Yeah so I keep trying to launch my Norton's Internet Security program, I double click on it, nothing happens. It doesn't launch. So I guess that's telling me that it's expired or something? So since that shit isn't working, how the hell am I supposed to get this thing off my computer? I called HP tech service, they want me to pay $59.99 to install a partial PC system tune up or $99.99 for a full PC system tune up. Highway robbery. Oh and the best part is, they don't usually handle "virus" calls/issues. But they know enough to tell me that if I purchase a new Norton's Internet Security from the store to install on my computer, it will be no help to me since the virus is already on it my computer. I know I removed a virus off of my mother's desktop before a few years ago, but I had to re-format her whole computer. Is this the case in this situation now? If so, how do I do that....the laptop didn't come with any disks...all the programs were already pre-installed. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

There are a lot of free ones that you can download....

I run Norton myself....don't let it expire....that's like having sex with a stranger without protection.

AVG has a free one and most big programs will let you do a scan via the web.

I got a virus on BOTH of my laptops a few weeks ago. They were running at a snail's pace. 60 seconds or more to see a mouse click. Took them in to be cleaned and the tech couldn't find anything. Finally, I had to reformat my HDD and reinstall all my software. I lost some software but it was the best thing I coulda done to improve my performance. My 6 year old machine is like a new compewter. You may wanna consider doing this.

I can't believe your machine didn't come with disks. You need your OS, drivers, and applications to re-do your machine.

[Edited 8/30/10 20:18pm]

SCNDLS said:

I got a virus on BOTH of my laptops a few weeks ago. They were running at a snail's pace. 60 seconds or more to see a mouse click. Took them in to be cleaned and the tech couldn't find anything. Finally, I had to reformat my HDD and reinstall all my software. I lost some software but it was the best thing I coulda done to improve my performance. My 6 year old machine is like a new compewter. You may wanna consider doing this.

I can't believe your machine didn't come with disks. You need your OS, drivers, and applications to re-do your machine.

[Edited 8/30/10 20:18pm]

Yeah I know. That's how I was able to reformat my mother's computer with the disks that came with it...but when you buy laptops now, the programs come already preloaded on it with trial runs and if you want to subscribe to them, you have to pay for it online and then it will automatically download to your computer. I don't know..I'll figure it out.

Revolution said:

There are a lot of free ones that you can download....

I run Norton myself....don't let it expire....that's like having sex with a stranger without protection.

I think it has already expired, which contributes to the problem.

Well, you're somewhat fucked, because you don't have the Windows/other software disks to reinstall everything after the necessary Hard-Drive Format...

where did you buy the laptop? Call the shop, and ask if they can give you a copy of Windows or whatever...perhaps they can re-format the whole thing, then reinstall windows and then give you a copy of Windows for some $... One thing is for sure: you are not going to "survive" this if you don't spend "some" $ ...

anyway, Norton is a mess Best Antivirus are no cheaper than 150 $... expensive, yeah, but useful and necessary...

JoeTyler said:

Well, you're somewhat fucked, because you don't have the Windows/other software disks to reinstall everything after the necessary Hard-Drive Format...

where did you buy the laptop? Call the shop, and ask if they can give you a copy of Windows or whatever...perhaps they can re-format the whole thing, then reinstall windows and then give you a copy of Windows for some $... One thing is for sure: you are not going to "survive" this if you don't spend "some" $ ...

anyway, Norton is a mess Best Antivirus are no cheaper than 150 $... expensive, yeah, but useful and necessary...

many laptops don't come with a disk anymore everything is pre-installed.

roseypink56 said:

JoeTyler said:

Well, you're somewhat fucked, because you don't have the Windows/other software disks to reinstall everything after the necessary Hard-Drive Format...

where did you buy the laptop? Call the shop, and ask if they can give you a copy of Windows or whatever...perhaps they can re-format the whole thing, then reinstall windows and then give you a copy of Windows for some $... One thing is for sure: you are not going to "survive" this if you don't spend "some" $ ...

anyway, Norton is a mess Best Antivirus are no cheaper than 150 $... expensive, yeah, but useful and necessary...

many laptops don't come with a disk anymore everything is pre-installed.

