Got to fix a pc tomorrow, need some advice on what software to use

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mrfun1981

mrfun1981

mrfun1981

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Sister as asked me to try n fix her pc, iv not seen the pc yet going there tomorrow. She says windows will load up but when she clicks on the desktop icons they don't load anythink. Iv asked her to check task manager to see if somthing was using to much memory n making everything extermly slow but she tells me task manager won't even load up.

The pc has not been connected to the net for some time n it just went like this so apart from taking a copy of windows with the view to reformat as she got some data she wants saving. What other programmes would be best to try n install to see if I can get them to work to try n fix the problem

i know iv not given that much info but iv not got much to go on untill u see the pc n just want to be ready for anything that I fund is the problem
 
just do a fresh install mate when your done install virus scan and malware bytes+search and destroy bot then take an image to save u the hassle for the next time!
 
Most definitely something sinister, whether it by virus, trojan, spyware etc.

The best way to fix her PC? Backup her data, image the drive in its current state and then reformat :). All you need is an installation CD matching her version of windows, an external hard drive and a cuppa :). Guaranteed to give you 100% clean and kosher install. All you need to do is reinstall programs and put her personal data back on. If you missed any of it you can recover it from the image you made before reformatting.

NOTE: When I mention installation media for the version of Windows she has it needs to match 100%. Look at the certificate of authenticity on the case. If it says "Windows XP Home Edition OEM" you will need an XP Home Edition OEM CD. If "Windows Vista Home Premium OEM" You will need a Vista Home Premium OEM DVD :). If she is running Vista make sure you check whether you need 32Bit or 64Bit media as well.
 
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Thanks for the advice,

as the above poster said what would be best to use to make a image of the drive? An would I need to install any software on my sisters pc to do this as until I get there I won't no if it will let me install anything? Never imaged a drive before so not sure wot I'm doing.
 
Could try something like Boot-It NG and a portable HDD. It's just a boot disk so you dont need to install it or boot windows, just boot from the disk and make an image of the disk on the portable HDD
 
Hi meatball,

Been there today Firefox & task manager n a few other programmes refused to load up, check in save mode & they loaded up fine. Then i asked my sister where the data was that she wanted backing up she told me & it turns out it is all on her storage drive & she didn't realise if i reformat her PC the stuff on her storage drive would be save ( got to be women thing that dont understand PC's that well.)

So as her data was safe i decided to just reformat the pc instead of finding ways to try and fix it, she did have Vista on there before but decided to install windows 7 on there instead. Install went fine & then hit another problem couldnt get sound drivers to work it took over hour n half to find & download drivers that would work with windows 7 main reason being the new ISP that she contacted to yesterday is so slow
 
Harsh, I probably would have gone home, found the driver and then done it remotely.

Always handy having a separate partition/drive for important stuff.
 
Good to hear it went well :). What AV program did you install? Did you install Spybot and immunize her system against threats?

Don't mind me asking but is it a legit copy of Windows 7? If not she may phone you again when it fails WGA..
 
Meatball said:
Good to hear it went well :). What AV program did you install? Did you install Spybot and immunize her system against threats?

Don't mind me asking but is it a legit copy of Windows 7? If not she may phone you again when it fails WGA..
Click to expand...

AV she did have AVG already on her pc, before i reformatted & that didnt detect any virus's etc i was able to load it before i reformatted & it had been doing scans every day as well. But i dont know many free AV prorgrammes so i had to just put AVG back on there.

Totally forgot about putting spybot on there as had my 2 year old twins there & wanted to get them back home & thats hour n half travel by bus one way so bit of a long day for them, So 3 hours travelling time to just fix a PC is a bit much lol.

No not a legit copy of Windows 7 naughty i know but had no choice, Iv been using windows 7 for some time myself & not got a problem with WGA yet (touch wood) but iv left her the patch i used to activate her copy of windows on a flash drive so if there is a problem il talk to her over the phone & tell her how to go in to safe mode & re-apply the patch ( well im hoping it works that way the same as XP did)

But i have read that mircosoft are still letting people with illegal copies of win7 to get updates
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-pirate-bootleg-security-patches,7666.html

So here's to hoping she wont get any more problems with her PC now
 
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