Very Stupid Question

[Katrink99]

Since I have not reinstalled my NAV, my computer has run like a charm.
Previously with NAV I have had to reinstall my Windows ME factory settings
about five times (Compaq laptop 1200)....so why should I re-install it?

My question is: If my computer gets infected with a virus, can't I just
re-install factory settings and be rid of the virus? It can not be worse than
what I live through having the virus protection ( conflicts, freezing, etc..).

BTW, I have tweaked my start-ups to rule out conflicts.
Please advise.

 

[Mr E]

Since I have not reinstalled my NAV, my computer has run like a charm.
Previously with NAV I have had to reinstall my Windows ME factory settings
about five times (Compaq laptop 1200)....so why should I re-install it?

My question is: If my computer gets infected with a virus, can't I just
re-install factory settings and be rid of the virus? It can not be worse than
what I live through having the virus protection ( conflicts, freezing, etc..).

BTW, I have tweaked my start-ups to rule out conflicts.
Please advise.

It depends whether your data is worth anything to you. Some viruses make
your documents unreadable.
It depends whether you care about infecting your friends and being part of
the virus delivery machine. Some viruses email themselves out to people in
your address book.
Why don't you try a different anti virus solution, if Norton is so
troublesome to you? I did.

Take care,

John.

 

[optikl]

Since I have not reinstalled my NAV, my computer has run like a charm.
Previously with NAV I have had to reinstall my Windows ME factory settings
about five times (Compaq laptop 1200)....so why should I re-install it?

My question is: If my computer gets infected with a virus, can't I just
re-install factory settings and be rid of the virus? It can not be worse than
what I live through having the virus protection ( conflicts, freezing, etc..).

BTW, I have tweaked my start-ups to rule out conflicts.
Please advise.

Katrink, you don't need AV to keep from being infected.
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html.
AV is a good risk reduction idea, but if you don't practice safe-computing,
any AV is just going to wind up being a score keeper for the threats you
miss and those you don't.

 

[Knobcheeze]

Since I have not reinstalled my NAV, my computer has run like a charm.

Previously with NAV I have had to reinstall my Windows ME factory settings
about five times (Compaq laptop 1200)....so why should I re-install it?

Not at all. There are far better choices of AV software.>My question is: If my
computer gets infected with a virus, can't I just

re-install factory settings and be rid of the virus? It can not be worse than
what I live through having the virus protection ( conflicts, freezing,
etc..).

Do you really want to go through the hassle of what essentially is a total
reformat every time your system gets infected? I would think not.

If restoring your system by using the restore feature of Windows ME and above
is what you are referring to, forget it. Viruses infect that as well.

 

[Heather]

It depends whether your data is worth anything to you. Some viruses
make your documents unreadable.
It depends whether you care about infecting your friends and being
part of the virus delivery machine. Some viruses email themselves out
to people in your address book.
Why don't you try a different anti virus solution, if Norton is so
troublesome to you? I did.

She asked the identical question and got the same suggestions on the MS
WinME groups.......in fact, she was told to dump Norton and use
AVG......and not to keep reformatting.

Sigh.........Heather

 

[Mr E]

She asked the identical question and got the same suggestions on the MS
WinME groups.......in fact, she was told to dump Norton and use
AVG......and not to keep reformatting.

Sigh.........Heather

I guess sometimes people like to have a second opinion...

Take care,

John.

 

[athanasian_creed]

Since I have not reinstalled my NAV, my computer has run like a charm.
Previously with NAV I have had to reinstall my Windows ME factory
settings about five times (Compaq laptop 1200)....so why should I
re-install it?

My question is: If my computer gets infected with a virus, can't I
just re-install factory settings and be rid of the virus? It can not
be worse than what I live through having the virus protection (
conflicts, freezing, etc..).

BTW, I have tweaked my start-ups to rule out conflicts.
Please advise.

If you are going to live that dangerously, my i suggest a program called
GoBack (formerly from Roxio now the property of Symantec)
That way if you are infected with a virus, or worst case scenerio, can't
boot into Windows, GoBack will restore your system EXACTLY to a point in
time before becoming infected - a God sent program for ppl like you and only
$29 US.

Try it and continue to live dangerously with confidence

Good luck,

Ray

 

[athanasian_creed]

Windows Me has system restore functionality built-in, wouldn't that
do the biz?

Nope, not even close - the System Restore feature in ME & XP is sorely
lacking in functionality and you take a chance any time you use it that it
will actually work !!

Ray

 

[Heather]

Nope, not even close - the System Restore feature in ME & XP is sorely
lacking in functionality and you take a chance any time you use it that it
will actually work !!

Ray.....you are totally wrong!! I have been using WinME for over two
and a half years and System Restore has been a lifesaver many
times.......and whenever I add a new patch or program, I always make a
restore point just before and if it doesn't agree with ME, or I don't
want the program, I remove it and restore my computer back to that
point.

It has not failed me ONCE!!! Have you ever tried it? Or is yours not
patched and therefore will not work. There is one patch for System
Restore from Sept. of 2001 that you need.