I've always gotten laptops that had everything pre-installed but they still came with disks cuz you need your OS and drivers at the very least in the event something like this happens. I just bought a new Dell laptop 8 mos ago and got disks.

SCNDLS said:

roseypink56 said:

many laptops don't come with a disk anymore everything is pre-installed.

I've always gotten laptops that had everything pre-installed but they still came with disks cuz you need your OS and drivers at the very least in the event something like this happens. I just bought a new Dell laptop 8 mos ago and got disks.

ah ok. I will make sure i get disks etc then when i get one. If they say it doesn't come with any I won't buy it.

1 word......................M.A.C.

roseypink56 said:

SCNDLS said:

I've always gotten laptops that had everything pre-installed but they still came with disks cuz you need your OS and drivers at the very least in the event something like this happens. I just bought a new Dell laptop 8 mos ago and got disks.

ah ok. I will make sure i get disks etc then when i get one. If they say it doesn't come with any I won't buy it.

Definitely.

I had my old machine for almost 7 years and NEVER had a problem. But then I got this virus and was GLAD I still had all my disks. The good part was I was able to remove ALL of those preloaded programs you don't use or stuff you un-installed that really doesn't go away. It's like a brand new laptop again.

Graycap23 said:

1 word......................M.A.C.

Everybody can't usa a Mac tho. In my business dealing with dozens of corporations, I've never had a client who uses Mac. So their proprietary systems aren't compatible with Mac. And every project I've been on with someone who's on Mac, there have been incompatibility issues with docs and apps.

SCNDLS said:

Graycap23 said:

1 word......................M.A.C.

Everybody can't usa a Mac tho. In my business dealing with dozens of corporations, I've never had a client who uses Mac. So their proprietary systems aren't compatible with Mac. And every project I've been on with someone who's on Mac, there have been incompatibility issues with docs and apps.

That is true but macs can run windows now.

Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper has done good things for us.

I can't seem to find free AVG anymore.... anybody wanna post a link?

the first thing you should do when you purchase a new computer is make recovery discs. call the manufacturer and see if they have them for purchase. if not, you're kind of screwed.

Graycap23 said:

SCNDLS said:

Everybody can't usa a Mac tho. In my business dealing with dozens of corporations, I've never had a client who uses Mac. So their proprietary systems aren't compatible with Mac. And every project I've been on with someone who's on Mac, there have been incompatibility issues with docs and apps.

That is true but macs can run windows now.

Exactly. I switched to a mac 3 years ago and are loaded with win 7,(in case I need to use it), and have never looked back.The only reason why people are still using Windows is because they don't want to put IT people out of work and because corporations do not want to move away from what is standard.

missfee said:

Yeah so I keep trying to launch my Norton's Internet Security program, I double click on it, nothing happens. It doesn't launch. So I guess that's telling me that it's expired or something? So since that shit isn't working, how the hell am I supposed to get this thing off my computer? I called HP tech service, they want me to pay $59.99 to install a partial PC system tune up or $99.99 for a full PC system tune up. Highway robbery. Oh and the best part is, they don't usually handle "virus" calls/issues. But they know enough to tell me that if I purchase a new Norton's Internet Security from the store to install on my computer, it will be no help to me since the virus is already on it my computer. I know I removed a virus off of my mother's desktop before a few years ago, but I had to re-format her whole computer. Is this the case in this situation now? If so, how do I do that....the laptop didn't come with any disks...all the programs were already pre-installed. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

What Windows OS are you using?

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46

http://www.filehippo.com/...i_malware/

SuperAntiSpyware 4.42.1000

http://www.filehippo.com/...tispyware/

AVG Free Edition 9.0.851

http://www.filehippo.com/...antivirus/

Microsoft Security Essentials

http://www.filehippo.com/...ssentials/

* Revo Uninstaller

http://download.cnet.com/...87648.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First, make sure you are disconnected from the NET.

