I'll answer part of your questions. If you use an antivirus program and a program like Malwarebytes, it may be possible to clean up the computer without reinstalling the OS. However, reinstalling the OS is one way to do it, too. The advantage of the latter approach is: 1) typically the drive is totally cleaned and the process should wipe out any lurking viruses (without having to hunt for them), and 2) the computer should run faster because the re-install will cleanup all the untidy bits that routinely accumulate as a computer is used, and bog it down. In fact, some people do this once or twice a year just to perk up their computers. So there is nothing inherently bad about it...but it will require: 1) all files worth saving (pictures, music, word processing, etc.) to be transferred to an external drive, 2) scanning of those files to make sure none of them is harboring a virus, 3) a reinstall of all software added after the computer was delivered new (including effective antivirus software), and 4) a re-transfer of all the saved files back to the cleaned-up computer. It sounds like your son's friend is computer savvy, and I'd let him use his judgment about what needs to be done.

What anti-virus is your son using??? How much memory does his computer have. It could also be a lot of running processes at startup causing the slowdown.
After ensuring that his system is cleaned, I would suggest in downloading, installing, updating SpywareBlaster. It stops a lot of nasties from loading and runs all the time in the background. Its free as well. You must remember to update the signatures every few days.

thirdfrt...
Over the years, people have brought me computers to 'clean up' because they were running slow. What usually happens is they wait until the computer simply won't go online anymore, or it's so slow they cannnot stand waiting for pages to load etc.
I normally start out with the idea in mind to 'find' all the trojans, viruses etc., and hopefully that will do the job. I've spent entire weekends on one computer, tracking down viruses and trojans...so I know it can be done.
I don't, however, necessarily recommend it as a fun hobby.

It is easier to wipe out the current OS and start over, and, doing so, does clean out all the junk accumulated over time.
Hope this helps..
txKen

Hi genes,

You must have overlooked what I first posted. To save you time in going back and having to read the whole thing over again I have placed it below.

He also has Macafee antivirus installed and his OS is Windows XPSP3.

He has SpywareBlaster, I failed to post that above. I have no idea how much memory he has left but I do remember him saying something about his having a lot of pictures on his computer.

Thank you for your post back to me. I do appreciate it.

Hi kudzu9,

Thanks for your post, there is a bunch of good information there, that I will send his way. I know he will really appreciate your info and so does his mom. "Smiles"

Hey txken,

Yes, your post was helpful, knowing that it is pretty routine to wipe out a computer and start over. The reason I brought this up was because a long time ago I had a tech wipe out one of my computers twice and then I was told by someone that it shouldn't be done. But the guy who did my computer finally got it fixed and I never had a problem with it. I got a new computer later which is the one I have now. I know that things have changed over the years and I am sure that fixing a computer has changed along with the new OS's technology, so that is why I asked and I didn't want my son going the wrong way if there was another way of doing it.

Now I know and I really appreciate your help as well.

BTW has anyone here heard of or used ibit security 360? Is it any good?

Thanks Again.

thirdfrt!!!

Thirdfrt: Yes, I must have overlooked the McAfee. It is known to let all kinds of bad stuff by. My second question "how much memory". I think you may have misunderstood and replied to "how much hard drive space does he have left". No, I was wondering how much RAM is on his machine. Go to Start>Control Panel>System.
If you choose to wipe and start over, make sure all the pics etc are burned to CDs etc and any other info you want is backed up because it will be gone on completion of the reinstall of the Operating system

Ha ha, along the lines of Ken's post I had a computer 3 days ago failed to start due to corrupt or missing files - but "It could not have a virus because it is on dialup and we pay only $18 per year"

Well, closer inspection found 4 viruses and 18 Trojans. Also it had AVG 7.5 last updated in 2007 plus AdAware and Spybot both last used in 2006

I personally would not use any iobit products they are the ones that recently were found to have stolen and used Malwarebytes Intellectual Property. They are a Chinese company, some very suspect things have been coming out in the news recently about them. Not who I want protecting me.
IOBit Steals Malwarebytes Intellectual Property

Thirdfrt, there was a discussion about IObit in November. I linked it below, you might want to go back and read in order to make a more informed decision. FWIW, at that time I was using IObit and thought it was pretty slick, but the discussion convinced me that I was better off uninstalling it and using Malwarebytes instead.

Here is a link that might be useful: forum IObit discussion

Hi ravencajun and silvervista,

Thank you so much for this information. I read it and was shocked to see this. I immediately sent this to my son and told him to tell his friend who was recommending it. He has downloaded Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware.

I told him when he first mentioned it that Malwarebytes was a great program and he downloaded it but his friend was saying it was better than Malwarebytes and I thought I never heard of it before and that is why I posted it here.

I figured if there was something wrong that someone here would know about it. Thank you so much for letting me know about this. I am going to also call my son to tell him that I have sent him the links about this program, so that he won't miss it.

Genes,

I will also send him the message, as far as his computer is concerned I really don't know what he has but I do know it is a Dell Computer and newer than mine. I will let him know how to find this out if that is he is able to boot up. Right now his wife is having health issues and the computer is at the bottom of the list for now. This has given me a chance to warn him before he did anything. He said that he ran Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware and didn't find anything but, his friend got on his computer and said he had trojans and something else that I can't remember off hand.

The people who built my computer wanted to put McAfee on here and I told them absolutely not and I told them to put Norton in instead. Afterward they started recommending Norton because they found out that it did a better job. Sometimes these computer companies don't give you a choice and that is why I preferr having one made and then I do have a choice.

Thanks again for the heads up, it is greatly appreciated.

thirdfrt!!!

Thirdfrt, the IoBit program does contain some cleaning operations, much like CCleaner, whereas Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware are strictly malware scanners. So he might like to put CCleaner on his computer if he does not already have it.

I know this isn't the place to vent but the opportunity is hard to pass up...

China.. I have come to dislike for many reasons with technology.
One of the universities is constantly into ports on my verizon modem/router logs. I turned off logging so I don't go mad watching the router rules block it every day over and over.
I can not think of a nice reason for them to be searching probably every IP number in america so rapidly for certain open port#'s.

Hi grandms,

He told me that he has a program that cleans things up but not sure if it is CCleaner, I will check with him about that. Thanks.

Hi mikie,

I know this isn't the place to vent but the opportunity is hard to pass up...

I don't mind you venting, sometimes it can be a good thing. It can keep you from pulling your hair out or from throwing your computer out the window, and it actually can put you in a better frame of mind.
I think your venting just allowed you to get fresh air and also allowed you to let some steam escape. I see nothing wrong with getting extra fresh air. "Smiles"

thirdfrt!!!