What happens when you reset a computer?

AllegroD wrote:
Delete the bookmark. Enter the webpage URL manually. Save the bookmark. No need to restore over a bookmark.

Second time this has been suggested.
And it is the ONLY good first step to be taking.

So far, it has gone without an acknowledgement though.

Delete the bookmark. Enter the webpage URL manually. Save the bookmark. No need to restore over a bookmark.

Lots of good answers and good solutions to an unanswered question of what the OP means by "resetting". Might be time to re-visit the reason for the original question.

I read the first post after responding to the second one here. Bad idea double posting like that.

With the problem described in the first post, my advice is to retrieve a copy of MalwareBytes and install it on their PC. The free version must be run manually to perform a scan where the paid version runs full time in the background to protect you. It should find the gremlin causing the problem and remove it. MalwareBytes is the best there is right for finding a removing PUPs (Possibly Unwanted Programs). It can't hurt to run it on any PC even if you don't think there's a problem. I recommend running the free version at least once a month if not more often. If you visit nefarious porn sites, run it every day!

I guarantee Firefox is not their problem.

DFord wrote:
I re-read the original post and see no reference to Firefox.

The OP has two related threads active, Firefox was mentioned in the other one.

I re-read the original post and see no reference to Firefox.

My recommendation would be for the OP to install Firefox or Opera and see if he can access the websites that are being blocked. If they're still blocked, there may be a firewall preventing access. That firewall may be part of their anti-virus program.

I've been on the web since it first started. Never used Microsoft's browsers for security reasons. I was an early adopter of Google's search engine but as it matured, it became too intrusive. I don't use Chrome for the same reason. If you like being tracked, Google is your best option - go for it. I'm paranoid about being tracked and it drives me nuts to see something recommended for me based on my previous browsing.

I use Firefox because Mozilla is much more trustworthy than Google. I use DuckDuckGofor a search engine because it doesn't track me.

But then, I made a living administering computers and computer networks. Like I said, I'm paranoid about security. You folks do what you think is best for you.

I was surprised to see the level of usage Chrome has achieved in the market. When we reluctantly go to the new computers sometime this summer, I'll be forced into 10 and chrome.

Microsoft has a very helpful web page for helping you through a reset or reinstall of Windows 10. It supports either doing a clean install wiping out everything or saving your data and just reinstalling Windows. Downloading a recent Windows 10 version from the MS website to do a reinstall saves many updates that will be necessary if you use an older version of windows from whatever source (disc image, vendor hard drive partition, etc.).

But in the case of the OP, this probably isn't necessary since it seems to be a Firefox issue.

RobWNY makes a good point. Using Chrome has advantages if you set it to sync to your Google account so that your bookmarks are in the Google cloud and not on your PC.


Using cloud based apps also makes it much easier to restore Windows if it is necessary since all data and configuration in the cloud is all there when you log into your cloud after reinstalling Windows.

The other practice that avoids such situations is to use a disc image backup program such as Macrium Reflect (free) to backup your PC after getting it set as you prefer and then periodically after. Macrium Reflect has an option to do these periodic disc backups automatically (works best if you leave your device on overnight).

I had a bookmark problem with Firefox. One day, all of my bookmarks were gone, and I mean every last one. Thankfully I had imported all of my bookmarks to Chrome so I only lost the ones I bookmarked recently but that was the last straw with Firefox. I uninstalled it and use Chrome exclusively now. Not that Chrome won't have issues at some point but Firefox has caused me more issues than I care to count.

I replied to your other thread.
Did you see that ??

There are a LOT of things you should do before a complete factory re-load. That is almost NEVER necessary.