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Question: I stupidly got infected with adware. STOPzilla seemed to help, but they wanted $40 to keep it. The adware is embedded in my Internet Explorer. It puts dozens of links in any text I get and it constantly makes About:Blank my default homepage and won't let me change the default settings to correct it. I've run my Norton [AntiVirus] numerous times. An electronics retailer told me I had to bring my computer in and pay them $200. They said they were 95 percent sure they could clean my hard drive. I don't care about anything in my files except my music. Can I move my music to disc, wipe the drive, reinstall all systems and reload the music?

-- Michael Stowell, Brighton Heights

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Techman: Adware and spyware are getting to be nearly as troublesome as all-purpose pop-up ads were a few years back. In short, adware is a malicious program ("malware") which installs itself on your computer (usually through peer-to-peer networks and free screensaver and icon downloads) for the purpose of redirecting your browser to Web sites, changing your homepage and inundating you with pop-up ads.

The short answer to your question about removing files and cleaning your drive is: yes. Moving only the MP3 (or AAC or WAV, for that matter) to an external drive and reinstalling your systems should eliminate the problem (though it is possible, though unlikely, that malware could hide in corrupt music files themselves). The question is whether, on balance, spending $40 on an adware specific utility to identify and eliminate the adware is worth avoiding the trouble of moving all of those music files, reformatting your hard drive and starting from scratch.

I would say the $40 is well worth it. Not only does it provide you with future protection, but should be able to scan for corruption in the music files themselves. There are any number of adware/spyware removal programs ranging from free to $50, including: McAfee AntiSpyware, Spyware Doctor 3.5, Ad-Aware SE, NoAdware, X-RayPc Spyware Analyzer and the aforementioned STOPzilla.

I'd suggest Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta or Spybot Search & Destroy, both of which are free.

-- Debra Welsh, Pittsburgh

Techman: There will be ways to read such information at data service bureaus and libraries. But yes, it could be a pain. Making regular copies (every five years) in physical and updated digital (yes, CDs too will go the way of the 8-track) formats is the best way to ensure photos will be around for future generations, but it's true that many will not be diligent in doing so.

That said, to be terribly honest, I don't buy a lot of the "My computer will crash and my granddaughter will trash my photos thinking they're 486 system software," hue and cry. We will become better at transferring and updating as time goes on.

The best preservation scenario is polyester prints vacuum-packed and stored in a freezer -- but who's going to go through all of that?