Yes, I was computer-naughty

[+ friendofsheila]

I watched a few *cough* videos, and some saved webpages on a computer where I should not have. And now I need to erase all evidence of having done so. (I'm thanking in advance all the Judge Judys reading this who will scold me.)

 

I didn't copy the files onto the drive, just read them off cd's or flash drives. The computer runs Windows 7, and I have admin access.

 

****

 

So, I'm thinking that if I delete the following, I'll be a long way there:

 

-The video program used to view them

-The browser program used to view them

-Empty the Recycle Bin

-The guest user account I signed on as

 

I even went to the "Recent Places" thing-y and deleted all those filenames and folder names.

 

Any further suggestions?

[+ purplekow]

Just a bit of advice No one cares if you watched porn Its the coverup that might be problematic. if it is found out you were deleting information from a corporate computer, you may be questioned as to what else you deleted.

[gallahadesquire]

Reformat the c:\ drive. Better yet: Remove the hard drive and replace it with a new one.

 

A departmental administrator had been abused on many levels. When she left, she just took the whole

computer with her. Smart lady!

 

PK makes a good point, though. But since you're an admin, you can reasonably replace everything you need to, so it doesn't look suspicious.

At my Previous Employer, we were encouraged to put everything out on the server. They would guarantee sanctity of the server,

but declared they were not responsible for anything stored locally. I had some problems, and one yokel came to my office and told me

"You need a new image." Great compuspeak. I realized he was re-formatting my hard drive.

"You're reformatting my drive!" I screamed. "Well, yes ..." he said. "You didn't have anything important on it, did you?"

"No," I said, "I figured you'd do something this stupid."

 

If any of you compugeeks knows M or Magic or MUMPS or MIIS, I have a tale to tell you!

[+ friendofsheila]

Reformat the c:\ drive. Better yet: Remove the hard drive and replace it with a new one.

 

 

I considered re-formatting but that will wipe out any programs installed, right?

 

Can't replace the drive - too expensive.

[+ friendofsheila]

Nobody has comments on the things I chose to do? About maybe whether they will work?

[+ deej]

Nobody has comments on the things I chose to do? About maybe whether they will work?

 

Not enough information. Without knowing EXACTLY what you did (down to every mouse click), there's no telling what evidence you may have left behind.

 

The only way to wipe it all out is to wipe it all out. Anything short of that may leave evidence.

 

A better approach might be not to do things you don't think you ought to get caught doing.

[bostonman]

I watched a few *cough* videos

 

Is that a new trend? People making videos of coughing?

 

(Oh - I'm just having a little fun...I think we need some levity out here...:o)

 

If I were more computer-savvy, I would offer some real advice - though I'm hoping the advice already posted will help.

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

The things you did will help.

 

These will also help:

Crap cleaner: https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download?pc

Use Windows System Restore to roll back to a snapshot taken before you watched those videos. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/system-restore

Afterward, you will need to run Windows Update to reinstall any missing software updates.

 

If you were connected to a corporate network when you did the deed, you should postpone calls to IT as long as possible -- just in case the guy who gets your call checks the router logs as part of his routine investigation of your problem. Network traffic is often logged, but logs are rarely retained for more than a few days because they're huge. (I've never seen them stored more than a week.)

 

And, friend, don't let this eat you up. Everybody's computer is full of porn. It's easy to click the wrong link when googling and wind up on a lesbian scat site. Even if you're not looking for porn, it will come to you. Nobody who services your computer will expect it to be 100% "clean", and unless you're in a "sensitive" job, subject to heightened and/or judgmental oversight, it's unlikely anybody will notice or care.

[+ deej]

And, friend, don't let this eat you up. Everybody's computer is full of porn.

 

Yep.

 

[+ friendofsheila]

The things you did will help.

 

These will also help:

Crap cleaner: https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download?pc

Use Windows System Restore to roll back to a snapshot taken before you watched those videos. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/system-restore .

 

This was a laptop, not connected to any network. The "System Restore" is a good idea, and I'll work on the crap cleaner, too.

 

Thanks for being helpful and nice, VHC.

[+ purplekow]

The original cast of Avenue Q doing their version of The internet is for Porn. Not great video but I guess that is what you get for a bootlegged copy from a jackass who ignores instructions not to record the show.