Re: Need Some Help

Richard Lerner wrote:
>=20
>=20
> I would appreciate a response by email.  My daughter=92s computer is
> hopelessly infected with some downloads that continually generate ads
> and unappropriate offers so as to make the computer (an AMD system
> running XP) hopelessly useless.  A friend suggested I download the
> lnx-bbc and edit her system that way.  I downloaded the system and
> booted with it but I could not mount her C drive nor get it out of read
> only mode.=20
>=20
> Could someone respond to this email with some instructions on how to us=
e
> the lnx-bbc to remove these dastardly programs.  I would really
> appreciate the assistance.=20

First off, the XP system is probably using NTFS so you'd need a large CD
based distro like Knoppix that includes Captive, the linux software that
uses the proprietary NTFS drivers to allow editing of windows drives.
The purpose of lnx-bbc is more to offer a portable wallet sized distro
so it doesn't have the space for many things.  Besides, unlike DSL
linux, lnx-bbc has unfortunately not offered a new release in a long
time.  I think even before Captive became stable.

Secondly, simply booting an alternate operating system won't fix your
system if you don't know where to go and what to fix.

There are a few virus scanners for linux you might want to try,
including one that runs off the web.  McAffee AntiVirus has a version
for linux you could try.
http://www.openantivirus.org/virushammer.php
This one can be run off the web.

But really, the point of booting an alternate OS is to try to squash
memory resident stuff, avoid windows excessive file locking, and to try
and avoid stuff that is subverting your scan software.

If you don't even know what to remove, you'll have a hard time starting.
I'd have to recommend you go with AdAware or some similar windows
product and try to remove things.
If anything isn't getting removed due to locks, you could try removing
those in Linux.

And one final question.  Depending on what your daughter uses her
computer for - maybe it should just be installed as Linux? :)
A linux machine can be highly custumised for kids...

Peace,
Derek