fair price for help?

crankup

Agree with Fran. The spyware can be hard to remove otherwise.

Also run Windows Updates - should be on your start menu. There are a lot of security patches that will block a lot of the classic exploits. What operating system are you running? Windows XP without the service packs is pretty vulnerable!
If he can fix it (ie: get it working faster online as well as being spyware-free), bung him £30. Getting rid of spyware can be a pain. I cant believe that just spyware totally makes your machine run that slow though!!! When he brings it back, get it plugged in and online before paying him to ensure all is fixed. If its badly damaged then the quickest thing might be to reinstall the operating system - that'll speed it up. Make a backup onto floppy disc or CDR of important files, email addresses, documents etc. before handing it over.

Phone up your local college computer department and play the helpless soul who's offering some beer tokens to a student who can help - they'll be falling over themselves to help you out! I know our lot would!!

One of the local computer shops near me charges £20 1st hr, then £10/hr thereafter. Hope this gives you something to go by.

Crankup

prettypinkfairy

Thanks everyone for so much help. I relly do appreciate it. I do have a firewall I think it came installed with computer windows 2000 or maybe it was norton internet security which I pay about £30 a year for I think. Anway I know it is def there as I HAD TO SWITCH IT OFF TO INSTALL BT BROADBAND AND THEN BACK ON Windows updates are automatic and I have checked them again today. I have tried over last couple of days to install some of the free stuff mentioned on these sites and they mostly do not download I looked again and it was the adaware gold that I did hence the charge but I did click on some links that were on this board and said were free e.g just Did one that was spyware slayer it said there were 17 extreme risk items then to repair I had to register then it asked for money .I would gladly pay £30 do you think this is something your average 18 year old student could fix for £30 ? tHIS IS A FANTASTIC SITE I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF A LOT OF THINGS e.g like firefox and opera but again I cannot download these because of problems Thanks a million everyone.

scoot1on1

Just been reading through your posts, did you manage to run the free ad aware? If so did you let it repair all the problems?

Im sure someone could fix your computer quite easily, its just a matter of knowing what programs do what and more importantly where to get them free!!
But there is no way it should take 3 hrs, unless you do have a major Virus or trojan prob, in which case a clean installation may be needed.

Can I ask how old your computer is? and when did you install your Norton anti virus?

Cheers
Jon

rogerramjet

Do a search for "spybot search and destroy" on google. It is completely free and one of the best spyware removers out there at the moment. if you can get it to download and instal just use that and remove all other spyware/adaware software.

from what you've written it sounds like you can download softwere, but not everytime you try

If possible, could you get someone else (friend/neighbour) to download spybot for you.

Just remeber, spyware/adaware removers are not firewall/virus software so don't remove you norton software unless your going to repace it with another anti-virus/firewall program.


Oh...by the way a clean instal would take about 45 minutes for the operating system and probably another 30-45 mins to instal any additional software depending on processor speed

prettypinkfairy

Got computer in 2003 absolutely no problems whatsover till last week when I installed Broadband And I only did that because everyone kept telling me i should it was so much faster ( ha ha ) I have just tried tips here and tried again Ad aWARE SE PERSONAL 1.06 BUT AGAIN CLOSED BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM I report problem and get the thing about Nvidia capture driver Head is reeling .I also did the turning off and safe mode thing but no luck .gIVING UP NOW UNTIL THE MORNING I DON'T WANT TO LET IT BEAT ME AND I DONT MIND PAYING A FAIR PRICE TO GET THINGS SORTED . Don't obviously want to get ripped off though almost makes me want to take a degree in computer studies ( but not really Just joking ) lol and to all a good night nice to know there are some genuinly helpful and honest folk out there , Thanks !

JimArnold

Nvidia make graphics cards (amongst other things) - presumably some part of your system is made by Nvidia and is trying to download later drivers. If it is a capture driver then I've nexer seen that before

What sort of broadband equipment do you have - is it a USB box?
Is your system slow ion everything or just internet access ?
If the former what happens if you disconnect the broadband box?

I'm a bit wary about the helpful guy - he could be right and it could take 3 hours on site to clean a system but if you've got Norton and adware then that seems unlikely - if they are up to date - do you know if they are?

I echo the comments about spybit it's superb

scoot1on1

Ok Just to bring everything together could you please answer these questions

1. Are you able to download anything?? and is windows update updating and is your Virus automatically updating

2. When did you do a Virus scan last

3. Who installed your Broadband, if it was yourself have you disconnected the lead from your old modem ie the lead that went from your computer to your phone line

4. Have you got the Broadband filter in your phone line and any other telephone points that you use

5. How far away is your telephone point from your computer and do you use an extension lead to connect

6. If you go to Control Panel> System > Hardware > click on Device Manager are there any yellow triangles with an exclamation mark in?

Ok that should do for now and if we cant get this working for you im sure someone can give you a hand in throwing it out the window

If you only started having these probs after Broadband then I believe this is the main cause, it may be that its not set up correctly. You may of course also have a virus but again why be ok before Broadband but not after it, anyhow if you would be so kind as to answer the above questions it will rule out some of the more common causes.

G'Night for now !!

Jon

vultura

It sounds to me like you do have a problem and yes I would (in this case) recommend professional assistance.

There an association of computer retailers called NASCR, where each member agrees to comply with a code of ethics and code of practice in order for them to be a member. They have a directory of members on their website (http://www.nascr.org) which lists contact details for them all. Might be worth looking and contacting your nearest one(s), see if they can help fix your problem without breaking the bank.

vultura

Just for those who made comments about it not taking 3 hours to resolve, trust me it can and does in some cases.

With Windows 98/ME, its not so much of an issue, but with XP and user profiles each one should be treated as an individual computer and that can take time.

meclive

Well for a start i'd remove norton and if you have it on cd then burn it. Download and install Kaspersky anti-virus (trial here or online scan here) and that should sort you out. You can also try Microsoft antispyware which is free (download here).