Clean Install?

[Colin]

Is this a good idea?
I might be tempted to try it if I felt almost competent
to do so, as I have seen, on this forum, 'clean install'
suggested as the only way to get rid of spyware for sure.
Personally, I find that every anti-spyware programme
picks up something different from the rest. They all
reckon they've fixed this or that problem, but next time
you do a scan, there it is, back again - exactly the
same.

I have created bootable disc for XP SP2 by means of
the utility provided by Microsoft. BUT! the utility was
downloaded using Flashget.. Oh dear! Could be a worry.

If the 'bootable' disc requires me to type in some
mysterious command or other at the prompt, then I'm lost
for a start.
Also I'm not sure what I should and should not make back-
up copies of first.

Before I used MS AntiSpyware for the first time, I was
already annoyed enough by FlashGet to go and find
GetRight [download manager] and use that instead.

MS AntiSpyware / Advanced Tools / System Explorers /
Running Processes describes GetRight as a 'known process'
with 'no known security or privacy issues'. Good to know!
But there is a GetRight BHO [bho2gr Class] described
as 'unknown'. Is there any conflict here?
Incedently: I've just noticed.. one of those 'known
threat' 'hazardous' BHO's is back. Haven't seen it for a
day or two but it has the same 'name' as one I have taken
note of before.

Cheers all,
Colin

 

[The Unknown P]

Anyone advocating that a "Clean install" is the only way
to clean your system of Spyware\adware\malware is simply a
lazy so and so. This is far from the truth. Cleaning out
and preventing spyware\adware\malware is a simple matter
of using tools like Spybot S&D, AdAware SE, HijackThis,
SpywareBlaster,SpywareGuard and Bazooka. Now there's a new
and evolving tool, AntiSpyware. No "ONE" tool, does it
all. At least not yet. Even the free on line scan reports
can assist you in identifying spyware\adware\malware in
the registry and then clening it out yourself. Although
cleaning this garbage out, is a daunting task for the
newbie, and even moderately competent user, it isn't
impossible, and in order for me to advocate a "clean
install" as a removal technique, the problem must meet
the "impossible" criteria, and there is no such thing
IMHO.
TTFN.

 

[Michael Jennings]

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html
No such thing? Unlike a structure with mycotoxin spore
emitting fungus everywhere, you don't have to pay for
rubble removal when you demolish and rebuild the
software on your computer. The step may be needed
if you're testing a misbehaving beta, as well a being
more certain than rehabbing a malware infestation.

 

[TCM]

Is this a good idea?
I might be tempted to try it if I felt almost competent
to do so, as I have seen, on this forum, 'clean install'
suggested as the only way to get rid of spyware for sure.
Personally, I find that every anti-spyware programme
picks up something different from the rest. They all
reckon they've fixed this or that problem, but next time
you do a scan, there it is, back again - exactly the
same.

I have created bootable disc for XP SP2 by means of
the utility provided by Microsoft. BUT! the utility was
downloaded using Flashget.. Oh dear! Could be a worry.

If the 'bootable' disc requires me to type in some
mysterious command or other at the prompt, then I'm lost
for a start.
Also I'm not sure what I should and should not make back-
up copies of first.

Before I used MS AntiSpyware for the first time, I was
already annoyed enough by FlashGet to go and find
GetRight [download manager] and use that instead.

MS AntiSpyware / Advanced Tools / System Explorers /
Running Processes describes GetRight as a 'known process'
with 'no known security or privacy issues'. Good to know!
But there is a GetRight BHO [bho2gr Class] described
as 'unknown'. Is there any conflict here?
Incedently: I've just noticed.. one of those 'known
threat' 'hazardous' BHO's is back. Haven't seen it for a
day or two but it has the same 'name' as one I have taken
note of before.

Cheers all,
Colin

Where are the program files for the antispyware program? I can only find
the log file. How do I configure it?

 

[Michael Jennings]

It's up to you to figure out if it's a good idea or not.
I'm appending a WU posted list of steps. If you do
it, try to avoid cleverly skipping steps because you
figure you can do it quicker and slicker.

Is this a good idea?
I might be tempted to try it if I felt almost competent to do
so, as I have seen, on this forum, 'clean install' suggested
as the only way to get rid of spyware for sure. Personally, I
find that every anti-spyware programme picks up something
different from the rest. They all reckon they've fixed this or
that problem, but next time you do a scan, there it is, back
again - exactly the same.

I have created bootable disc for XP SP2 by means of the
utility provided by Microsoft. BUT! the utility was downloaded
using Flashget.. Oh dear! Could be a worry.

