I'll start by saying I'm the most computer illiterate person alive, I shouldn't be allowed to sit in front of a keyboard. I've been online since 1998 and never had any major problems until recently but now I'm haveing big problems. I reinstall AOL everyday, pop-ups are popping up every 5 seconds, I won't even bore anyone with what else is going on. I'm lucky to be able to even type this new thread. It's like my computer has a life of it's own and I'm just along for the ride.

I read all the replies to the "naked guy stuck on my computer" thread and used the free adaware thing that I learned about there. So far it's removed over 1100 found objects.

So I've decided to buy a new computer. The one I have now will be taken out in the yard and used for target practice.

So the question is, and I'll admit it's not a very important one in the whole scheme of things, but will I be able to continue to use GayWhiteTrash as my screen name? How about other sites? I have different screen names at different sites. Will I have to start over with everything? A friend of mine says he can put everything on this computer I have now on the new one. I said no, I don't even want the new computer in the same room with the old one!

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GWT....dont ditch the computer....Just wipe the disk clean and reinstall windows and any other software you added.

You probably downloaded a trojan horse program on your computer from a website. It could have started as something innocent as a smiley face program to put smileys in your documents.

Little did you know that the free software would turn your computer into a monster and fill the screen full of pop-ups and shit.

After you clean the hard drive, install a good pop up blocker or a free cleaning program like ad- aware, a virus scanning program...you should be all back to normal.

I had the same thing on mine, ad aware could not even clean it up. It stole my bandwith on my dsl line and made everything legitimate load slow....since it took over my machine and downloaded the trash. Ad aware can keep things clean once you restart, You can get the program from the following website:

http://www.lavasoft.de/

If you have not used this program, download it and try it first before you erase everything.

__________________
40 something, 6' 175 brn/brn hairy looking for other married wm or younger guys to play.

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You can continue to be GayWhiteTrash here and whoever you are at other sites. Most websites use 'cookies' stored on your hard drive to recognize you and log you in on your return visits. The first time you go to those sites using your new computer you'll need to manually log in because the site won't recognize you, but on subsequent visits the cookie files will be there.

The biggest trouble you may face is remembering your diffreent screen names and passwords for each site.

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If you have a system that is running Windows XP, I'll personally drive up there and rescue that poor little thing from becoming so much shrapnel on the wrong end of the shooting range. I'm still using Windows 98, may the gods helps me: but my little piece of shit does tricks it was never meant to do thanks to constant upkeep.

Some folks want an excuse to buy a new PC. If you really would just ENJOY a new PC -- by all means: go for it. If you are also still using Windows 98 and you have the cash to burn -- I'd also say it is high time you got a new PC. Your problem CAN be painlessly repaired, but if you're system is as old as mine is, it's a great idea to start fresh. Us geeks will squeeze every drop of life out of a PC. But for everyday folks who aren't into that or who just don't have the time to tinker, a new system every five years is not completely unreasonable or even unexpected.

But your little Trojan horse issue is NOT a good enough reason by itself to trash your PC.

Since you just installed Ad Aware, the reference file should be up to date. But just in case, open the program again and click the link on the main screen that says "Check For Updates Now." Install any new updates if they are available.

You remembered the other thread in which all those additional programs were mentioned -- very cool. By all means, download and install AVG antivirus if you don't have any virus protection already. It's free. The link, for the convenience of others who don't want to search out the old thread:

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php

You may also want to consider Spy Bot, another good ad-blasting program:

http://www.spy-bot.net/

Both of these can be installed on the same system, of course, and used individually. However, it is wise to NOT run two antivirus programs at the same time. Since you are an admitted PC dummy, I won't bother to get into a boring discussion about settings for virus software. Newbies should accept the defaults and they'll be fine. I personally hate stuff that integrates too deeply into my system, but for some folks it is necessary for virus protection.

