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Ever been infected with a virus but not known what to do?  Well have no fear…PCToolbox is here…with a tutorial to help you remove the virus!

1. Firstly download the free version of Malwarebytes
2. Now you need to turn off System Restore. Use the following tutorials to aid you:
   For Windows 7
   For Vista
   For XP
3. Boot your machine into ‘Safe Mode’. This is done by restarting your computer and immediately when it starts to come on keep tapping F8 until you get a menu on the screen to choose Safe Mode.
4. Now install and run Malwarebytes. Remove whatever the software finds.
5. You may have to repeat step 4 a few times!
6. Now reboot your machine normally and run Malwarebytes 1 more time assuming it finds nothing
7. Turn ‘System Restore’ back on. Use the following tutorials to help you:
   For Windows
   For Vista
   For XP

Please Note – This tutorial is designed for those who are competent computer users. All PCToolbox advice is produced in the best interest of the reader to help maintain a healthy working machine and therefore cannot be held responsible for any problems that may occur. If you’re unsure about any of the above advice please contact your local IT Technician.

On the odd but very rare occasion you may have to turn off System Restore. System Restore is a component on Microsoft Windows operating systems which allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of malfunctioning or failure. This tutorial will show you how to switch it on and off if you’re using XP.

Turn Off System Restore in XP

• Click ‘Start’, then right-click ‘My Computer’ and select ‘Properties’
  
• Click the ‘System Restore’ tab. Then click in the box next to ‘Turn off System Restore’ so it does have a tick in it and click ‘OK’
  
• Read the message and click ‘Yes’ to continue
  

Turn System Restore On – XP

• Click ‘Start’, then right-click ‘My Computer’ and select ‘Properties’
• Click the ‘System Restore’ tab. Then click in the box next to ‘Turn off System Restore’ so it doesn’t have a tick in it and click ‘OK’
  

Disk Cleanup is a computer maintenance application included in Microsoft Windows operating systems.  It’s designed to free up disk space on your computers hard drive.  Therefore, it’s worth performing a cleanup every so often.  The feature searches and reviews your hard drive for files which are no longer necessary.  It will then, after you’ve made some selections, remove any files that are not needed on your machine.

Here is how to run a Disk Cleanup on XP:

1. Firstly click ‘Start’ and select ‘All Programs’
   
2. Then Select ‘Accessories’, followed by ‘System Tools’ and finally ‘Disk Cleanup’ (Click on image to enlarge)
   
3. Your computer will now run a scan to locate files that could be removed or compressed.
   
4. Next you should make selections regarding which files you would like to be removed.  Simply click on the option, read the description and if you’d like this to be removed click in the box next to the option so it has a tick in it.   We recommend that you don’t select to compress files as it will slow down your computer considerably (Click on image to enlarge)
   
5. Your computer will now perform the Disk Cleanup.
   

Hopefully this tutorial has been helpful and will encourage you to run a Disk Cleanup.  It’s a free way to improve the speed of your computer!

We will post about Disk Cleanup on Vista next week!

See Also:
Defrag for XP
ScanDisk for XP

People are forever asking us ‘What’s new about Windows 7 Professional?’  Here’s a few of our favourite Windows 7 Professional features!

Windows 7 Professional is easier to use, more reliable, more secure and faster than Windows XP.  Windows XP is nearly a decade old, with limited support for new hardware and software.  On the other hand, Windows 7 Professional has been specifically designed to meet the growing demands of modern technology users with more sophisticated networking, mobility, entertainment, data protection, and compatibility features.  And with Windows XP Mode, you get the compatibility of Windows XP in Windows 7 Professional! Be aware though, to use XP Mode you need the right processor!

We came across a problem today that we have come across before, but each time forget the solution, so…time to document it!

Scenario – new machine to add to the WHS network. Shoved the connector disc in and follow it through, but after entering the password we get the message “Can’t find the windows home server” try this…and non of the suggestions work. Sound familiar?

The cause is a simple one when you think about it like we did…we have had the WHS running for a few months now, and as with all Microsoft products there have been updates both to the server and the connector software!

The software that came on the disc no longer works and therefore you have to use the stuff on the server…so do this on the machine you are trying to connect to your home server

• Start and Run
• \servernamesoftwareHome Server Connector Software
• Double click the ‘setup.exe’ file
• The connector installation process will run and you will get connected!

Easy once you know how (if you remember!)

Last week AVG released the Free version of their new award winning Virus Protection software. It is still an entry level protection package and their full Internet Security software still offers much more protection but for those home users who really can’t afford it then this is the next best thing!

Along with the Anti-Virus module, this version of AVG Free includes AVG Spyware protection and AVG’s new ‘Safe Search’ feature to help protect you online.

Compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista. Download it now for Free!

The following blog will show you how to download pictures from your digital camera to your Windows XP computer and how to manage the photos once they are on your computer.
Firstly you must plug your camera into your computer using the USB cable provided with your camera.
Next switch you camera on.
A window very similar to the one on the left will appear. Double-click ‘Copy pictures to a folder on my computer’.
Click’Next’.
All your pictures will appearon the screen. If you wish for the picture to be copied you must ensure that that the box in the corner of the picture has a tick in. All the pictures already have a tick, to unselect click on the tick.
Then select ‘Next’.

Next select a name for the group of pictures. We suggest that you name your pictures in the following format: YYYY-MM-DD + short label. E.g. 2007-09-01-Tutorial Pictures.
Make sure that you are saving your photos in the folder ‘My Pictures’. To do this select ‘Browse’.

Select ‘My Pictures’. (The folder name will turn blue when it is selected.)
Click ‘OK’

You can also select to delete the pictures from your camera once they are downloaded to your computer. To do this simply click once in the box next to the sentence ‘Delete pictures from my device after copying them,’ until there is a green box.
Click ‘Next’.

Your pictures will now be downloading onto your computer. This shouldn’t take very long, depending on how many pictures you decide to upload.

Select ‘Nothing. I’ve finished working with these pictures,’ by clicking in the circle next to the option. (An option is selected when a green dot is in the circle.)
Click ‘Next’.

Click ‘Finish’.
By clicking ‘Finish’ the folder where your photos were saved will be opened.
Next we are going to show you how to find the folder where your pictures are saved.

Open start and click on ‘My Pictures’.

Your ‘My Pictures’ folder will now open. Then all you do is double-click on the folder which you created and added your pictures to. Your folders will be in date order if you named your folders as named previously.
The folder with your photos in will now be open.

If you have any questions, comments or problems please leave a comment!

This weeks Quick Tip is about resizing images, before uploading mass photos to my website or facebook I resize them. Yes I know facebook can do it for you but it is much quicker to resize them yourself and upload smaller files!

So, two quick ways:

1) VSO Image Resizer – using Windows 2000, XP & Vista

This one is as simple as select all the photos you want to resize, right click on the selection and choose VSO Image Resizer and then just select the size you want and the location of the files, then off it goes.

2) XP PowerToys Image Resizer – Windows XP Only

This one is just as simple, select the images, right click and choose Resize Images. Set your preferred options and off it goes.

One thing to note is that I would never overwrite the originals, always make copies!

Enjoy