On a zip drive from a different computer download these free software programs (with the exception of Mirosoft Security Essentials)

You want to uninstall Norton's Internet Security program using Revo Uninstaller the first program in it's folder. I like this software for its deep cleaning and uninstalling software programs; Norton has a way of snaking through your computer leaving files everywhere, which can slow down your computer overtime. The One Caution, don't get click happy and take your time to see what it's asking you to delet/remove. Only remove or click in boxes with BOLD type to remove those folders, after those are removed I'm almost certain some files will still be let over click on select all (this files won't be in bold print) and delete. Then it will say, "Norton has been succesfully removed".

Since Malwarebytes doesn't run in real time, download this first to your computer, copy, save to your desktop and run. Again make sure to download this software and not the toolbar are anything else you don't need. It will take some time for a full scan . . . after the scan if any malware is found select all to quarantine / delete. Keep Malwarebytes on your computer and use it for future maintance -use it once a week, a month, depending how much you use your computer and for what.

Now, copy and save to your desktop, SuperAntiSpyware 4.42.1000, after it runs a full scan you will REMOVE this from your computer because it runs in realtime and when you download AVG Anti-virus software, we don't want to have 2 virus/malware programs running simultaneoulsy. SuperAnitSpyware can and may catch somethings Malwarebytes' didn't. Run a full scan and again this will take sometime, afterwared either quarantine / delete those files found to have spyware/malware / virus. Use Revo Uninstaller software to remove this software following the same Caution as before. Make sure you are downloanding Super software and not any toolbar are another junk you don't need.

Now copy, save, and download AVG antivirus software to your computer desktop and >> Run.

Once again watch what you select toolbars and such. Sign Up and run a full scan and MissFee I can't remember if you have to select what action to take quarantine / delete or if AVG does it, anywho it will tell or you'll see.

After you've done all of that you'll need to run CCleaner 2.35.1219 - http://www.filehippo.com/..._ccleaner/

Copy, save, to deskstop >> Run. Don't download toolbar it think it's yahoo.

You want to use Cleaner: click Analze takes a few seconds or a few mintues depending how many files you have and then click on Run Cleaner. Repeat once.

Then you want to click on Registry click on Scan for Issues after this finishes it will ask you do you want to back up your Registry click NO. Selecte Fix All issues, do this one more time because it may not get everything the first time. Do Not check on anything on the right hand side that wasn't checked in Cleaner or Registry when you downloaded this program. This will wipe out all passwords to any sites so make sure you have them written down to retype them. The Registry part of this program removes most viruses/ files/ folders that may have been infected, by removing or fixing those issues helps make sure those files don't reinfect your computer. This can also stay on your computer.

Defrag your computer your computer Hard drive.

If you still have problems because maybe the virus corrupted your comuter already, windsock for example. Than the last option is to use . . .

If that doesn't work then you'll have to reformat your computer, get all your important data and reformat. I hope it doesn't come to that though. Fingers crossed.

[Edited 8/31/10 8:48am]

I find Avast to be a good free virus scanner as well.

Microsoft Security Essentials.

It's free, AND better than third-party antiviruses.

http://www.microsoft.com/...ssentials/

Malwarebytes anti malware and Microsoft Security Essentials are both

good tools.

I had the same problem a few wks ago...i got a masssive virus in an email, at least this is what my ISP told me, they actually SHUT OFF my internet service b/c they said i was infecting thier servers! They turned it back on so i could try & remove the virus...i tried for 7 days....no successs, i ended up re-formatting.

my laptop is 3 yrs old & did NOT come with any disks...but last yr i up-graded to windows 7. so i at least had that disk. but what a pain in the ass

oh & at the time I had Norton antivirus...i friggin HATE norton.

go with avast or AVG

Running joke at Apple headquarters: " How are your viruses coming along"?

SCNDLS said:

Graycap23 said:

1 word......................M.A.C.

Everybody can't usa a Mac tho. In my business dealing with dozens of corporations, I've never had a client who uses Mac. So their proprietary systems aren't compatible with Mac. And every project I've been on with someone who's on Mac, there have been incompatibility issues with docs and apps.

