Don’t forget JavaCoolSoftware’s “SpywareBlaster,” a free utility that will help keep your computer from being infected.
Mark
Worst Vacation Ever - I went to visit my daughter in college. Sent her to school with Detailed, Easy to Understand instructions on how to keep her computer happy. Was horrified to find how completely she had Crapified it. Pulled out my bag of tricks. Tried Trend Micro Housecall, took forever, Nada. Tried AVG, Nada. Downloaded avast! and Holy Mary Mother of God it worked! avast! can scan from the boot sector, where most of the serious baddies lurk. Finished up with SpyBot and Crap Cleaner. Ran everything three times. Success!
If I had had enough time, I would have preferred to reformat, but this saved her. Reformatting will have to wait for another “vacation.”
And yes, I did put her in Time Out, with a searing Mom Lecture...
Hadn’t heard of that one. I will check it out.