Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with system and computer

Virus Scan Company That Accepts Submissions?

Quarter Pincher — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:31:59 -0800

Do any of the major virus-scan software sites permit sending in a questionable programs for possible addition to the ongoing alerts? Ultimately, I'm wondering whether the Marie Brighton / Synovate computer survey is safe to take -- they're asking me to install and run this program that sends them details about my machine (system name, machine name, installed devices, various settings, etc). It sounds really hokey. I don't want to just share the program with the world, here, in case it has account-related information along with it already.

Pretty much all the details are here, and requests to see whether I can just check off a manual survey of "do you have this"-style questions merely state that I'd only get the incentive ($20) for running the program. I've saved-as the program, but haven't run it yet. I'm just fine with simply not running it, but there doesn't seem to be any coverage of the subject on the web much at all, and I'm sure someone else would like to know also.

As for the original question -- I'm curious as to whether there's a well-established scanner/etc site out there that accepts user submissions of questionable programs, instead of just checking it with a scan. I'd like vastly superior details on the program, not just a red or a green flag.

User Migration between PCs

zephyr_words — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:21:20 -0800

What programs\packages are available that allow one to plug a cable into one pc, the other end to another pc, and then migrate the data? I know there are other better ways to do this but I'm specifically looking for a USB cable in-between the two PCs or a regular network cable. Something like this http://www.belkin.com/easytransfercable/advantages/

If you are aware of any regular programs that are very good at user migration (does not have to have the cable requirement) I would love to hear those as well.

XP to XP, Vista to Vista, XP to Vista.

Thanks a lot MeFi!

What was that password again?

al_fresco — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:02:03 -0800

In Windows XP, is there a way to see the password that is stored in the system to log into a wireless network? In OS X, this is easy – one just goes to Keychain Access, looks up the entry, and by entering an administrator password one can see the given password. Is there a way to do this in XP? I'm not a Windows person, so don't know where to look.

This is for a client for whom I set up a wireless network over a year ago. She created the password and it's stored in her system, as she connects fine to the network. She now wants to get another computer onto the network. I guess I need to start saving clients' passwords.

'Network' management improvements for a small business needed.

wylde21 — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:28:55 -0800

Suggestions to improve 'Network' management for a small business? See for more details. I just started working for a small company and need some input on better system/equipment for the company "network". Everyone is using Windows XP operating system.

Current hardware:
- One wall-wart CAT cable highspeed internet connection into the office.
- One D-Link wireless router with the CAT connection inputed. The router is then CAT cable connected to (a) a ‘network’ printer (which is then shared by all the workers via wireless router), (b) a stand alone enclosed 250GB Netdisk harddrive (which is then shared by all the workers via wireless router), and (c) the older desktop computer described below.
- One older (Pentium 3) desktop system that is ‘hardwired’ into the D-Link wireless router. This system is the extra computer that is used as backup if someone leaves their laptop at home.
- Five newer (all Centrino) laptops that each worker brings home every night. Some of the workers wirelessly occasionally backup key files to the 250GB Netdisk harddrive, but the connection is so slow that it is done infrequently.

Current shared network:
- The above mentioned wireless connection to the 250GB Netdisk harddrive
- The above mentioned wireless connection to a shared printer
- The company has a service that hosts the company’s website, operates the email service, and also provides some drive space to store files. The service is a couple cities over, and those stored files are accessed via SharePoint. Unfortunately, SharePoint over our connection is horribly slow and does not seem to be a real option for common use.

How things currently work:
- Each worker maintains all current work on their individual laptops, with rare backups to the 250GB Netdisk harddrive (if in the office), or through SharePoint (if on the road).
- The in office wireless connection speed is slow. I am not sure if this is a limitation of the wireless (newer D-Link system), the number of connected laptops (up to 5), some combination, or something else.
- The way the 250GB Netdisk harddrive is set up (via wireless) is such that it hs to be mounted everytime the computer is turned of or leaves the office. This mount is often lost (not sure why), so the drive has to be remounted several times a day. The connection to the Netdisk harddrive is also slow….but this may be a fuction of the wireless connection, as opposed to the drive itself, being slow.

What I would like to have:
- Fast connection to the internet for all the office computers. Does this mean we have to run CAT cables all around the office and manually plug-in?
- A common drive(s) that everyone in the office can read/write to and have fast (as fast as connection to individual computer harddrives) connection to. Do I need to add a server to the office to do this, or can the current 250GB Netdisk harddrive somehow be hardwired to do this?
- I want to insure security of the system. I’m not sure if the current wireless arrangement does that. Can people outside the office pick up the signal, and if so, how do I secure it?
- I want to insure that all work is backed up on a regular basis, but to get everyone to do that will require making it simple (software suggestions?) and easy (faster network connection).

I appreciate your suggestions. Being a small company, costs are an issue. But to get the right system I am willing to push for needed improvements.

How can i restore my computer to factory standards?

TwilightKid — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 19:40:16 -0800

In a nutshell. I have a PC running Windows XP, personal edition. I want to restore the computer to factory standards (when i got it out of the box). No CD's or Discs came withthe computer. IS there a way to do this through XP? Its a HP 523n Desktop, and I have had the computer almost 3 years.... (more) The long of it is....At some point, I downloaded something bad which infested my computer with adware, spyware, and viruses. I went through Metafilter, reserached all the solutions; downloaded every single spyware and adware removal programs I could get my hands on, and cleaned my system as well as I can. I cleaned the registry. I went into safe mode, i did all sort of other suggestions as well......When running programs, they detect no viruses or spy/adware......

However, i still get uncontrollable pop ups....I use explorer, which I will switch over to Firefox when i get past this...

But, i cant live like this no more...If anyone has any ideas or solutions for me before i go ahead with the redotre, please let me know....

if not, if someone could guide me how to restore the system...I figured out how to restore it to an earlier date, but not all the way.

much thanks