See the link and run the program it will get rid of the bloatware and Norton, then download avast let us know when you have gotten that far.

Here is a link that might be useful: decrapifier

Great choice of machine! I have just bought R61s for two of my daughters here in the U.K. because the X61s are silly prices over here.

I haven't the machines with me now so, going from memory, the first thing to do is press the blue "Think Lenovo?" button or select the same Tools menu from the Start button and create a set of recovery disks (ours needed 3 disks) - I decided to use DVDs. I would suggest that you create two sets of recovery disks because our first machine only used two disks the first time I made them and they would not work - it kept asking for the missing disk. The second set of three worked perfectly - as do all the others that I made. I know there is the built-in recovery software safely hidden on the hard drive but if you misunderstand the instructions and select the wrong option then you will need the disks. I have had to use both methods on both of my daughter's machines whilst removing bloat and doing what to me are normal programme installations and routine housekeeping. (See my bluetooth notes later.)

Next, still in the same Think Lenovo menu, create your first system backup onto the hard drive.

Then get your choice if antivirus installed - I used a memory stick to transfer a copy that I had downloaded onto another computer so that I didn't have to worry about going online without any protection. If you have already gone online then Norton will have automatically started to install to protect you - so it might take a bit longer to remove it all later.

Now for the important "keep you out of trouble" tips; If you have bluetooth the first time you use it switch it on with Fn+F5 (?) then click the bluetooth icon in the system tray and WAIT for ALL the different sections to initialise - otherwise you will be doing your first recovery exercise! Bluetooth works perfectly but very easily gets itself muddled up. Make regular backups as you progress through setting up your computer so that it is quicker to restore what you have already done if you suddenly find that bluetooth has stopped working.

I have always done registry clean-ups on all of my computers after removing the pre-installed bloat and installing new programme because there are hundreds of unwanted entries that are left behind. I am not an expert but I use various registry cleaners every day without any problems. The R61s have put a stop to most of that! Bluetooth is the main offender when using the dedicated registry cleaners and I have decided not to waste any more time hunting for the actual entry that must not be changed. Thankfully for me, CCleaner still works perfectly PROVIDING YOU UNTICK THE ACTIVEX AND CLASS ISSUES box before cleaning the registry otherwise bluetooth stops again. The old freeware jv16 Power Tools also works without causing any problems.

I don't know how Lenovo have setup XP on your computer (I managed to buy XP versions) but you could phone them on their free 30? day new owner help line to ask because when restoring ours back to factory setup there is a very useful option to load everything except the bloat.

Colin

Zep - I did the decrapifier and uninstalled Norton. Then downloaded Avast. Now I need to go to sleep and pick this up tomorrow.

Colin - thanks so much for your guidance. I will get to your suggestions tomorrow as well. My computer does have bluetooth - but I don't even know what that is/does. Could you enlighten me. If I don't actually go and "open" or "run" it, will it be active? Or is it automatically on whenever I go on the internet. I went on my home network briefly - just to download firefox and the decrapifier and Avast. Hopefully I didn't uninstall anything critical. I don't think I did. But I will back up my programs to dvd before doing anything else tomorrow.

I also have XP on my computer.

Sleepiness reigns. I'll check back tomorrow.

thank you.
Lynn.

Lynn do create system restore points at every step!!! then should you need to go back you have it set up, name each step in system restore, such as Removing Norton, installing Avast, etc.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

there ya go that is the malwarebytes.

here is the tutorial to setting up AVast including how to set up scheduled scans with task scheduler.
How to Install, Configure, and Use Avast Antivirus
on the download page of Avast on the left are pdf user manual that you should read and follow, it tells how to set up your screensaver to do Avast scans.

be sure you add spywareblaster and remember to update it weekly.
SpywareBlaster 4.1

here is the link to secunia inspector, on this page is the link to the one you can install too if you want it.
Secunia Online Software Inspector

here is the link to belarc
Belarc
I like to print out a list when I first get a pc so I have the base line to keep handy in my files.

here is Revo uninstaller it is very good at getting rid of unwanted stuff.
Revo Uninstaller

this is a very good guide to keep handy
How to secure my NEW computer
Home Computer How To guide

Firewalls and ZoneAlarm Guide and Tips

you may want to go to Norton site and also get their specific removal tool for the version you have on your pc and run it to make sure you have all the bits and pieces out.

Lynn - I hope I haven't confused you too much but I desperately wanted to save you falling into some of the traps that I did.

Believe me there is no worse feeling than dad choosing very expensive, top spec machines for daughters who's only "must have" extra was bluetooth - and then have a computer sitting there doing nothing except repeatedly saying "insert the disk"! Especially as I had chosen Lenovos because they have built-in recovery software to make life easier for the girls to sort out their own computer problems if I am not around.

