Problems with OS

[AdamBCohen]

I have Xp home and I am having all sorts of problems. Fist I could not access the internet, but I corrected that. Now what is happening is my computer is very slow and when I try and use outlook express it cannot. It tells me that I cannot contact my server. However, I can via the internet. Could this be a virus and if it is, what is the best way to go and clean it off?

 

[tonycard]

Turn off your system restore and do an online virus scan. TrendMicro, Panda, have worked for me before. Also you may want to try Avast Anti virus. Its an excellent antivirus program and best of all its free for home use.

 

[linney]

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Are your settings for OE, especially Mail servers etc. correct?

An overall picture of the health of your PC can be gleaned from the Event Viewer. If you have lots of red X's in there it may be time to backup any valuable data and consider repairing or even reinstalling XP.

Try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates (no problem if you substitute them with SP2) but your files and programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[AdamBCohen]

Thank you both very much. Tonycard you spoke about turning off my system restore, before any online scan. How do I go abut doing that if you do not mind me asking. Also, what can you tell me about Trendmicro or Panda; and how do they differ from Norton's.
Linney, I have checked my settings and they work. I actually went to another machine with Xp Home. You talk about red X's in the event viewer. Never heard about red X's, were might I find that. I know that sounds like a silly question.

 

[linney]

To get further information about any error look in your Event viewer.

Look in the System or Application folder. You can get to the Event Viewer via right click My Computer icon and select Manage.

Any errors logged in the Event Viewer can be expanded by double clicking on the error line.

Take any event error I.D. number and search for it on these sites.

http://www.eventid.net/events.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/support/ee/search.aspx

310405 - How to Turn On and Turn Off System Restore in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/4/05.asp

Once you turn off System Restore all past restore points are removed and with it any chance of using it to restore your computer to a time before your current troubles began.
It might be an idea to try restoring to a previous point just in case it might solve your problem before you remove System Restore.

With virus infections the idea is to turn off System Restore to prevent any possible reinfection after cleaning occurring by restoring from an infected restore point.

Online scans afford you the way for a second opinion of infections as one virus scanner might miss what another can catch.