laptop is very slow, all safe mode does not work, and cannot get on Internet exploer

Well first off your showing that you really do not have much clue about things computerwise, so please bear with any explanations that may seem overly technical but really aren't.

Let's clear up ALOT of what your asking here.. first there is no 'hacker'. Hackers have no interest in you specifically, unless you are the head of Sony, some media personality, have ALOT of money or so on. But in any of those cases you would still be # 10001 'noob' they got and means as much as #768 or #32 - nothing at all.

That said, like the locks on your house, the keys to the car, or the combo to your gym locker you keep your wallet in; all like a computer can be 'hacked' if you are careless (leaving the front door wide open, keeping the keys in the ignition, leaving your locker unlocked, etc.) by not doing 'the basics'. Given what I pointed out above I would HIGHLY encourage you get 'Idiots guide' to security or computers at the book store and sit down and read for yourself many 'basics', there is (like my limited examples) ALOT more to it then just what I said.

Now given that, a 'Factory Restore' is using the original disks that came from HP and letting them WIPE the computer and put it back to the very FIRST DAY you opened the box and pulled out the computer. Now given this is Windows 7 that is a very long time ago and there would be alot of 'UPKEEP' you would need to do. GIVEN your very lack of technical expertise, I would advise DO NOT DO THIS YOURSELF and simply take the whole thing into a Computer Shop (Mom's PC Store) or Big Box computer store (Best Buy, etc.) and providing the disks, simply tell them you need it factory refreshed, updated completely (there is a new version of FLASH for your web browser just released today for example) and with a proper Malware and Antivirus protection. Personally I would suggest the free ones like Avira, AVG, or Comodo, then adding Malwarebytes. Then request they provide a backup series of DVDs to put it back to that date in case you mess up again.

Considering the cost of doing ALL this will be well over $150+ at a BigBox Store, and unless you have a 'techie friend' whom can help it doesn't make much 'sense' when a brand new UNDER WARRANTY laptop or desktop is only $249 at Walmart for general purpose use. Further Windows 7 is NO LONGER CONSUMER SUPPORTED and only Windows 8 is supported (so any solutions wouldn't "work" for your HP as you do not have a supported OS).

IF you wish to actually get your hands 'dirty' I can lay out some basic steps but you will need to understand your ON YOUR OWN and if you mess up, well you would have to do it ALL OVER AGAIN.. and someone posting here isn't' going to be 'on call tech support' to walk you through (hence why you have to pay for support like that).

Uhm no, simply totally misfed information. A hacker.. say John/Jane H. sitting with computer X doesn't do any of that your suggesting. What actually happens (and the thousands upon thousands of support tickets myself and other have done) is Mr/Mrs Doe Noob doesn't wish to pay for some expensive software or just 'click click clicks' through things because it is all 'too long did not read' (TL/DNR) "techie mumbo jumbo" like expecting Mr/Mrs Doe Noob where they want to save a file, like they should know that? (SIC).

13Yr old Twerp doing for Ze LOLZ!!! takes a copy of the software and merges it with his 'H8KRZ' buddies (again more kiddies with computers) porn / warez / virus software then 'sh8rz' it. Mr/Mrs Doe Noob see a flashy looking website and "like television" has to be true and honest (right?) it is giving a free copy of a game / software and installs it. They 95% fail to 'renew' that installed antivirus software because they couldn't be bothered / didn't "have the money" or worse, believe it should have been part of the 'cost' they paid for the PC "forever". Lo0 and behold the malware (which is what your talking about) opens "ports" (aka backdoors) to then do whatever 13YrOld Twerp has on his 'Toooolzzzz!' and most of the time is just to keep replicating the process usually by loading more malware or spreading through viruses to all the systems in that house / neighbors they can see / share on.

The examples your citing were just the 'news blurp of the week', because these people reporting this 'shocking story' couldn't honestly inform you what the differences is between a Class C network and a Class A, much less what does Dot Net / Edu / etc. really for / mean. While those examples CAN happen, again unless there is a gain some where why would somebody put all the effort into it other than to prove (a gain) the idea exists. Most time the people doing, as I noted, are the kids doing it for the LOLZ just to brag on YouTube Look what I can do to you smart adults (authority figures) and nothing more.



Well that was the point of my complete and full response, as the technical aspect your entering into (the numerous steps, complex nature, the expectations of SOME technical skills, etc.) wouldn't be a simple to provide a complex technical based answer to. Hence my suggestion, my insistence, you take it to a professional to do just as much as if your request was about how to fix the problem with your car and the answer is about working on the transmission gears INSIDE the engine. I wouldn't expect nor suggest you would have all the tools, skills, capability, and responsiveness to the 'situation' as you attempted to work on it ON YOUR OWN when you don't know the difference between a 1/2inch wrench and a 45mm bolt.

Given that the COST for all the work done is NOT effective (why pay as much to just 'limp' along a obsolete / no longer warrantied system) when a new system completely supported by the manufacturer IS the same or within price point of the cost of repairs.

Now while you may feel benevolent that your post here is to solely to help 'others' as a 'discussion matter' your prose was "I need help" not "I wish to talk about in theory for others". As you wish to change the direction of the discussion now that is a totally different thread and you should close this one. The main point of your post was to gain a answer from technical people on how to resolve your issue, but as I mentioned (and your agreeing too) it will be beyond your capability to do ON YOUR OWN.



Well sorry you felt offended. Your a anonymous person posting a random question on some post on some website out of the billions of locations it could come up on. Given there is no measurement, except the words YOU CHOOSE to use in your post to gauge who you are, what your asking, how you may / may not be able to resolve the original question without the massive "I did what you said but it doesn't work" flame multiple responses common when you are not technically capable to do the work, etc. I have no way to "know" what is the best way to respond individually YOU.

That is why the generic answer was provided (initial response) to give you a basic answer, your reply demonstrated your lack of skills, knowledge and even in this response only what you "seen in the news" not really the facts and real knowledge of what it is your trying to discuss. My second response was because of that, and trying to direct you to the best solutions given these limitations, but not some 'just pay a tech' knee jerk bland answer, but why you need to take it to a tech or best yet just replace the system due to the COSTS you will incur in EITHER CASE. I also left open that IF you wanted to take on the challenge, understanding the limitations and risks, I would WILLING provide you more instructions, but you would need ot understand this was a FAVOR as ANY of these posts are, NOT a FREE TECH SERVICE as is the reason almost EVERYONE comes posting on here RATHER THEN paying for technical support (as you have NOT done as well, and instead posted here FREE of charge looking for a FREE solution).

Whether you post here again, respond or not, don't take the advice given, or honestly HEED what I am telling you doesn't matter at all. There is still thousands of other posts happening and have happened and will happen PER DAY and yours will get lost and buries as the millions of others have and has no effect on me or my life. So your post about how upset you are and walk away from here is just crying for no real purpose.

I hope you look past your thin skin, and really read the response as a ANSWER to your question of your post here. Either case good luck in your choices.