posted
IE is *infuriating*. It's so easy to infect the thing!
I'm on my dad's PC at home and in less than three weeks spyware has managed to decimate it!
I don't understand WHY. He has Norton Anti-Virus and Personal Firewall. He doesn't visit nasty sites. He uses it for taxes and basic surfing - Orbitz, etc.
What's the best way to beat the spyware? I have SpyBot, AdAware, and another program that helps control ActiveX (I'll find the name in a second). What else can I do to beat existing spyware and prevent more?
Also, this thing is an eMachines ( ), and the homepage in IE is permanently set to http://www.emachines.com. It won't let me change it. How can I fix it?
Also, what's an alternative browser I could download?
Edit: I miss my Mac
[ May 11, 2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Kasie H ]
Posts: 1784 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'd venture to say that the sole source of your problems is the fact that it's an eMachine. They come preinstalled with several spyware programs. I'd suggest backing up all important files, formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling Windows (but not from the restore CD that came with the computer).
To fix the homepage, go to Start > Run and type in "regedit." Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Internet Explorer > Main. On the right you should see an entry titled "Start Page." Right-click on it, select Modify, and change the value data. This should keep it from changing back to www.emachines.com.Posts: 586 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
Here's a question for the geeks who know more about licensing: If you buy a computer that comes preinstalled with Windows XP but has no install CD, is it legal to borrow a disc from someone else to reinstall Windows XP?
Posts: 586 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sadly, I don't think it is. Such machines generally are SPECIFICALLY installed under an OEM-only license. That said, it's a grey-enough area that I don't think you'd have any legal OR ethical problems if you did it.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
quote:That said, it's a grey-enough area that I don't think you'd have any legal OR ethical problems if you did it.
Oh, I certainly didn't. When I still had my eMachines, I used my roommate's Windows 98 disc. I eventually got around to buying my own copy of XP, though.
Posts: 586 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I second the vote for Firefox. It's easily the best browser that I've ever used, and also conforms to W3 standards, unlike IE.
That and I love tabbrowsing.
As far as spyware goes, I like to use Ad-Aware. It's free and clears out a lot of stuff. I don't have any experience with eMachines, so I can't really tell you what to do there. But if someone suggests a fresh install of Windows, then that's probably the best bet.
Posts: 753 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I third the vote for FireFox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/)
As to spyware I say use Adaware and AVG's free vuris scanner as it picks up a bunch of spyware stuff as well.
Posts: 100 | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
for people who use Mozilla and FireBunny or whatever they've gotten around to calling it now, I have compiled a set of smart bookmarks for awesome web browsing. For those of you who don't know what smart bookmarks are I've explained what smart bookmarks are in that post. Satyagraha
Posts: 1986 | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Isn't somebody gonna put in a plug for Opera?
No?
How about if I just offer a convenient link instead. I don't know how it compares to Mozilla but it sure beats IE. (that's all the recommendation I ever needed)
Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
), and the homepage in IE is permanently set to ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
