free anti-virus program needed!

[Odie]

spot;1109694 wrote: I'm not trying to improve the abilities of your technician, he's a technician, I'm sure he knows more than I do. What's worrying is that you're not managing to grasp what's being said which, to my mind, means you'll end up back where you started in a month or two.

The danger of getting your machine into the state you got yours is that it's by then been turned to the dark side. It's sat on the Internet scanning for other computers with lax security upgrades so that it can inject a takeover the way yours was taken over. Each computer taken over tries to infect more, they build up into cooperative groups at the disposal of criminal gangs, an infected computer sends out hundreds of spam emails a day until it's fixed, the infected computers steal data and allow the gangs to successfully blackmail businesses. It's not what happens to your computer which matters so much as the havoc it wreaks on everyone else while you're online muttering at how slow it is compared to when you bought it and how it keeps crashing.


how will it be the same in a month with internet downloaded, and AVG added?

PLUS, he checks everything, and I do mean everything when he is here. He normally spends 3 hours.

just because I cannot grasp everything, after all, I am not an expert, I do the best I can, and yes, sometimes the computer does run slow, as sometimes there are to many on the internet at one time as well. When I worked in one office, the internet crashed occasionally because to many were on it, this can also happen.



I remove all unwanted programs each month, I remove all things in the recycle bin, which most forget to do, but as long as it stays there, its still on your computer until you do delete everything. I also dispose of all files that are no longer necessary.

I do the best I can, I am not an expert.

[spot]

None of us are experts, I just feel you're missing the point.

[Odie]

spot;1109703 wrote: None of us are experts, I just feel you're missing the point.


probably am.

[CARLA]

Odie Spot is just trying to make you understand that removing unwanted programs every month doesn't solve the problem. These unwanted program are continuing to install themselves on your computer and that indicates a giant hole in your security and its monitoring of your system. The residual left behind from this happening in your "System Registry" are what is most likely causing your problems. Using browser that are outdated and full of problems aren't helping either. I tell my users to stick to ONE browser and learn its inside out before ever trying another as you compound your problems and contol is out the window. All computer must run updates especially for window security issues it is must and dangerous not to. I know there are those that say they never run them. "They" are usually people like Spot and myself that know how to get around security issues. Even then I always run updates it is your first like of defense for Windows any version.

I'm No expert just been managing Computers and System since the 70's. Your system in all honesty may have to be reformatted and all software reinstalled to make it stable again. I do this every day at work and home because users are bombarded by spam, trojans, viruses daily that SNEAK onto your system if you don't have the proper defenses on your PC. Even then they can SNEAK in due to improper setting in browsers and with ANTI-VIRUS software.

I'm sure your Tech person will be very aware of your issues and do what is best for you. But, and there is always a but in this it may come back again, and again if the hole isn't closed.

[Odie]

CARLA;1109755 wrote: Odie Spot is just trying to make you understand that removing unwanted programs every month doesn't solve the problem. These unwanted program are continuing to install themselves on your computer and that indicates a giant hole in your security and its monitoring of your system. The residual left behind from this happening in your "System Registry" are what is most likely causing your problems. Using browser that are outdated and full of problems aren't helping either. I tell my users to stick to ONE browser and learn its inside out before ever trying another as you compound your problems and contol is out the window. All computer must run updates especially for window security issues it is must and dangerous not to. I know there are those that say they never run them. "They" are usually people like Spot and myself that know how to get around security issues. Even then I always run updates it is your first like of defense for Windows any version.

I'm No expert just been managing Computers and System since the 70's. Your system in all honesty may have to be reformatted and all software reinstalled to make it stable again. I do this every day at work and home because users are bombarded by spam, trojans, viruses daily that SNEAK onto your system if you don't have the proper defenses on your PC. Even then they can SNEAK in due to improper setting in browsers and with ANTI-VIRUS software.

I'm sure your Tech person will be very aware of your issues and do what is best for you. But, and there is always a but in this it may come back again, and again if the hole isn't closed.




Thanks Carla, but you have also been managing computers since the 70's, you do know your stuff, as I do not.

I have worked with them for tons of years, but just working with the programs that are on them, nothing technical.

And as previously said, I thank you guys for all your help, but I am far from computer literate in the sense of what I should have or shouldn't have.

This could cost me tomorrow!:-5:-5:-5

What I do have is when clicking on internet explorer, what comes up is MSN home page?

but there is nothing at the top of that server.