Notice......

...... if you haven't backed up your computer , do it.
You can not predict when you will encounter a problem.
My case , while downloading Skype , I used a website CNet that sells computer stuff and does a referral service for AVG - anti virus program. I imagine that Cnet buys the basic AVG program at cost then offers the basic for free.
While researching this ' free ' offer , another site warned a) AVG really ,REALLY wants you to buy the upgrade AVG program. But , BUT , b)  Cnet has to make money too !! .
 Cnet sends advertising and a tool bar and search engine ( which allows pop - ups ) as well.
Now , you try and get rid of that ' pop up ' generating system , you try.
The best way is to go back and find a restore point before you got the ' pop up ' generator. And that is hard to do w/out a back up. W/ a back up , you wipe the computer and re - install your personal settings etc from the back up.
I'm using a 1 Tb second hard drive. FYI , the back up uses less than 1 / 10 of the hard drive2  capacity.
As your friend , get w/ it - Back up.

While , I'm giving free advice , photos and storage. Yes , there is the cloud and other on line services for storage.
My system : each grouping of photos ( videos ) is saved on hard disc. I publish thumbnail cover sheets that are kept in a 3 ring binder.
Next , the photos are backed up on a thumb drive , sort of all lumped to - gether , but in their indexed state.
Lastly , the photos could be found , if you search on the hard drive2

Why should you be so redundant. I discovered that some experts predict a fixed shelf life for hard discs ( something like 3 - 10 yrs )
Computers crash - no , not when you plan , they just crash.
Heard the stories over and over 
As your bud , take some steps

While on the topic of photos. you may as well profit from the misery of others. When I bought my first digital camera ( Fuji )
someone said ' buy the biggest chip that you can '. They said 16 Gb will hold 1 000 s of photos and save money b/c bigger is cheaper. Nope , I opted for 4 Gb chips and paid more.
But I switched out chips when one got filled or used ( each chip held 300 photos or some such / you try and take 300 photos). At leisure , I would save to the computer and likely have an empty chip to swap out.
The friend and his 16 Gb chip still in the camera were separated at a hotel.
The range of photos included 3 summers worth of shots and 2 Xmas'... you see he was waiting for the chip to fill or a time to come when he would download. Thus , he saved $4 and lost 400 photos

Preachy , preachy..... you're full of it this AM.

Weather : ' a grey dawn on the seas face and a grey dawn breaking '
John Masefield , ' Sea Fever ' OK . Alright , there is no sea but the lines describe the day
If JM could have included windy , you'd have to -day

We watched the new series premier of ' Madam Secretary ' starring Tea Leone  - and I'm in love ... always was ... lucky Duchovny
Interesting and rife w/ possibilities , we shall see said the Zen master

Go for it  and back up ..... back up ..... back up   
You heard it here