Stupid Viruses on Windows XP

[dekay]

If this is a home machine, back up your data and just reformat. It'll take you a lot less time. However, this time around, please do the following:

-do all the windows critical updates for security
-download Ad Aware to take out all the future spyware programs
-don't open mysterious E-mail attachments, or if possible, none at all unless it's been scanned or you know for sure it's clean

And of course, download the latest drivers from the product manufacturers for your hardware (ie ATI, Nvidia, Intel). Please avoid using the cds that come with your hardware, they tend to be old drivers and come with a lot of unnecessary software.

If you're still using an old operating system like win95 or win98, PM me. I don't mind sending you a copy of XP as long as you don't mind using it or have a machine that can keep up with it (ie. at least a P3).

To be honest, I've built machines for quite a few ppl, and most of their problems are self caused. Another thing, virus scans aren't bullet proof, the best way to avoid viruses is to be careful of what you download into the computer the first place.