Regarding your question about screen names and passwords, etc. As these guys already told you, yes... you can use these same names on any system. You just need to remember them all and the passwords associated with each.

However, a simpler solution exists.

Just copy the contents of C:\Windows\Cookies. There may be thousands of files here -- or just a few hundred. They are extremely small files and it is likely you can easily fit all of them onto a floppy disk. If you have a CD burner, even better: you'll need to move additional data, too. You can also always just email data to yourself. Small files can still be saved this way even if you have dial up, but of course, broadband makes this easier (though ISPs have upload limits).

You'd also want to save C:\Windows\Favorites.

There's lots more that needs backup, too -- but I'll save all that crap for now. If you aren't going to be moving data around, no use typing instructions. But by all means -- if you get a new PC, transfer the Cookies and Favorites. This will eliminate having to remember passwords and names associated with every single site.

And while odds are good that you will never need half or more of the cookies that you have on your system now, they are so tiny and inconsequential that just moving them all at once is the easiest thing to do. Sifting through each file, cookie by cookie, isn't worth the time or effort. Just copy the whole folder and be done with it.

Now, here's a FRIENDLY little lecture with some advice you need to know whether you get a new PC or not...

For the most part, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The good folks at AVG and Ad Aware and SpyBot -- exceptions to that rule. Their software IS free and contains no hidden gimmicks. Established and reputable websites like CFS -- they would never fuck with someone's system. Pop up ads are a necessarily evil that pays the bills -- but CFS, for example, would never force members to install bullshit spyware to access the site.

When you get all those messages popping up as you surf the web, asking if you want to install "Suckfucking Software Wallpaper Changer FREE FREE FREE" or some such bullshit -- select "NO", every single time. If you ever happen to see the option for "NO, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOUR MOTHER AND FUCK THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON" -- click that!

Unless you KNOW you are a trusted site -- do not allow for anything to install on demand. You can force Windows to reject installs automatically using Internet Options (from the TOOLS menu on Internet Explorer or from Control Panel). Click the ADVANCED tab, scroll down to the BROWSING section, remove the check marks from INSTALL ON DEMAND (two entries).

I'd save this for a last resort, though. Install on demand can be useful in many cases and seems like an extreme measure to take, at least to me. Just manually reject ANY and ALL suspicious requests to install something on your PC.

And, um... porn sites will try to pull this crap quite often. Hmmm... just WHERE are you surfing, young man? Do I have to install Net Nanny for you?



Also, do not ever download anything you get in email if you don't know who sent it.

What you have on your PC is a Trojan horse, not "officially" a virus, but not a good thing, either. Viruses are hidden more easily in email attachments if people have accepted the Windows default settings to HIDE FILE EXTENSIONS FOR REGISTERED FILE TYPES.

I recommend you change this setting, if you haven't done so already. Just look at any JPG image on your system (or any file at all). If you can the .JPG extension, you are good to go. If you cannot, do this:

Select and highlight any file. Click the VIEW menu of the folder you are looking at. Select FOLDER OPTIONS, then select the VIEW tab. Remove the check mark from HIDE FILE EXTENSION FOR KNOWN FILE TYPES. Apply, OK.

Now you will ALWAYS see the file extensions. No one can trick you into running an EXE or a VBS by adding multiple extensions to it.

Finally, when running Ad Aware, the vast number of entries you'll see if you've never run it before can be worrisome at first. Don't panic: they are not ALL entirely malicious, and they are not all individual items seething within your PC. Many entries belong to just ONE little spy program, etc. You need to CHECK OFF all the found items in the resulting window and then click NEXT to remove them. This is annoying, but you'll only be presented with this massive list the first time. If you run Ad Aware regularly, very few new entries will appear and you'll have less to check off.

Now, if you DO have a new system that is running XP... Damn, man! I'll drive up there and rescue that poor baby! But if you have a system running Windows 98... fuck that.

