# Have a Computer Question ? Read this first. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887 "2004-06-06T00:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/81 "2005-06-02T02:41:36Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I downloaded the Lavasoft. But I must have chosen the wrong thing on the screen because the software just sits there; if I “run” it I get a dialog box for “Win Zip.” You probably downloaded a file with the extension .zip . Use the link **Daizy** posted to download the .exe file > [@](#): > > Furthermore: When I try to run Scandisk on the hard drive lately, it “sputters,” starting over again and again. I get a dialog box saying another program is running, but I’ll be damned if I can find it! :mad: Scandisk is known to do this in Windows. You need to disable background processes, etc. before starting defrag, but seeing that you’re having trouble with a zip file, I think it would be easier for you to use a 3rd party defrag software such as [http://www.powerdefrag.com/pd.htm](http://www.powerdefrag.com/pd.htm) ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/82 "2005-06-02T05:29:58Z")
How much protection does a main drive and registry have from a slave drive? After fighting for weeks to remove an infestation of spyware and other malware, including something that tried to kill any protection that I tried to load or run, I gave up and bought a new hard drive. It’s loaded with:[ul][li]WinXP Pro Sp1A, with a SP2 upgrade (all defaults);[_]Norton Antivirus 2005 (updated, Norton firewall in use instead of Microsoft);[_]Spybot (will be updated)[_]SpywareBlaster (will be updated. Norton may make this redundant, but what the heck.)[_] I’m also thinking of running Grisoft’s AVG, at least for a few weeks while doing the following, and maybe permanently as a backup to Norton.[/ul][/li]The old drive is currently disconnected. I’d like to install the old hard drive as a slave and scan it from the new drive. Once it is clean, I’ll either transfer files to the new drive or reinstall the old drive as master, then save whichever drive is no longer needed and use it in a new PC. That said (and thanks for reading this far), I don’t want to waste the day I just spent installing all of the above. If I do connect the old drive as a slave, what are the odds that the @#$%&# executable file that kills my spyware and virus protection will run from D:\ and write to the new registry or drive, or otherwise affect my attempts to clean up the old drive? Is there any way with WinXP or additional software to prevent the execution of any files on a non-master drive, or provide some sort of a “firewall” between the slave and the rest of the computer that will allow the virus protection to search and fix the drive? …Or am I already safe, or should I just buy a bunch of CD/R’s? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/83 "2005-06-02T10:39:42Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > I’m also thinking of running Grisoft’s AVG, at least for a few weeks while doing the following, and maybe permanently as a backup to Norton. This is a bad idea. Running two antivirus programs is frequently the cause of poor system performance, as they will interfere with each other. Pick one, and uninstall the other. Unless you have over 512MB of RAM, I would dump Norton, which is a bloated memory hog that will slow down most systems quite noticeably. In addition to AdAware and Spybot S&D, you should install [Microsoft Antispyware (beta)](http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) which, in addition to being a very good scanner that complements the other two, also has a resident component that is very good at blocking infection from installing in the first place. Once that is in place, you should be pretty safe from anything that might be on the old drive. Just be careful about running any unfamiliar programs (“GirlzGirlzGirlz”, etc) that might have appeared in the desktop folder of the old drive. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/84 "2005-06-02T18:59:00Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > Try [this link](http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button) to download adaware. > > What O/S are you running, **dougie\_monty**? Scandisk is starting over and over again, because you have programs running in the background, interfering with it. Have you tried running it from safe mode? You know, I never thought of that… My brother gave me a big book on Windiows (I have 98 Plus!) and I’ll try that… Thanks for the tip. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/85 "2005-06-02T23:46:12Z")
**dougie\_monty**? I’m sure you know how to go into safe mode, but on th eoff chance that you might not… Reboot your computer. As it starts to boot up…start tapping your F8 key, until you are given the menu choice of safe mode. Then, try your scandisk again. A good thing to also try… Do a ctrl/alt/del and end task on everything but sytray and explorer. then try your scandisk. Take note of everything that’s listed in the close programs dialogue box. Many of those things don’t need to be running in the background… and we can help you clear them up if need be. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/86 "2005-06-04T08:02:04Z")
Well, somehow I managed to get the computer into Safe mode (bringing up the Startup Menu when I want it is a struggle!) and ran Scandisk from there. After a couple of false starts, the program ran properly and completed the scan of the hard drive. I’ve also downloaded the free softward from Ad-Aware (“SE Personal”), and sooner or later I’ll get it to list all the “malware” and such it has found and give me a way to delete all that junk… ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/87 "2005-06-05T16:28:40Z")
You’re doing good **dougie\_monty** I found [this link](http://intranet.landmark.edu/its/online_help/viruses/adaware.shtml) to show you how to update and run adaware. Does it help? ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/88 "2005-06-05T16:32:05Z")
