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Please keep Windows updated with all critical patches. It is also important to move to supported platforms. See post #2 and the Microsoft Support Lifecycle (http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&C2=1173)
Safe surfing! :)
Helpers in malware removal forums are unlikely to respond and try to clean an operating system that is no longer supported and therefore cannot be updated or patched.
Further, the tools most often used for manual removals do not work on legacy systems.
Microsoft retires support for legacy systems because they are outdated and can expose customers to security risks.
Of note: June 30, 2006 brought a close to Extended Support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows ME as part of the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. Microsoft retired public and technical support, including security updates, on that date.
To put things into perspective, Windows Vista was released January 30, 2007 worldwide and Windows 7 will be available was released to the public October 2009.
Unsupported operating systems (and servers), are an open door to infection, security programs are really just a band-aid. :sad:
Microsoft Support Lifecycle (http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/)
Select a Product for Lifecycle Information (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect)
Validate Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/)
Internet Explorer 10: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/downloads/ie-10/worldwide-languages
Microsoft Security Alerts and Advisories in our forum here:
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=862
Updated by AplusWebMaster
Considering the purchase of a second hand computer?
Please make sure you really are getting a bargain and not a paperweight.
The seller should have formatted and reinstalled a legitimate copy of the Operating System.
Provided you with the original software disks, plus any manuals that accompany these disks.
Should you need to format, reinstall, or repair windows you will need one of these tools:
Install disk
Restore disk
Or a working restore partition
Verify the Windows software installed is legitimate before paying for the PC. How to tell if your copy of Windows is genuine. (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/default.mspx)
If the Operating System is not legitimate then you will not be able to update Windows, in which case the machine will be infected very quickly once on the WWW and become a liability, no matter what security software is installed. Never accept illegal pirated software, doing so can cause all sorts of problems.
Often there are good bargains for new PC's, so you may not save much by buying a second-hand one. Especially when the warranty that comes with a new PC is taken into consideration.
Any computer over three-four years old may not run the software you wish to install, so check into that as well. :)
Credit for topic: Mosaic1
Springboard Series Blog
On April 8, 2014, we will end the extended support for our commercial customers and we will no longer provide security updates for commercial or consumer customers.
http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/springboard/archive/2013/04/08/365-days-remaining-until-xp-end-of-support-the-countdown-begins.aspx