Computer help for airheads

[gardenmad]

PLEASE - can someone help me - I have asked questions on this before and got good advice, now my head seems to have stopped taking in any intelligence (?) and I am completely lost with this fairly new computer, I cannot get things on it that I want - I am terrified I have not got any virus or spy protection and I need a patient person to guide me through it. Having said this, I now have to leave the damn thing as I have to go on an errand for someone even older and useless than me! I did say patient. Is there a good kind patient soul out there who can help?

[DanAB]

ok, we need some kind of information about your problem. what you have said so far is of little use.

what is your problem?
what is your operating system?

[gardenmad]

ok the old girl is not ready yet so another ten minutes on this thing - thanks Danab, I have a compaq vista home basic which I don't think is strong enough for all that I want on it (they said in the shop it would be!!) but someone said you can download programmes and then it is strong enough see what an airhead I am - I could listen to classic fm on it when I first bought it but I have downloaded this and looked at that and I think I have messed up the whole works as nothing now plays. Also I did once watch something on bbc iplayer which now doesn't work - the old dear is now calling me so I have to go, talk later, sorry.

[DanAB]

ok, sounds to me first of all that whoever sold you the PC sold it as 'Vista Ready'. in other words it can run the basics of vista with all the features turned off. hint for the future, dont go to PCWorld as they sell entry level stuff for performance prices.

now, back onto the problem. you should not listen to people when it comes to your OS performance. These programs are commonly filled with rubbish and maybe some other harmful stuff like keyloggers and malware.

onto fixing some problems. first download and install windows defender. this will get some of the most common malware and will also find some problems with your PC. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winf amily/defender/default.mspx

next, get yourself AVG. this is one of the better anti-virus programs which you can get for free. although i would suggest that you find a better alternative such as Kaspersky or ESET smart security. http://www.avg.com/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_e n_85_336a1515.exe

run AVG to scan your PC for other viruses.

one more thing as well. if you have turned off windows updates then i strongly suggest you perform one before you do all this.

[gardenmad]

Gosh, thanks Danab, I will do all you say but one thing is - how do I get windows updates? will it come on automatically? I can do all the other stuff, shows what an airhead i am said you'd need patience.

Another (woeful)thing, when i want to donload word documents folks have sent me, I have to enter a 25 character product key - where do I get that from?

[trish432]

To get your windows updates click - control panel - then click classic view, (Unless it`s already in classic view, which shows about 50 icons) - click windows update - click change setttings. This will bring up a screen where you can tick to install updates automatically.

[trish432]

Before you download avg, check that you haven`t already got antivirus protection.
Check in control panel - programmes, look down the list and see if you can spot something that looks like an av programme.
You usually get a free trial with a new pc. This will need removing whether working or not, before you install another one.

[gardenmad]

Thanks Trish, I have noted your instructions, so I needn't keep coming back to this, I have a free day today so will get on with it, and thanks to you too, Danab, for your help, by the end of the day I should be better off. I don't imagine I will get through the day without some problem confronting me but thanks to you and answerbank I should be able to resolve it.