DVDs, Start-up disks, Recovery, Backup, Restore, Windows System Restore plus your Own Data Backups - by trying to keep my previous post brief I haven't explained things well enough so naturally you are thinking about your regular Own Data Backup DVDs and not what I meant.

The Lenovo blue button menu is the starting point for:

1. Creating a Start-up disk (essential but hopefully / probably never needed - only used if you cannot boot normally from the hard drive).

2. Recovery disks [my R61 makes 2 disks] (essential but very rarely used - normally only after having to use the Start-up disk. By making them soon after getting the computer you will store most of the factory settings).

3. Pressing the blue button as the computer begins to start leads to a menu that does 1 and 2 by using the hidden recovery files that Lenovo saved on the hard drive.

4. Backup saves everything "permanantly" on the computer hard drive and can also save to CD/DVD. Later backups can either add anything new on to the end of the last backup or you can choose to start a new file.

5. Restore reloads anything that has been backed up - choose what you need.

Then there are the normal

6. Windows System Restore that saves settings but not "permanantly".

7. Your old favourite Own Data Backup / Restore programme - not really needed now because number 4 does the same job.

Next bluetooth - it is another low powered wireless system used for connecting cordless headsets, pocket pc and cell phones etc. to the computer or to each other in order to transfer files, photos and contacts lists etc.

You have to switch bluetooth on / off using the Fn+F5 keys (Function and F5 both pressed at the same time). When running the computer on its battery, bluetooth is normally switched off so that the battery lasts longer.

Colin

Okay - now I'm a bit more confused. Or I'm awake enough to realize how much I don't know.

Firstly - when I used the decrapifier it prompted me to set a restore point, so I did. But other than that, I don't know how to set a system restore point. How do I do that?

When I turned my computer on, it said I wasn't protected with antivirus. I downloaded AVAST (or I think I did). I thought it would automatically install when I restarted the computer - but I guess not. I do have a set up icon on my desktop - that I think is for AVAST - but I don't recognize the name of the publisher. Raven - I'll have to check your link above and see how to install AVAST?

The only other things I did last night were to install Firefox 3 and some addons. Reading Raven's other post about clickjacking (not that I really understand that), I hope I didn't get myself in trouble. I didn't get redirected to any sites - but I did click on links to see additional Firefox add-ons - Oops - and also signed up for Last.fm (I think that is the name - for the internet music station).

Before I install AVAST - since I'm not connected to the internet on my laptop, I think the next steps are to do the back-up DVD's of the operating system. Colin - I assumed you meant backing up XP - not personal data and documents (since I don't have any of those yet on that computer). Other than that, I'm a bit confused (okay - a lot confused) by your second post. In point #3, are you telling me that the blue button will walk me through steps 1 and 2 - or is there a third step? perhaps a lot more will be clear once I click the lenovo blue button menu. Hopefully that will make some of the steps more clear. I'm not sure what the difference is between a back up starter disk and recovery disk (I thought they were one and the same). again, the menu may prompt me through those steps.

I don't understand the different between back up, restore, and Windows system restore.

For now, I don't think I'll be using bluetooth for anything. If I ever decide to try it, I'll refer back to your post first.

Thanks for all the help. Thank goodness for this forum. I'd have no sense of how to proceed without you guys.

Lynn.

Lynn setting system restore points is super easy to do and I say to do them often at each step of any change because should that change cause a problem then you can go right to that restore point you created and restore to it and be like it never happened. I always do a lot of restore points when I do clean ups and add programs.
How to Restore a Windows XP system to a previous State using System Restore
How does System restore work?

Back up means putting your files or data or copy of your hard drive on some other media like cd or dvd or flash drive or usb hard drive. So that should your pc crash you can go to where ever you backed up your stuff to and recover it and put it back.

Windows system restore is what I just gave you the links for it allows you to create restore points on your pc so that if you need to go back in time to a point prior to some problem then you just use a restore point and it returns your pc to the way it was at the time you created that restore point.

Restore is using a restore point to take your pc back in time to the date of the restore point you have chosen.

Yes Lynn you definitely have to install AVASt just downloading it only puts the install exe on your pc it does not install it, you have to double click on that to get the program installed, follow the guide I gave you and also on the Avast download page on the left you will find an install guide and a user guide I highly suggest you review those and or make copies to have on hand, I printed them and put them in a folder myself.
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Document
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Document
avast!
YOU will have to follow the directions to get your Avast registered also or it will not continue to function, it is free but must be registered.
The AVAST set up is called setupeng.exe by ALWIL

As soon as you have your AVAST set up you should consider your firewall if you will be installing one which I would suggest, but if you don't do that right away at least go turn on the XP firewall for some protection. That is in Control Panel, Security center.
Then you will want to go to the windows update site and get your windows updates, there will probably be a lot of them.