Lastly, for real this time... It is NOT going to pose a problem if you were to get a new system and have someone (or even yourself) pop in the old hard drive and make it a slave to your new one (it's even a little kinky). The slave drive would NOT be a SYSTEM drive; it would not boot your PC. You can install it, transfer your data over in no time at all, then simply remove it again. The Windows folder it contains and any junk that is on there will just BE THERE: it won't be able to function (more or less -- that's the easy explanation for Luddites). You can just yank it out later, or format the sucker and have blank storage, easy as pie. Though with the size of newer hard drives, you probably won't need that storage space anyway.

Computer illiterate or not, what you are asking is all actually EASY stuff. It sounds like your buddy can help you out -- let him. Trust him on this. It's simple shit. I'd do it for you myself, but it wouldn't be worth the cost you'd have to pay me for gas money to get there! I'd also want you to hook me up with a good cocksucker, and then things just get more complicated, so...

Good luck!

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PS:

If you DO reformat your hard disk as a last resort, you would STILL be well advised to start backing up your Cookies and Favorites and whatever else you can think of. They will come in handy when you start fresh.

MORE IMPORTANT SHIT:

Make SURE your Windows Updates are done in a timely fashion! WAY too many people ignore them. This is seriously important shit.

Click START, then SETTINGS, then Windows Update. Follow the instructions. (Your PC may be set to do auto updates, especially if you have XP -- in which case, cool.)

If you wipe your hard drive clean, you will have to do all your updates again -- update system stuff, Explorer, Media Player, Direct X -- it's annoying, but has to be done. If you have dial up -- god help you. If you have Broadband, you can get it done in a few hours, though you'll suffer through several dozen reboots.

You may not even have an actual Windows disc. Some computers ship with ONLY a restore disc, which will return your PC back to the condition it was in when it came out of the box -- usually this means loaded with software you'll never use and full of AOL free trial icons. Any new hardware you've added since you got the PC will have to be reinstalled. Drivers updated, etc.

It's just not fun for a newbie to take on this task... but not impossible. If you DO have a Windows disc... that helps much more, but you'll still be faced with lots of tinkering.

Do note: reinstalling Windows by itself will NOT fix most problems. Installing Windows OVER an existing copy is NOT the same thing as doing a CLEAN INSTALL. You need to WIPE THE DRIVE in order to start fresh. GA mentioned that, but I wasn't sure if you knew the difference.

GA also mentioned a good pop up blocker -- and I recommend this, too. However, when you have MASSIVE, multiple pop ups streaming in as the result of a Trojan horse... a pop up blocker isn't going to be able to keep up. Also, they do not work well for POP UNDER ads.

Still... I consider it a mandatory tool that makes things easier online.

Just use the one included with the Google Toolbar:

www.toolbar.google.com

The install takes a few seconds. It's well worth it if you don't have this already. You get the handy pop up blocker and lots of other Google features.

As you install, you'll be presented with privacy options dialogue. You can safely accept either choice, but my personal preference is for NO "advanced features." They aren't really necessary, but at the same time, Google won't harm your PC in any way -- they just track site usage data.

Agghhh... one more thing, and I promise I'll shut up, or at least get back to talking about sex...

First, DO use Ad Aware, SpyBot and antivirus software to clean up your PC. These will do removals automatically for you, and that's the best way to handle the situation.

However, there is also a program that average users never discover within Windows. It can help fix a LOT of issues that creep up over time as you install more and more stuff. EVERY geek knows about it and won't be impressed with this revelation, but:

Click START, then RUN, then type in MSCONFIG. Click the tab for STARTUP. From here, you can remove items one at a time and reboot to see if something is causing a conflict with something else. Some spyware will install in here, but some won't be removed that easily. It can change entry names each time you remove one -- it just makes a new name. However, it's a GREAT little program to keep in mind for fixing... well, just about anything.

