My computer is sick or I'm stupid

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

A while back it said my security had run out and I didn't do anything about it. About 2/3 weeks ago everytime I tried to do something other than get to the main page I couldn't do it. EX: I can get to Wachovia but not to my accounts. I can get to snapfish/ebay/rci but can go no further. I figured I just needed to update to CA Security which I did but still no luck. I can get here or Tug ( but no security is needed) . Best Buy says I have a virus and to restore it back to original. Went there, says I've already done this once and can't do it again. I also can't get to my email so if anyone has tried to reach me I can't get it. Now what? shaggy

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

What happens when you try to sign on to, for example, RCI?

After you updated your antivirus software did you run a full scan?

It sounds like BestBuy was telling you to reinstall your operating system from either a recovery disk or from the originals that were delivered with your machine when you bought it. There should not be any limit to the number of times you do that.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Is that Boolean Operator inclusive or exclusive?
Wish you luck, whatever the answer

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I can't find the original stuff that came with the computer ( that's where the stupid comes in) shaggy

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Shaggy, if you are going to reinstall the Operating system you will need your original disk, but that is generally a pretty drastic step because unless you have everything backed up well you will lose a lot during the process. Also, if you do a reinstall you will need to reinstall the software that you have.
If your antivirus is running and updated, then run a full scan with that first and see if it catches anything.
If that doesn't find anything you can try to download one of the anti-spyware/malware programs such as Malwarebytes' Anti-malware or Spybot Search and Destroy. Maleware or Spyware are not strictly viruses but still can cause a lot of problems with slowing down computer and creating "denial of services" type problems. The anti-virus programs don't catch these.
You can find free downloads of the two I mentioned by doing a search on the names.
Not to add more confusion to this but you can also try Windows Defender which is free from the Microsoft site and sometimes does a pretty good job of cleaning up problems.
If you get any of these products and run them and they don't help, post again and I will give you instructions on how to run them from "Safe Mode" which sometimes does a better job of cleaning things up and not letting the problem reinstall itself.
I probably didn't do a great job of explaining this but any questions give a shout.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

Here's some more thoughts:

If you are having problems accessing websites and not other programs, I wonder if just your browser security have been altered.
Have you check security setting? try reset to default?

If you are using Internet Explorer, try using Firefox.

Try reinstalling Internet Explorer.

Try restoring operating system to a prior saved point.

I would only restore the operating system as a last option.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

My computer is sick or I'm stupid

Are you asking us to choose?
- - - - - -
Have you tried anything like spybot? (Already asked)

Have you tried to simple maintenance stuff like defrag, scandisk, disk cleanup?

[mas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mas]

Hi Shaggy:

Another option is to try pcpitstop. If you've used them before you can run their battery of tests. If not you can set up an account (it's free). They have a section that shows what software is currently loaded on your machine and catagorizes it as to type of application, virus, spyware etc.

I assume you've already tried the system restore points (assuming system restore is turned on).

Good luck,

mas

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

This is too complicated for me ( I still can't cut and paste) I'd like to just restore it to the beginning but I can't find the discs. I'm still looking.

The only thing I need to worry about is all my photos but they are either backed up on a disc or on snapfish.

shaggy

[mas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mas]

Shaggy:

Do you know how to use System Restore? If you haven't tried it yet, (I'm assuming you have a computer with the XP OS) it's located by clicking the start button at the lower left corner of your screen. Select 'all programs', accessories, system tools. At the bottom of the system tools list is 'system restore'. Select "Restore my computer to an earlier time". A calendar will appear and select a back up date that is closest but before the time you first ran into the problem. If you have system restore enabled (I believe the default is enabled so if you didn't disable it, you should have a calendar with several backup points), select the point and follow the directions, everything should be automatic.

If you're running Vista on your machine the instructions above are the same, but when the system restore page comes up, you'll probably want to select 'Choose a different restore point' and then check the 'Show restore points older than 5 days' box. Then you can view the list of available restore points and choose one that is closest to, but before the date you started having problems.

Hope this helps.

mas

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Shaggy,
Try what MAS said in previous post. It is your least disruptive option and if you have a restore far enough back it will give you the best results. All you will lose is whatever stuff you have done since the restore point.
The directions MAS gave you are good and pretty easy.
Give this a try and if you need help along the way let us know.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

oh can i ever sympathize with you shaggy.

the latest trick my computer is pulling is to somehow connect to the phone line when i am out. I disconnect, there is no icon anywhere showing I am on line and I will get a dial tone. A few hours later, I will attempt to make a phone call, and will get the sound as if I am on line. when i check the computer, there is no icon showing I am on line, no way to get on line. I have to disconnect the phone cord whenever i go of line.

[rsfrid Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rsfrid]

Shaggy,
Try what MAS said in previous post. It is your least disruptive option and if you have a restore far enough back it will give you the best results. All you will lose is whatever stuff you have done since the restore point.
The directions MAS gave you are good and pretty easy.
Give this a try and if you need help along the way let us know.

I fully agree. The first thing one wants to do when an error of this magnitude occurs is do a system restore to the poin't before the offending software install. Now, have we done a manual system restore check point? Usually no. But I am on a soap box to get everyone to do this (if they remember ) What this means is go to System Restore, but don't actually perform the restore. Instead select "set a check point" and you'll have a point to go back to (name it something you'll remember.) Works with every system from Win XP onwards.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I;m Back!!!

Thanks everyone for all the help but I paid a friend $140 , he picked it up and fixed it and returned it and plugged it back in for me. Of course I've lost everything but I am so happy just to be back on !!! shaggy

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Shaggy....

Did he say what it was?

Was it some sort of virus?

Sorry it cost you do much.