You should be fine just going to get firefox but it is best to get your AV and firewall turned on and active before going online again.

Golly this is getting complicated - I knew that it would! It is no problem to me except that the posts get pretty long.

Lynn - Following your latest post, the highest priority is to get your antivirus installed and running immediately and then run a full scan before you do anything else. There is no point in doing any backups while there is any possibility of already being infected.

--- I think the next steps are to do the back-up DVD's of the operating system. ---
Yes, but after you have done the antivirus scan.

--- Colin - I assumed you meant backing up XP - not personal data and documents (since I don't have any of those yet on that computer). ---
Yes, everything (or as much as is possible of what was on the computer when it left the factory).

--- In point #3, are you telling me that the blue button will walk me through steps 1 and 2 ---
Sorry - badly described again. #3 would have been better placed as a note at the end rather than in the middle of a sequence of steps trying to explain what features are available and it what order they are used.

Another attempt to explain #3 - When you create a Start Up DVD using step 1 that exact same data has already been stored by Lenovo into a hidden location on your hard drive. Similarly, all of the Recovery data saved on the DVDs in step 2 has also already been saved on your hard drive by Lenovo. So later, if things go wrong, then you can simply press the blue button as the computer is starting up and follow the instructions to get it working again WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SETTINGS / PROGRAMMES. This feature has been provided just so that you don't have to hunt around for the DVDs. Of course with computers being computers, this method doesn't always work so then you have to use the DVDs instead.

--- I'm not sure what the difference is between a back up starter disk and recovery disk ---
The Start Up disk has just the files needed to make the computer switch on (simplified version!). The Recovery disk has everything else that was on the computer when the DVDs were created so you can get back to the original Factory Settings.

--- I don't understand the different between back up, restore, and Windows system restore. ---
Backup (from the blue button menu) saves everything that is on your computer at the current time. Restore reloads everything that was saved in a Backup. Later, from another menu there are also other options to choose what files to backup and how you want to do it. Similarly there is also a Restore menu so you can choose just what you want to restore. These Backup files are stored "permanently" on your hard drive until you choose to delete them.

Windows System Restore only saves some of the current settings and not everything that is on your computer (simplified version). When the allocated storage space for Windows System Restore becomes full the oldest restore points are deleted so you have lost your safety net (simplified version).

Finally for this post, Blue button menus - there are two of them. One type displays if the button is pressed as the computer is starting up and a different one displays if the computer is already running.

Colin

Thank you Colin for your time and patience. I'm making progress. Here's what I've done so far:

- made back up dvd's of the entire hard drive (took just 3 dvd's - almost fit on two with just a little bit left over). I did as I was prompted by the Lenovo menu.

- installed AVAST and ran a standard virus scan. No viruses were found.

- created system restore points before each step.
- turned on the XP firewall

Still have to:

-get microsoft updates
- install and run superantispyware, malwarebytes,spywareblaster 4/1
- consider getting zone alarm
- run secunia
- run belarc and print results
- install canon printer software (it's part of wireless network)
- get itunes (no rush on that - music's on the desktop)

-PLAY - SURF - EXPLORE

Anything I left out or need to do differently?

Thanks Colin and Ravencajun.

Lynn.

Zone Alarm is good many use it and it works fine, there are some systems where it can slow boot up time chances are it will work fine on yours, just something to keep in mind.

Make sure the printer software does not install other items you do not need printer software is notorious for that you may get an option to do a custom install and uncheck items you would not use.

What I would do is take note of your add/remove programs list before and after the software install..

Oops!

ravencajun,

My apologies. I posted before refreshing the page so I didn't know that you had already answered most of Lynn's questions.

Then, to make matters worse, the site would not let me post this apology immediately following my own post.

Lynn - I spoke to Lenovo during their free 30 day support period concerning my bluetooth problems. They were very insistent that I should do all of their own computer updates (blue button again!) plus all the Microsoft updates (I am always very cautious about which ones I need to apply), and then seek further help if there was still a problem. Anticipating ongoing problems I decided to comply - well almost, it's my computer so I decide! Being as I had no personal data on the computer there was nothing to lose so I did all of the Microsoft updates including SP3 - I even allowed IE7 that came ready loaded to stay while I gave it a try alongside Firefox. I was truly amazed that no Microsoft update related problems have shown up so far. (I have since put SP3 on two other new XP computers without any problems.)

Incidentally the bluetooth update easily gets it working again but it still breaks the same as it did before.

