Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Windows 7 Update, Firewall, Defender... will not run.

Feb 2, 2015 11:07PM PST

I am trying to clean up my girlfriends computer and I am finding a variety of issues. Windows update hasn't ran for 2 years and the program will not open. Her firewall is turned off and will not turn on manually. She also keeps getting a pop up that says she is not running genuine windows. I am guessing she has had a major malware or trojan attack. Avg is now installed since her Nortan anti virus would not open. Any help to getting this computer at least updating would be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Not all damage can be fixed.
Feb 2, 2015 11:57PM PST

At some point the OS gets dinged up to the point you start over. At least this time they have a chance to save their files and more before you restart.
Bob

- Collapse -
Save data, restore to factory settings, reinstall apps.
Feb 3, 2015 12:03AM PST

As Bob says, this is what you should do. It sounds like that PC is hopelessly corrupted. The procedure for restoring to factory settings should be in the user guide if you need to know how. You should be able to download that from the manufacturer's web site if need be.

Good luck.

- Collapse -
I should have written more.
Feb 3, 2015 12:05AM PST

While repair may be possible, it's usually time intensive and there is not exact procedure given the wide range of damage that occurs. That said, starting over usually takes less time and ends up with a cleaner machine with less troubles.

I've seen such fixed but the machine left with long boot times or another issue.
Bob

- Collapse -
Re-installing Windows
Feb 3, 2015 12:39PM PST

If you are starting over with a custom installation, then at the start of the installation, delete the system partition. Otherwise you'll get a Windows.old folder and it may contain lingering malware.

Ensure there are no executable files in the personal data you back up; select to view extensions in Folder Options. When you've reinstalled Windows, download and run Malwarebytes.

- Collapse -
Error message ??
Feb 4, 2015 2:21AM PST
- Collapse -
Windows 7 Factory Settings
Feb 4, 2015 7:58AM PST

Thanks for the reply! I backed up her personal files on to a external hardrive. I then went to restore to factory settings and found that I needed a disk to reinstall. Of course she does not have a disk. Is this going to mean that I need to re purchase windows 7. Would be a major bummer since the computer came with Windows 7 installed and now I can't even recover to factory settings.

- Collapse -
Try control panel>recovery...
Feb 4, 2015 8:04AM PST

and see if reset to factory settings is available.
Dafydd.

- Collapse -
Recovery
Feb 4, 2015 8:15AM PST

Its not available it says I need a disk. I followed the directions from a online source. On their screen it says restore to factory settings. Mine says renistall windows (requires windows instillation disk).

- Collapse -
On my Win 7 machine...
Feb 4, 2015 8:29AM PST

I made the restore media when first prompted. But IT did restore to factory settings once using the reset to factory settings in control panel. After this I was given another chance to make restore media which I did.
If you have no disc then ordering restore media is the only way to go. This is an OEM machine right?
Dafydd.
Sorry typo I not IT

- Collapse -
Restore
Feb 4, 2015 8:39AM PST

Yes this is a OEM machine. I am making a system restore disk. Should this work?

- Collapse -
System restore or system repair?
Feb 4, 2015 8:46AM PST

System restore should be the Windows restore disc system repair is just a boot disc. Past my bedtime now, the others will fill you in. Almost 1.00 am now.
Dafydd.

- Collapse -
We're wasting time with generalities because...
Feb 4, 2015 9:25AM PST

...you haven't given us the make and model of the computer you're working on. Whenever you make a post here, you see the following at the bottom of your typed text:

"Please read before posting

If you're asking for technical help, please be sure to include all your system info, including operating system, model number, and any other specifics related to the problem. Also please exercise your best judgment when posting in the forums--revealing personal information such as your e-mail address, telephone number, and address is not recommended."

We could probably tell you exactly what you need to do if we had that info. I will say that it sounds like you haven't read the user guide. That will usually have many of the answers to the questions you've asked. Again though, they differ from one make and model to the next.
`
The answers you get are only as good as the info you provide.

- Collapse -
your choices
Feb 4, 2015 8:43AM PST

1) If a major brand name, order the installation discs, cost is about $20, direct from the manufacturer's site.

2) Download a microsoft windows copy, install and see if it will activate with the OEM product key supplied with her computer.

3) Carefully repair her system. If the restoration partition isn't corrupted, see if you can get it to work enough to burn the reinstall discs needed for her system. See if there's a restoration partition on it and if so, clone it. You can do that with the following.

4)Linux. Free. Use an easy desktop version of Linux such as Mint, Ubuntu, Zorin, Lubuntu, or even Kubuntu, be sure it's an LTS if you decide to install it to replace Windows. (Use it to make a backup copy of her windows restoration partition). You burn the ISO image to a DVD or onto a USB flashdrive and boot direct from it. You can then do most anything needed from the LIVE version of the system without installing it. It won't corrupt windows at all so long as you don't install it, but give you a system to use in the interim. Since it's "read only" any work or int ernet items you want saved must be put in a folder on the hard drive.

5) Buy a $50-60 used copy of W7 off EBay, being careful to get a valid copy, and give it to her.