Cleaning My Brother's Computer

BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">It just aint happening.</div> At the moment, the only internet program I can get running on it is AIM. If I go into safe mode and use the admin account the net works fine. I try safe mode in his account and it does not. I've ran an updated version of Ad-aware several times, downloaded a trial of system mechanic to try and fix the registry a bit and I've scanned it for viruses. Loads of adware came up as well as registry problems, no viruses though. It didn't make the slightest difference. I'm out of ideas now.

So I turn to you. Anything else I could try besides nuking it?
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Comments

  • OmegamanOmegaman Join Date: 2004-01-11 Member: 25239Members
    This also happens when you install those AOL Free Trials. The only thing that works is AOL, no other browser. My dad called three different customer help services, <b>and they laughed at him.</b>

    Good luck. The only sure-fire way is to fdisk that sucker.
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  • TequilaTequila Join Date: 2003-08-13 Member: 19660Members
    Format, my son.
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    Formatting really sounds like the way to go here.
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  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    OK, thanks. It's pretty late now so I'll probably do it tomorrow.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    everyone jumps to reformatting... I'd check on more things first; run spybot for instance, on top of ad aware. is there a firewall problem? ZoneAlarm used to give me problems -- while it was installed but not running, it would block internet access to programs I hadn't given it permission to, and I had no clue what was happening because ZA wasn't running... anyway that's a longshot, just giving you more to think about before you destroy all your data and spend hours starting from scratch <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • InfinitumInfinitum Anime Encyclopedia Join Date: 2002-08-08 Member: 1111Members, Constellation
    edited July 2004
    It's easy to jump to format because format fixes the problems 99% of the time. And I'd rather format, than try screwing around in my registry for 10 hours....

    The rest it's generally hardware failure of some sort.

    EDIT: Plus with the added bonus of a format, you have a nice clean slate to work with. So install all your antivirus/blocker/firewall straight after that.
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  • MedHeadMedHead Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11115Members, Constellation
    Download the latest version of ZoneAlarm now, burn it to a CD, and install it on the "clean slate" <b>before connecting to the Internet.</b>
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Or just download and install a current Linux distro. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    At the very least, you can give him a user-level account and say 'here! try breaking THIS, jerk!' and watch his head explode as he has no friendly 'start' button, nor 'aol' icon.
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  • SalvationSalvation Join Date: 2003-11-21 Member: 23300Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Talesin+Jul 12 2004, 07:01 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Talesin @ Jul 12 2004, 07:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Or just download and install a current Linux distro. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    At the very least, you can give him a user-level account and say 'here! try breaking THIS, jerk!' and watch his head explode as he has no friendly 'start' button, nor 'aol' icon. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    then you could use the computer more you know <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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