Nothing makes my day more than contracting the System Tool virus and having to reinstall Windows.

On the negative side, the version I have now uses more RAM than my old version, I've lost all my bookmarks in Firefox and game saves, and a few pictures and stuff I had saved to boot.

On the plus side, I kept all my music and GoG game installs on my external hard drive already, as well as my ebooks and such, so there wasn't any data loss that should seriously hamper me getting it all back except for the bookmarks. In addition, with the reinstall not only is my copy now more officially legal (before I was using the infamous 7600 build of Ultimate that was given out for free, now I'm one of the myriad keys of my friend's copy of 7 Enterprise) but since I'm running 64 instead of 32 bit I can see if the performance boost is worth the extra RAM cost.

So, now I need to get gaming on my new OS I guess... this is gonna take SO. FREAKING. LONG. To get configured right again... *sigh*

Even if it was on an external drive, if it was mounted while the other machine was infected, those files could be infected as well.

Sorry to make your day worse:(

Ah, but there's the joy of it, see. I hadn't connected my external for a couple of days (since backing up my Alone In the Dark install, actually) so it should be safe. I'll scan it with Avast before using anything on it regardless, but I don't think it will be a problem.

I can empathize with you. That sucks.

It's probably what I deserve for going crazy on the Dreamcast image sites like I have the last couple of days. (And for those of you who would see downloading games for a defunct system as piracy, I do plan on buying the games when I have the money/chance to. I've only gotten three total, out of the hundred or so I've considered, and while one is gonna be simply trashed the other two will be bought forthwith.)

Just a little not for you kddies out there -- never trust a game that takes longer to download than it would take you to beat, or realize it was a waste of time.

But back on topic. The freaking virus is apparently getting past Windows 7 security features now by duping GFWL, so careful any of you who use that service. I don't, which is why I knew where the thing was coming from the moment I started looking for it. Still didn't keep me from screwing up my registry when I removed it, but its a good thing to note.

Your money, but I would hesitate a bit before overpaying for old games.

And yeah, that's terrible about the game saves. I just built a new computer, and like an idiot, I forgot to backup the couple of saves I actually care about. Dirt 2 is lucky I like it enough to do all of those races over again. And Mass Effect 2... well, I guess playing through that again won't be so bad. And of course there's DLC that I need to play through.

And configuring everything else in general is also a pain, although I have a pretty good idea of the software I want, and with Dropbox I am able to keep most everything I care about all in one spot, desktop backgrounds and configuration files and so forth. And Chrome syncs bookmarks now, so I'm good there. As much as I'd like to resist the cloud it sure has been helpful.

Also, if you're interested, someone made a great topic we could dig up about how to use Dropbox and... what are they... symlinks? to automatically keep game saves backed up. Dude. Go buy a Dreamcast now, and burn yourself some games, and bask in their greatness. I'm jealous of anyone who hasn't yet gone through the Dreamcast phase of gaming.

Check out Jet Grind Radio, if you haven't already. And have you played Skies? Fantastic.

I'm mostly (or used to be mostly) a console gamer, and I can say without a doubt that the Dreamcast is one of my top three favorite consoles ever, if not the very top. I've never seen why graphics beyond its capabilities were really seen as necessary, and it had more truly innovative titles released for it than any system since the NES.

As for the games? You'll kill me when I tell you. Jet Grind Radio, Sonic Adventure, and... Dragon Riders of Pern. Hey, I wanted to try it, and trust me, there's nothing you can say that will make me regret it more than I already do -- I didn't even make it out of the weir. I have Code: Veronica for PS2, but I will be picking up the DC version eventually, as well as RE2 and RE3, and Skies of Arcadia, which I've never gotten to play. Grandia II, on the other hand, is the only RPG I've ever actually beaten 100 percent through, so I'm debating whether I want to get it again or not.

EDIT: One reason I haven't burned more, besides my crappy internet connection for downloading, is that I've only got three more blank CD-R's that have to last me another week, so I don't want to burn something else like Pern that I'll regret afterward. Oh! I forgot! I also burned Power Stone, for multiplayer :P

The one store around here that carries Dreamcast games sells them for five dollars used (for ANY game) or fifteen unopened. I didn't have a lot of money extra at the time I picked up the console, so I got an extra controller (it came with one controller, a VMU, and a five dollar game) and four games including the free one: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, Trickstyle, and a game I'd never heard of called Seventh Cross Evolution.

They weren't the most inspired choices, to say the least, but all of his good games (Jet Grind Radio, Space Channel 5, even SHENMUE) were ironically enough unopened copies, and I would have only been able to get one game since I literally used every last bit of spare cash I had getting the thing. I plan on rectifying that problem next Tuesday when I return, since I'm apparently the first person to have bought a Dreamcast or games from him in something like three years.

Go right back there and get them.

Honestly where do you start with the Dreamcast? Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 2, Shenmue, Virtua Fighter 3tb, Fighting Vipers 2, Confidential Mission, Crazy Taxi, Sega Rally 2, Daytona USA 2, Border Down, Ikaruga, Bangi-O, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo X, Marvel Vs Capcom 2, Capcom Vs SNK 2, Metropolis Street Racer, Toy Commander, Soul Calibur, Cannon Spike, Trickstyle, Dead or Alive 2, The King of Fighters '99, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Silver, Shadowman, Samba de Amigo, Rez, Ready 2 Rumble, Rival Schools 2, Outtrigger, Last Blade 2, F355 Challenge... so many good games.