What the f*** is wrong with my Windows?

[Turbine]

All right, this is how the story goes;

I got a new hard drive, and decided to do a fresh install of windows, because the previous version was starting to go FUBAR again.

So I install Windows XP Professional, then I install the Service Pack 2, then the video and wireless drivers, and I am all set. Two days latter that copy of windows goes FUBAR, it becomes extremely unresponsive at times. There are all manner of unknown processes running in the task manager.

I have not gone to any "shit" web sites. or installed "shit" files.
What the f*** happened now?

So I am going to re-format and re install windows once again.
2nd time in 4 days!

What are your suggestions for making the new fresh installation of windows more exploit proof.
Do you recommend installing SP2?
What else do you recommend?

Oh and this time I am using Firefox exclusively.

:icon27:

[R00k]

Turn off Windows Firewall. Download Kerio Personal Firewall and install it. Then install McAfee, or any other virus software with buffer overflow & unwanted programs features. Then update them and keep them updated.

Did you load any P2P clients or anything like that?

[Turbine]

no P2P clients at all

wel I got iTunes, actualy, for the radio feature it has.

[R00k]

That's not P2P.

[Turbine]

WHat about limewire, what if I install that for my music needs?

[R00k]

Limewire is one of the easiest ways to catch a virus in the world, along with BearShare and Kazaa.

[Turbine]

I see.
So what about the Service Pack 2, there is no reason not to install that to, right?

[R00k]

No, you should definitely install SP2.

[Captain]

Install it, SP2 updates are necessary.

[seremtan]

Turn off Windows Firewall. Download Kerio Personal Firewall and install it. Then install McAfee, or any other virus software with buffer overflow & unwanted programs features. Then update them and keep them updated.

Did you load any P2P clients or anything like that?

is the free version of kerio (i.e. the version you get after 30 days) worth it? or do you have to have the full app to get any advantage over windows firewall?

also, how does it compare with zonealarm?

edit: also also how do either of these firewalls work with P2P? for instance, eMule opens the necessary ports in WinXP firewall - do these do the same easily or is there an element of fucking about involved?

[[xeno]Julios]

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

read the 275 page pdf and be enlightened. Fantastic resource.

[Iccy]

Install windows.
Do ALL updates. Put on a competent virus scanner and spyware protection system.

Then, take the PC, throw it out the window, run down stairs, and beat it with a sledge hammer.

Then go buy a mac.

http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple ... 80x376.mov


Sorry, but i had to do it.

[Tormentius]

Download SP2 beforehand and burn it to CD then disconnect your PC from the 'net, install XP, install SP2, enable the Windows firewall or install Kerio firewall and only then should you reconnect to the 'net to get the rest of the Windows updates. I'd also recommend Windows Defender if you often have spyware problems.

[Iccy]

Download SP2 beforehand and burn it to CD then disconnect your PC from the 'net, install XP, install SP2, enable the Windows firewall or install Kerio firewall and only then should you reconnect to the 'net to get the rest of the Windows updates. I'd also recommend Windows Defender if you often have spyware problems.

Good call Torm. Thats about as good as you can do.

[Captain]

I suggest the combination of AVG Free, Windows Defender Beta 2, and Windows Firewall, along with all SP2 updates available.

[Iccy]

Download Kerio Personal Firewall and install it.

massively unneeded shit.

Then install McAfee

huge pile of shit. find symantec corp edition at all costs.

Just to add my 2 cents.

Both have their ups and downs and both are pretty descent products. I work on PC's all day and when it comes to fucking up someones PC believe me, norton is right up there with RPC errors and registry fuck ups. Try removing norton COMPLETELY from a system then tell me how much you love it.

Not downing norton mind you, just saying they both have their good and bad points. For example, mcafee is the better product for a lower end PC cause it has a light foot print on the system resources, norton has and will probaly always be a resource hog. But on a higher end PC it doesnt matter so much with them getting so powerful, with the core duo and core 2 duo and stuff.

