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Too many Viruses?

S

seanbigdealer

Member
I came across a friends computer, ran multiple different virus programs (uninstalled then re-installed of course). Over 200 infected files of 25 different varieties. My advice was to re-load XP, setup Sygate Personal and AntiVir. Maybe SP2 in the future.

What is your dividing line for just re-loading the OS versus trying to clean?

Tons of files and registry junk can be left behind after this many viruses, so wanted a barometer/opinion...
 
Guess it all boils down to how much time you want to waste fixing someone else's f'up's.
I had just done a job for a friend....same deal, viruses...spyware...you name it.
I told them from the get go, best i can do is re-format and re-install windows, i'm not going to waste my day tryin to fix.
With my friend, i'm his personal PC Tech, i don't mind being used, i like working on computers, but if you were to try to fix something, 2 days later they are calling you, "Hey, how come this isn't working".
Best way, in my eyes....is to give them a fresh, good working computer.....when something doesn't work, then it's their fault...not mine.
It all comes down to time though...if had more time, i may have been able to fix it all.
Plus another way to look at it, is if, you tell them you "have" to re-format, they kinda feel like a tool, so, maybe there's a better chance of them taking better care of the PC.

edit--With broadband and WinXP...re-install takes....what, 1-2hrs. tops, sometimes thats faster than spending 2-3hrs. tryin to fix.
 
I recently was able to clean up a computer with 569 infected files, about 40 of which were seperate varieties with minimal after effects. Then, next PC I work on ends up a waste of time trying to clean, with only 100 infected files of 15 different types of virus. It's really dependant upon a couple of factors for me.

A: Would it be harder to backup all the things that I'm told the person needs off the PC or to clean it...

B: Do they have all their software disks. (You may be *shocked* to learn how many people have NO disks of ANY kind for their PC.)

C: Wether or not I'm getting paid for this PC in question. (Sadly I work harder at cleaning up my wife's PC than I would a clients. 😛 )

D: Will this customer be back in the next few days? It's sometimes not worth cleaning up a PC if the PC owner is going to blame you when they screw it up again in the next few days by going back to the same illegitimate porn site and getting the same virus again.

E: Are they going to buy Antivirus software besides McAfee? if not, I don't even bother... I just use Trend Micro and Symantec to clean their system up temporarily then shove them out the door with it. I've seen more systems go down with McAfee installed (*even updated*!) than I have seen any other type of Antivirus software loaded machine.

All in all it comes down to wether or not the money>effort>time for me (but it helps if whoever I'm doing the work for is a nice person, a friend, my wife, etc.). I guess I'm just a lazy capitalist pig. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: gwai lo
I'll wipe if it goes over 10 because of the same reason.
Click to expand...

Same here, I'd re-do my system, but only if the viruses were of the type that I couldn't easily clean them.
 
I just did one with 1200 infected files and symantec took care of them all. It had tons of spyware on it too.
 
Reformatting a system doesn't take too long nowadays, as Trashman said, but what takes the longest is installing all your software... that's why I don't reformat my system too often. I can get most functionality within 2 hours, but then it comes time to reinstalling all my utilities, games, etc and twinking around WinXP's default settings to maximize performance vs. stability (Service tweaks are a MUST)

All in all, it usually takes me about 4-6 hours to completely re-do a system and get it back to what it was sans viruses/spyware. I should reformat my comp soon, but I just don't have that kind of free time anymore 🙁
 
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