If the 'bootable' disc requires me to type in some mysterious
command or other at the prompt, then I'm lost for a start.
Also I'm not sure what I should and should not make back- up
copies of first.

Before I used MS AntiSpyware for the first time, I was already
annoyed enough by FlashGet to go and find GetRight [download
manager] and use that instead.

MS AntiSpyware / Advanced Tools / System Explorers / Running
Processes describes GetRight as a 'known process' with 'no
known security or privacy issues'. Good to know! But there is
a GetRight BHO [bho2gr Class] described as 'unknown'. Is there
any conflict here? Incidentally: I've just noticed.. one of
those 'known threat' 'hazardous' BHO's is back. Haven't seen
it for a day or two but it has the same 'name' as one I have
taken note of before.

Cheers all, Colin

| message <snip>
| You have all of the software (including drivers), the product
| keys, the high-speed connection, and a way to backup the hard
| drive: WARNING - You will be formatting the hard drive in this
| option, and losing all data that you did not backup.
|
| 1. Backup all of your data by burning it on CD or copying it
| to another computer or hard drive that will not be
| formatted.
|
| 2. Put in the Windows XP Home Operating System CD ( make sure
| this is not Windows XP Plus)
|
| 3. Restart the machine
|
| 4. Press a key when it says "Press Any Key to boot from
| CD..."
|
| 5. Format the drive and create a partition
|
| 6. Follow the prompts to create a new installation of the OS.
|
| 7. Once the OS installation is complete, DO NOT yet connect
| to the Internet.
|
| 8. Now install any Windows XP Service Packs you have on CD (I
| suggest you order this from the website if you do not have
| it.)
|
| 8. Install the Applications that were on the machine before.
|
| 9. Now retrieve the data that you saved in step 1, and put it
| in the appropriate folders on the new partition.
|
| 10. Now set up your Internet Connection.
|
| 11. Visit Windows Update, and download EVERY critical update.
|
| 12. Repeat step 11 and rebooting as required until complete.
<snip>

 

[colin]

Thanks Michael,
MS AS generally works well for me. Some of those nasty
little creatures can be darn persistent though, designed
to hide and defend themselves pretty well.
I would definitely only consider clean install as a last
resort.
My not so high speed connection would have to suffice; it
takes a couple of days to get SP2 for example.
The bootable diskettes for XP SP2 should be one way
around that, but will they boot the system for me like
Windows CD does, or do I have to say some magic words to
it? I guess I need to find that out anyway, just in case.
Also any personally valuable 'data' should be copied to
CD or such anyway, just in case!

 

[Colin]

Yeah fine!
I already run Spybot, SpywareBlaster, more recently Ad-
Aware and now MS AS, how many more do I need?

I sure would like to take a Bazooka to some of the pricks
who spend their valuable time and energy creating such
nuisances in the first place!
That might fix it.

TTFN. [what's IMHO?]

 

[Michael Jennings]

The SP2 update CD ought not be bootable.
http://www.nytimes.com has a feature,
"Terminating Spyware With Extreme Prejudice."
Create an account, search "clean hard drive" and
it's the first hit from their Circuits, 2004-12-30.

 

[Colin]

Thanks Michael,
I wasn't talking about XP SP2 *CD*.
I was refering to "bootable" DISKETTES (set of 6),
created using the Microsoft utility, WindowsXP-KB310994-
SP2-Home-BootDisk-ENU.exe.

 

[Michael Jennings]

The KB310994 floppies enable your XP CD to setup Windows on a
computer which won't let itself be booted from the CD drive. If
you can change bios to boot from CD you don't need them. If you
can't do that, you need the version of the floppies that matches
the version of Windows XP on your CD. That will not be sp2 - it
will be either sp1 or original XP.

You are contemplating utterly demolishing the information
structure of your computer and building a brand spanking new
information structure. I've done this more than once. If you
don't have to do it, I advise: definitely don't do it.

You want to save your stuff - letters, pictures, spreadsheets,
house plans, what have you. That's data - back that up. Don't
back up your applications. To get success at any icky tedious
persnickety chore, it's useful to have a cool-headed pal
assisting at least for a while. I would suggest that you don't
install your applications (from their original CDs or known good
setup files) until Windows is 100% updated, except for your
anti-virus and firewall applications, which ought to go in
before you connect to the internet.

Oh by the way, this would be a splendid time not to install
that raunchy file-sharing program, and its brothers, that have
been causing you so much irritation.