having problems downloading

happychikadee

I have windows 2000, an old computer but it was working perfectly for me up until a few weeks ago when I logged onto a a mystery shopping site to download a job page. The company emailed saying they had a virus and my computer might be affected. I lost all files and photo's I had on my computer. I put the computer into the shop and since getting it back I can't download anything and it's so slow. I have gone into the tools and internet options and security and everything is on disable. I have changed them myself and then apply and ok but it just reverses back to diable on everything. I can't set my own homepage, it just keeps going back to msn as the homepage.
I know I have an older computer and wondows 2000 is old but it was working perfectly up until the virus. I telephoned the shop I put it into to get fixed and they said they cleaned it up and got rid of the virus but they said the hardware was packing up and was pointless replacing it as it's too old. I don't get it as like I said it was working fine before.
Does anyone have any ideas what I can do and how to sort it out???

wakandem

As it seems you have lost everything I would advise getting the original disk, format and reinsall windows.

ormus

backup all your data and then format/reinstall win2k.
best to make 2 or best 3 partitions on the hdd, 1 for the OS, 1 for your data, and 1 for backups. that way you should avoid a lot of further problems.
itll be a new flying machine with a reinstall.

Browntoa

I'd take it back to the shop that "fixed" it and tell them to do it properly, sounds like a screwed up repair of windows !!

hardware problems would not cause those symptoms

rogerramjet

Did you know yours computer system spec prior to taking it into the shop?

The reason I ask is there are people out there which will *change* bits if they think they can get away with it. I'm not saying that occurred and unless you knew what your system had before you took it in you will not be able to check to see if things have been changed.

I would sugest you download spybot search and destroy, do updates and then scan your system. Also look at downloading ccleaner and run that it will get rid of tempory files, etc which maybe taking up space and slowing your system down. If you have the COA (certificate of Authenticity windows sticker) try and get a freind to download a copy of win2000 (downloading the disc and using it is not illegal if you have a COA) and do a re-instal but do that as a last resort. There are plenty of websites out there explaining how to re-instal, here's just one http://www.upenn.edu/computing/crc/docs/2krebuild.html

happychikadee

The shop put in the spybot search and destroy and avast anti virus for a limited period. I can't download anything off any site at the moment. I had a feeling that I might have to re install windows 2000 so trying to get hold of the disc off a friend. Hopefully that will work. I will also ring the shop tomorrow as they were terrible. They said it would take 2 days but it took 9 days and when I tried to speak to the guy who fixed it he spoke to me like I was a lemon! I couldn't argue too much as I didn't have my facts but I knew it was working fine on the windows 2000 before. They told me it was too old and xp was what I needed to get.

albertross_2

Is it patched? https://www.windowsupdate.com

opportunity_cost

That's shocking! They're fobbing you off with absolute tosh:

a) Yours is a software problem caused by a virus. It's an easy job for someone with a little of computing knowledge: 1. Remove malware; 2. Do a system reinstall if virus has corrupted the operating system.
Absolutely nothing to do with hardware.

b) Windows 2000 is not too old and works perfectly in millions of computers out there. So does Windows 98 and Windows 95 for that matter. XP is what is needed... ludicrous!

9 days to fix something as easy as that and they bodged it... Stevie Wonder could have done a better job at fixing that PC! As Browntoa says, the right thing would be for them to fix your computer properly, but, to be honest, after what they gave you back and what they've said to you, I think you have potentially a lot to loose by leaving your PC in their hands again. They've shown they know jack all about fixing computers and you really don't want them fiddling with your computer again.

Given that, I'd go back to the shop but only to demand a refund. If they fob you off again, I'd head down to the local Trading Standards office. Chances are you won't see your money again but at least you'll have done your bit towards making sure the bunch of cowboys (inept cowboys, actually) don't get away with ripping people off for much longer.

BillScarab

Nothing wrong with Windows 2000 whatsoever, it's one of the more highly regarded versions of windows. Most of our windows servers at work still run on w2k. I think XP was actually based on w2k anyway.

If you've already lost all of your data I would also recommend a complete re-install.

A few points for the future, if you have a problem ask here first. You can normally fix problems with viruses yourself.

Always backup your data to DVD/CD

Never go back to the shop you took your PC to and tell everyone you know not to use them either.

happychikadee

I went back to the shop just to discuss what they actually did and what exactly I paid themfor. They said my computer was working faster once they had finished. Well that much was obvious seeing as it had a virus when I took it in. They just kept coming back with the reply of it was working better than when it went in and it was an old computer with windows 2000. They even had the cheek to ask why I hadn't bought a newer computer?!?!

I certainly wont go back and will be telling people I know not to go there!