Again, just the perspective of a MCSE certified field tech for brighthouse broadband systems. There is peeps i work with that swear up and down on NOD32 ( buggy software ) and even a few for AVG ( its free, nuff said ). But when i step back and look at all these products and examine the quality of thier testing labs and the over all quality of the software, then I see that norton and mcafee kinda lead and everyone else just follows.

Ok so it was more like 8 cents.

[Iccy]

http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice ... /index.jsp

[Iccy]

did I say Norton? fuck no I didnt.

MCSE... lol. I've been in IT for 14 years. MCSE means shit to me.

Well i didnt say it was big shit, but just showing that i have done a substaintial amount of work in my field and im not atleast a complete moron.

But i gotta say, i cant understand your dis-respect for MCSE. If your in the field for 14 years then you must understand the effort it takes to become one these days. And no, i dont care about comparing penises cause i learned most my important info before my certs. But man, if you never did them, i cant respect you too much when you say they are shit. Especialy when most of what was around 14 years ago is obsolete and irrelivant.

Lest yee be a CCNA or something. Homegrown is respectable , but putting on some certs on top of that self taught knowledge kinda takes you to the next level i feel. I mean as i passed through my MCSA i found the details i learned about things like the OSI model and the work i did on active directory, DNS and cross forest domain delagation of GPO's extremly helpful.


But anyway. Just trying to help the kid out and show him he can trust me some what

[Iccy]

SAVCE is not norton antivirus your thickness.

Your defensive behavior shows me you either have a small dick or feel weak in your arguement.

Either way id check that out. Im gonna go burn one and smile with my friends in the other room.

See ya in another thread bra.

[Captain]

lol penis envy.


Dick Fiddla, keep it in your pants and take it to the Void.

[K-mart Shopper]

A website was more than likely your culprit. Yes, do use Firefox exlusively.

I use SP1 integrated XP install and don't do any updates.. really not necessary. I have better compatibility with older games in SP1.

Antivirus... really, really not necessary unless you're a bit naive when it comes to downloading/opening suspicious files. The slowdown from running antivirus services kills all the fun for me.

eMule ++

[+JuggerNaut+]

I use SP1 integrated XP install and don't do any updates.. really not necessary. I have better compatibility with older games in SP1.

Antivirus... really, really not necessary unless you're a bit naive when it comes to downloading/opening suspicious files. The slowdown from running antivirus services kills all the fun for me.

[Captain]

I use SP1 integrated XP install and don't do any updates.. really not necessary. I have better compatibility with older games in SP1.

Not true, SP2 actually adds better compatibility to games and not applying updates is just plain dumb. You've got massive security holes in your computer and they're been clogged up with spyware, adware, and viruses.

Antivirus... really, really not necessary unless you're a bit naive when it comes to downloading/opening suspicious files. The slowdown from running antivirus services kills all the fun for me.

When was virus protection supposed to be fun? It's a damn necessity whether you're wanking off to the latest Exotic Sluts Vol. 4 or talking on MSN. And you couldn't be more wrong with the slowdown, most if not all new antiviruses are not resource hogs and work incredibly well. You'll also need a spyware/adware scanner for regular scans and an active anti-spyware tool as well. I recommend by downloading SP2 and all possible updates. Then download AVG Free from Grisoft and use it as your antivirus. Top it off by making sure you download Windows Defender Beta 2 with your Microsoft updates. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to be automatically protected, but surprise surprise there is responsibility in making sure your computer is healthy :icon27:

[Survivor]

On any computers i handle for friends and family fresh installs are definately followed by the sp2/autopatcher cd i burned. My own system is still sp1 with only spybot sd and adaware. I bother with the stuff when it comes on the pc, gives me something to do.

[Tormentius]

sorry, you're giving bad advice for an MCSE which is actually typical...and yeah, certs are pretty much a joke. I run an enterprise consisting of 4 offices across 2 states all by myself so if you really want to compare dicks I can continue to make yours look much smaller.

Lots of us are in IT and run decent-sized or complex networks but the fact remains that a cert (honestly earned) is much harder to get today than it was years ago. I like writing them just to challenge myself to keep up with changes in technology rather than to put on a CV.