How long does it take to re-install Vista and the Dellprograms/drivers?

My dad was browsing the other day, and called me over to the
computer. Firefox had somehow gone over to onlinexpscanner.com (which
I have discovered is a spyware site) and downloaded an executable
file, and there were prompts to run some code. I closed all the
browser windows and deleted the executable file.

Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any
spyware, before he called me over. I could spend several hours
running a bunch of scans, or maybe I can just reinstall Vista and the
Dell Drivers CD? How long would all that take? There are even old
posts in this newsgroup where people said their computer runs faster
after doing a reinstall of Windows, than it did when Dell shipped it
to them.

assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this before,
from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall windows,
install all the drivers specific to your machine, download all the updates,
install the most basic application software (like dvd movie player, cd/dvd
recording software, java shockwave, flash, acrobat reader, and office), and
then restoring your data (which is assumed to have already been backed up
with this estimation). i suggest you start the computer in safe mode with
networking and visit http://housecall.trendmicro.com and run their free
malware scan/repair tool, or roll back windows to a previous point in time
using system restore before you invest the time in reinstalling the entire
system.

<void.no.spam.com@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eb79b2d6-285d-4937-a517-7f765b94c98b@m3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> My dad was browsing the other day, and called me over to the
> computer. Firefox had somehow gone over to onlinexpscanner.com (which
> I have discovered is a spyware site) and downloaded an executable
> file, and there were prompts to run some code. I closed all the
> browser windows and deleted the executable file.
>
> Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any
> spyware, before he called me over. I could spend several hours
> running a bunch of scans, or maybe I can just reinstall Vista and the
> Dell Drivers CD? How long would all that take? There are even old
> posts in this newsgroup where people said their computer runs faster
> after doing a reinstall of Windows, than it did when Dell shipped it
> to them.

"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this before,
> from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall windows,
> install all the drivers specific , etc...>

Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only a
couple of hours.

To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.

"Charles Summers" <vmm@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:09ydnay5WeNLJr3VnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> "Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this before,
>> from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall windows,
>> install all the drivers specific , etc...>
>
> Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
> hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only
> a couple of hours.
>
> To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.
>

generally it is more economical to purchase a new computer than to do a
software rebuild. of course this depends on how you value your time. with
malware scanners you only have to invest the time to start the scan and then
are free to do whatever you want while it does its job.

On Tue, 6 May 2008 16:17:31 -0400, "Christopher Muto"
<muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>"Charles Summers" <vmm@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:09ydnay5WeNLJr3VnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@comcast.com ...
>>
>> "Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>>> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this before,
>>> from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall windows,
>>> install all the drivers specific , etc...>
>>
>> Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
>> hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only
>> a couple of hours.
>>
>> To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.
>>
>
>generally it is more economical to purchase a new computer than to do a
>software rebuild. of course this depends on how you value your time. with


I can't agree for "most" people but for "some" who might be
high wage earners or have to pay others to do this or can't stand
taking the time to do it themselves, then I would / might agree.

In fact some (I agree with this too) recommend reinstalling all your
software (from scratch including the OS) once in a great while to get
a cleaner system which in turn will make your OS run faster. This is
because the registry after a while gets cluttered up. And yes I know
you can run registry cleaners but they are not as efficient as a new
install.

"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:iqudnVqfbY5BIb3VnZ2dnUVZ_uadnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> "Charles Summers" <vmm@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:09ydnay5WeNLJr3VnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>
>> "Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>>> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this
>>> before, from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall
>>> windows, install all the drivers specific , etc...>
>>
>> Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
>> hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only
>> a couple of hours.
>>
>> To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.
>>
>
> generally it is more economical to purchase a new computer than to do a
> software rebuild. of course this depends on how you value your time.
> with malware scanners you only have to invest the time to start the scan
> and then are free to do whatever you want while it does its job.
>


Geek Squad charges $249 for an onsite OS reinstall. ($129 instore or
online). This is with drivers and critical updates only and *no*
applications installed:
http://www.geeksquad.com/pricing/default.aspx#section3

2 hours would be extremely optimistic and dependent upon experience of the
installer, organization of same, and the speed of the system itself (and
almost surely would not include all applications and utilties).

> Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any
> spyware, before he called me over.

Nothing lost doing a few scans to put your mind at ease... got an
antivirus / firewall installed ?

I've got a list of several anti-malware apps over at my site
http://www.coreutilities.co.uk - most of the info is on the second
link down from the main page.

