26-02-2013, 11:05 AM
Hi,
Thanks Gary; you are most welcome and I'm happy to add my misfortune alerting other members of Snap.do.
I've not gone over the top Gary by installing lots of assorted anti this or anti that programs because I think they are sure to clash and set up conflicts then as you say cause more harm than good?
Norton security was supplied with this new computer but I believe Norton is a yearly subscription program? As I'm on Virgin Media Cable Virgin supply an excellent free security program and out of the downloads I tried only Virgin located Snap.do. I'm now running Virgin and as a single extra program also have "Sophos" anti-spyware installed which is highly recommended by my friend Guy who kindly installed it for me to run on Win7 64bit.
I've run Sophos and the computer is clean but Guy informs me to also run Sophos in "Safe Mode" as a double check which I will do so shortly.
I would like to suggest to everyone that you add a "restore point" which is very easy to do. I'm not sure Gary with my Snap.do infection if a restore point would actually work because this Snap.do appeared to attach itself to the browser which initially was Chrome? This was no fault of Chrome it was entirely my own fault and even though I deleted Chrome a number of times each time I re-installed Chrome Snap.do appeared once again. I'm sure Mark is correct in saying that simply deleting Chrome won't work because Chrome leaves folders on the hard drive. I'm no computer geek but I am very careful especially whilst looking at unknown websites and I'm fully aware that many free sites quietly install their own tool-bars but I'm used to spotting and un-ticking the boxes. "Bing" is a very common tool-bar which I avoid also many sites prompt me into running a free computer scan which I also avoid; as Steve says we usually have to pay in one way or another for free sites. This is my new restore point and I've simply named it "Restore point 26 Feb 13" then I know when it was created.
I've noted Chrome isn't a favoured browser amongst members and as such I would have gladly accepted advice to avoid Chrome had I been new to Chrome but up until now I've used Chrome without any trouble and find it fast and really does suit me now I'm used to it. I also accept the points made regarding Chrome being power hungry occupying a lot of space but I ran Chrome with my old computer which was a lot less powerful having only 1.5G of Ram?
This brand new computer is sold as a gaming computer with a 1TB HDD and with I believe 8GB of Ram? I've tried using Firefox which is very good but I find Chrome to be quite a bit faster loading websites in a blink which is what I upgraded for in the first place as my old computer was showing its age; I also wanted better graphics for practicing CAD; this new computer has a good graphics card installed in fact everything about this new computer is well; new. I had considered building my own computer for the first time or simply upgrading once again but when I looked into the price of the components I thought I could save myself a lot of hassle by simply buying a new computer over the counter? Initially I was also dead against buying through eBay in case things went wrong. I did however spend some time browsing the web and also out of curiosity I looked at eBay.
I've never seen such a selection of new computers for sale as I saw on eBay and at first I was overwhelmed but then the thought struck me to check the eBay sellers reputation and as each has a score rating it became clear many are buying through eBay and giving the sellers very high score points; this particular computer was described as a gaming computer and had a very good spec for the money and after a quick email it was confirmed that Win7 could also be supplied in either 32 or 64bit versions. Paying using PayPal was painless and the computer arrived much quicker than expected. The seller had very kindly set everything up for me and it was soon up and running. I'm still delighted with my choice.
Previously I've bought through PC World which I disliked due to pressure selling and needing to make a decision whilst standing in the store also the salesman pushed very hard to sell me around £240 of extra cover which really did annoy me to the point I was ready to walk out of the store. I don't want to buy from PC World again after this experience.
Next time I decided on an upgrade and visited a trusted local small computer shop; the upgrade was agreed upon and was straightforward enough but I was without computer for a few days and I think the upgrade about 8 years ago cost something like £380. I got what I agreed to but couldn't help feeling rather miffed with myself later when I saw brand new computer with better spec being sold cheaper; this was due to my own ignorance of computers but now I shop around and where better to shop than on the computer?
The eBay store I bought this computer from is located in Stockport not too far away from here and they sell lots of different spec computers; I actually felt very safe in buying this computer as well in excess of 600 of this model had been sold previously and the seller still retained a very high score for service and reliability. I didn't even need to leave home and I could spend my time looking at the various specs and compare prices although I admit I find buying a new computer to be very boring.
It's quite a while ago I was discussing with Gary about backing up data to disc; Gary very kindly suggested I buy an external hard drive and back data up to this as the hard drive would be much easier to use? I bought a 1TB external hard drive through eBay and it was much cheaper than I expected; what a revelation this proved to be; I now back up all my wanted data and pictures to this hard drive and I can switch it on/off as needed so it doesn't need to be running full time. Excellent suggestion Gary; thanks a lot.
Just before buying this new computer I upgraded my monitor; for the last 14 years I've run the old style 17" monitor which was huge but highly reliable. I bought through eBuyer this LG Flatron IPS235 and with a 23" screen it was a bargain at something like £135 delivered; what a difference this monitor makes especially whilst using CAD.
http://www.ebuyer.com/
I've got very little interest in how a computer works in fact electronics really isn't my scene; I'm happier metal or wood bashing so I only learn about electronics on a need to know basis; I've restored many vintage radio chassis and even restored a wreck of a TV chassis but done all these to simply pass away our long dreary winters. I still enjoy restoring radio cabinets but now I find a lot of the challenge has gone and I'm keen to try new things but I digress and am rambling.
We are all open to virus attacks on our computers so perhaps anyone else suffering such an attack could possibly alert us to the actual virus concerned?
I need to shake this feeling of gloom and doom off because I don't feel like doing anything at all; the weather is like a black hole again today being dull and very dismal; I think its time I got off my backside and fight my way into the garage to do something useful.
