[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Sleuth

Jimbo--we have spybot, but a little late. Can you recommend a good firewall?

Zonealarm, Use the basic version as its free and its perfectly adequate for your needs, get it from downloads.com.

will need an initial bit of configuration to start off with but its easy enough to do.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by jimbo

Zonealarm, Use the basic version as its free and its perfectly adequate for your needs, get it from downloads.com.

will need an initial bit of configuration to start off with but its easy enough to do.

We'll do it if the computer can be resurrected.

[shiver]

Originally Posted by Sleuth

Our home computer is dead. Dell said it is a virus (lsass.exe) and that we would have to reinstall Windows. They said this would destroy all our data files, unless we had someone copy them first.
So, can anyone recommend a service that can recover files from a dead computer and then reinstall Windows? Back home we'd run to the "Geek Squad", not sure what to do here.
In a perfect world the service would come to me, rather than me carting the computer all over HK, but beggars can't be choosers.

i think best way to retrieve your files is to take your hard drive from your home computer and attach it to another computer that has windows and anti virus installed and just install the hard drive as slave.

you will have access to your files and a chance to save them before re-formatting (re-installing windows) your hard drive..

but if you are not really familiar with computers i guess best way is to hire a computer repairman..

wouldn't cost much..

[discobay]

It's not as easy as that. We must assume that he is using XP in which case the system drive is most certainly formatted using NTFS. That being the case there will be security to bypass when connected up as a "slave drive". Should be easy but not for the average user.

[Sleuth]

It is XP and we really would like those files back so we are turning to a professional. Here's hoping it won't cost that much.

[jayinhongkong]

Unfortunately, with the way virii are evolving, even if you have McAfee/Norton/AVG, there are virii that can slip through. You can get pretty nasty virii just by visiting the wrong website. I format every six months or so.

[shiver]

Originally Posted by discobay

It's not as easy as that. We must assume that he is using XP in which case the system drive is most certainly formatted using NTFS. That being the case there will be security to bypass when connected up as a "slave drive". Should be easy but not for the average user.

even if your hard drive is in a NTSF format it is still as easy.
I myself always bring my HD from home to work and connect it through slave or by USB. no problem at all.

But i do agree with what jay said. that virus can do slip. so the best idea is to recover your files on a computer that doesn't have important files..

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by shiver

but if you are not really familiar with computers i guess best way is to hire a computer repairman..
wouldn't cost much..

It looks like this will cost about HK$700-900, assuming the data can be recovered at my apartment.

[shiver]

Originally Posted by Sleuth

It looks like this will cost about HK$700-900, assuming the data can be recovered at my apartment.

Well somewhere there i guess.. but am sure you can find cheaper ones..

[Sleuth]

Now it turns out the hard drive is bad. I was told that the 250 GB Dell hard drives aren't very "stable" and that the shock of moving probably started to kill it off.
That will jump the price towards US$500.