Originally Posted by Beachcomber (Post 4673584)

I don't think it will have done any damage but it deliberately gives you false positives (i.e. it tells you that you have spyware, adware or viruses when you don't) when you use it to scan your system to try to get you to pay for the program which, in reality, is probably not even as good as the totally free SpyBot.

There are many so-called antispyware programs such as this with names that are very similar and deliberately misleading but stick to the ones that have been mentioned here and if you are in any doubt ask on the forum for a link to the program you think you want to download.

Another good program which is not free is Acronis True Image with which you can make an absolute compressed 'ghost image' of your hard drive (obviously on to a separate drive) and if your computer crashes irretrievably you can restore the drive from the ghost image without having to reinstall Windows and without having to reload all of your programs and settings whilst retaining all of your documents and personal data.

http://eu.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

You can do incremental back-ups as often as you like and store it all on a separate stand-alone hard drive.

Have just seen your next post: They should do no harm in the bin. Also consider downloading CCleaner to get rid of the unused registry entries:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Originally Posted by Beachcomber (Post 4673768)

Registry entries can be left even after a program has been removed using add/remove programs.

CCleaner, among other things, scans the registry and gives you a list of items that can safely be removed. There is an option to back up the registry before doing so.

Have a look at the Acronis True Image site then you can decide if it is for you. It costs about €40 but, in my opinion is well worth it.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber (Post 4673940)

€40 (euros) is a one off payment for that version of the program but if they brought out a later version with more facilities that you think you may like you would have to pay again, probably at a discounted price. Obviously the older version would still work. In fact, if you search the internet you may be able to locate a free edition of version 7.

CCleaner is free with free upgrades to the latest version. It is not a spyware or adware blocker or scanner but keeps your system clean so that it runs faster.

Originally Posted by jandy44 (Post 4674101)

Iv tried to download the cleaner,but a internet warning box appears asking if I want to run,it says "the publisher could not be verified,are you sure you want to run this software"Name:Pc Registrycleaner v2 exe" does this mean anything to you?

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 4674100)

Where did you get spywarebot from ?
My links all go to spybot s+d, I linked onto them and downloaded it from both sites to check it out so that you would have no problem. I even posted the download screen so as you knew what it was like.
There are so many rip off programs you have to be very careful what you download.

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 4674113)

Its just windows being over cautious and checking you are sure.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber (Post 4674179)

Jandy, I can find no other references to Spywarebot other than in your posts (and subsequently mine). Maybe you were getting confused between Spyware Blaster which is a good and legitimate free program) and SpyBot which we have already discussed.

CCleaner is a legitimate program and, as JDR says, you can download it without risk but make sure you follow one of the links from the CCleaner home page. I always use FileHippo for upgrades to the CCleaner program:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

The latest version number is 1.39.502

I have just re-read your post and I think you may have done it again. It is NOT PC Registry Cleaner you need but CCleaner. Please don't be offended by this comment but you MUST follow the instructions you are given to the letter. Do NOT install the program called PC RegistryCleaner.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber (Post 4675022)

Yes, I think perhaps you should.

The CCleaner set up file is called 'ccsetup139.exe' and the SpyBot one is called 'spybotsd14.exe'. I have followed the links given to you by both JDR and myself and they work correctly.

Originally Posted by jandy44 (Post 4676314)

Beachcomber thanks,I have just been in to the link and followed the instuctions until it came to a box asking various options,shortcut to desktop,recycle bin ,I wasnt sure which ones to select so Im out of it again,I can feel a new thread coming on here.

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 4676368)

It is probably asking if you want an icon on your desktop to run the program from.
Click HERE then click on the tour, this will tell you all about the program and tell you how to use it.
Just run it in the default setting ie as it is when you download it and it will do everthing itself almost.