Reasons Why I Hate Computers (a continuing series)

Disclaimer: After reading this please do not email me about why I should buy a Mac. Yes, I know I would avoid all these headaches. But I also know all our computers are already PC's and Mac's are more expensive. So........

I hate Spy ware! Who has time to create these insidious computer invaders that wreak havoc on innocent people such as me? After about a month of our kids complaining about their computer running slow, receiving endless pop-ups and the computer freezing, I decided to look at the computer and find out what they were doing wrong. Then I ran into the problems myself. My home page when I logged on was always changing and I knew something was seriously wrong.

I ran all my spy ware software, my antivirus, deleted everything I could delete. Ran every computer utility I could all to no avail. I then did the next best thing - called tech support. After 1 1/2 hours I was able again to log onto the Internet but was told I had embedded spy ware that had rewritten my operating system. The only solutions.....take it to a computer tech to have it professionally removed (translation - expensive) or reload Windows and wipe out my hard drive and start over. Well I didn't have Windows XP since our computer was bought rebuilt, so I found a restore disk I had made a year ago and decided to try that. I had the backup I made of the computer a from a few days before, and refreshed it with a couple of files I thought had been changed.

So here's the lesson I learned. When you make a backup, make sure you REALLY backed up everything. Unfortunately the school paper due the next day showed up MIA - let's just say that didn't go over very well but fortunately could be recreated with the help of a typist (me). I am also wondering what good anti-virus is if it doesn't block these stupid things. Oh and I can't run Internet Explorer still - it won't let me log into my email. So I run Firefox - which won't let me download the parental controls I have on the computer because it only works with Internet Explorer. Arggggghhhhhhh! So I guess I'll have to buy the disks to really wipe out my hard drive and start from scratch again......maybe I should wait until schools out so I don't lose any more papers.