DO NOT remove SYSTEM TRAY or EXPLORER. Anything else, you can probably tinker with safely. If you see that you run into problems from having removed something, just put it back. This is a troubleshooting tool, though: if things are working well, just leave them alone.

If you don't know what an entry is, you can find a list of many common items found in Startup here:

http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html

Most things aren't really necessary. They'll start on their own when you fire up the associated program, and it's really just overkill to have them running EVERY time you boot up.

But that's just for those who want to tinker or if you have a real emergency on your hands in the future. May as well learn about it now anyway. New PC or not, all these little tips here will help you down the road.

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GWT,

Sorry to hear your pc is puking. No need to ditch it.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about your cookies. I trash the contents of my cookies folder regularly. And I wouldn't copy them over, because a lot of the sniffer and tracking programs look for the existence of their cookies as entrees back onto your system.

You should not have to trash your system either. Just get a good virus software, like McAfee, follow its directions for cleaning up an infected system and you should be back on track.

You do need to keep your browser fully updated. There are these not-so-nice BHO (browser help objects) that now can get in and make your life miserable if you do not keep yourself up to date.

Make sure your settings in your browser are set to ask you each time something wants to download something. And do a "Google" search on the item before you allow it. You can learn a lot very quickly that way.

My personal experience is that pop-up blockers aren't really that great and downloading one is a crapshoot. You might just invite back what you got rid of.

And my personal preference is for running Win 98. I have until 2006 or a little later and I am hanging on. It works great for my needs and 90% of all business models still rely on '98. So I am in good company. I'll migrate at gunpoint, but not before.

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I think everything that was mentioned - I did place here: http://www.sitehosting4less.com/supp...=index_v1&c=23

It depends on what OS you are using now. Usually Windows 200) & above placed everything in a C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents folder. I have about 3 HD on my system configure to be 5 HDs. This way - worse comes to worse (which actually it almost has - I lost my sound on Friday night & have that incessant computer beep for everything right now) I can just re-format. Actually it is time to re-format - it has been about 18 months. A lot of computer people I know re-format every 6 months. Heck - it just takes me that long to get all my programs back on my computer & remember every password & e-mail address that I use. Because every site has a different e-mail address for spam purposes.

__________________
Corey

Not as innocent as one might think

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I have never deleted cookies in my entire life. But that's me. Most spyware removal programs and antivirus programs will quarantine all parts of the infection -- so I don't think a cookie related to a Trojan horse or virus is going to stand much chance of returning to your system if it has been properly cleaned. I was under the impression that a cookie leftover from an improperly cleaned infection could result in some issues and complications, but if you run Norton or McAffee or AVG along with AdAware and SpyBot or whatever -- your cookies should be fine. For me, the hassle of having to enter website info over and over again isn't worth it. Of course, cookies can be manually removed on an individual basis, but this is time-consuming, going through the list and figuring out what's what.

I'll agree that I'm doing fine with Windows 98 for now, though the fact is that it IS an unstable OS, always has been. If I had the cash to get a new PC, I'd do it tomorrow. I get a blue screen about every two days, and Explorer crashes almost daily. Admittedly, though: I seriously push my system beyond its limits. I run software and hardware that is not supposed to work with my meager processor.

Here's a final tip if you find that your antivirus software tells you that you cannot remove certain infected files: just boot into Safe Mode (press F5 at Windows startup). This loads minimal drivers and startup files (your screen will look awful, just continue on anyway). Rescan with your virus software in Safe Mode. The files will probably be able to be removed at that point. Then reboot normally.

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Thanks guys for all the info. Some of it is Greek to me but some I understand. I started this thread on the 15th, it's now the 18th. It's taken that long to get online. I keep getting Dr. Watson fatal errors, whoever the hell he is and that I'm out of virtual memory. I have Norton antivirus and Ad-aware and Windows 2000 professional, so Scruffy no need to drive up to save this piece of shit.

