Tech/Computer advice from me

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Fear The Spear said:
Thanks a lot, SA !

A few quick questions :

1) I assume Ubuntu is completely free, right ?
2) If I do the option to re-install Windows, it is going to ask me for the serial number and there's no way around that, correct ?
3) Do you suspect my problem may be the result of a virus ? If so, I probably would need to be careful about backing up my files, since they're most likely infected by the virus and would then just re-infect the PC once I re-load them after re-installing the new OS, wouldn't they ?
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1/. Correct. It will only cost you some of your download limit. If you download and install WUBI, the process will then take you to the UBUNTU download, which will take some time, depending on your internet speed. If prompted, choose an LTS version, the last being 12.04.

2/. If you re-install from scratch (clean hdd) you WILL be asked for the 25-character product code, so you will have to have that handy.

3/. The problem you have is more likely due to your paranoia! Not everything is virus related, but you have asked about each and every problem you have encountered, you have been given advise, and more than likely, you have carried out that advise. The more you try to fix something, the worse it tends to become.

What I used to do when I had to run Windows (due to a leased laptop) was save everything to an external HDD. That way, if ever I had to return the laptop for ANY reason, of if something failed, I still had ALL my files. Nowadays, the only files on my hdd are those that were downloaded when programs were installed (UBUNTU). Any file I create, or download and want to keep, goes straight to the external. I can then take it with me to another computer, or as I did in late January, take it interstate and share files with family.

Something you DON'T want to do is try to compete (computer spec wise) with someone else. You have what you have, so you have to learn how to use what you have. When I first (purpose) built my desktop, I used top=of-the-range, and the latest, hardware. 12 months later, I was middle of the road. 6 months after that, I was at the bottom of the pile. You can go out tomorrow and buy the latest and greatest, but in 6 months, there will be much better available. That is just the way technology is these days.

So, to summarize, save all your work, re-install your operating system (or install UBUNTU), and use your existing hardware to the best of it's ability. If you want improved performance, buy new!
 
Thanks a lot.
I picked up an excellent tip in there, something simple, but very useful that I never thought of.
Saving files directly to an external drive automatically, all the time. That serves multiple purposes. Saves you from remembering to backup stuff, or remembering what you backed up and what you didn't, thus protecting everything automatically in case of a crash, and it protects your files from being infected on the PC, and it also saves space on your PC's hard drive.
 
An external HDD does NOT necessarily save your files from a virus! You still need effective anti-virus software installed.

Your other points regarding an external HDD are valid though.
 
can one of the mods take out the 'from me' from the thread title? not only has this thread taken a turn into a different type of thread, but its also become obvious there are a handful of people here willing/able to contribute to the people that have questions.
 
Seemingly the strangest thing happened. The PC gradually began to "repair itself". I mentioned earlier that I wasn't even able to display the Windows Update site page. But then at one point, when I hit the "Turn Off" computer button, it gave me the option to update Windows while shutting down. And so I did. After that, one by one, the windows functions began to return.

Soon I was able to display the Windows Update page, and from there, I was able to start manually adding updates. There were tons of them, because apparently years of updates were somehow removed from my PC.

So, through time, and through these updates, seemingly most or all of my Windows components are back, and functioning normal. So I guess I'm back in business. If it stays functioning, I think my plan is to keep my Windows OS until they stop supporting it a year from now, and then switch to Ubuntu.

In the process of this, I downloaded the free trial of AVG, and it found an infection. Then I hit "Address Issue" and highlighted the infection. There were 3 options below that - View Details, Remove Selected, and Remove All. But of the 3 - only "View Details" was highlighted. It didn't seem to give me the option to remove the infection. Am I missing something, or does AVG Free Trial not allow you to remove infections ? If not, it's not much of a free trial, then. There's no point in even keeping it 30 days. But I don't see anywhere on the program that says it limits you from dealing with infections it finds
 
The AVG you have is exactly as it states - a free TRIAL. That would be a free trial of the paid program.

Try this: AVG AntiVirus Free 2013

However, an even better option is to go back to the first page of this thread, scroll down until you find the link for Panda Cloud anti-virus (you'll have to read the post to find it), click on the link, follow the instructions whilst downloading. I also recommend Panda as it would do a better job in monitoring my wife's laptop, and she didn't even know it was installed.
 
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Fear The Spear said:
Seemingly the strangest thing happened. The PC gradually began to "repair itself". I mentioned earlier that I wasn't even able to display the Windows Update site page. But then at one point, when I hit the "Turn Off" computer button, it gave me the option to update Windows while shutting down. And so I did. After that, one by one, the windows functions began to return.

Soon I was able to display the Windows Update page, and from there, I was able to start manually adding updates. There were tons of them, because apparently years of updates were somehow removed from my PC.

So, through time, and through these updates, seemingly most or all of my Windows components are back, and functioning normal. So I guess I'm back in business. If it stays functioning, I think my plan is to keep my Windows OS until they stop supporting it a year from now, and then switch to Ubuntu.
Click to expand...

If it returns, I'd say you have a dying hard drive.

Also, you can try out Ubuntu without installing it right now if you have an Ubuntu CD. There's an option where it doesn't install Ubuntu but you can open programs and browse the Internet.
 