If you already have an AV scanner you can disable, it might also be
worth throwing Sysclean by Trend Micro at it as a once-over - it uses
the latest virus signatures of their full product, but in a one-shot
get-me-out-of-trouble method of use (linked as above)

On Tue, 6 May 2008 16:48:55 -0500, "S.Lewis"
<Gossamer@interesting.com> wrote:

>
>"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>news:iqudnVqfbY5BIb3VnZ2dnUVZ_uadnZ2d@earthlink.c om...
>> "Charles Summers" <vmm@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:09ydnay5WeNLJr3VnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>
>>> "Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>>>> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this
>>>> before, from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall
>>>> windows, install all the drivers specific , etc...>
>>>
>>> Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
>>> hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only
>>> a couple of hours.
>>>
>>> To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.
>>>
>>
>> generally it is more economical to purchase a new computer than to do a
>> software rebuild. of course this depends on how you value your time.
>> with malware scanners you only have to invest the time to start the scan
>> and then are free to do whatever you want while it does its job.
>>
>
>
>Geek Squad charges $249 for an onsite OS reinstall. ($129 instore or
>online). This is with drivers and critical updates only and *no*
>applications installed:
>http://www.geeksquad.com/pricing/default.aspx#section3
>
>2 hours would be extremely optimistic and dependent upon experience of the
>installer, organization of same, and the speed of the system itself (and
>almost surely would not include all applications and utilties).
>

I take my time and knowledge for granted when at home and I rarely see
outside pricing for this pc stuff but when I do, I'm blown away by it.
But I guess in fairness, it's a business too.

void.no.spam,
If you choose to go through with a full restore on your Dad's PC. Consider
purchasing the Acronis TrueImage version 10 or higher (XP or Vista
compatible). Once you get the PC the way you want it. It would easier in the
future, to have a "pristine" image of your C:\ drive if you ever need to
restore it. With this program it will restore your system, usually withing
an half hour or so. Be aware that this might disable the Restore process
under F12. I would back up that Hidden partition First. Before using Acronis
TI.

I have done this on my PC's with Acronis TI:
1. Reinstall Windows. Or use Restore from Hidden partition if installed.
2. Reinstall Drivers using the Resource CD.
3. Reinstall Antivirus Program.
4. Connect to Internet (setting up router if necessary).
5. Reinstall any updates found for your Model on the Dell Driver Page.
6. Upgrade Video Drivers from Nvidia or ATI at their websites.
7. Go to MS and get all the updates that are available, this might take some
time and reboots.
8. Install MS Office or MS Works programs.
9. Go back to the MS Update Site and install updates for the Office/Works
Program.
10. Now you can choose to install printers, scanners, etc... or you can
choose to make a backup/image of your C:\ Drive at this time.
11. Install Acronis TI or boot PC with Acronis TI CD in CD-ROM.
12. Make a FULL backup image of your C:\ Drive, and save it to another drive
or DVD. If making a DVD backup, you will need to have install the DVD
burning software on your PC. Make sure that you choose to run the
verification check, this way you know that the saved file is operational.
a. After this you can make incremental backups of the original file for
any changes that have been made. I prefer to make additional backups and
just name the file differently so I can tell the difference. Especially if
you have a 2nd HDD, or use an external HDD for backup purposes.
13. Now you can other programs, games, or hardware to your PC, with all the
appropriate updates/upgrades. As mention in Step #12a, I would make a 2nd
FULL backup of the C:\ drive, once you are sure that all is running right,
and save it to another drive/partition.

--
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) <message rule>
<<Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate>>


"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:iqudnVqfbY5BIb3VnZ2dnUVZ_uadnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
"Charles Summers" <vmm@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:09ydnay5WeNLJr3VnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> "Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:J4udndxkYZ7VK73VnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>> assuming that you have all yoru ducks in a row and have done this before,
>> from start to finish it takes 6-8 hours to completely reinstall windows,
>> install all the drivers specific , etc...>
>
> Are you sure this isn't something that can be done in just a couple of
> hours? Seems to me that last umpteen times that I've done it, it was only
> a couple of hours.
>
> To the OP: be sure to back up everything that your dad needs.
>

generally it is more economical to purchase a new computer than to do a
software rebuild. of course this depends on how you value your time. with
malware scanners you only have to invest the time to start the scan and then
are free to do whatever you want while it does its job.




<void.no.spam.com@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:<eb79b2d6-285d-4937-a517-7f765b94c98b@m3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>...

My dad was browsing the other day, and called me over to the

computer. Firefox had somehow gone over to onlinexpscanner.com (which

I have discovered is a spyware site) and downloaded an executable

file, and there were prompts to run some code. I closed all the

browser windows and deleted the executable file.

Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any

spyware, before he called me over. I could spend several hours

running a bunch of scans, or maybe I can just reinstall Vista and the

Dell Drivers CD? How long would all that take? There are even old

posts in this newsgroup where people said their computer runs faster

after doing a reinstall of Windows, than it did when Dell shipped it

to them.

Use the hidden restore partition and it will take 20 or 30 minutes or less!

<void.no.spam.com@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eb79b2d6-285d-4937-a517-7f765b94c98b@m3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> My dad was browsing the other day, and called me over to the
> computer. Firefox had somehow gone over to onlinexpscanner.com (which
> I have discovered is a spyware site) and downloaded an executable
> file, and there were prompts to run some code. I closed all the
> browser windows and deleted the executable file.
>
> Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any
> spyware, before he called me over. I could spend several hours
> running a bunch of scans, or maybe I can just reinstall Vista and the
> Dell Drivers CD? How long would all that take? There are even old
> posts in this newsgroup where people said their computer runs faster
> after doing a reinstall of Windows, than it did when Dell shipped it
> to them.