Clear HDD?

[Fahn† 0]

After getting the Security Shield rogue antivirus my laptop is screwed up quite badly. Running slowly, programs crashing or taking forever to open, internet taking me to random ad sites and fake looking search engines, etc.

 

And worst of all, I get the BSOD and my laptop randomly shuts down.

 

If I restore the entire computer to factory default, after saving my important files to an external hard drive, will my computer be back to normal? I can't afford to take it to a technician and my antivirus is retarded.

[Sakiki† 0]

sounds like it should work I am not good with computers but I can have my mate take a look at this because he job is fixing computers lol.

[Fahn† 0]

My poor laptop...

 

BTW, I love your new avatar Sakiki! ^____________^

[DECTS† 0]

You got a virus? Or an antivirus?

To format your hard drive, you need only create a boot disk, Linux works best, boot into Linux, and while your at it you can install if you want.

If you don't want Linux permanently installed, simply find your hard drive, and format it.

Be sure you have EVERYTHING you need before you do this.

 

By resetting to factory settings? Dunno. If my computer ever gets a problem, I simply clean it up in Linux.

If you have an installation CD for your existing OS, you could use that. Depending on what you use your computer for, Linux may be a better alternative anyways.

 

Yeah, I'm a linux freak. I'm just not quite yet willing to give up all my software....

 

Anyways, as for resetting your computer with existing stuff? Best I can figure is format your hard drive and reinstall whatever OS you happen to be running.

Before you totally give up, you could try cleaning up your computer when using a boot disk.

 

Suggesting again Linux because it's easy to get and create a boot disk for, you can download an antivirus that runs on Linux here: http://www.clamav.net/lang/en/download/packages/packages-linux/

 

Hopefully you can get something useful out of this.

[Carson Coyote† 0]

Bleh. >.<

 

I've had to help a friend from my church with a similar issue, and it's not fun. I would say go ahead and re-install your OS if you are comfortable doing that. Just be sure you BACK UP YOUR PERSONAL FILES BEFORE YOU FORMAT YOUR DRIVE.

 

I'll pray that you are able to get it working again. ^^

[Fahn† 0]

Well, I just reformatted my HDD and reinstalled my OS. My files are backed up on an external disc, and everything is running smoothly.

[Ryland† 0]

^I was just about to recommend that.

[DECTS† 0]

Well' date=' I just reformatted my HDD and reinstalled my OS. My files are backed up on an external disc, and everything is running smoothly.

[/quote']

 

Alright, sounds good. Now it's a matter of getting your programs again, just the good ones, put all your files back, and you'll be good to go.

 

Glad it worked out for you.

[Guest Wolfin]

http://microsoft.com/security_essentials

 

It's a good free anti-virus, keeps itself updated, you don't have to worry about it. Everything else is pretty much crap or expensive crap.

 

/Robin

[Fahn† 0]

http://microsoft.com/security_essentials

 

It's a good free anti-virus' date=' keeps itself updated, you don't have to worry about it. Everything else is pretty much crap or expensive crap.

 

/Robin

[/quote']

 

That's the one that I was using LOL

[JuliaWolf† 0]

Ah yes, the blue screen of death.... Even Norton 2010 and 2011 couldn't save me from that and the viruses that followed. X__X

As far as anti-viruses go I use Avira AntiVir Personal (Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus Version 10). It's completely free, and each time it catches a virus when you surf the web or download something it makes your computer beep to warn you and removes it, then immediately scans your computer afterwards. You may have to click update every one or two days but it's a nice software. Super easy to use and I haven't been having any troubles since.