78 replies to this topic

[CK07]

Hello! I hope this is the right place to post this. I just recently working with someone in the Hijack forums and we came to the conclusion that my pc needed to be Formated in order to clean it. I own a Dell Latitude D520, 1g RAM, Core 2 Duo, with Windows XP, and it's a few years old. I just need to know what to do to format since i've never done it before. I would like to save all my pictures and music if possible in this process. And in advance, Thank you guys so much for all of your help.

[tallin]

CK07,

I read your posts in the HJT thread you had going with Rorschach112. I am sorry you need to reformat.

Here is the WTT suggestion for reformatting your computer.

Good luck and kind regards,

[CK07]

Thank you so much for your quick reply and your concern. It's fine, can't fix everything Thank you guys a bunch! Also when I went to that link you provided and went to the "Dell, restore your computer to factory settings" it says that: "The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received." Does this mean I don't need to have a CD with all my drivers and original windows programs? Meaning it just restores all my basic programs and I just need to replace whatever I had extra on there? Also the laptop has a extra RAM stick, will that affect anything? Should I take it out before running the format? Thanks again!

Edited by CK07, 11 February 2009 - 10:53 AM.

[Doug]

Hello CK07

If your Dell has the PC Restore feature, it has all of the files necessary to completely return your machine to Factory Fresh status.
There appear to be a couple of exceptions related to "games" that may be on some machines and not on others.
***BE SURE TO BACKUP ALL of your important FILES, DOCUMENTS, PICTURES, BUSINESS OR PERSONAL INFORMATION, etc.***

Allowing the Dell PC Restore utility (a product of Symantec) "will erase everything" So if there is something you wish to keep, save it to CD/DVD/USB MemoryStick orExternal Hard Drive that you can remove/disconnect from the computer BEFORE beginning the PC Restore utility.

Then simply follow the linked instructions. (I've copied them here in quotes below)

You "may" need to contact Dell if you are not able to follow the instructions.
For instance, I have two Dells here on my desk.
Neither one of them has the PC Restore feature, because they are too old.
I would have to use a Dell XP operating system installation CD, and a Dell Driver installation CD. Fortunately, I do have these for both machines.

If your machine is "older" (both of mine are about 7 years old) you may still be able to obtain the Dell XP and Dell Drivers CD directly from Dell at a modest cost. (probably around $30 US) if you can verify that you are the original purchaser) or (if you can supply the Service Tag number or Express Service Code) -- stickers with this information are placed on the outside of your computer case.

I'm not sure which of the above computer identifying information Dell will actually require of you.

If you follow the instructions (like that quoted below) and the procedure initiates, you will get your machine Restored in under an hours and it will all be automatic.
If those instructions do not work for you, then contact Dell and ask about your options.

***Remember to backup your Documents, Pictures, etc., once you start the Restore utility, you "will" lose any Data that remains on your Hard Drive.

When the PC Restore is complete, you will still need to install any extra software applications that you may have put on the machine after you bought it. And You will want to consider what Security Solution you want to run (Firewall, AntiVirus, AntiSoftware) after your fresh "trial versions expire.

You will also have to complete MS Updates to assure that your machine has all the more recent critical updates and patches, including Service Pack 3... SP#

The extra stick of RAM will cause no Harm, and may in fact help the PC Restore utility to complete its work faster. Keep it in place.

By the time you read this I will probably be at work.
If I cannot continue replying to any additional questions you may have, I will see about getting another Tech to step in to help.

Best Regards

Using PC Restore in Windows XP or Media Center
Notice:
Restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data. This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos. Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files. If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.

1 Turn on the computer.

2 When the Dell splash screen appears during the computer startup process, press and hold <Ctrl> and then press <F11>. Then, release both keys at the same time.
NOTE: Some systems like Inspiron Mini 9 (910) do not support System Restore as they do not have <F11> nor any substitute.

3 In the Dell PC Restore by Symantec window, click Restore. Alternatively, press <Tab> to highlight Restore, and then press <Enter>.

4 When a warning message appears stating that all data will be lost, click Confirm, or press <Tab> to highlight Confirm and then press <Enter>.

The Progress window will appear. Once the restore process starts, Dell PC Restore by Symantec usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes to finish.

When the restore process is complete, the following message will appear:
The system recovery process was successful.

5 Click Finish or press <Tab> to highlight Finish and then press <Enter> to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.

[CK07]

Alrighty!! Thank you very much. That is all the information I need. I just bought a 160g external Hard Drive to back up my files so when I go pick that up I will begin this process. I will post again after I have completed it or need assistance in the process. Thanks again for your detailed explanation!

[CK07]

I can't get my computer to do anything when I press Ctrl + F11 on the splash screen. I have tried it multiple times, letting them both go at the same time, not doing that, waiting for other screens... it doesn't seem to work. Again my Laptop is a Dell Latitude D520.

[Ztruker]

The Latitude D520 does not have a recovery partition so Ctrl+F11 doesn't work. I looked at the Users Manual and it says to use the XP CD if it came with the Computer.

See here: http://support.dell....e.htm#wp1127297

If you don't have one or a Dell Recovery CD, contact Dell as I don't see a link on their website fro ordering one, which is unusual.

