Fixing Computers

mallard32 · 10-27-2006, 06:53 PM

If i were to fix many diferent computers used by children at high school and made a disk of the exe files i needed to install, what files should i install and what order. These are what i have on the disk:

adaware se
avg free
bazooka
ccleaner
cwshredder
firefox
hijackthis
kerio firewall
regcleaner
siteadvisor
spy bot
spysweeper
spyware blaster
truecrypt
windows defender
winpatrol
zonealarm firewall

What do you think, will i need anything else, and what order should i install, thank you in advance

**carsey** · 10-27-2006, 07:02 PM

Do you mean for the kids to have access to these programs or only accessible by a admin account.

Do not definately install HJT for the kids to use. As you know, it is a powerful little program.

Also consider the fact of not allowing certain extensions to be used such as .exe etc etc.

A-Nick4me · 10-27-2006, 07:05 PM

You have some programs (on the disk) that I will not have on my computer. What is important (in my opinion) is what works for you with what you use to accomplish the tasks you preform.

I think it boils down to Personal Preference.

**8210GUY** · 10-28-2006, 07:21 AM

I agree remove HJT, for 2 reasons, the above as well as they will need the latest copy should it be required, at best what I would do there is leave a link to where it can be found on the web that will always be the latest one, and a link with instructions as to what to do with it and where to go with it for help if it is needed.
I would also remove the regcleaner because any registry tool in the wrong hands can do some serious damage.

Also you could consider SpywareGuard, BHODemon, Avast, ewido and SafeXP, I have done the same for my daughters school and have written tutorials on installing and running them, there may be a few things I have forgotten here as my stuff is on another PC awaiting a new motherboard, but those are off the top of my head and pretty much cover it from memory, just make sure they know to only use 1 A\V and firewall at the same time or it will do more damage than good, and remind them to turn xp's firewall off if using one of these ones.

**Glaswegian** · 10-28-2006, 07:36 AM

As has been said, it's down to personal preference and the situatuon requirements.

I would however, caution against Ewido (now AVG Anti Spyware) - it is very powerful and will rip through a system, removing countless files and some uninstallers, which can be unfortunate. It can also corrupt your System Restore points, so use with care.

**8210GUY** · 10-28-2006, 07:45 AM

I knew ewido was a strong program, but never knew it was that risky.

mallard32 · 10-28-2006, 06:34 PM

so ill go with

adaware se(keep installed)
avg free(keep installed)
bazooka(remove after use)
Ccleaner(keep installed)
cwshredder(remove after use)
firefox(keep installed)
spybot s&d(keep installed, no teatimer)
spysweerer (keep installed)
spyware blaster(use once, uninstall)
zonealarm firewall(shut windows firewall off, keep installed)

how is this, does this sound ok?

**8210GUY** · 10-28-2006, 07:20 PM

At the minimum I would add SpywareGuard as well, it complements Spyware Blaster and will probably only ever updates the first time, there have been no updates for years, Another cleaner is Disk Cleaner, just depends how much you want, but I run 3 cleaners and they all find stuff the others don't, another thought is Winpatrol, just not sure how well it would work out in that environment, great program but they would need to contact a teacher should they get an alert as it monitors start up programs etc, so anything installed will probably throw up a request from scotty, but IMHO there is no need to remove Bazooka or CWS shredder, they are stand alone products that are run manually with ease, and definitely keep spyware blaster, only takes a minute to run the update and activate protection and adds bad sites to the hosts file therefore hopefully blocking dodgy sites from being visited, and I have just realised there is one not mentioned which is perfect for a school, McAfee SiteAdvisor, it goes on the browser bar and is like a traffic light system, green for go\good sites, and red for stop\bad sites, and amber for caution, very eye catching if they go to a bad sight as a balloon pops up warning you, and in extreme cases stops your browser going there unless you tell it to go there regardless, hope this helps.

mallard32 · 10-29-2006, 08:39 AM

Thank you for all of your help

**carsey** · 10-29-2006, 09:38 AM

No problem. Anytime!

