ran spybot/adware now can't login w/o auto logout

[rocadelpunk]

well his brother had put dozens of search engine things and there was so much spyware on the computer, it was rediculous.

long story short, i run spybot and adaware in safemode. next time i restart, everytime try to login to an account..under any circumstance (his username or admin..in safe mode or last known setting or directory restore..whatever, it'll login then automatically log back out.
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it's a dell laptop..celeron.
so it's slow and i want to fix this as quickly as possible.

what i basically need is..what would be the quickest way to backup data from his computer, as stated before can't log on.

would running a live linux cd be best route and how easy would it be to backup important files to another computer

or should i just do a windows install and just have it "upgrade" the computer and not format...would this erase files in my documents folder/desktop/e-mail?

he also has the dell restore cd, i haven't tried putting it in yet, but i figured that would erase everything important.


so...help :0
thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

You might want to do a "parallel" install of either Win2000 or WinXP in a new directory (C:\Windows2 or whatever), then take Ownership of the data in the old C:\Documents and Settings\username directory, get that data backed up onto an external drive or CDs or something, and then Drop The Bomb On It :evil: (re-image the system).

 

[rocadelpunk]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
You might want to do a "parallel" install of either Win2000 or WinXP in a new directory (C:\Windows2 or whatever), then take Ownership of the data in the old C:\Documents and Settings\username directory, get that data backed up onto an external drive or CDs or something, and then Drop The Bomb On It :evil: (re-image the system).

would repartitioning be better?

what do you mean exactly by take ownership? :0

i assume you'd just be able to copy/paste..if that's what you mean?

 

[mechBgon]

If you tried to access the data from the older installation, using the new installation, it would deny access (assuming the hard drive's using the NTFS file system). You would need to take ownership of the directories in the old C:\Documents and Settings folder. I made an illustration on my Win2000 system:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/m...gon/NTFS_OWNERSHIP.gif

I would put a checkmark in Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and then specify the new Windows installation's Administrator account in the window where it says mechBgon (TRASH\mechBgon) right now (TRASH is the computer name here 😱). It would apply the new Ownership and then the stuff could be copied and pasted, yes.

If the computer has WinXP Pro then you can disable Simple File Sharing in order to get to the Security and Permissions stuff. If it's WinXP Home then I've been told your only option is to start Windows in Safe Mode and you'll be able to work with the Security and Permissions while in Safe Mode.

Repartitioning would probably result in the loss of the data. Try this parallel-install method if possible. Do you have a USB drive that could handle the data he'll need rescued?

 

[rocadelpunk]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If you tried to access the data from the older installation, using the new installation, it would deny access (assuming the hard drive's using the NTFS file system). You would need to take ownership of the directories in the old C:\Documents and Settings folder. I made an illustration on my Win2000 system:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/m...gon/NTFS_OWNERSHIP.gif

I would put a checkmark in Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and then specify the new Windows installation's Administrator account in the window where it says mechBgon (TRASH\mechBgon) right now (TRASH is the computer name here 😱). It would apply the new Ownership and then the stuff could be copied and pasted, yes.

If the computer has WinXP Pro then you can disable Simple File Sharing in order to get to the Security and Permissions stuff. If it's WinXP Home then I've been told your only option is to start Windows in Safe Mode and you'll be able to work with the Security and Permissions while in Safe Mode.

Repartitioning would probably result in the loss of the data. Try this parallel-install method if possible. Do you have a USB drive that could handle the data he'll need rescued?

thanks a bunch.
i have an ipod is about it in terms of removable storage.
however i've networked 2 laptops together directly via ethernet. If i could get that to work i'd imagine it be faster than the ipod


or could i just plug the laptops into router and maybe go from there.