linuxgeek: [LINUX_Newbies] Re: Off topic but appreciated non Linux advice

--- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com, Roy <linuxcanuck@...> wrote:
>
> I am not part of a Windows community as I don't use Windows. However, my wife does. :( Her computer removes any anti-virus programme that I try to install. I think that this is a sign it has a trojan. Other than this it seems to be working properly. I don't really want to spend a lot of time fixing it, especially if it is not infected. Any suggestions on what is going wrong and how can I fix it easily. I know from fast experience that re-installing Windows will eat up a day of my time and even then she will be unhappy because she will complain about missing settings and cookies.
>
> This is off topic I realise, but I don't travel in any Windows circles any more.
>
> Roy
>
>
Hello Roy,

Try to go to Safe Mode on that Windows box to use the anti-spyware programs. If F8 doesn't bring it up, try Win Key + F8 key. Here's those I use:

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=contentMain;contentAux

http://download.cnet.com/SuperAntiSpyware-Free-Edition/3000-8022_4-10523889.html?tag=mncol

http://download.cnet.com/Advanced-SystemCare-Free/3000-2086_4-10407614.html?tag=contentMain;contentAux

http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/?tag=mncol

If she can't download them, I'd boot a Puppy Linux Live CD and either download them to USB or mount the Windows Folder where you want them to be. Sometimes the latter is a 2-step process where you move them from where Puppy puts it with ROX files system manager.

I'd say her anti-virus isn't that great, so I'd think about one of the free ones here:

http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?tag=contentMain;contentAux

http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html?tag=contentMain;contentAux

Maybe this Firewall:

http://download.cnet.com/Online-Armor-Free/3000-10435_4-10426782.html?tag=mncol

Just in case you have to re-install remember the Firefox add-on extension, I think they have the same the IE and Chrome, too:

http://download.cnet.com/Xmarks-for-Firefox/3000-11745_4-10725455.html?tag=mncol

http://www.xmarks.com/about/features

http://download.cnet.com/Xmarks-for-Internet-Explorer/3000-12512_4-10914490.html?tag=mncol;lst

As for her cookies and settings, clone her sick hard drive just in case, then you can scan it from a fresh updated and protected install before she uses it again. Well you know what I mean...Windows upkeep and house-cleaning is time-consuming, to say the least. At least it makes us appreciate Linux more.

Have fun re-learning,
Joan in Reno