<p>My computer is not what it used to be. The computer just got really weird... Its processing speed has doubled by more than a half, and I have to wait at least 15 minutes after I turn on the computer for it to finish loading everything on the main screen. I also get some automatic pop-ups with vulgar pictures. All of these makes me impatient and frustrated. The internet speed is unaffected though.</p>
<p>I've downloaded some softwares. They all enable you to search for the viruses and spywares on your computer. But then when you try to cure them, the software tells you to buy their softwares. :( Is there a free way to kill all the spywares, viruses, and so on, and make it function like a new computer again?</p>
<p>I would recommend a 3rd party firewall as well. I use Comodo Pro. It’s more intrusive than the standard Windows firewall, but it offers more thorough protection.</p>
<p>edit: to fix your startup time, go to run:msconfig:startup and uncheck all the unnecessary programs that load automatically when you turn on your computer. Also, go to your actual startup folder (location varies with OS) and get rid of all the junk there, too. (this is all assuming you run some variant of windows)</p>
<p>Buy an external hard drive if you don’t have one, put all of the things you want to keep on it, then get an XP disc (or whatever operating system you use) and reformat the hard drive. it’ll take about 2 hours or so, but it’ll run like new.</p>
<p>You could also manually remove them.
Some free softwares will tell you which files are affected. Manually find, halt their processes - if they’re running, and delete them.</p>
<p>Please give me specific steps on how I can go about first storing my info on an external hard drive, and then formatting the thing. I’m a computer illiterate. What things do I need to do all those things? Btw my computer is XP.</p>
<ol>
<li>What is the best place to purchase an external hard drive and XP formatting discs? How much do they typically cost?</li>
<li>Are there different brands of external hard drive and XP disc? If so, please recommend which ones are good.</li>
<li>Once formatting is done, how do you connect the computer to internet? Are there additional installations you need to do? I use Cable btw.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>There shouldn’t be more than 1 brand of XP disc, but make sure you buy it for the right version of XP. i.e., if you have Windows XP Media Center Edition then buy that</li>
<li>Your LAN network should be plug and play (I’m sort of techie but not really an expert, this is based on my experience).</li>
</ol>
No. Driver genius will only back up your drivers. After it does that, you will put those drivers on an external hard drive so they don’t get deleted. Then, once you reinstall your OS (operating system), you will plug in your hard drive, with all of the information you saved on it. Then you will reinstall driver genius (remember, it got deleted?), and restore those drivers with driver genius. And put all of your information saved on the hard drive on the computer accordingly.</p>
<p>Remember, though, that all of your files and settings will be gone. It will be as though you bought a new computer, so make sure you have everything you want to keep backed up before you reformat. Let me know if you have any trouble with Driver Genius, and backing up your drivers, or with finding out which operating system to buy.</p>
<p>ysk1, no offense, but you should probably have somebody who knows what they’re doing back up your computer - a tech-minded friend or a professional - because given your questions, it looks like you’re just going to end up with a blank disk and about fifty boot errors. reformatting ain’t no joke, kid.</p>