Computers and You: Zip Discs or Zip Drives. . .

[CrimsonTide4]

I never dl'ed it before because I went to the site and saw PAY, but I went again today and I just downloaded it -- FREE VERSION and oh my GOD. . . .HAPPY DAY.

Everyone should be down with Trillian!! I hear 85% less log on and log off noises!! Happy Freaking Day!!

[D.COM]

Just wanted to share another GOOD spyware program called:

SpyBot - Search & Destroy 1.2

I found it in PC Magazine and they showed a chart that compared it to all the other spyware programs. I downloaded it and it has many more features than the other programs, not to mention it CLEANED my computer (I had old programs that I could not uninstall through the control panel)

I suggest reading the FAQs and the Tutorial on their site to understand how it works (not complicated).

It even has a Permanent Internet Explorer Immunity function that prevents specified spyware from getting on your computer! A cool BLOCKER!

(Please keep in mind no software program is perfect, but this is a good one - make sure to read about how not to delete certain program files as it picks up a lot of things on your computer )

[decadence]

Just as an addendum to D.COM's excellent advice, within the last week or so the long awaited version 1.3 of SpyBot has now become available and may be downloaded from the link he supplied.
With both the SpyBot and Ad-Aware programs remember also to download updates/updated reference files regularly to catch new threats!

[James]

Well now, I went to www.ada-ware.com
by typo and downloaded THAT file and it ate my computer in front of me.

Just a Caution I was really hoping I had typed the link you put down correctly so I could blame you lol. Alas no dice.\

Originally posted by straightBOS
You probably shouldn't put your username out there.

But, if you were using KaZaA, you should d-load Ad-Aware at www.ad-aware.com and clear your comp. of the spyware that the program puts on it. Deleting Kazaa will not get rid of it.

Press Ctrl Atl Del, you should see a running process called news.net or something similar, that is the spyware. Possibly, Dionysus, that is causing the problem as it saps valuable resources will it transmits your info across the NET.

For, CrimsonTide 4, you should d-load Trillian, www.trillian.cc it is a free messenger that combines all of the messengers into one, keeping your categories separate and distinguishing between the messengers w/ Icons.

[decadence]

Might be worth erring on the side of caution and just entering the manufacturer website in the address bar which has a link to its legitimate product: www.lavasoft.us, to avoid possible mistyping!

[Krisco]

I gotta problem with this 2nd thought trojan in my computer at home. Is there anything I can do to solve? I ran ad- aware several times, its just won't rid the 2nd thought or some crap lycos sidesearch

[decadence]

Krisco (interesting screenname), anyway download this:

HijackThis

It's a zip file, then unzip it to your desktop (or wherever you like) so you can then click on the extracted file and run HijackThis.

HijackThis will enable you to remove any instructions put in your computer (in the registry etc) to redirect to certain pages, browser hijackers etc. You can also damage your system using it if you click remove on something that SHOULDN'T be removed because it's a part of Windows, say.

HijackThis is an advanced tool. There is a tutorial on how to use it at link, but if you're at all unsure or it looks complex then feel free to just click the Save Log button and post the contents and I'll take a look at it and tell you what's safe to remove.

It WILL be able to deal with the residual traces of any trojans/hijackers you have there.

Hope that helps!

- decadence

[Repeated info] Spyware removers [for anyone else]:[list=1][*]Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3 (official site) [*]Ad-aware 6 (official site - Lavasoft) [*]Microsoft Windows Update site (for downloading security patches for Internet explorer)[/list=1]

1. Turn it off - leaving your computer on for days runs down it's internal battery clock - although it is cheap, why run it down if you don't HAVE to.

2. Windows Updates. Patches for your operating system can save you from a lot of stress later.

3. Cleaning cookies/cache in the web browser - saves a lot of headaches when trying to load heavy websites. This should be done often, to maximize the potential of the browser.

4. Disk cleanup/disk defrag/backing up the harddrive - should be done monthly, at minimum - will keep you on top of potential disk errors and save data over time.

5. Being careful with downloading attachments and programs - everything is not good for you! Check a reliable source before downloading. Scan with an antivirus program.

6. Upgrade Software! To ensure a long life for your computer, be sure to upgrade software as free final release updates become available, sometimes it may be worth it to buy an upgrade as well, and download/install patches.

[decadence]

I disagree with #1 (not necessary these days IMO).

#5 is bang on, to expand a little, spyware (also known as adware or malware) is software that installs itself to a machine to promote a service/site etc.
It can often get onto a machine via mistyping the web address of a site (which brings you to another site that installs the software) or via security vulnerabilities in a web browser. Or, simply by clicking "yes" to install helper applications suggested by pop-ups. I'd say using regularly updated anti-Spyware tools, in conjunction with updating your web browser with the appropriate security patches from the manufacturer is the best course of action.

[Senusret I]

If I am resinstalling WindowsXP, and my computer has two hard drives (we'll call them C and D), and I have NO programs installed on the D drive (just MSword files and mp3s), will I be able to reinstall WindowsXP without losing the information on the D drive?

sidenote: I LOVE zip disks! God bless 'em! I first invested in my zip drive when I realized that as a writer, my novel really should be backed up as one file in one place, and regular floppies just weren't big enough. Too bad I can't fit ALL my music on a zip disk though.

[The1calledTKE]

long as you install windows just to c drive your d drive won't be touched.

[Senusret I]

Thanks!

Originally posted by decadence
I disagree with #1 (not necessary these days IMO).

See I am still using a PC that's at least 6 years old with Windows 98. I try to be careful with what I download so I don't crash or run up on viruses. It's old but it still operates a lot better than a lot of newer PC's I've used.

Never saw a need to update to XP since I mainly use Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer.

[CrimsonTide4]

Zip discs? Zip drives? Tell me about them and price range.

I did something to my computer last night and need to restart it but am afraid to do so. I need to be able to take all of my documents which includes one completed book, 4 short stories, 3 story starters, and 9 chapters of book 2 and save them with no worries when I restart my computer.

For some reason anything I save to my M drive does not save and I can no longer format a CD-RW.

Soooooooo I think it is time for me to invest in a zip drive but I have no clue about them at all. Help!!!

[btb87]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Zip discs? Zip drives? Tell me about them and price range.

I did something to my computer last night and need to restart it but am afraid to do so. I need to be able to take all of my documents which includes one completed book, 4 short stories, 3 story starters, and 9 chapters of book 2 and save them with no worries when I restart my computer.

For some reason anything I save to my M drive does not save and I can no longer format a CD-RW.

Soooooooo I think it is time for me to invest in a zip drive but I have no clue about them at all. Help!!!

CT fo', I'm no computer expert, but I LOVES me some zip drives. It's essentially a bigger version of a floppy. My computer at work uses a 250 mb, but the external one I had previously and have 'borrowed' from work is a 100 mb. You can even get a 750 mb. I also believe the costs have come down in price, and you can get the disks anywhere.

Try this site - hopefully you'll get some useful info. I'd rather use a zip than a CD. To me it just seems easier, but maybe I haven't given the CD-RW a chance.