Dell Dimension 4600 series computer and reinstalling operating sys

[Dee]

My system is totally infected. Have tried to reinastall operating system by
using instructions which came with my Dell, but although I achieve
reinstallation etc and then install spybot and avast immediately it doesn't
take long for strange messages allegedly from "windows " to pop up on screen
telling me registry is corrupted and directing me to some other area to pay
for cure. a programmer I know says I'm obviously not cleaning hard disk
properly in re-installlation. Can anyone help me to do it properly?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

How are you "reinstalling" Windows, Dee? Are you using the set of CDs that
came with the machine or the hidden Recovery partition? (If you're doing a
Repair Install, that's no good.)

Did you take care of EVERYTHING on the following web-page before otherwise
connecting the machine to the internet (or any network/other computers) to,
e.g., surf, check email, chat, download other stuff?...

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

If the machine was infected with the latest DNS.Changer-variant and it was
connected to other machines via a local network, reinstalling Windows will
NOT help unless (1) all other machines on the network are free of any/all
hijackware and (2) the router's either been reset or reinstalled. Yes, this
is a very nasty infection.

 

[Randem]

Sure, Read this http://www.randem.com/virusproblems.html

This should help plenty and get rid of all unwanted vermon.

--
Randem Systems
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html
http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html
http://www.financialtrainingservices.org

 

[Dee]

Hi Pa Bear

I don't think you are aware of how un It literate I really am. However, I
did not use repair. I did try to reinstall, but when offered the option of (I
think it was Nfts quick or alternative I chose quick) Is quick a bad option?
Is it possible to get a step by step guide?

Dee

 

[Malke]

Hi Pa Bear

I don't think you are aware of how un It literate I really am. However, I
did not use repair. I did try to reinstall, but when offered the option of
(I
think it was Nfts quick or alternative I chose quick) Is quick a bad
option?
Is it possible to get a step by step guide?

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You should be replying to my post, not yours, and quote my entire post.

We'd still need to know how you did it (i.e., using the hidden Recovery
partition or the CDs that came with the machine). See Malke's second reply.
Otherwise, contact Dell Support (yes, I know it's a 4-plus year old machine)
or post in Dell Support Forums.

Don't neglect everything else I said in my first reply!

 

[Big_Al]

Hi Pa Bear

I don't think you are aware of how un It literate I really am. However, I
did not use repair. I did try to reinstall, but when offered the option of (I
think it was Nfts quick or alternative I chose quick) Is quick a bad option?
Is it possible to get a step by step guide?

Dee

Go ahead and read Pa Bear's info but FYI, if you did a quick or normal
format, you cleaned off the drive. If you ever get around to doing
another install, since you are having issues, I would probably opt for
the longer normal format, especially if you don't have a drive under 500
Gig.

 

[Big_Al]

Go ahead and read Pa Bear's info but FYI, if you did a quick or normal
format, you cleaned off the drive. If you ever get around to doing
another install, since you are having issues, I would probably opt for
the longer normal format, especially if you don't have a drive under 500
Gig.

Sorry, meant to say 'read Malke's info'.

 

[Jim]

You should be replying to my post, not yours, and quote my entire post.

We'd still need to know how you did it (i.e., using the hidden Recovery
partition or the CDs that came with the machine). See Malke's second
reply. Otherwise, contact Dell Support (yes, I know it's a 4-plus year old
machine) or post in Dell Support Forums.

Don't neglect everything else I said in my first reply!

My Dell 4600 did not have a repair partition. The hidden partition has
hardware diagnostics. However, mine was also delivered with a diagnostic CD
which I used once (nothing has broken since then).

It was delivered with a Win XP SP1a installation disk and a Dell Driver disk
(aka chipset driver). The XP disk is rather easy to use, but the driver
installation disk is not quite so good. When I say "easy to use", you must
understand that I have been installation OS software for quite some time
now; my first one was VAX/VMS v 4.0.

Jim

 

[Daave]

My system is totally infected. Have tried to reinastall operating
system by
using instructions which came with my Dell, but although I achieve
reinstallation etc and then install spybot and avast immediately it
doesn't
take long for strange messages allegedly from "windows " to pop up on
screen
telling me registry is corrupted and directing me to some other area
to pay
for cure. a programmer I know says I'm obviously not cleaning hard
disk
properly in re-installlation. Can anyone help me to do it properly?

First, physically disconnect your PC from the Internet.

