Guide to Using Free Software to Prevent & Remove Viruses & Malware

Learn to Use the Free Tools and Stop Wasting Money

Windows XP Won't Boot? Try These Recovery Console Techniques

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | No Comments

It's inevitable; Nearly every PC user will face a time when Windows XP won't boot. Here's one tip that might help get you back on track.

Note: Only try this AFTER your attempts to access Safe Mode have failed.

Recovery Console

Recovery Console gives Windows users a number of tools that can repair boot issues. To access Recovery Console, insert your Windows CD and boot your PC using it.

Note: If you cannot find your Windows CD, you can either download the six diskettes from Microsoft or use this method to create a bootable CD. Or if you have installed ComboFix to your system, Recovery Console was downloaded and installed with it.

Press R to enter Recovery Console.

Once inside, choose your Windows installation and then enter a password if you have set one. If not, just press Enter.

There are several command line options you can use to try to fix a Windows boot issue:

Chkdsk

Chkdsk is a command that will scan the hard drive for problems. It is capable of repairing bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors. Many times Chkdsk will be able to fix a boot problem. Chkdsk has this option:

Chkdsk /P will attempt to repair most boot issues.

Bootcfg /Rebuild

The command Bootcfg /Rebuild will completely rebuild the Boot.ini file, the file that contains boot information. This file may have become corrupted leaving Windows unable to boot correctly.

Fixboot C:

This command will attempt to fix a corrupt partition boot sector, the section of the hard drive that is crucial to loading Windows. (Substitue your drive letter if it is different.)

Fixmbr - Master Boot Record

The first sector on the hard drive contains the master boot record, which is responsible for starting the Windows boot procedure.

Fixmbr [device_name] is the command you should use. [device_name] is the path to the drive you are attempting to write a new master boot record. For a normal user, the command would be this:

Fixmbr \Device\HardDisk0

If none of these tools are successful, your boot issue is probably not linked to these situations. And it's probably time to install an in-place upgrade using your Windows CD.


Category: Windows XP
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Windows XP Won't Boot? Enter Safe Mode to Run System Restore

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | No Comments

It's inevitable; Nearly every PC user will face a time when Windows XP won't boot. Here's one tip that might help get you back on track.

Safe Mode-->System Restore

System Restore allows Windows users the option to turn their PC's back to a time before the boot issue occurred. To access this System Restore, press F8 before your PC gets to the Windows screen. Now use the arrow keys to scroll to Safe Mode and press Enter.

Note: If you are unable to access Safe Mode, then your issue will have to be solved using either Recovery Console or an in-place upgrade.

Click Yes at the next prompt. Then you may have to click on your username to login. Once inside Windows, click Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->System Restore. Choose "Restore my computer to an earlier time" and then Next. This will in no way affect your personal files.

Now choose a date and click Next. Your PC will reboot to start the restore process. If the System Restore was completed successfully, the PC will boot normally. It is then a good idea to backup your personal files in case the situation happens again and System Restore does not work. Also, run virus and malware scans to be sure that the problem wasn't due to a malicious program.


Category: Windows XP
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Windows XP Won't Boot? Try Last Known Good Configuration.

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | No Comments

It's inevitable; Nearly every PC user will face a time when Windows XP won't boot. Here is one tip that might help get you back on track.

Last Known Good Configuration

This option will work in many cases if you are not receiving a blue screen or a "Missing File" message when your PC boots. To access this option, press F8 before your PC gets to the Windows screen. Now use the arrow keys to scroll to Last Known Good Configuration and press Enter.

This feature will allow you to undo the changes that may be causing conflicts in the CurrentControlSet registry key, which defines driver and hardware settings. The Last Known Good Configuration option switches to a backup copy of the registry key that was used the last time the PC booted successfully.

However, this attempt will only work one time. If your PC still will not boot successfully, it means either the backup registry copy is corrupted or another issue needs to be resolved.


Category: Windows XP
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Coming Soon: The Poor Man's Guide to Using Free Software to Prevent & Remove Viruses & Malware

Posted on | August 20, 2010 | No Comments

Useful Info Nation is pleased to announce the upcoming release of our one-of-a-kind PC security guide, The Poor Man's Guide to Using Free Software to Prevent & Remove Viruses & Malware.

This unique guide will take readers through the exact scenarios and steps to using free software to prevent and remove viruses and malware that the author has taught to over 2,000 PC users since 2006.

This step-by-step guide will demonstrate to readers that protecting their PC's and removing malicious items does not require paid subscription programs that turn out to be unreliable and not worth the cost.

The Poor Man's Guide to Using Free Software to Prevent & Remove Viruses & Malware is exactly what the title says it is. Millions of PC users shouldn't have to pay PC technicians their hard-earned money to do something they could otherwise do themselves if they just had the proper tools and guidance.

This guide is the culmination of detailed instructions given by the author, a PC security expert since 1995, to over 4,000 customers since 2001.

What's inside the guide?

Unlike all those other so-called guides, The Poor Man's Guide isn't vague. It isn't full of unfunny phrases to keep readers interested. And it isn't full of boring techical jargon. This guide gets directly to the point.