Do you mean office? If so, the new Office for mac fixes that - microsoft making their own app compatible with their own app is the #1 priority with the upcoming release of Office for the mac. It is an odd situation, though, where Microsoft's own apps incompatibility with each other is a prime reason why people put up with nonsense like viruses when there is an otherwise far better option available.

And as someone pointed out, you can run Windows on a mac with a couple of different solutions like parallels. By doing that, you can read email and browse the web with mac apps and eliminate the possibility for viruses and then use the windows specific apps you need.

We use Macs exclusively in our business and we consider it a competitive advantage.

alandail said:

SCNDLS said:

Everybody can't usa a Mac tho. In my business dealing with dozens of corporations, I've never had a client who uses Mac. So their proprietary systems aren't compatible with Mac. And every project I've been on with someone who's on Mac, there have been incompatibility issues with docs and apps.

Do you mean office? If so, the new Office for mac fixes that - microsoft making their own app compatible with their own app is the #1 priority with the upcoming release of Office for the mac. It is an odd situation, though, where Microsoft's own apps incompatibility with each other is a prime reason why people put up with nonsense like viruses when there is an otherwise far better option available.

And as someone pointed out, you can run Windows on a mac with a couple of different solutions like parallels. By doing that, you can read email and browse the web with mac apps and eliminate the possibility for viruses and then use the windows specific apps you need.

We use Macs exclusively in our business and we consider it a competitive advantage.

Depends on the business. Most large corporations don't upgrade apps or OS when they come out. Shell as rich as they are were still on XP and Office 97 until 2 months ago. This is very common among large corporations. Also, they build a lot of their own proprietary software to run specifically on PCs with old ass OS because they are more stable.

SCNDLS said:

alandail said:

Do you mean office? If so, the new Office for mac fixes that - microsoft making their own app compatible with their own app is the #1 priority with the upcoming release of Office for the mac. It is an odd situation, though, where Microsoft's own apps incompatibility with each other is a prime reason why people put up with nonsense like viruses when there is an otherwise far better option available.

And as someone pointed out, you can run Windows on a mac with a couple of different solutions like parallels. By doing that, you can read email and browse the web with mac apps and eliminate the possibility for viruses and then use the windows specific apps you need.

We use Macs exclusively in our business and we consider it a competitive advantage.

Depends on the business. Most large corporations don't upgrade apps or OS when they come out. Shell as rich as they are were still on XP and Office 97 until 2 months ago. This is very common among large corporations. Also, they build a lot of their own proprietary software to run specifically on PCs with old ass OS because they are more stable.

While true, this has very little to do, with their computers being PC or Mac's. Believe it or not, it more has to do with people not liking change. Awhile back, we here at the school, upgraded from office 97 to office 2000. There were some who HATED IT, simply because it looked different and things were not in the same place. So, the end result, was that those that hated it, had theirs changed back. Today's Mac's are not like they were in the past, they can run ANYTHING that is thrown at them. We have a 50/50 split here at at my job, Mac to PC and like I said before, Windows machines are only kept around to keep theh IT staff, employed. The Mac's run just as good as they did, when they first got them. Those PC's.....not so good.

SCNDLS said:

alandail said:

Do you mean office? If so, the new Office for mac fixes that - microsoft making their own app compatible with their own app is the #1 priority with the upcoming release of Office for the mac. It is an odd situation, though, where Microsoft's own apps incompatibility with each other is a prime reason why people put up with nonsense like viruses when there is an otherwise far better option available.

And as someone pointed out, you can run Windows on a mac with a couple of different solutions like parallels. By doing that, you can read email and browse the web with mac apps and eliminate the possibility for viruses and then use the windows specific apps you need.

We use Macs exclusively in our business and we consider it a competitive advantage.

Depends on the business. Most large corporations don't upgrade apps or OS when they come out. Shell as rich as they are were still on XP and Office 97 until 2 months ago. This is very common among large corporations. Also, they build a lot of their own proprietary software to run specifically on PCs with old ass OS because they are more stable.

PCs with "old ass" OSes aren't more stable. How can leaving computers prone to viruses be more stable than using a virus free OS that doesn't crash?

