Cleaning a friend's laptop...software suggestions?

[RootedPhoenix]

Hi all.

According to my friend, his laptop boots, but won't go online.

It's a Acer Aspire 3680, running Windows Vista.

I've heard good things of Malwarebytes, but are there any other good ones? (And how might I get Malwarebytes?)

If there's any forums on this subject that anyone knows of, that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

[Eric the Grey]

I've heard good things of Malwarebytes, but are there any other good ones? (And how might I get Malwarebytes?)

Malwarebytes is here. Currently they are the best around, unless something else came up while I wasn't looking. They do tend to do that


Eric the Grey

[technical.angel]

SUPER (superantispyware.com) has been catching a lot of what MBAM's been missing. I run them both.

If it won't go online, go to IE, tools, options, connections and make sure that the proxy server isn't turned on. That's been the thing happening 9 times out of 10 when a comp won't get online.

[Der Cute]

Check IE option settings for BHO (browser helper objects) can be malicious.
Uninstall bullshit toolbars.
Update AV
Use CCleaner
Tidy up the user's profile (the more crap on desktop, longer it takes to load)
Once it's working, have user test drive it for a day...then BACK THE THING UP!
Oh, one way to save space on hd is to erase old "restore points"

Cutenoob

[Whiskey]

Ive never heard a bad thing about Avast for an antivirus. Download.com has all the free ware like avast, spybot search and destroy.

[lordlundar]

It's a Acer Aspire 3680, running Windows Vista.

With fire? (sorry, couldn't resist)

That said, check the settings and connections. It could be a problem not related to the junk on the machine.

If that isn't the case, depending on the extent of the mess, it might just be better to back up anything important and reformat and start from scratch.