[CK07]

Alright thanks. I'm currently looking for a CD so if I have any problems after I find one i'll let you guys know. Thanks a bunch!

[CK07]

Alrighty, I had to find someone with the OS cd but I finally got my system reformatted. For those that read up on this thread and want to know how I did this, here is the link that a Dell rep. sent me in a live chat: http://www.windowsxp...dexfullpage.htm.

All I have to do now is get all the right drivers installed

Shoot, I know I read your guy's opinion on what antivirus/malware/etc.. you should put on your pc. Could you post a link to that if you find it? Thanks a bunch guys!

Edited by CK07, 25 February 2009 - 11:25 PM.

[tallin]

Hi CK07,

Thank you for posting the above link. Did you also secure the Driver CD for the Windows OS you have just reinstalled/reformatted?

For your Antivirus software and more, you may like to click on the Learning each day link in my signature for assistance in choosing what you require.

Others will no doubt come by to also suggest their choice of software for you to consider.

kind regards,

[Doug]

You'll do fine if you decide to follow Tallin's excellent recommendations. Thanks for linking the Dell page. Glad you are getting it sorted. Best Regards

[CK07]

So I went to put all the new, what I will call, "Anti - ware" that you recommended, on my pc. Well Zone Alarm requires a certain hott thingy to run and the best way to get it is through the Windows Update. Well when I went to do that it downloaded the Service pack 3 (which took forever) but when I restarted after getting that installed, my computer would not boot my desktop whenever I would log in. So I went into my desktop under Safe Mode and deleted it and then I was able to get back into it and have my desktop actually load. So how do I get the necessary updates to install ZA without my computer going kapoot? And also, how am I supposed to properly use Windows Update?

Edited by CK07, 26 February 2009 - 10:22 PM.

[tallin]

Hi CK07,

As far as I know there is no connection between ZonAlarm Firewall and Windows monthly Updates.

We need to get this cleaned up for you, so this is what I suggest you do:

Turn off your Windows Updates

Firstly, please do the following:

• start
• Run
• type 'services.msc' without the quote
• Click 'startup type' second from the right at the top after extending the utility
• Check that Automatic Updates is on Automatic and started
• File
• Exit

Then go to

• Start
• Control Panel
• Automatic Updates
• Enable 'Turn off Automatic Updates'
• OK

Explanation why turning off WU is explained here.

To obtain your Windows Updates each two (in case there are non critical updates) or four weeks manually, go to:

Windows Updates after the second Tuesday in the month to get your most recent updates . Click on Custom after the page loads, so you can be in control of what is installed on your system.

Download ZoneAlarm Free (For Windows XP save it to your desktop).

Then download Revo uninstaller to uninstall ZoneAlarm if it is installed. Here is how:
If a built in uninstaller fails then Revo will still remove a program. I won't uninstall anything without using Revo. Even tiny programs uninstallers will leave a huge amount of junk in the registry and/or files and folders. Not with Revo.

If the programs uninstaller fails just keep on going through the steps and it will still be removed.

Download Revo Uninstaller

• Go in to Revo, right click what you want to uninstall and choose Uninstall.
• Next choose Advanced Mode
• This will launch the programs built in uninstaller and go through the normal uninstall process.
• Once complete: In Revo Uninstaller click Next and Revo will scan the registry for leftovers.
  • This scan can take several seconds.
• Once the results are shown look at each one to ensure they are all related to the program that was uninstalled.
• Choose Select All then click Delete
• Click Next and Revo will scan for any files or folders that were not removed.
• If any files/folders are found choose Select all > Delete

Now physically disconnect from the internet, unplug the cable and install ZoneAlarm from your desktop that you downloaded earlier. Make sure you disable any tool bars that maybe included in the installation that you do not want.

Please now reboot/restart.

Then when you have the computer up and running, re-connect to the internet and update ZoneAlarm immediately.

Leave your Windows Updates turned off, but do not forget to go to the Windows Update link once a month to update.

All the above information is in two links in my signature for you to browse and save, namely:

Learning each day and Preventing Malware - safe Computing.

Let us know and keep us posted how you go.

kind regards,

[CK07]

Alright, well here is my dilemma now. I never installed the ZA but redownloaded it anyways. And it's still giving me the same error:


If you can't read it, it says: "Your Computer needs a Windows XP Service Pack hotfix before you can install this version of ZonaAlarm. Please get hotfix KB943232 from the site shown below, install hotfix, reboot, and then run ZoneAlarm installer.

[url="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943232""]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943232"[/url]


This happens just after I click the zonealarm installer.

I went to the website but couldn't find that hotfix so I don't know what to do with it.


Also, I just ran a Malwarebyte scan and it came up with 3 Trojan.Agent's; 2 dealing with "Microsoft Common" and one in my registry key under software being explorer.exe. Are these actual "Trojans" that I should remove or is this software going to be picking up stuff that just "looks" like a Trojan?

And one more thing, ha ha, JavaRa wont delete any of my older versions of Java when I click it. It gets a error and shuts down. I didn't have Internet explorer running at all.

Thanks!

Edited by CK07, 27 February 2009 - 10:13 AM.

[Doug]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943232

At the top left of this KB article is a "Tool Icon" and the following statement:
Hotfix Download Available
View and request hotfix downloads <-- This line is clickable to begin the process of downloading the hotfix