NismoPick

^^^ AVG FTW!

willkrom...

Do you download a lot of stuff (mp3's / torrents / other material I don't need to mention)??? Lots of garbage is on Limewire / Torrent sites... beware!

#1... Get a VERY good anti-virus program (I use AVG as well... it works great).

#2... Get a spyware scanning program like Spybot / Adaware / etc...

#3... Use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer (IE has tons of security issues).

#4... Windows just sucks. After installing / removing programs & files so many times, Windows gets loaded w/ junk. Sometimes it's just easier to back up your files, wipe the hard drive clean, and reload Windows. I've done that quite a few times. Also... (this is just what I find easiest) I have 2 hard drives in all my computers. I store all the files on the second (non-c drive - drive that does not have the windows files on it) so I can just wipe it clean when I need & don't have to worry about losing anything important.

snwbrderphat540

yeah i'm about to re-format my laptop but i gotta back up all my pics music and videos... well photobucket has all my pics actually.... hmmmm.... whats the HP format button? F4 on startup i think? MEH! time to steal my sister's external hard drive. be around in..... some other time!

Bleach

don't forget to back up your million posts

snwbrderphat540

they will wait around for me

NismoPick

I have a feeling they won't.

KasbeKZ

well i have already downloaded AVG just last night. it seems to be helping already. last night, i was getting spyware pop ups every few seconds. i think the scan is still running. it's hard to tell. i do use firefox. the second hard drive does sound pretty nice. i could possibly think about running linux on it...

entropy31

nah, keep the OS's on one drive, separate partitions. use the other drive solely for data storage.

KasbeKZ

oh i actually didn't know you could do that lol. sounds good though.

z-hag

oh---and stay away from idjit sites like tagged and fanbox and other stoopit sites like that.......clean out your cookies........

snwbrderphat540

all clean!!!! my god it is nice to have the computer running like this again. SICK!!!!!

z-hag

so everone needed to weed out thweir cookies, eh????

NismoPick

Weed in the cookies!? Shhh... that's our lil secret.

thxone

My setup consist of this:

Main C drive: Windows XP pro SP2. I run Sygate Personal Firewall Pro, NOD32 2.7 for antivirus, CCleaner for, well cleaning up and to keep my startup items in check, I have two things starting with the computer, NOD and Sygate and Spywareblaster is there for spyware. I defrag with O&O Defrag 10 Pro Edition and I run Firefox.

Backup D drive: All my crap I don't want to lose.

My computer has never crashed, I don't get spyware or viruses, my computer starts in about 45 seconds and is fully booted. I sit behind a Linksys wireless G router and I am directly wired to channel 1. There are 3 other computers in the house using the wireless part of the router and I still get the full 20meg down speed...they don't fair so well cause I am greedy, but they only surf the net...I download like a madman from Demonoid (it is back up and running) The Pirate Bay, Mininova and I use a news server as well. What can I say, I like free $hit!!

One could also look into high gain antennas for the router, I know Radio Shack has replacement screw on types and I think they were either 15 or 17db gain antenna and not to expensive. They could help with the connection as with a wireless routers if the signal is passing through a wall at an angle it actually will add to the distance the computer is from the router...so if you are 30 feet away it can actually be more like 40-50 feet away or more depending on the thickness and angle of the wall(s). One could also step up to a wireless N router...this will add range as well for the better...couple that with High Gain antennas and you are good to go.