Then, do the following:

Start | Run | winver | OK

I'm guessing you ar not at a Service Pack 2 level, correct? If that is
so, the first thing you should do is turn off the Messenger Service in
order to stop receiving those phony spam messages in the lower-right
hand corner of your screen:

Start | Run | (type) services/msc | OK

Scroll down to Messenger and double-click it. In the Startup type list,
choose Disabled. Click Stop, and then click OK.

Also, it's important to enable your Windows firewall. Actually, if you
do it correctly, the above step is not even needed! (That is, even if
you *don't* disable Messenger Service, your firewall will block those
and other intrusions.) Instructions:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

After you enable your firewall, you may reconnect to the Internet. Those
messages should not pop up anymore.

Of course, if you have SP2 or SP3, the firewall is automatically enabled
when you install XP.

And for security reasons, you really should install SP2 (since SP2 is
totally cumulative, there is no need to install SP1 first), then SP3.
When you are ready to install SP2 and SP3, post back and you will
receive expert instruction.

 

[Dee]

Hi daave

I have a feeling that I once installed service pack two. However, I may need
to install it again. What I plan to do now is to reinstall using the longer
reinstallation method, then turn off the messenger service, then get service
pack two and three? Do you think this is correct. Am now a little confused
as you may gather!

 

[Daave]

Comments inline.

Hi daave

I have a feeling that I once installed service pack two. However, I
may need
to install it again.

Yes, at the very least you should be at Service Pack 2 (mainly for
security reasons). And once you are at SP2, you should soon upgrade to
SP3, since SP2 won't be supported much longer.

What I plan to do now is to reinstall using the longer reinstallation
method,

I went to the Dell Web site, specifically here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/

That's where I saw the manual to your Dimension 4600. By the way, which
one is it -- the one with the integrated video or the one with the
separate video card? I believe the reinstallation methods are different.
The method for the first type is by accessing a hidden restore partition
on your hard drive by hitting Control + F11 during bootup. The method
for the second type is much more involved. Actually, that would be the
typical method of installing Windows XP that most of us are quite
familiar with. Here is a good guide for performing a "clean install":

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

We can help you with either method, but you need to tell us what it is!

then turn off the messenger service, then get service pack two and
three?
Do you think this is correct. Am now a little confused as you may
gather!

We'll unconfuse you, then.

What Service Pack level is your fresh install of XP? Is it Gold (no
Service Pack level), SP1 or SP2? You never told us, and this is
important information. Turning off Messenger Service will eliminate
Messenger Service spam which can include phony warnings designed to
trick people into ultimately downloading bogus software for a price to
"fix registry problems." Then again, making sure your firewall is
enabled will block those messages, too, so it's not necessary to turn
off Messenger Service. In fact, many people prefer to leave Messenger
Service running. That way, if they spam, they know the firewall is not
enabled. I just mentioned it in that other post as an explanation; don't
get too hung up on it. The important thing is to make sure your firewall
is enabled.

Before we go any further, please answer the following questions:

1. Which one of the two Dell Dimension 4600s do you have -- the one with
the integrated video or the one with the separate video card? (And by
extension, what is the reinstallation method Dell gave you?)

2. What Service Pack level is your fresh install of XP? Is it Gold (no
Service Pack level), SP1 or SP2?

 

[Dee]

Daave, I'm sorry to say that I may be too i.t. illiterate to unconfuse, but
here goes. I have no idea which video card I have sadly. Neither do I know
whether I have gold SP1, 2 or 3, but I do seem to recall downloading a
service pack at some point, but that may be nonsense. If it helps the manual
says that to reinastall windowns insert the operating system CD, press F12
after the prompt appears then follow directions (rather lengthy this part).
Afterwards reinstall drivers - I have a cd for this too.

I have reinstalled windows now about 3 times over the past year or so to
eradicate problems, but the reinstallation only seems to provide a fix for a
very short time. I do notice that I am given options regarding partitions. I
always select the quick one I think it's called NFTS. I have started using
spybot and avast as they are free and apparently good? Should I buy
antivirus? I used to buy norton and maybe I should go back to it. Do you have
a view?

Dee

 

[Snidley W.]

I have reinstalled windows now about 3 times over the past year or so to
eradicate problems, but the reinstallation only seems to provide a fix for a
very short time.

A classic case of PEBKAC if I ever saw one.

 

[Dee]

Not a very useful answer and not very funny either!

 

[Randall]

Not a very useful answer and not very funny either!

