Jazz
Thanks for the huge response. It looks like I have a pile to check out.
I do appologize...I led you astray. I use ms outlook not out look exp. I've used both and just got confused.
I'll answer a few questions now and more later.
I do a weekly scan for virus but rarely find anything. I often get notes that a dangerous file has arrived (email) and follow the advice to remove or quarantine it. I also watch MS for updates and add those that seem to apply. This computer is not networked however it is vital to me.
Yes I'm a pack rat when it comes to saving things. As it turns out I rarely use old things. But you never know.....
I probably should put a lot of stuff on a cd or 2. I haven't even used that facility yet. This guy is really out in rt field. huh.?
To my knowledge kazaa is not on my system as I strictly forbid down loads of any music file, unknown shareware. I do not allow chat rooms, on line messaging...in fact the kids are not allowed to use this computer for any online things due to previous abuse. No one out side of my family at home is allowed to touch this thing.
p2p..?? pardon me for being dumb. I'm just a mech eng. and live in a world of gears and shafts and have no knowledge of bits and pieces.
what is this?? I hope I haven't caught it.
system restore...as it turns out I was able to use this contrary to a lot of na sayers.. It fixed a problem with email and MS Word page format. However what you are saying is scary and is certainly taken as good advise.
I will have to check Norton Ghost 2003.
I do have Symantec with the firewall. I really hope the fires haven't burned through
LOL.
I will try to run the programs listed either today or tonight and see what happens.
I use this computer for engineering things mostly and houshold matters and sending and receiving email. . I rarely down load programs except proven engineering stuff. I vist a few special interest tech forums..like this...put my .02cents in when appropriate. pretty boring I'm told.
As a side note in the last 3 weeks about 75% of the popups have disappeared. Great...they were very annoying. Possibly my symantec is working. Even on a couple sites notorious for popups they have disappeared. Maybe the site owners have listens to us.
I do clean cookies and history daily. only those I really need remain. Surprisingly the list is not long.
Anyway I'm going to proceed as you noted and I'll post results as soon as possible.
thanks again !!!!
bentwings