PC playing up.

[Matt]

Oops forgot to provide linky

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

[Asthmatic Camel]

I'm only a wannabe nerd, and that would give me a headache!

Seriously, what free security/ backup software do people here use?

My favourite picks are:

http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/#!/fre ... s-download

http://www.zonealarm.co.uk/security/en- ... rewall.htm

http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Free- ... 45910.html

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx (This has saved my life many times.)

Being paranoid, I'm also behind a router and hardware firewall; not that I have much worth stealing.

:)

[Matt]

As I said above I'm using Comodo at the moment.
http://antivirus.comodo.com/

[Asthmatic Camel]

Tried Comodo and it works, but it's not for the average punter.

[polomint38]

If you can't find your product key, there is a freeware program called Magic Jelly Bean which will retrieve it for you.

For reinstalling windows you might have a windows image on your PC which has a copy of the windows installation shipped with the PC, this can be accessed via a key-press on boot-up which is specific to manufacturer/model. After installing this, you will be endlessly have to install all updates needed since this image was produced, this may take some time.

[Asthmatic Camel]

I got a 404 error trying to use that link, polomint. This one works, though, and it's a nifty tool. Thanks.

[Zep]

Yep, VERY nice little utility that. Found it only very recently myself. Kewl!

[Zep]

How did you go, Tony? Get the thing corralled properly after all?

[Tony Williams]

Well, I couldn't find anything wrong with it and am reluctant to use the nuclear option (basically, wiping everything to reinstall the OS), since I might just as well buy a new PC. And, of course, it's been (more or less) behaving itself lately...

[Matt]

You don't need to wipe everything to re-install the OS. You can instasll over the top so to speak. Or just reinstall the latest service pack.

[Asthmatic Camel]

You're a jinx, Tony! Mine stopped playing this morning, and I had to reinstall everything from a backup. Many thanks to Macrium Reflect and its Linux rescue disk.

[Tony Williams]

For information - while my old PC is still limping along, I finally decided it was time to buy something better.

I found that almost every new PC now seems to run Win8 which has nothing to attract me - it's aimed at tablet users with the emphasis on touch screens. It seems to be only a few cheap models which still have Win7, and MS are only going to support it for a couple of years anyway. So last week I dug deep into my pocket and bought an iMac which, after the usual disorientation phase from having to do things differently, I am now getting to grips with.

Suffice to say that I feel as if I've traded in a Moskvitch for a new Mercedes. Just comparing paper specifications, the iMac looks to be poor value for money, but when you take the quality of the machine, the screen and the software into account I reckon it's worth it. And on top of that, the customer service is brilliant: you get 90 days of free support, the helpdesk people are great and available with no queueing, and are happy to spend as long as you want to take over answering questions.

Apple has one very satisfied new customer - so far!

[bindeweede]

Hi Tony

Glad to read you are pleased with your new purchase. I have to confess that I know nothing about Apple products, but somewhere here I've seen "smudge" praising them, well the computers, at least. Long may your delight continue.

[Asthmatic Camel]

I've used both and don't really see what all the fuss is about. For the cost of a Mac you can get yourself a ridiculously powerful PC with all the trimmings. I built my own and it's a belter!

[smudge]

Welcome aboard Tony- everyone seems to say it but (unless Apple do something unfeasibly stoopid)- you will never go back!

AC- it's hard to explain. The user interface on a mac is just a joy compared to that of a PC. It almost like (get this!) Mac's are designed with the user in mind. Shocking I know! Heck, they seem to want to make them easy to use and...well, fun too!

Tony- if you have an official Apple store nearby it may be worth paying for the one to one service- it's about £70 for a year- it entitles you to half hour/hour long one to one lessons/chat/help and also group sessions if you prefer. I did this when I moved over and found it a huge help, especially if there are specific features you want to learn. You have to buy the option pretty close to when you bought your machine though.