Topic: Old Virus ridden Computer

[Doris_Pinks]

Friends have thrown away their old computer because they never had any virus checkers or the like on it, and they say it is riddled. me being me couldn't bear to see it go to the tip so it is languishing in my front room in a box!
So the question is, can it be saved, and how on earth do I go about getting rid of the viruses, I thought just hook it up to my broadband and give it all my protection that I have on this computer. Is it as simple as that or would it somehow leave a virus say in my broadband account that will make me wish I hadn't bothered!
Thanks
DP

[dotCompost]

There is so much you CAN do and it will work well.

Start with the suggestions on this site. Work through it steadily - it will take time - but it's great fun getting a cream crackered PC up and running again.

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal:_Online_Anti-Virus_Scans

[Doris_Pinks]

OMG Dot, this could take me years! :o  :o  I hate not being techy minded!!  So is it OK to hook the old one up to my broadband so I can download this stuff? See I haven't a clue what I am doing, but always willing to learn! ;D
Oh and I meant to say thank you very much for that link, interesting!

[ChrisH]

If you have a restore disk or Operating systems instalation disk, then you could just buy a new hard drive and start from scratch with that. Much easier but does add a cost.

[redimp]

New hard rive?  The old irreversible chestnut Format C: should hopefully work and leave a nice clean hard drive.  Will still need a start up floppy and Windows installation disks though.  Good luck - had to do the old Format C: twice before.

[Doris_Pinks]

Redclanger please explain.........errrrrr in major laymens terms! ;D  ;D   This computer has come with no disks etc.    Thanks DP 

Oh and can anyone answer if I can hook it up to my broadband without doing any damage to my e-mail etc?

[Rosa_Mundi]

If you do link it to your broadband connection, make sure you don't access your own email files whilst doung so; if the computer really does have a virus, it is possible that it would raid your address book and start sending out spam. If you have all the disks for installing programs (including Windows), Redclanger's suggestion is the simplest and safest.

[Travman]

Don't forget you  will need to install the drivers for your broadband router/modem to make it work. Any virus should not infect your broadband connection.

Do you have a CD writer on your present computer?
if so just burn your programs on to a blank disk and load them into the old virus ridden computer and of you go. Hopefully a clean computer without  connecting to your  present connection.

[redimp]

What I have suggested is an 'if all else fails.' solution - it is completely wiping the harddrive so there is nothing (theoretically) on it anymore and then using the disks to reinstall the operating system (Windows) and then starting off with a clean slate.

[Doris_Pinks]

Thank you all for your replies, I set it all up yesterday afternoon, turned it on and .....................................NOTHING! No power nought :'(  Bit dissapointed actually cos I fancied having a go at bringing it back to life......so it is destined for the recycle center, much to my OH's delight as he was moaning about another computer in the house taking up room! ;)
So if I can get my hands on another, I shall be refering back to this thread, thanks for all your suggestions. ;D

[Rosa_Mundi]

You did check the fuse, didn't you?  ;D And did you try swapping power cables with a machine that works?