Readers will be able to follow each individual step from download of the free software programs all the way through the advanced usage stage. Nothing is left out. Readers will be given a routine maintenance schedule in addition to a unique system of using the free software to secure their PC's. Nearly every page has a screenshot of each step. The guide unveils a system that the author, Thomas Bryan, has used on thousands of PC's and it is a system he continues to train his customers to use.

PC users shouldn't have to pay to keep their computers safe. By following the steps in this guide, they won't ever spend another dime on virus, malware, and spyware removal. It's Thomas Bryan's guarantee.

And if you like what you see, be sure to check out these other Useful Info Nation pages:

Technology Page

Science Page

Games Page

Offbeat News Page


Category: Adware, Computers, Malware, Security, Spyware, The Guide
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All the Latest Computer Articles on One Page

Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments

Useful Info Nation is proud to announce the arrival of our Computer Articles Page.

From PC & Mac security to PC & Mac tips and tricks, we cater to every PC users' needs. Each category has 10-15 of its latest posts. It's a great place for all the latest information concerning the computer user's world.

Here is a partial list of categories:

Blogging | Certification Tests | Computer Forensics | Data Recovery | General | Hardware | Mobile Computing | Multimedia | Networking | Personal Tech | Security | Software

We will continue to add more on a daily basis.

And if you like what you see, be sure to check out these other Useful Info Nation pages:

Technology Page

Science Page

Games Page

Offbeat News Page


Category: Computers
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What is a firewall?

Posted on | August 12, 2010 | No Comments

Firewalls have become the most important piece of the network security puzzle.

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a crucial piece of a computer system or network designed to allow authorized traffic while blocking unauthorized access through the use of rules set up either through hardware or software.

A firewall can be a hardware device or even a conglomeration of devices that are specially configured to allow or deny computer applications based on whatever rules have been created.

Software firewalls use similar sets of rules that hardware firewalls use, but they are programmed into the actual software. In this case, the software checks all data and determines whether to allow its passage into our out of the network.

Firewalls are used on private and public networks. Public network firewalls are used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing the inner network, or intranet. The firewall examines all data entering and leaving and it blocks those that do not meet the security settings specified during configuration.


Category: Security
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What are rootkits?

Posted on | August 11, 2010 | No Comments

Rootkits are becoming more prevalent in PC security issues than any other malicious item. They come in various forms.

What are rootkits?

Here is the Wikipedia definition of a rootkit:

A rootkit is a collection of tools (programs) that enable administrator-level access to a computer or computer network.

Did you get that? It's like if you were in the driver seat of your car and somebody sat down on top of you in the same seat and started driving. But that's not all rootkits do.

What is a main goal of rootkits?

Rootkits come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common one is called malware. These types of programs generally occupy a system in order to collect personal data such as Social Security Numbers, banking passwords, credit card information, etc. Some even test the ability of programs that remove malware so that the developer can figure out ways to create stronger rootkits.

Defeating Rootkits

It is a good idea to have at least one or two software programs that are specially made to remove rootkits. What one cannot remove, the other usually can. Free tools generally work as well as most paid subscription anti-malware programs. As a rule, it is not wise to have only one program to protect your PC. And if you have problems removing a malware item after it has been identified, it's a good idea to use a file killer program to finish the job.


Category: Malware
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What is spyware?

Posted on | August 9, 2010 | No Comments

I've been asked the question "What is spyware?" more times than I could ever imagine. I'll try to make it simple:

What is Spyware?

Spyware is software, of course, created for the sole purpose of turning PC users into targets for forced advertising. In other words, spyware software collects personal information about a user, which is then collected by the developers of the software for the purpose of selling it to advertising companies.

If you've ever been saddled with a new toolbar on Internet Explorer or a homepage that has been hijacked by a large advertisement, then you have been a victim of spyware. On other occasions, spyware will actually change the configuration of startup and other program settings to the point of making your PC virtually too slow to use.

Spyware is not all bad, though

If you've ever paid for an online game or a music service, spyware most likely is included in your agreement to use the program you've downloaded. This type of spyware tracks your PC in order to send advertisements related to your browsing habits. This type of spyware is basically harmless.

The key is to know what you are installing before you install it.

The best way to avoid spyware is to do your research before you decide to download anything online. Or to make sure you pay attention to a legitimate install because additional software may be installed that otherwise would not be if you would have unchecked a box during installation.


Category: Spyware
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Why Lavasoft Ad-Aware Has Lost its Punch

Posted on | August 9, 2010 | No Comments

For so many years Lavasoft's Ad-aware was one of the frontrunners in spyware and adware prevention and removal. But since the emergence of rootkits and complex malware, the makers of Ad-aware haven't done a very good job of updating its detection and removal techniques to keep up with these new threats.

During the past eight years, I have used Ad-aware as a supplement to other similar free programs to clean my customer and personal PC's. Since 2007, though, I have experienced on many occasions Ad-aware's failure to detect and remove malicious objects that other programs had no trouble detecting and removing. Many times after Ad-aware directed me to restart the PC in order to remove a malicious file, I would run another scan only to find the same exact infection.

With spyware becoming not so prevalent these days due to the increase in rootkits and complex malware, I'd have to say the makers of Ad-aware have some work to do to keep up with the makers of similar programs.

That's a shame, too. I like the program and I hope it gets better.


Category: Adware, Malware, Spyware
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