ok quick backstory...

-boyfriend bought a new gateway laptop 4 months ago (running vista)
-installed norton anti virus 360
-got a virus anyway that is basically disabling the firewall and not allowing for updates (norton was of no help and only offered more pay-for services) the computer is useless when its turned on.
-problem came to light only after ipod was plugged in to charge (no itunes on computer, so no synching)
-can't find original cd's that came with laptop (but i don't think this is as big of a deal since all he needs to figure out is the software key right?)

soo what is the best course of action? reformatting? new hd? i have no clue and he's reformatted before but has always had the cd in the past. is that even what we should be doing?

as a side note, i am replacing the hard drive in my macbook pro today and would end up having an extra hd, is it within the realm of possibility to put my old hd in his laptop?

any advice is appreciated. he's job searching and needs the laptop in working order as he can't really look for jobs on his work laptop.

thanks tech talk

[Edited on October 15, 2009 at 3:20 PM. Reason : vista]

10/15/2009 3:19:54 PM

FYI your boyfriend is stupid made a mistake because Anti Virus 360 is spyware.

The not legal option is to download a Windows XP ISO, burn it to a CD, and boot with that. Delete the partition, reformat, and reinstall windows.

EDIT: Oh, vista eh? Contact Dell and see if they can send you a replacement CD. Why did he throw away the install CDs after 4 months?

Just buy Windows 7.

[Edited on October 15, 2009 at 3:28 PM. Reason : ]

10/15/2009 3:25:31 PM

ive downloaded vista ISOs off torrent sites and they worked fine

maybe download the Windows 7 RC iso and request a key: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx

10/15/2009 3:44:23 PM

^^ lol, sorry to say it, but it rings true.

Might as well install Windows 7.

10/15/2009 4:05:11 PM

yeah, 7 is coming out in like a week so i told him to just wait and do that

and yeah he's not the best with computers i try to help when i can and i dont know wtf i am doing half the time anyway

can he upgrade straight from a reformat to 7? i dont know how that works. will he have to reformat with vista then upgrade to 7?

also he has a gateway and apparently someone told him that he needs a special cd from gateway to use during the reformat but i think thats weird, thoughts?

10/15/2009 4:10:52 PM

First question: Yes.

Second question: No.

10/15/2009 4:12:03 PM

there's probably NOT a CD that came with it, there's probably a restore partition.


What model number is the laptop?


And he would need an OEM disc from Gateway (if there is a disc and it's not on a restore partition) since Vista was pre-installed. You could use a regular Vista disc, but only if you had a non-OEM key.




Also, why the fuck is God of all people giving fucking technical advice in Tech Talk? I wouldn't trust that kid to give me advice on ANYTHING, much less a fucking computer.

10/16/2009 12:18:39 AM

I dunno maybe I work in tech support as my job or something

10/16/2009 8:53:31 AM

^ FYI, Norton 360 which was probably bundled with the laptop is not the same as AV360. Did you even read the post or are you just trolling ITT?

Have tried booting the computer into safe mode by spamming the F8 after the Gateway splash screen?

10/16/2009 9:20:33 AM

I bet the guy just said it was Norton 360 to not look silly

10/16/2009 9:23:05 AM

eh, maybe. Not enough information about the laptop anyway. Probably wouldn't absolutely have to reformat, but I guess it's the easiest way if no data needs to be salvaged.

10/16/2009 9:27:48 AM

yeah, it sucks to lose the data on there but the laptop is only 4 months old and its the most straightforward approach


we ordered the windows 7 free upgrade (he was eligible) and we bought the gateway recovery cd. hopefully it'll all work out and it will be up and running again in a few days

10/16/2009 8:35:53 PM

you done fucked up, son

10/16/2009 9:27:18 PM

Did you try Safe Mode? At the very least you can probably transfer your important documents to an external hdd or flash drive.

10/16/2009 9:48:42 PM

agreed.

10/16/2009 9:56:04 PM

got the CDs in the mail from gateway... didnt work. the laptop is more fucked than previously though so we sent it to gateway to get fixed.

this started the day after the laptop took a really nasty fall off the bed. it was open and slipped between the mattress and headboard. my bed is pretty high and it kind of crashed between the back of the frame and the wall.

maybe its the harddrive? i have no clue, hopefully gateway can fix it for something reasonable.

10/20/2009 11:51:40 PM