So. I have been given the opportunity to acquire a very nice Alienware laptop for free from my brother. It's less than a year old, and works swimmingly except for the tiny little problem of a virus that has rendered the computer completely inoperable. And I mean completely.
If you turn it on, it just brings you to a screen that tells to insert a non-existent CD and ends that statement with a nice and instructive "alrutwbikavclglglblargoarbirjab;aorejboabre..." ad infinitum. My brother has talked to many computer "experts" who all claim that this virus has no cure at this moment in time.
Now, I would like to know if this is an overstatement that doesn't consider all the options. Since I would be getting this computer from my brother, I have no attachment to any of the files or memory banks of this computer, especially since it will be an indefinite amount of time before anyone can access them again. In that case, shouldn't there be some method to just completely clear all data from the computer and start again, completely factory sealed fresh? Or at least couldn't I replace the hard drive? I've also read about a risk that the virus can be stored in the RAM or other parts of the computer too, is there some way to clear those? I know that will cost money, but really anything beats having a $2400 paperweight sitting around the house.
Thank you for any help.
If you turn it on, it just brings you to a screen that tells to insert a non-existent CD and ends that statement with a nice and instructive "alrutwbikavclglglblargoarbirjab;aorejboabre..." ad infinitum. My brother has talked to many computer "experts" who all claim that this virus has no cure at this moment in time.
Now, I would like to know if this is an overstatement that doesn't consider all the options. Since I would be getting this computer from my brother, I have no attachment to any of the files or memory banks of this computer, especially since it will be an indefinite amount of time before anyone can access them again. In that case, shouldn't there be some method to just completely clear all data from the computer and start again, completely factory sealed fresh? Or at least couldn't I replace the hard drive? I've also read about a risk that the virus can be stored in the RAM or other parts of the computer too, is there some way to clear those? I know that will cost money, but really anything beats having a $2400 paperweight sitting around the house.
Thank you for any help.