We got it home and even before we reinstalled any software, the computer seemed very slow. When I clicked on Start it might take 20 seconds or so for the popup to appear. And so on with the selections on the popup. This may or may not mean anything.
I installed Microsoft Office, set up the printer and a couple other non-Internet software programs and then tried to install Norton AntiVirus from the CD. Norton can't be activated without going to the Internet to do so. So I got the Internet back running on the network and before I could get to the Norton site to activate, the computer was completely infected again and within minutes again ground to a halt.
I have tried the F8 during startup to do things at the command prompt. Sometimes I can't even get the command prompt. Other times I do. Using this Safe Mode with Command Prompt I have done a restore to the point of the Geek Squad recovery and that seemed to provide me some flexibility to fix this. However, today I wanted to do that restore again to follow your Geeks To Go Malware Removal process but now that Geek Squad restore point is no longer showing up on the list.
Without a computer that works to some extent I don't know how to get back to a point I can actually try to fix the problems.
Let me say that I am not very skilled at PC work nor do I understand all the technical concepts but I am good at following instructions.
I am still very confused about the apparent Catch 22 where I have to be on the Internet before I can activate and/or install Anti-Virus or Spyware but as soon as I get on the Internet the bad stuff flows in and I'm dead in the water. Also, if I EVER get this computer working, I am fearful of trying the HP install again. I realize now that I should create a recovery point before that install which I will do but I would appreciate any help to get this computer back to the land of the living.
Janet