Reasons to keep your computer virus free.

Here is a story to hopefully encourage everyone to keep there computer tidy and virus free...

After Si's computer decided to continually blue screen after having downloaded a program from Limewire and we spent several hours trying uninstall various bits of software that seemed to be causing problems but we had not managed to solve the problem. It was then decided it was a lost cause and the only option was to get a new PC. So heres a timeline on the events of trying to get a new PC to work.

09:30 Leave to drive to Portsmouth to purchase a Barebones PC

11:45 returned with a base unit and new HDD a genuine copy of XP!

12:30 Having unpacked the PC we find it has no Video Card.

12:45 Get a 2nd Hand Video Card from local computer shop

13:00 Install Windows

13:20 Windows installed but we find the CD Drive now doesn't work in normal windows mode but
does in 'Safe Mode'

13:20 --> 17:00 Various cursing, swapping of equipment, cables and connectors, installing stuff in safe mode, a bit of re-installing and loads more cursing.

Finally get a different CD-ROM Drive working in normal mode.

Microsoft's troubleshooting program is useless.

17:15 Now connect old HDD and scan for viruses to new system

17:15:01 Beer Time! while scanning

18:15 The HDD had 13 viruses on it.

10 points to anyone who can why the old computer was crippled!

I.T. Tip of the day (Virus Scan everything, Download as little as possible from suspect sources and keep the virus scanner up to date).