Computer questions (screen, install, processor, quad core)

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I have NAV and it was automatically updated daily. I also run CA anti-spyware which updates whenever I run my email program. Even with both of the programs being constantly updated I still got a serious virus last week(KOLLAH) which caused me to lose my entire email program and all of the associated addresses and correspondence. No I did not back up the email program though I guess I should have. I took it to a repair shop and paid $140.00 to retreive some photos and try to get the thing working close to normal. They retreived the photos but could not get my email straightened out and now windows will not run Word even though it was reinstalled three times. I could dump everything onto a external hard drive and do a clean reinstall though with the computer being as old as it is I'm not sure it's worth the effort. I'm not sure I even have all the original programs to reinstall. I'll just buy something else and toss that one onto the ever growing pile of old spent computers we have purchased over the last 25 years. There are now seven of them gathering dust in my attic! I appreciate the suggestions and as I suspected there are no difinitive answers. People who run Macs like Macs and those used to PC's like PC's it is really just about that simple. There are good arguements on both sides and no real "right or wrong" here. I guess I'll just keep reading and talking until I make up my own mind.

What version of NAV was it? The older versions were, pardon the French, crap. I had been advising anyone who would listen to avoid anything from Norton until the 2009 version of Norton Internet Security came out. I have a couple of clients using CA (supplied by their ISP) and both have complained about things getting past it.

I can only tell you what my experience has shown me: NIS 2009 works. I haven't had a single item get past it, and I spend a lot of time on the net. Not just places like CD, but I also do a huge amount of research for clients, family members, friends, and for our retirement.

There a number of reasons viruses (Kollah is a Trojan, not a virus) get into your computer. Lax security settings in your browser, opening attachments in emails, using file sharing services, etc. Without knowing the history of your PC usage it's pretty difficult to ascertain how it got in.

As for Macs, well I agree you like Macs or you like PCs. Some use both. In a lot of cases it depends on what kind of work you do.

It sounds to me like the techs that worked on your PC didn't get all the parts of the Trojan removed or did a poor job of repair after the fact. If you are still concerned about it go here Kollah Removal Tool. Remove Kollah Now and at the very bottom of the page is a place to download a program to remove it (free). It should clean up any residual pieces.

Here's what you click: Download ExterminateIt!
to instantly get rid of Kollah!


It is also an interesting read, well some of it. A lot of the page concerns itself with how to get rid of Kollah manually. It does give you an idea of how much it affects your PC. There is a section on How Did My Computer Get Kollah? that is pretty good.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

What version of NAV was it? The older versions were, pardon the French, crap. I had been advising anyone who would listen to avoid anything from Norton until the 2009 version of Norton Internet Security came out. I have a couple of clients using CA (supplied by their ISP) and both have complained about things getting past it.

I can only tell you what my experience has shown me: NIS 2009 works. I haven't had a single item get past it, and I spend a lot of time on the net. Not just places like CD, but I also do a huge amount of research for clients, family members, friends, and for our retirement.

There a number of reasons viruses (Kollah is a Trojan, not a virus) get into your computer. Lax security settings in your browser, opening attachments in emails, using file sharing services, etc. Without knowing the history of your PC usage it's pretty difficult to ascertain how it got in.

As for Macs, well I agree you like Macs or you like PCs. Some use both. In a lot of cases it depends on what kind of work you do.

It sounds to me like the techs that worked on your PC didn't get all the parts of the Trojan removed or did a poor job of repair after the fact. If you are still concerned about it go here Kollah Removal Tool. Remove Kollah Now and at the very bottom of the page is a place to download a program to remove it (free). It should clean up any residual pieces.

Here's what you click: Download ExterminateIt!
to instantly get rid of Kollah!


It is also an interesting read, well some of it. A lot of the page concerns itself with how to get rid of Kollah manually. It does give you an idea of how much it affects your PC. There is a section on How Did My Computer Get Kollah? that is pretty good.

Thanks for the tips!

[Ninjahedge]

Just popping in.

I would agree with most of the PC recommendations. If you have a bit of techie knowledge, you can surf around places like Tomahardware or Anadtech (I think that is the spelling!) and find out what systems they recommend for low, mid, and high level performance packages.

If you do not have much experience, or are afraid, the specials at HP and Dell are decent, and you can also get a decent deal over at Newegg on things like Laptops (READ THE REVIEWS!!!!).

