall needing any software last year to install the video card...

Is this all related to what you were talking about above? Or something completely different?

Yes its all related to what im talking about. You dont remember but you did install video card drivers because any new video card requires drivers for it to work properly. You should have a CD with that card that you bought, its either an Nvidia card or ATI Radeon card.

But video card might not be all you need to install. Here do this with me now. Right click on My Computer, go to properties. Click on Hardware Tab and go to device manager. You will see a few of yellow question marks. One of them will say Video Controller, but there might be others. Each and every one of those question marks needs to be addressed. Those are hardware that requires drivers to work properly. Yoy need to figure out what they are and what drivers you need to install for them. This is the most difficult part when it comes to formatting a computer, drivers.

Totally different question: I'm also having a pop up appear that says "SpySubtract" is not working properly...I've never heard of "SpySubtract", is that a virus, or a program that has it been compromised by the virus?

SpySubtract is a software prereinstalled with your PC that can be considered bloatware. its made by Trend Micro for spywere detection. You can safely uninstall it from Control Panel Add/Remove Programs if its giving you trouble. It is not a virus and like i said before, any trace of that virus is gone unless you have infected flash drives, external hard drives or another internal hard drive/partition that still has that virus. Scanning those would be a good idea.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Yea I thought as much when it came to the battery. At least that's a quick fix. The update it gives me is for Dell Media Direct which is the only one of the video players that can actually "play" a Blu Ray on my laptop.

Like I said, you might need a different player for your Blu-Ray movies so you can play them normally.

 

[wonderfly]

Yes its all related to what im talking about. You dont remember but you did install video card drivers because any new video card requires drivers for it to work properly. You should have a CD with that card that you bought, its either an Nvidia card or ATI Radeon card.

But video card might not be all you need to install. Here do this with me now. Right click on My Computer, go to properties. Click on Hardware Tab and go to device manager. You will see a few of yellow question marks. One of them will say Video Controller, but there might be others. Each and every one of those question marks needs to be addressed. Those are hardware that requires drivers to work properly. Yoy need to figure out what they are and what drivers you need to install for them. This is the most difficult part when it comes to formatting a computer, drivers.

I did what you asked, and yes, it shows the video controller as a yellow question mark.

I double checked: I bought a ATI Radeon 1300 256 mb video card last year, and that's what I have installed. I'll have to dig through my closet and see if I still have a CD that goes with it for installation. If not, isn't there places online where I can download the video driver appropriate?

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I did what you asked, and yes, it shows the video controller as a yellow question mark.

I double checked: I bought a ATI Radeon 1300 256 mb video card last year, and that's what I have installed. I'll have to dig through my closet and see if I still have a CD that goes with it for installation. If not, isn't there places online where I can download the video driver appropriate?

Yes you can download them on ATi's driver page:
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

 

[wonderfly]

Yes you can download them on ATi's driver page:
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

Just wanted to say thanks: It worked!!

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Just wanted to say thanks: It worked!!

No problem, I'm here to help.

 

[Captain Highwind]

Well my computer got ate. I figure it happens once a year now, in which I have to burn all my files on disc and wipe the OS clean. I just have to know...

What spambot or virus is it that acts like I have to download "XP/Windows Defender 2010" in order to use the Internet? (it was wanting me to fork over 40-80 bucks) At some points when I start up my PC it even blocks the toolbar and icons on my desktop. It even made me download Internet Explorer 8. I just find it strange that Windows would do something that devious and obvious.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

Well my computer got ate. I figure it happens once a year now, in which I have to burn all my files on disc and wipe the OS clean. I just have to know...

What spambot or virus is it that acts like I have to download "XP/Windows Defender 2010" in order to use the Internet? (it was wanting me to fork over 40-80 bucks) At some points when I start up my PC it even blocks the toolbar and icons on my desktop. It even made me download Internet Explorer 8. I just find it strange that Windows would do something that devious and obvious.

Windows isn't doing it to you because Microsoft discontinued Windows Defender and switched to Microsoft Security Essentials. The makers of the malware or virus are. You might need to invest in some better antivirus or malware protection. And be careful what sites you go to.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Well my computer got ate. I figure it happens once a year now, in which I have to burn all my files on disc and wipe the OS clean. I just have to know...

What spambot or virus is it that acts like I have to download "XP/Windows Defender 2010" in order to use the Internet? (it was wanting me to fork over 40-80 bucks) At some points when I start up my PC it even blocks the toolbar and icons on my desktop. It even made me download Internet Explorer 8. I just find it strange that Windows would do something that devious and obvious.

You caught a nasty malware. The goon news, its cleanable. I have seen those before, many times. The bad news, dont download anything it tell you to download because thats how you download actual viruses that it wants you to download.

 

[Captain Highwind]

Well, I found what it is:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/9487...y-2010-and-other-roguefake-antivirus-malware/

Now I'm nervous that I have "Internet Explorer 8" on my PC

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

En Sabah Nur, what do you think of the program they recommend on that page? The free portable version of Superantispyware? Seems like it might be useful because it has a random filename, can run from a thumb drive and has other features designed to keep malware from turning it off or making it crash like they sometimes do with the more popular anti-malware programs.

 

[staticblue]

MacBook Help

Hi guys. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this problem.
A friend of mine is heavy into Photoshop. Lately she cant seem to get photoshop to open up on her mackbook. everytime she opens it up it freezes. for a while, she could fix it by closing it out and booting it back up, but now it wont even work that way. Anyone know how to fix this problem?

 

[ToonFaithful]

I don't own a Macbook or anything but was it a free trial? Maybe the trial is over.

 

[staticblue]

not a free trial. its the actual photoshop. cs3 i believe