Colin

no problem Colin that same thing has happened to me here several times, since we have no options to edit we are stuck with it. Thanks for helping out!

when it tries to block you from re-posting right away just add some eee's to the RE in the title/subject that changes it enough to let the post go through.

I tried a full stop on the end but that wasn't good enough and I didn't want to risk messing up the subject title!

Colin

Colin - your explanations of restore, system restore, back up, etc were very helpful. They were a very useful edition to what Ravencajun wrote - it didn't seem repetitive to me. I think I can really use any reiteration at this point. Now I actually understand that the system can be backed up to a hidden spot on the hard drive as well as my backing it up on dvd - to be used in the event that the hard drive back up doesn't work. By George, I think I've got it...........Well - at least that part.

I'm not sure that I saw any option to create a back up start-up disk. Was that automatically included when I backed up the entire hard drive - or is there a separate step I should take?

I also realize that I hadn't understood what you meant by blue button. I was looking at an actual blue button the thinkpad keyboard. Will that button do - or should I be looking for something else. I didn't not notice any blue buttons on the screen (except the Avast buttons in the task bar).

Raven - I have a question about revo uninstaller. What would it uninstall? I noticed that I have Office on my computer but I don't know if it came with Office - or if this is a trial program. Is there a way I can figure that out? If it's a trial, I'd like to remove it. If it's permanent, I'll keep it. I know I did not get Microsoft Word with this and thought I had chosen no office software. I was planning on getting open office for the few times I might need to work on a word document (working on a document that is in Word on my desktop).

Zep - good point about the printer software. I know when I chose the Canon mx850 and was researching printers, these were considered much better in terms of minimal bloatware (than say the HP's). I know when I installed the software on my desktop (and my daughter's) that several files were installed, but I think I want them all. The computer is networked so I can scan documents to any of our computers - print from any computer, fax from any computer, etc. I'm not sure how I would determine if any of those canon files are bloatware.

More on my progress:

-I did do all the lenovo updates.
-ran javara and updated java and removed old programs.

-installed and ran malwarebytes, spywareblaster.

Any particular settings I should choose for spywareblaster,malwarebytes or Avast? I have so far just chosen the defaults - but don't know if I should "protect?" cookies - or anything else. And I just realized that I forgot to install superantispyware. For Avast, I did not set up scans on the screensaver - because at this point I will be turning the computer off if it is not being used for a while. If I just happen to walk away for 20 minutes or so, I don't want a scan automatically running that I have to wait to finish - or interrupt and cancel it - and run it manually later. Does it seem okay to just run it manually? If so, how often? Maybe I should use the screensaver option?

I think "protecting (I know that's the wrong word - unselecting ?) cookies was for ccleaner - not anti-spyware programs. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

So now I'm off to get superantispyware - run secunia and get any necessary updates - and set up the printer software.

This is extremely gratifying to be able to do this (with everyone's help). It really helps me to understand what's going on with my computer.

Thanks.
Lynn.

PS - if I get open office, is there anyplace in particular I should download it from? Are there parts to download and parts to avoid - or do I just download the whole program?

Lynn - I only have time for two quick answers at the moment.

You only need one Start Up disk because it never changes.

Get OpenOffice from Sun Java (where you get the java updates) because it is now "owned" by Sun. I would get the whole lot and decide what you want to keep (assuming you have a fast connection because it's big). I personally don't use it because Excel macros won't work - they use a different language.

Colin

Lynn Office is an expensive program I doubt you got it free so my guess is it is a trial but I would bet somewhere in your documentation for the pc it tells you that, look at the specs for it and see if it says trial version. If so keep it till it expires.

you can get open office and have MS office too that is not a problem. For me open office comes pre loaded with my linux distro so I have never had to download it. But it is offered now with the new updates from java.
OpenOffice.org
be sure to get the windows version.

Revo uninstaller will show you a list of everything on your pc and you can use it to uninstall programs, to see what is starting up at start up and to change that or stop something from starting up, if you go to the site there are some good screenshots and instructions on the various aspects of the program.

for Avast I would go to that bleeping computer tutorial and set it up the way they say to, put the slider on max and I do thorough scan. The screensaver will just stop when you come back to the pc and use it then when it starts again it picks up right where it left off, it is made to operate that way. I have it set up on my pc, I followed the directions on the pdf user manual. Since Avast is always scanning everything that comes on your pc the regular full scans are not as important.

spywareblaster all you have to do is open it hit the update button let it get the updates then go to the protection shield and hit the enable all protection button that is all do it about once a week.

Lynn - Yes it is the blue button on the keyboard. The menu that it displays (once Windows has loaded) can also be displayed from the Start button.

Colin