how can i get rid of all the viruses, spyware etc?

A systems restore is a very extreme way of getting rid of spyware/adware, and there's no guarantee that they all won't just come back (surfing habits). I have been to quite a few pcs that are so called 'riddled' and I've cured them all (not using restore).

You need: Antivirus, firewall, spyware/adware 'remover', an adware/spyware blocker and a BHO blocker. All these items you can get for free... and by free, I mean you don't have to pay for them, not just 'free' download.

Having said that, education is the key. At what risk to your pc is your surfing habits, do you open every single email you get, do you let others use your pc. All these are risk factors and ones that you can control. The internet is after all just like a big city, leave your door open and you'll be robbed (metaphorically so).

ZoneAlarm: (free version)
AVG: free
Spywareblaster: free
Spywareguard: free
Spybot SD: free
Changing your surfing/pc habits, priceless.

Be careful of some 'free scan spyware' offerings, some actually place spyware onto your pc. Be careful of using pop up blockers, you may need some information from a page that's being blocked.

When you're all done and dusted..... happy surfing, but remember... UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE... out of date versions will take you back to square one.

On a final note, check with grc.com and see if your pc is broadcasting to the world. (shields up)

bill
April 2007

if you have orig disk save everything u need to save , restart pc follow instruction or press delete into bios, go to boot settings make cdrom no.1 save exit , windows will boot from cd after installed completly, do the same restart change boot settings back to how they were to boot from c: or hard drive letter if not c:

ron
December 2006

I always use AVG antivirus and anti-spyware. Occasionally i use Lavasoft ad-aware.
get avg from http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Gary
December 2006

Like all things in life, what you need to do depends on other things.

If you have a system like those purchased from Dell, Gateway, etc., and it came with a "restore" disk, then you should save all your documents, pictures, etc, (the non-executable files) by copying them to a CD or to flash memory, or to a portable disk, then then use the restore disk to get your computer back to the "fresh from the factory" state.

Be forewarned that using the restore disk will wipe your hard drive completely, and put the files on the restore disk back on the drive. So, if you have installed any software in addition to what came with the computer, you want to make sure that you have the ability to reinstall it after you use the restore disk.

If you are not a techie, and don't want to take a chance on losing all your files, then I recommend contacting a local computer service firm that specializes in virus and adware removal. Make certain that they understand what files cannot be wiped from your hard drive if you have any critical stuff there. I caution you on this bacause many shops just wipe your hard drive clean without a thought, then do the restore, or reinstall from OEM software.

If your computer has a built-in restore function (typically on the D: drive), I would have to know when and how you used this before providing an answer. That is because you may have backed up everything - viruses, adware, spyware, etc., and will only restore them if you restore from the D: drive afater backing up your malicious software.

Robert
December 2006