[One more link for good measure.](http://www.toast.net/support/00508/)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/89 "2005-06-07T21:00:42Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > [One more link for good measure.](http://www.toast.net/support/00508/)🙂 I have been able to remove a good amount of stuff (including “malware”) from my computer. However, there is a cluster of items collectively called “ISHO Toolbar” or something; when I clicked for Ad-Aware to remove that, it apparently stood still (not freezing the screen, however), showing the full “Deleting” box, with the row of short vertical blue lines; all I had to do to stop it was to click on the “X” in the upper right-hand corner. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/90 "2005-06-07T21:19:31Z")
You were able to download the updates ok? Now that yu know how to get to safe mode… do so again…and run adaware. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/91 "2005-06-08T06:12:07Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > You were able to download the updates ok? > Now that yu know how to get to safe mode… do so again…and run adaware. I did so…I put the computer into Safe Mode and clicked the icon for Adaware, and let the software do the rest. It zapped all of the “critical objects.” One of these had been on Add/Remove Programs and was gone the next time I got the Add/Remove box on the screen; there was another unwanted program there that had resisted my efforts to remove it (my brother said it was because the program is empty; I guess I’d gutted it earlier); but one was gone and I removed the other via the A/R box–without even having to go into Safe Mode. 🙂 I’d sure like to know how to keep the “Macromedia” and “Watson” dialog boxes from appearing on the screen when I use a computer in the public library in Torrance… ---
**Author:** ![Catman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Catman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catman)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/92 "2005-06-09T20:02:24Z")
Hello\> i have a question about Roboforms. They’re good to use if y ---
**Author:** ![Catman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Catman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catman)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/93 "2005-06-09T20:04:39Z")
Hello, I have a question about Roboforms. They’re good to use if you have enough disk space on your computer, and you want to save time filling out multiple registration forms. Is there an alternative you can use that you can save to disk, that doesn’t require a lot of disk space and doesn’t cost anything to use? ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/94 "2005-06-11T03:20:18Z")
[PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) Encryption is FREE](http://www.pgp.com/downloads/index.html) [Access Manager](http://www.accessmanager.co.uk/) [Oubliette](http://www.tranglos.com/free/index.html) [KeePass](http://keepass.sourceforge.net/) Any of those help **Catman**? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/95 "2005-06-11T06:22:58Z")
Not sure if it is quite what you are looking for but Firefox will retain information filled in to forms and use it to automatically fill new forms requiring the same information. I’m sure Netscape and Opera do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/96 "2005-06-13T21:58:13Z")
Just discovered [Maxthon](http://www.maxthon.com/) that has Roboforms more or less built in, there all the time, you don’t have to keep downloading it. Looks a good browser to, on first sight. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/97 "2005-06-15T15:42:26Z")
In the corporate environment: changing a host file on your own could cause problems. Please let your “IT staff” know you have a problem and don’t just remove strange entries or replace the host file. We actually have had someone replace the host file and then complain he couldn’t get to several network resources. He didn’t mention changing the host file until after I discovered this to be the problem. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to flog our bad users. So please add disclaimers to these nuggets of useful & well intentioned advise. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/98 "2005-08-28T09:05:18Z")
OK, quick question. Has anyone ever gone to a secure site (https prefix) and gotten the message “This page contains both secure and non-secure items. Do you wish to display the non-secure items?” Then, regardless of whether you said yes or no, gotten the page to ACTUALLY DISPLAY without crapping out. Just curious. Anytime I get that message, I get ready to open up a new Internet Explorer window. I’m not sure how this works or how to get around it. I checked the sticky and didn’t see anything. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/99 "2005-08-28T15:56:08Z")
**ED** I’ve never had that problem. I’ve used IE, Netscape, Firefox and Safari. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/100 "2005-08-28T17:42:23Z")
> [@Engineer Dude](#): > > OK, quick question. Has anyone ever gone to a secure site (https prefix) and gotten the message “This page contains both secure and non-secure items. Do you wish to display the non-secure items?” Then, regardless of whether you said yes or no, gotten the page to ACTUALLY DISPLAY without crapping out. Just curious. Anytime I get that message, I get ready to open up a new Internet Explorer window. I’m not sure how this works or how to get around it. I checked the sticky and didn’t see anything. See if this helps: Go to IE / Tools / Internet Options / Security / Click on Custom Level / Scroll down to Display Mixed Content / Set to Enable / Click Ok. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887.md?page=6)