No need for anyone trying to talk me out of a new computer either because it's already been bought and was delivered yesterday, I just haven't hooked it up yet. I'm sure the old one would work just fine if it was cleaned up but I can't do it plus I want a cam and a scanner. My computer was a bargain basement fire sale model when I bought it 6 years ago it's time to move on.

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Hi GWT,
Sorry to hear about your woes with the 'puter.
Here's a couple of other suggestions to help keep the new computer clean and safe from the crap out there in cyberspace:

If you now have Windows XP as your operating system, be sure the firewall is turned on. Your saleperson that you bought the computer from can help you make sure it is on.
You also should ask the salesperson if your new computer has had the new Windows Service pack 2 installed already or if you need to download it. If it has not been installed, you can go to Microsoft's site and download it from there. Note- if you use a dial-up connection to get on the internet, order the service pack CD from Microsoft. Otherwise it will take literally HOURS to download.
I would also suggest ditching AOL. Yeah, I know lots of people like it, but I know that AOL can also cause some minor problems for your computer. The AOL software overrides some of the programs already included in most versions of Windows such as the video player.
I also run Spy-bot and Norton Anti-virus and I update them at least once a week.
Never open an attachment in an e-mail that is an .exe file - that is where most of the worms, viruses, etc. come from.

Finally - a note to you guys that are more comfortable with digging in deeper into the computer files...
If you want to check out if there is a possible virus on your system or if you are just curious what some of those .exe files that are supposed to be in the OS are for, you can check out this site:
http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/browse.php?l=1
You can search out what those files do and if they are really supposed to be there or not.

Good luck GWT !

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Thanks Straycatt, AOL is as good as gone. I've hated it since day one but got it for only $3.00 a month so I stuck with it way too long.

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I know some of us bored you to tears with all our techno-babble, probably me at the top of this list, but it IS good info to keep on hand.

Honestly, I'd print out this thread and keep some of the info handy for the future.

Regarding Service Pack Two for XP... once downloaded and installed, the included firewall will be turned on be DEFAULT.

If you set XP to do auto-updates and have broadband, your computer will take care of this task for you. Find this setting in Control Panel. Right now, SP2 is going out to those with auto-updates turned on first. You can still get it manually, but MS suggests waiting for the server traffic to diminish in a few weeks.

Enjoy your new computer. I'm jealous, but not a lot! My system still has a LITTLE life left in it.

Incidentally... if you have bought a scanner yet, I would recommend a Canon CanoScan. I just got one from NewEgg Dot Com and it ROCKS. For $60, you can't beat it. Shipping was 99 cents via FedEx. It arrived in three days. Same scanner costs $100 in retail stores.

And if you want a webcam, I'm VERY pleased with my Logitech Pro. You DO need to spend $100 if you want a quality pic from a webcam. It's worth it, though. Use full auto settings and you'll get great results every time.

Us geeks are familiar with NewEgg; they have been around a long time. THE BEST service ever. I highly recommend them for upgrades.

Have fun.

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If you're so smart, buddy, what are you doing on AOL? Get a real ISP. Clean up your hard drive, get some protection and don't download a ton to your hard drive.

In peace and friendship
Matt

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One of the best ways to stop popups is to download a good browser. [MICROSOFT BROWSER ISN'T MY #1 CHOICE FOR BEING GOOD.... IT IS MY LAST OPTION.

You need to download a good browser like MOZELLA FIREFOX = blocks most all popups UNLESS YOU TELL IT OTHERWISE.

DOES NOT LET SITES INSTALL ANYTHING UNLESS YOU SAY YES = No viruses get auto install from a corrupt site.

USES TABS = other windows appear as a tab on the main browser window so you can have tons of profiles in tabs and just click on the tabs to browse through what you have....

MY TESTS [on silverdaddies.com] and i have had upwards of several hundred profile tabs going in one go on the main browser window.

There are other excellent browsers you can get BUT DON"T USE IE ALL THAT MUCH unless the site says you must.

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