And those "old ass" OSes can run on macs using parallels, which you typically can get for free when buying a mac. Buy a mac, install parallels, install XP, install the proprietary apps, even install office 97 if you want instead of or in addition to Mac Office 11, and still run the proprietary apps while eliminating the issue of viruses.

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/demotutorial/

And it's an interesting phenomena, businesses with PCs tend to stick to the old versions of OSes and apps, business with Macs tend to upgrade to the latest versions. It's not because of the cost of the software, it's because of all of the risks involved in updating PCs. Compatibility risks, the fact that most people thought Vista was awful, etc.

Who do you think is ultimately going to be more productive, a business who is stuck on a 10 year old OS and 13 year old office software and ongoing virus concerns, or a company using a modern OS and modern software?

Like I said before, our company considers it a competitive advantage that we're mac based. Actually Mac, iPhone, iPad based. We have one specific task that we use an iPad for that simply wouldn't work nearly as well with any other available solution.

alandail said:

SCNDLS said:

Depends on the business. Most large corporations don't upgrade apps or OS when they come out. Shell as rich as they are were still on XP and Office 97 until 2 months ago. This is very common among large corporations. Also, they build a lot of their own proprietary software to run specifically on PCs with old ass OS because they are more stable.

PCs with "old ass" OSes aren't more stable. How can leaving computers prone to viruses be more stable than using a virus free OS that doesn't crash?

And those "old ass" OSes can run on macs using parallels, which you typically can get for free when buying a mac. Buy a mac, install parallels, install XP, install the proprietary apps, even install office 97 if you want instead of or in addition to Mac Office 11, and still run the proprietary apps while eliminating the issue of viruses.

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/demotutorial/

And it's an interesting phenomena, businesses with PCs tend to stick to the old versions of OSes and apps, business with Macs tend to upgrade to the latest versions. It's not because of the cost of the software, it's because of all of the risks involved in updating PCs. Compatibility risks, the fact that most people thought Vista was awful, etc.

Who do you think is ultimately going to be more productive, a business who is stuck on a 10 year old OS and 13 year old office software and ongoing virus concerns, or a company using a modern OS and modern software?

Like I said before, our company considers it a competitive advantage that we're mac based. Actually Mac, iPhone, iPad based. We have one specific task that we use an iPad for that simply wouldn't work nearly as well with any other available solution.

If you are developing your own applications that run internally and you have firewalls up to prevent viruses, it is more stable. Like I said it depends on the company. So, good for you.

SCNDLS said:

alandail said:

PCs with "old ass" OSes aren't more stable. How can leaving computers prone to viruses be more stable than using a virus free OS that doesn't crash?

And those "old ass" OSes can run on macs using parallels, which you typically can get for free when buying a mac. Buy a mac, install parallels, install XP, install the proprietary apps, even install office 97 if you want instead of or in addition to Mac Office 11, and still run the proprietary apps while eliminating the issue of viruses.

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/demotutorial/

And it's an interesting phenomena, businesses with PCs tend to stick to the old versions of OSes and apps, business with Macs tend to upgrade to the latest versions. It's not because of the cost of the software, it's because of all of the risks involved in updating PCs. Compatibility risks, the fact that most people thought Vista was awful, etc.

Who do you think is ultimately going to be more productive, a business who is stuck on a 10 year old OS and 13 year old office software and ongoing virus concerns, or a company using a modern OS and modern software?

Like I said before, our company considers it a competitive advantage that we're mac based. Actually Mac, iPhone, iPad based. We have one specific task that we use an iPad for that simply wouldn't work nearly as well with any other available solution.

If you are developing your own applications that run internally and you have firewalls up to prevent viruses, it is more stable. Like I said it depends on the company. So, good for you.

The fact that it has a firewall does not make it more stable than a PC that does not have one. It just means that it make it harder for someone from the outside to get into the network. A firewall does not prevent it from sofware incapatibility issues, (which can STILL occur even if that program was developed for the company that is using it); or the fact that most pc's are not maintained until the IT staff, feels like doing maintainance. Like I said before, PC's are meant to keep company IT staff employed, while Mac's just work.