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks Gary; you are most welcome and I'm happy to add my misfortune alerting other members of Snap.do.
I've not gone over the top Gary by installing lots of assorted anti this or anti that programs because I think they are sure to clash and set up conflicts then as you say cause more harm than good?
Norton security was supplied with this new computer but I believe Norton is a yearly subscription program? As I'm on Virgin Media Cable Virgin supply an excellent free security program and out of the downloads I tried only Virgin located Snap.do. I'm now running Virgin and as a single extra program also have "Sophos" anti-spyware installed which is highly recommended by my friend Guy who kindly installed it for me to run on Win7 64bit.
I've run Sophos and the computer is clean but Guy informs me to also run Sophos in "Safe Mode" as a double check which I will do so shortly.
I would like to suggest to everyone that you add a "restore point" which is very easy to do. I'm not sure Gary with my Snap.do infection if a restore point would actually work because this Snap.do appeared to attach itself to the browser which initially was Chrome? This was no fault of Chrome it was entirely my own fault and even though I deleted Chrome a number of times each time I re-installed Chrome Snap.do appeared once again. I'm sure Mark is correct in saying that simply deleting Chrome won't work because Chrome leaves folders on the hard drive. I'm no computer geek but I am very careful especially whilst looking at unknown websites and I'm fully aware that many free sites quietly install their own tool-bars but I'm used to spotting and un-ticking the boxes. "Bing" is a very common tool-bar which I avoid also many sites prompt me into running a free computer scan which I also avoid; as Steve says we usually have to pay in one way or another for free sites. This is my new restore point and I've simply named it "Restore point 26 Feb 13" then I know when it was created.
I've noted Chrome isn't a favoured browser amongst members and as such I would have gladly accepted advice to avoid Chrome had I been new to Chrome but up until now I've used Chrome without any trouble and find it fast and really does suit me now I'm used to it. I also accept the points made regarding Chrome being power hungry occupying a lot of space but I ran Chrome with my old computer which was a lot less powerful having only 1.5G of Ram?
This brand new computer is sold as a gaming computer with a 1TB HDD and with I believe 8GB of Ram? I've tried using Firefox which is very good but I find Chrome to be quite a bit faster loading websites in a blink which is what I upgraded for in the first place as my old computer was showing its age; I also wanted better graphics for practicing CAD; this new computer has a good graphics card installed in fact everything about this new computer is well; new. I had considered building my own computer for the first time or simply upgrading once again but when I looked into the price of the components I thought I could save myself a lot of hassle by simply buying a new computer over the counter? Initially I was also dead against buying through eBay in case things went wrong. I did however spend some time browsing the web and also out of curiosity I looked at eBay.
I've never seen such a selection of new computers for sale as I saw on eBay and at first I was overwhelmed but then the thought struck me to check the eBay sellers reputation and as each has a score rating it became clear many are buying through eBay and giving the sellers very high score points; this particular computer was described as a gaming computer and had a very good spec for the money and after a quick email it was confirmed that Win7 could also be supplied in either 32 or 64bit versions. Paying using PayPal was painless and the computer arrived much quicker than expected. The seller had very kindly set everything up for me and it was soon up and running. I'm still delighted with my choice.
Previously I've bought through PC World which I disliked due to pressure selling and needing to make a decision whilst standing in the store also the salesman pushed very hard to sell me around £240 of extra cover which really did annoy me to the point I was ready to walk out of the store. I don't want to buy from PC World again after this experience.
Next time I decided on an upgrade and visited a trusted local small computer shop; the upgrade was agreed upon and was straightforward enough but I was without computer for a few days and I think the upgrade about 8 years ago cost something like £380. I got what I agreed to but couldn't help feeling rather miffed with myself later when I saw brand new computer with better spec being sold cheaper; this was due to my own ignorance of computers but now I shop around and where better to shop than on the computer?
The eBay store I bought this computer from is located in Stockport not too far away from here and they sell lots of different spec computers; I actually felt very safe in buying this computer as well in excess of 600 of this model had been sold previously and the seller still retained a very high score for service and reliability. I didn't even need to leave home and I could spend my time looking at the various specs and compare prices although I admit I find buying a new computer to be very boring.
It's quite a while ago I was discussing with Gary about backing up data to disc; Gary very kindly suggested I buy an external hard drive and back data up to this as the hard drive would be much easier to use? I bought a 1TB external hard drive through eBay and it was much cheaper than I expected; what a revelation this proved to be; I now back up all my wanted data and pictures to this hard drive and I can switch it on/off as needed so it doesn't need to be running full time. Excellent suggestion Gary; thanks a lot.
Just before buying this new computer I upgraded my monitor; for the last 14 years I've run the old style 17" monitor which was huge but highly reliable. I bought through eBuyer this LG Flatron IPS235 and with a 23" screen it was a bargain at something like £135 delivered; what a difference this monitor makes especially whilst using CAD.
http://www.ebuyer.com/
I've got very little interest in how a computer works in fact electronics really isn't my scene; I'm happier metal or wood bashing so I only learn about electronics on a need to know basis; I've restored many vintage radio chassis and even restored a wreck of a TV chassis but done all these to simply pass away our long dreary winters. I still enjoy restoring radio cabinets but now I find a lot of the challenge has gone and I'm keen to try new things but I digress and am rambling.
We are all open to virus attacks on our computers so perhaps anyone else suffering such an attack could possibly alert us to the actual virus concerned?
I need to shake this feeling of gloom and doom off because I don't feel like doing anything at all; the weather is like a black hole again today being dull and very dismal; I think its time I got off my backside and fight my way into the garage to do something useful.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
