topic Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format? in PCs & Accessories

Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

zero5uk — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:00:57 GMT

Well, those bloody Polish guys have been up to no good on my PC

1 of them reckons himself as a bit of a computer expert. He kept moaning that my PC (NV109M XP home 2002) is slower than it should be. He said he formats his C drive every few months to keep it clear of clutter and at optimum speed. Anyway, he downloaded a spyware programme on my PC called Trak Zapper and a virus programme called AVG. Do you know these? He said Norton was crap. AVG found about 200 infected files on my PC including my div x and Xvid codecs (for example). Im not sure how picky this virus sofware really is. Anyway one of the files was system 32 but AVG did not wipe it. I clicked heal to see what happened and that wiped it (ahhh excellent), so now i dont have a system 32 file and when i turn on my computer i get a message saying it cant find system 32. I gather this is quite bad, though my PC is still working. Is there a way of getting system 32 back??

He said he can get XP prof for me, if i do format what precautions do i need to take? ive put my documents on my IPOD for safety. Thing is, il lose NERO and Office and all the sony software (not that i use it). Im not sure whether to format or not esp considering i dont have any of the original CD's drivers etc.

Id really appreciate opinions

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

kee-lo_ — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:58:52 GMT

Your Polish friend is right about AVG - it's a very good virus scanner, shame it deleted System32.dll on you. Run the repair console which is on XP's CD. I am suprised he's not doing this for you

Why do you want to upgarde to XP Pro when you have Home?

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

zero5uk — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:01:26 GMT

Yo Keelo. I like the slight attitude in your reply

Well, he hasent done what you said because remember, i have no CD's at all.

Also ive heard that system 32 is a useless file, which you don't want back. It's some sort of Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware.

The Pol keeps wanting to get into BIOS (shall i let the bugger)

He says XP prof is much better than Home, but i have the non shitty 2002 version.

Also he keeps on about my system not using its maximum 512 ram. How can i check if my system is efficient or not?

Go Keelo GO!!!

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

zero5uk — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:07:56 GMT

Also ive heard that system 32 is a useless file, which you don't want back. It's some sort of Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware

Can i quote myself well it looks i cant use the quote function, this is more concerning than my real PC problem!!

This is what ive also read that you might find interesting:

System 32 is an architecture that Intel developed. Back in the 1980s, there were 16 bit computers, possibly running Windows 3.1/ 3.11 or earlier. The transition to 32 bit means that it can process more data at a faster speed - e.g. Windows XP is a pure 32 bit operating system. No 286 would be able to execute it. AMD has just released the Athlon 64 which as the name suggests is a 64 bit processor which runs even faster than 32 bit code. Microsoft has or is about to release "Windows XP 64 bit edition". Lastly, System32 is a folder that is crucial to the operating system and stores important things that are not to be touched, or you might find yourself in a bit of trouble. I hope you have learnt what "system32" is.

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

kee-lo_ — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:11:34 GMT

Theres a trojan that pretends to be system 32, he's right there.
I would leave the BIOS alone

As for the memory Sandra is the best.

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

TygerTyger — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:01:34 GMT

Your friend sounds awfully keen lol. Those types make me nervous :smileygrin: I agree with Kee-Lo, don't fiddle with the BIOS unless you have reason.

As for the RAM, right click on My Computer and choose Properties. At the bottom of the bit that appears is the amount of RAM your computer is using. It should say 512Mb if thats what you have. If it's 511Mb or something don't worry. If it's half that, or some bizarre number then you should worry. By default a computer will use every little bit of power it can, especially it's RAM. To do otherwise it would have to be either screwed up somewhere or specifically told not to. Why is it that he thinks it's not using all it's RAM?

Re: Trak zapper spyware and AVG.Ive lost system 32! should i format?

kee-lo_ — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:18:50 GMT

Yeah I wonder why he's so keen