[macx]

Saw the ad for Registry Mechanic at the top of the main Forum page,
thought it should be a good idea to have that as it was advertised
on this forum and therefore obviously approved, and highly rated
by PCWorld.

Downloaded it, paid for it, installed it and ran it.

Then computer restarted and it required my product
code to start Windows.

Typed in product code, but says it's invalid.

I called MS Support, they first gave me 2 different
product codes to try to unlock Windows, neither worked.
The Tech then said I had gotten a worm with
Registry Mechanic which was the reason I was unable
to access Windows.

They worked with me for over 2 hours, including going
back to and installing a backup registry created the day
before this Registry Mechanic was installed, but I am still
being blocked from starting Windows.

They are going to work with me more tomorrow.

Further, the Tech said emphatically that such tools
should not be used on the registry, that it would
only lead to problems, even without such a worm.

A MOST unhappy experience from what should have
been a trustworthy source!

[Advertisements]

Geeks to Go do in fact filter many ads, but do not 'approve' or monitor any of them. They are served by a third party (Google), and they have mechanisms for dealing with rogue advertisements. Geeks To Go simply can't be responsible for every ad displayed on this site.

[Retired Tech]

Geeks to Go do in fact filter many ads, but do not 'approve' or monitor any of them. They are served by a third party (Google), and they have mechanisms for dealing with rogue advertisements. Geeks To Go simply can't be responsible for every ad displayed on this site.

[macx]

I apologize for implying that you should be!

Until I just tonight read up on the whole spyware
scenario, I wasn't even aware of the extent of
the scams being perpetrated including the
bogus "reviews" etc, and the fact that many
bogus or malware apps are being pushed
thru places like Google.

All part of the learning curve, I guess.

Just glad I found all this out before I
hook up my new system to the net.

Going to download my browser
and what I have found to be the
REAL anti-spyware/virus/etc apps
and install them BEFORE I hook
to the net for the very first time.

Kind of a sad commentary on our
society that so many people have to
expend such talent and energy to
cause such malicious problems for
so many "innocents".

[Retired Tech]

Thank You for your understanding in this matter

Anti Spyware here

http://www.filehippo...re/antispyware/

Firewalls here

http://www.filehippo...ware/firewalls/

Anti Virus here

http://www.filehippo...ware/antivirus/

Another programme you can consider

http://www.geekstogo...showtopic=69858

[macx]

Thanks for all the good info!

I've read elsewhere that the Kaspersky suite for XP is a top
notch setup.

After my experience, I'm of course a little gunshy.

Any comments on Kaspersky?

(I wish computers were as easy to build
as hot rods! :-))

[Retired Tech]

Kapersky is well liked

You could run the new build with the others and see if you need Kapersky

[macx]

I went to the K site to download it, but noted
while reading thru esp. system requirements,
that it lists protection for IE and Outlook, but
no others.

I'm unclear if it means that it only protects
those, or will it also protect Netscape and
Excite email.

I've emailed K asking them about that.

I don't use IE or Outlook mainly becuz
of the fact it's probly the major target.

[Retired Tech]

The most reliable answer to that should come from Kapersky