Spyware/Adware removal?

[Irving Cowboy]

you can do it in safe mode but I can not remember how to get into safe mode in XP.

Hit F8 after POST during boot up... and choose Safe Mode.

As far as running chkdsk in XP, you should do the Start/Run thing, type in chkdsk, it will pop up with a dialog box telling you it cannot run while in Windows XP and will ask if you would like to run it during the next startup... choose yes.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Hit F8 after POST during boot up... and choose Safe Mode.

As far as running chkdsk in XP, you should do the Start/Run thing, type in chkdsk, it will pop up with a dialog box telling you it cannot run while in Windows XP and will ask if you would like to run it during the next startup... choose yes.

I will have to remember that.


I tell you I have plenty of fun with the different versions of windows and have a hell of a time sometimes trying to remember the differences in some of them.

At work I use XP Pro...but many of the computers at work that I have to work on use Win2000 and have Novell software on them.

Then until last weekend my mom had Win98...now she has XP Home.

Of all the win systems I have used....Win 2000 seems to be the most stable without the quirks of XP.
XP from scratch has many quirks that you have to go and change after a fresh install.

BTW....

a great site to read through

www.annoyances.org

 

[Irving Cowboy]

a great site to read through

www.annoyances.org

Oh yeah.... I have visited that place ever since Win95.. a LOT of good info there, although with XP there aren't as many reg hacks anymore, you have little apps to download now that do all the dirty work for you.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Oh yeah.... I have visited that place ever since Win95.. a LOT of good info there, although with XP there aren't as many reg hacks anymore, you have little apps to download now that do all the dirty work for you.

I used to like expert exchange site ...when it was free.

We have went through many computers at work and doing the upgrades on them can be a pain in the butt.

Also we get some old computers donated to us and we fix them up best we can and give them out to people who do not have computers.

Some of those sites come in handy when you are looking for some bios update or having problems upgrading.

 

[CowboyPrincess]

Some useful XP sites...


Windows XP Home Page

Bob Cerelli's Windows Site

Infinisource

The Tweaking Experience

Getting Support for Microsoft Products

Dan DeMar and Jupiter Jones Computer Security

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being unable to start Windows XP

How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or your password expires

Introduction to using scannow sfc (system file checker)

Recovery Console in Windows XP

Enabling or disabling System Restore

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) FAQ

Software Tips and Tricks

Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows XP

 

[Signals]

Well here is a summary of what I've done today.

Ran adaware removed 412 items, which solved the pop-up prob.

Successfully installed service pack 2. Which appeared to identify a security hole and correct it.

Ran chkdsk, which I was only able to run in safe mode because in normal mode it told me it had to have full access to system resourses. Ran this telling it to auto repair all errors and try to recover bad sectors.

BUT, the PC is still having the VERY slow boot up problem. Do you guys know what this slow boot problem is most indicative of?

I am speculating that there is still something running in the back ground or else I would have been able to run chkdsk in normal mode.

Do ya have any idea's 'bout where to go from here to solve to slow boot issue?

P.S. Thanks to everyone here for the advice. It's been invaluable help today, just short of throwing the PC out the third story window.

 

[Signals]

Some useful XP sites...


Windows XP Home Page

Bob Cerelli's Windows Site

Infinisource

The Tweaking Experience

Getting Support for Microsoft Products

Dan DeMar and Jupiter Jones Computer Security

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being unable to start Windows XP

How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or your password expires

Introduction to using scannow sfc (system file checker)

Recovery Console in Windows XP

Enabling or disabling System Restore

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) FAQ

Software Tips and Tricks

Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows XP

WOW!!

Those should keep me busy for about six months.

Thanks!

 

[Khartun]

Star

Unless you have already went over this with someone go to Run->msconfig and post what is on the Startup tab.
Also if you can download HiJackThis and post the output from it.
You should also download CWShredder and run it before HiJack

 

[Signals]

Star

Unless you have already went over this with someone go to Run->msconfig and post what is on the Startup tab.
Also if you can download HiJackThis and post the output from it.
You should also download CWShredder and run it before HiJack

I tried to copy and paste what was displayed in the menu, but it would not allow me to copy and paste those items, and there were about 20 items.

ACF, do you think those items are key to determining what is the prob with the slow boot?

 

[CowboyPrincess]

I tried to copy and paste what was displayed in the menu, but it would not allow me to copy and paste those items, and there were about 20 items.

ACF, do you think those items are key to determining what is the prob with the slow boot?

Do a print screen w/ the items showing in the program on your desktop. After you make the image, go to www.************* and upload the image you made. Then you can copy and paste the url they give you in the forum

Then we can see what may be causing your system to slow down...

 

[Khartun]

ACF, do you think those items are key to determining what is the prob with the slow boot?

Yes, it might show something.

 

[Khartun]

I don't see in any of your posts that you have run a virus scan.
Have you? There are some new fairly agressive viruses out.

Also are all of you Windows Critical Updates up to date?

 

[Signals]

Do a print screen w/ the items showing in the program on your desktop. After you make the image, go to www.************* and upload the image you made. Then you can copy and paste the url they give you in the forum

Then we can see what may be causing your system to slow down...

With the sys. config. utiltiy open it wil not allow me to copy or print those items shown in that window.

 

[GTaylor]

With the sys. config. utiltiy open it wil not allow me to copy or print those items shown in that window.

With the box open, hold down Alt + Print Screen, then open an image app like MS Paint (Start, Programs, Accessories).

With Paint open hit Ctrl + V, the image should then appear. Save it as a .jpeg, then upload it.

 

[Khartun]

Or if nothing else expand the command column and just type the full name of the command.

 

[Signals]

I don't see in any of your posts that you have run a virus scan.
Have you? There are some new fairly agressive viruses out.

Also are all of you Windows Critical Updates up to date?

No, my virus scan is not up to date. Neither have a run VS that is installed. For some reason I just assumed that it had been run.... let me run it and see what happens.

If all the "quote" critical updates are included in service pack 2, then yes they are current. I installed sp2 earlier today.

 

[Khartun]

There have been critical updates released since SP2.
Go to windows update and check.

You can run the online virus scan with the most current definitions. Running your current virus scan without the most current defs would not necessarily catch everything.

 

[Signals]

ACF, GT, CP


With paint open, the sys. config. untility open and the start up tab selected it wont allow me to copy or print using ctrl+V or alt+print.

ther has got to be a way for you all to take a look at these items on this list.

On this list there are a NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT SEEM very questionable under command and location.

 

[Khartun]

I was able to.
Go to the sys config utility on the start up page.
Hit Alt + the print screen key.
Go to paint. Hit Control+V.
It should paste the image of the utility in the paint window.
Be sure to expand the command column before you do the print screen.

If you still can't just type in the names of the commands on the startup page

 

[CowboyPrincess]

ACF, GT, CP


With paint open, the sys. config. untility open and the start up tab selected it wont allow me to copy or print using ctrl+V or alt+print.

ther has got to be a way for you all to take a look at these items on this list.

On this list there are a NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT SEEM very questionable under command and location.

I didn't even have to alt + print screen... all I did was click on the print screen button and ctrl + v in paint or go to the edit menu in paint and select paste.. either way it worked.