10-27-2006, 06:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
mallard32 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 116 OS: Windows Vista My System	Fixing Computers If i were to fix many diferent computers used by children at high school and made a disk of the exe files i needed to install, what files should i install and what order. These are what i have on the disk: adaware se avg free bazooka ccleaner cwshredder firefox hijackthis kerio firewall regcleaner siteadvisor spy bot spysweeper spyware blaster truecrypt windows defender winpatrol zonealarm firewall What do you think, will i need anything else, and what order should i install, thank you in advance

10-28-2006, 07:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,499 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	As has been said, it's down to personal preference and the situatuon requirements. I would however, caution against Ewido (now AVG Anti Spyware) - it is very powerful and will rip through a system, removing countless files and some uninstallers, which can be unfortunate. It can also corrupt your System Restore points, so use with care. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

10-29-2006, 09:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,688 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	No problem. Anytime! __________________ Submit New Articles Here

10-27-2006, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,688 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Do you mean for the kids to have access to these programs or only accessible by a admin account. Do not definately install HJT for the kids to use. As you know, it is a powerful little program. Also consider the fact of not allowing certain extensions to be used such as .exe etc etc.

10-27-2006, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
A-Nick4me Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canadian West Coast Posts: 225 OS: Ubuntu & XP Home My System	You have some programs (on the disk) that I will not have on my computer. What is important (in my opinion) is what works for you with what you use to accomplish the tasks you preform. I think it boils down to Personal Preference.

10-28-2006, 07:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
8210GUY TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,558 OS: xp Pro	I agree remove HJT, for 2 reasons, the above as well as they will need the latest copy should it be required, at best what I would do there is leave a link to where it can be found on the web that will always be the latest one, and a link with instructions as to what to do with it and where to go with it for help if it is needed. I would also remove the regcleaner because any registry tool in the wrong hands can do some serious damage. Also you could consider SpywareGuard, BHODemon, Avast, ewido and SafeXP, I have done the same for my daughters school and have written tutorials on installing and running them, there may be a few things I have forgotten here as my stuff is on another PC awaiting a new motherboard, but those are off the top of my head and pretty much cover it from memory, just make sure they know to only use 1 A\V and firewall at the same time or it will do more damage than good, and remind them to turn xp's firewall off if using one of these ones.

10-28-2006, 07:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
8210GUY TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,558 OS: xp Pro	I knew ewido was a strong program, but never knew it was that risky.

10-28-2006, 06:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
mallard32 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 116 OS: Windows Vista My System	so ill go with adaware se(keep installed) avg free(keep installed) bazooka(remove after use) Ccleaner(keep installed) cwshredder(remove after use) firefox(keep installed) spybot s&d(keep installed, no teatimer) spysweerer (keep installed) spyware blaster(use once, uninstall) zonealarm firewall(shut windows firewall off, keep installed) how is this, does this sound ok?

10-28-2006, 07:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
8210GUY TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,558 OS: xp Pro	At the minimum I would add SpywareGuard as well, it complements Spyware Blaster and will probably only ever updates the first time, there have been no updates for years, Another cleaner is Disk Cleaner, just depends how much you want, but I run 3 cleaners and they all find stuff the others don't, another thought is Winpatrol, just not sure how well it would work out in that environment, great program but they would need to contact a teacher should they get an alert as it monitors start up programs etc, so anything installed will probably throw up a request from scotty, but IMHO there is no need to remove Bazooka or CWS shredder, they are stand alone products that are run manually with ease, and definitely keep spyware blaster, only takes a minute to run the update and activate protection and adds bad sites to the hosts file therefore hopefully blocking dodgy sites from being visited, and I have just realised there is one not mentioned which is perfect for a school, McAfee SiteAdvisor, it goes on the browser bar and is like a traffic light system, green for go\good sites, and red for stop\bad sites, and amber for caution, very eye catching if they go to a bad sight as a balloon pops up warning you, and in extreme cases stops your browser going there unless you tell it to go there regardless, hope this helps.

10-29-2006, 08:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
mallard32 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 116 OS: Windows Vista My System	Thank you for all of your help