Yeah you basically download the Unbuntu CD, put it in your computer, and when you turn your computer on it'll ask you if you want to boot to CD - say yes, it'll load up Ubuntu without changing anything on your actual hard drive. Lets you give it a test run.

I personally like Ubuntu, it's a user friendly version of Linux that seems to work pretty well for free.
 
Thanks ya'll.
SA, I was not aware of the 2 different versions of AVG, where one is a Free Trial of the Paid Version, while the other is completely free. And evidently was not aware of that the 30-day Free Trial version did not include resolutions to infections. I figured the 30 days, was the only limitation or restriction to that option. Thanks for clearing that up.

fanboy - a possible failing hard drive is yet another good reason for me to keep tabs on backing up everything, so thanks for pointing that out.

tshile - so if I download the installation file for Ubuntu to CD, and then boot it up - does it actually ask me if I want to replace Windows with it completely, or use it as a complement ?
 
I believe it gives you the option, when you're booted in, to install it (I may be wrong, it's been a few years and they've changed it a lot) and dual boot windows, but it's certainly not a requirement. It boots to the CD and doesn't write anything to the hard drive. You also can't really save things unless you're using cloud services or a usb drive.

SA could speak to it much more than I could at this point, it's been a while since I've used it.

If you're running XP on your machine I wouldn't worry about dual booting. I'd worry about switching to a new OS if you're doing anything. Boot to the CD and see if you like it or have questions though, it's a nice way to preview it.

Majority of your problems revolve around using a 10+ year OS. If you're not buying a new computer, you certainly couldn't go wrong switching to Ubuntu. As long as you back your stuff up first ;)
 
Thanks T, I got a much better understanding on it, now.

Although, I just dug myself into a hole again. In the process of beginning to back up files, I accidentally deleted a HUGE amount of important files off of a flash drive. They're completely gone, because I didn't COPY them to the flash, but I CUT and pasted them to the flash, and then accidentally deleted them.

In the past, I had success recovering lost files with a program called "UndeletePlus". However my free trial on that has run out. Can anyone recommend another good file recovery software for deleted files, that's free ?
 
Fear The Spear said:
Thanks T, I got a much better understanding on it, now.

Although, I just dug myself into a hole again. In the process of beginning to back up files, I accidentally deleted a HUGE amount of important files off of a flash drive. They're completely gone, because I didn't COPY them to the flash, but I CUT and pasted them to the flash, and then accidentally deleted them.

In the past, I had success recovering lost files with a program called "UndeletePlus". However my free trial on that has run out. Can anyone recommend another good file recovery software for deleted files, that's free ?
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I have zero experience with free data recovery software. I use a paid for program when I need to, but it's hit or miss as to how well it works.

If the data is actually important let me know, I'll send you some information about a company that does data recovery. Can't remember what they charged, I seem to recall it being reasonable if the data was actually important. (people claim things are important all the time, then when they find out its $500 to recover it all the sudden it's not that important. seems pretty cheap to me for recovering otherwise irrecoverable 'important' data)
 
http://www.shodanhq.com/

New search engine. Instead of crawling websites for content, it crawls devices for availability.

Find open routers, printers, security cameras, traffic lights, water treatment plants, nuclear power plant command and control centers

http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/08/technology/security/shodan/index.html?iid=HP_Highlight

Remember that when your local politician wants to talk about putting your health records online, or any other vital/important information. If they can't keep the command and control system for a nuclear power plant from being found on the internet...
 
TIME: Report: Google Fiber Heading to Austin as Cities Race to Boost Web Speeds


After the announcement went out, reporters at KVUE, the local ABC affiliate, tapped their City of Austin sources and became the first outlet to confirm the Google Fiber news. “Multiple City of Austin sources confirm to KVUE that we will be next on the list,” KVUE’s Kris Betts reported during the station’s Friday-evening broadcast. In addition to confirming the news with city officials, KVUE’s eagle-eyed reporters spotted an interesting offering on the Kansas City Google Fiber channel page: the Longhorn Network, which broadcasts University of Texas at Austin sporting events.

Google says its fiber-to-the-home product provides customers with broadband-Internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second — roughly 100 times faster than the average U.S. connection — as well as crystal-clear television service. In Kansas City, Google offers residents seven years of free Internet service at current broadband speeds, after a $300 installation fee. Superfast 1-gigabit Internet service costs $70 per month, and the top bundle, which includes Google’s TV service, costs $120 per month. (The $300 installation fee is waived for the latter two offerings.)
Click to expand...
 
SkinnedAussie said:
This article may be of some help.

How to: What to do when your PC is about to die
Click to expand...

Cool, a "Hospice" for the dying computer :)

tshile said:
I have zero experience with free data recovery software. I use a paid for program when I need to, but it's hit or miss as to how well it works.

If the data is actually important let me know, I'll send you some information about a company that does data recovery. Can't remember what they charged, I seem to recall it being reasonable if the data was actually important. (people claim things are important all the time, then when they find out its $500 to recover it all the sudden it's not that important. seems pretty cheap to me for recovering otherwise irrecoverable 'important' data)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will check CNET downloads for similar programs that hopefully have good reviews on there.
 
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