I got a giggle out of it. There might even be some truth to it as
well.

Frequent reinstallations of Windows is a sure indication that one is
1) messing up the system and 2) that one doesn't know any other way
out of the mess.

PEBKAC.

 

[Daave]

Daave, I'm sorry to say that I may be too i.t. illiterate to
unconfuse, but
here goes.

Yes, let's give it the old college try!

I have no idea which video card I have sadly.

Since you clearly have a reinstallation CD, that's all we need to know.
For what it's worth, I'm sure you have a separate, rather than onboard,
video card because that particular Dell has the classic XP installation
method (installation disk plus drivers disk). The important thing to
know is your reinstalling method is to use an installation disk.

Neither do I know whether I have gold SP1, 2 or 3, but I do seem to
recall downloading a service pack at some point, but that may be
nonsense.

Didn't you try what I asked in my first post to you? Once more:

Start | Run | (type) winver | OK

After Microsoft ® Windows Version 5.1, what does it say in the
parentheses for the Build? Do you see the words Service pack? This
should tell you what Service Pack level you are currently at! Or just
look at your Dell reinstallation CD; the information will be on there.

If it helps the manual says that to reinastall windowns insert the
operating
system CD, press F12 after the prompt appears then follow directions
(rather lengthy this part). Afterwards reinstall drivers - I have a cd
for this
too.

Yes, that certainly helped! That's how I realized what method Dell gave
you for reinstalling your operating system. (The other method is to hit
Control + F11 during bootup to access a hidden restore partition, and
that method is apparently for the *other* kind of Dell Dimension 4600 --
the one with the onboard video card.). So your method is to use the
installation CD and then later the drivers CD. That's what I needed to
know.

I have reinstalled windows now about 3 times over the past year or so
to
eradicate problems, but the reinstallation only seems to provide a fix
for a
very short time.

I am not surprised to hear that. For those who don't practice "safe
hex," infections will certainly return (I suppose the acronym PEBKAC is
the less polite way of describing the situation.) But I'm sure you are
capable of learning safe computing practices. For reference, you may
bookmark these pages:

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/security.htm
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971

Furthermore, unless a PC is severely compromised, reinstalling the
operating system almost never is necessary. There are easier and quicker
methods to remove malware. Posting here should point you to the proper
directions. Then again, the safer you surf, the less likely it will be
that malware comes your way.

I do notice that I am given options regarding partitions. I
always select the quick one I think it's called NFTS.

It sounds like you are doing the clean install wrong.

Wait, I'm going to back up. Are you trying to perform a clean install or
a repair install? Use this page as a guide:

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

These instructions are for a *repair* installation. Scroll down to the
screen after "PART 2." It looks like this:

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdrepair/Image6b.gif

Does that look familiar? For a clean install (i.e., "to continue
installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing"), you need to
press ESC. For a repair install, at this point you would press R. A
repair install should keep all your data files (e.g., Word documents,
Excel spreadsheets, music and video files, etc.) intact. Then again, if
your PC is severely compromised, you would want to perform a *clean*
install instead. If you do a clean install, you better back up all your
data first! (That includes not only your documents but your browser
favorites, e-mails, and any installation files you have for programs you
have downloaded.)

SO, do you want to perform a clean install? If so, follow the guide
here:

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

Just remember since you already have an XP installation on your hard
drive, you will need to press ESC when prompted. *Then* you will be
asked to press D to delete any existing partitions.

Do you think this is doable? I ask because you described yourself has PC
illiterate. Although the instructions (in my opinion) are
straightforward, it still might not be your cup of tea. If that is the
case, find a reputable, independent tech (don't take your PC to a chain
store!).

I have started using spybot and avast as they are free and apparently
good?

Hopefully you use Spybot Search & Destroy, which is very good. However,
there are knockoffs with similar sounding names, and they are to be
avoided. Which program do you use? While Spybot S&D is good for dealing
with spyware, Avast is good for dealing with more traditional malware
such as viruses, worms, and trojans. I approve.

Should I buy antivirus?

There is no need to.

I used to buy norton and maybe I should go back to it. Do you have
a view?

My view is that Norton and McAfee are bloated programs that can often
ironically slow down a PC. I would never use them. NOD32 has the best
reputation among antivirus programs one can purchase. But I've had
success with AVG, Avast, and AntiVir (all three have free versions). My
advice is to stick with Avast and avoid e-mail scanning, which is
redundant and unnecessary.

Hope this helps.