As for viruses... the only time I have had problems with them is after surfing questionable sites. Sometimes, unless you have your browser on uber-secure (which makes it a pain to surf), you will pick up a virus or (if you are really unlucky) a rootkit by clicking on a link, or simply surfing a place you have been to before with no problem.

Thing is, the only machines I have had problems with that are the ones that I have gone to these sites on.

The other BIG thing is cracked software. You get a keygen or a cracked EXE, it does not take much to slip a zombie mailer in there. You get what you pay for sometimes!

Now, as for proggies to help guard against this or fix this? I go with the free bundles:

Malware Bytes
SuperAntiSpyware
Avira Antivir

You can also get things like:

Hijack This
Combofix

To root out things later.

Also Trend Micro has a free online scanner that can prove useful if the virus you have has something in it that is blocking your installed scanners from working (my wife's laptop had that problem).

As for Apple... Not to get into specifics, but their major letdown is simply their cost. Both in initial purchase and in any future upgrade. Tehy have done their job in narrowing down the list of products that you can install on their machine, but in doing so, they control the prices....

One good indicator of any products inherent profit margin is their ads, and how many they produce. An example of this would be beer. I was a solid Bass ale drinker until their prices (way back) went above $24 a case. So I switched to Sam Adams. They put out a series of new ads, and within 3 weeks, the case prices went from $20 to $24. So I went to Pete's. They were usually $18/case. THEY ran an ad campaign and they were at $22! Finally Saranac. $14-$16 a case. Again, th ads came. I counted the weeks. 3 weeks after the ads started, the cases went over $20.

I am not saying Apple has boosted its prices, but for any company to afford that much prime time advertisement showing 2 people pretending to be computers as well as a giant glass cube store in Manhattan...... Well..... they have to get the money from somewhere!!!!!

The bottom line on it is simple though. You DO pay a lot, but you have the best customer support and since they control most of what goes into your machine, the tech issues are USUALLY small. The models/lines were designed for the technically phobic, although all can use it.

So if you are not a hard core gamer, and have the cash (and do not like working on machines), there is not much reason to not go Apple. It isn't the devil, it's just kind of insulting in its ads!

[Steve watt]

Better go for desktop..Do not buy the Full system from a single company. Use assembled parts from diff companies

[Jerome2232]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Register at Dell Outlet for emails and on their Twitter site.

You can get a heckuva buy on a Dell refurb desktop when they toss out a 15% off coupon with free shipping.

Although Dell maybe popular, they definitely know how to make a cheap an unreliable computer.

I however, am a do-it-yourself kind of person.
I built my own computer, and it's by far the best computer I've seen on the market, better than any alienware for sure.

I haven't found a single game/application/program that can't run on it.
And I only spend $1000 bucks on it.
That's $4000 bucks less than the leading Alienware.

So I say, build it yourself!
It's cheap, easy, and fun.

best hardware website ever btw = [url]www.tigerdirect.com[/url]

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by Jerome2232

Although Dell maybe popular, they definitely know how to make a cheap an unreliable computer.

..... So I say, build it yourself!
It's cheap, easy, and fun.

best hardware website ever btw = www.tigerdirect.com

I've used quite a few Dell computers, probably several hundred. These Dell machines have been more reliable than the Lenovo machines I've worked on. Now we're using HP machines and have had almost no hardware failures.

Not many people are able to build a computer. It will not be easy or fun for a person to try to put a computer together if they are used to calling their tower their hard drive.

[scarmig]

I'm posting this from a Dell, so I'm getting a kick out of th[CARRIER LOST]

[Tek_Freek]

Medic!!!

[Jerome2232]

Originally Posted by mensaguy

I've used quite a few Dell computers, probably several hundred. These Dell machines have been more reliable than the Lenovo machines I've worked on. Now we're using HP machines and have had almost no hardware failures.

Not many people are able to build a computer. It will not be easy or fun for a person to try to put a computer together if they are used to calling their tower their hard drive.

Haha fair enough, I was merely expressing my experience with the machines. Maybe I'm just too hard on them.

But if it's all the same, in my experience, HP has been much more reliable than Dell, again that's just me. But both systems are more inclined for application based users, rather gamers. I am a gamer, so I need something fast and very powerful. And if you need something with power, Dell and HP don't serve those for cheap.

[Ninjahedge]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

Medic!!!

Om nom nom.....