Miffed in Canada

 

[Bart Bailey]

Miffed in Canada

Figgs?
is that you?
bottom posting?
flummoxed in San Diego

Bart

 

[BRG]

Nope, not even close - the System Restore feature in ME & XP is
sorely lacking in functionality and you take a chance any time
you use it that it will actually work !!

Ray

My experience is different. I have used XP's System Restore feature
on numerous occasions and have yet to experience a problem.

On what do you base your assertions?

 

[Blevins]

My experience is different. I have used XP's System Restore feature
on numerous occasions and have yet to experience a problem.

I don't use it at all. There's nothing on my system that isn't backed
up.

 

[Acadia]

If you are going to live that dangerously, my i suggest a program called

GoBack (formerly from Roxio now the property of Symantec)
That way if you are infected with a virus, or worst case scenerio, can't
boot into Windows, GoBack will restore your system EXACTLY to a point in
time before becoming infected - a God sent program for ppl like you and only
$29 US.

I use GoBack and love it, in fact, it is my favorite software, but two
things:

You would still need a scanner to notify you that you've been infected.
Goback will only save you from a virus that has hit your hard drive; if it's
a Bios virus, you're out of luck (unless you had a good virus scanner).

Acadia

 

[Heather]

I don't use it at all. There's nothing on my system that isn't backed
up.

Mr. Blevins, Sir. System Restore is not for 'backing up'.....it is for
putting your computer back in good working order when some durned little
proggie causes problems......or anything that causes problems. I love
it and have used it many times. I tend to be a bit too adventurous at
times with trying new things and then they don't mesh with WinME
sometimes.....so I go back to before I put it on.

But heck, who am I to tell you what to do (just joshing you). It is
ideal for those of us who don't choose (or know how) to reformat.
Better to just 'right the system'.

Best.....Heather )

(and thanks for reminding me to back this baby up.....I am overdue for
that)

 

[Bart Bailey]

Grin.......I like to confuse people. And once in a while I give in and
scroll down and bottom post, but it is a PITA!! We always top post on
the MS groups, so am used to that.

How ya doing, my hippy friend? Like our new pot laws?? Going to move
to Canada? Bwa ha ha.

Cheers.......Figgs

If I visit the big "C",
it'll surely be to test the new found wisdom of your botanical
legislation, rather than the nuptial ones. <g>

Bart

 

[null]

Mr. Blevins, Sir. System Restore is not for 'backing up'.....it is for
putting your computer back in good working order when some durned little
proggie causes problems......or anything that causes problems. I love
it and have used it many times. I tend to be a bit too adventurous at
times with trying new things and then they don't mesh with WinME
sometimes.....so I go back to before I put it on.

But heck, who am I to tell you what to do (just joshing you). It is
ideal for those of us who don't choose (or know how) to reformat.
Better to just 'right the system'.

Best.....Heather )

(and thanks for reminding me to back this baby up.....I am overdue for
that)

I'm using Win ME now since it came with a newer and faster PC I bought
a couple of weeks ago. I just downloaded the patch you had mentioned,
and I'll be taking a look at the use of System Restore. However, I
also use my old tried and true method of maintaining a cloned second
hard drive (backing up completely to it) since this covers the
potential problem of h.d. failure as well.

The computer is a Hp Pavilion. So far I like it (and Win ME). But
there is some sort of bug that I've not yet been able to resolve. It's
particularly annoying with broadband service ( I have DSL). Every once
in awhile, something in Windows causes a loss of internet capability.
There is a waiting or delay period of up to 45 seconds before internet
useage becomes available again.

I've worked on the problem enough to know it's not my ISP that's
causing this. The only real clue I have is that when it happens, Free
Agent puts up a message "Loading Winsock". It seems that Windows
Sockets (randomly?) becomes temporarily unavailable.

I mention this to you since I notice you haunt Win ME groups. Have you
ever heard of this one? What n.g. s would be worthwhile haunting?

Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg

 

[optikl]

If I visit the big "C",
it'll surely be to test the new found wisdom of your botanical
legislation, rather than the nuptial ones. <g>

Bart

Don't they go hand-in hand? <joke>.
I remember something a municipal-worker once told me when I was a college
student, working a summer municipal job: "Boy, smokin' pot 'll make you
queer". Words to live by.

 

[Bart Bailey]

Don't they go hand-in hand? <joke>.
I remember something a municipal-worker once told me when I was a college
student, working a summer municipal job: "Boy, smokin' pot 'll make you
queer". Words to live by.

Hungry, Horny, Happy,
That's all it ever does for me.
I suppose if you have a leaning, it might promote it <g>

Bart

 

[Heather]

If I visit the big "C",
it'll surely be to test the new found wisdom of your botanical
legislation, rather than the nuptial ones. <g>

Aw, come on. Go for broke with our new laws!! Must say they surprised
me. And due north of you is where the Gov't. botanical lab is, but
can't vouch for it's 'strength' of product. Being employed formerly by
the drug prosecutor, for some strange reason people don't smoke that
stuff around me......grin!!

Figgs

 

[Heather]

Don't they go hand-in hand? <joke>.
I remember something a municipal-worker once told me when I was a college
student, working a summer municipal job: "Boy, smokin' pot 'll make you
queer". Words to live by.

And???? Did it??? (G)