Windows XP Solutions - An Outline - PLEASE READ

[weedeebee]

Wow, all of those steps were very helpful because they were so concise.
At any rate, when I follow Step 3:

"Step 3: Run Disk Cleanup
Click on
->Start
->Programs/All Programs
->Accessories
->System Tools
->Disk Cleanup.

Click OK for C Drive. Select all options except for "Compress old files". Click OK."

I only get a DOS prompt for the C: drive (I am in Windows XP).
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!

[Zxian]

Originally Posted by weedeebee

I only get a DOS prompt for the C: drive (I am in Windows XP).
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!

What exactly do you mean? When you click OK, the command prompt shows up? or when you first try to run the program?

[weedeebee]

I get the C:\ prompt when I try to run Disk Cleanup (the icon for the Disk Cleanup Application is actually a little dos prompt window).

[weedeebee]

I downloaded the Bazooka Scanner, Spyware Blaster and CW Shredder to take a look at them, beacuse I am still having some stupid error message popping up for Internet Explorer (I have FireFox set as my default) that says it 'The webpage that you have requested is not available offline. To view this page click Connect.'with buttons to 'connect' and to 'stay offline'. This is when I am online AND offline, and I have not requested any site...it's constant. (if I X the message it sometimes opens an IE window with the address http://terp17.com/rdrct.php?p=926)
I thought perhaps these could get rid of this by diversifying my spy/ad ware fighting applications. But when I try to download updated definitions for each of these programs, they tell me they can't access the server and to check my connection (it's a dial-up and it is still connected).
At anyrate, I was able to update Bazooka manually, only by clicking on the instructions and IE opening up a page that it says it can't access...so then I had to copy the address into firefox.
Sorry if this is a bit long winded. I have a handful of problems that seem to be linked to the persistance of Internet Explorer?
Any advice is appreciated.

[Zxian]

And I'm guessing that you've tried running the programs with the default definitions?

Spybot and Ad-Aware are probably going to help you clean out your system more than any of the apps you listed. I'd recommend getting those and running them with the default definitions if you can't update them. They'll probably still pick up quite a bit of stuff.

As for the Disk Cleanup, don't worry about it too much for now... attack the Adware/Spyware issue first. Once that's done, you can worry about the extra bit of disk space.

[jammer]

I'm a computer novice. I originaly had a win98se operating system on my aopen custom built pentium3 computer and replaced the old operating system with an xp home version that was a one licence only borrowed from a friend that came with his new dell computer. I did not realize I would not to be able to buy a licence from Microsoft.Now the activation grace period has run out.I can't register or uninstall xp because the uninstall imformation did not load on my computer. I tried to run FDISC and FORMAT but the system won't let me.How can I get rid of this operating system so I can reinstall 98se?HELP!!![

[congo60]

Hi, Thanks great article, there is a prog called "ZoneAlarms" which is a very good firewall, it's free, however the free version is not updated as much as the registered one, I've been useing the reg version for a few years now and would not be with out it, also it now has a Virus prog built in. cheers
congo60

[softwarenut]

Zonealarm the free version is veryuser friendly and also gets updated frequently.

[ariadne1985]

okay i have some questions... please bear in mind i'm a simpleton okay


"Type "msconfig" (without quotation marks)
Under the "Startup" tab, uncheck any programs that you don't need. Common examples are NeroCheck, Acrobat assistant, Quicktime, etc etc etc."

except i don't know which ones the useful ones are...? see they are just a list of random words to me...
although i know the incredi mail one is something i want off the computer entirely... how do you get rid of the ones you don't want here?

picture >



"On the next boot, CleanIt will ask you for the path to your temp folder. Just make sure that the directory leads to your documents folder "

as in 'my documents"? because it presently goes to C:\DOCUME~1\ADMIN\LOCALS~1\TEMP\

otherwise i have no idea how where my temp folder is or how to change it



" The one last thing that I would recommend is a clean install of Windows every year or so. "

umm.. yeah we bought our computer with everything on it and we just have the packard bell dvd's - we dont have the windows xp disk ? so how would i do this

this is a really useful document though - i hope you dont mind but i've copied it to works so i can access it offline too.

thanks

[ariadne1985]

ooh sorry that reminds me...
a friend recommended me against Spybot S+D because i am a bit of a simpleton and said that i might find it hard to use -

well my computers under attacks from several different trojens none of which are being found through norton security suite 2005 or live update -

norton just detects the communication and blocks it - but something is surely contacting it yes? which should be dectable yes?

would would you recommend either of the microsoft anti spyware or spybot s+d for the removal or would they not affect anything?

thanks

[Gene K]

Originally Posted by ariadne1985

okay i have some questions... please bear in mind i'm a simpleton okay


"Type "msconfig" (without quotation marks)
Under the "Startup" tab, uncheck any programs that you don't need. Common examples are NeroCheck, Acrobat assistant, Quicktime, etc etc etc."

except i don't know which ones the useful ones are...? see they are just a list of random words to me...
although i know the incredi mail one is something i want off the computer entirely... how do you get rid of the ones you don't want here?

picture >
All you really need to load at Startup is Windows plus your Anti-Virus and Firewall; therefore, uncheck the first ten you display in your screenshot. . You need to list the rest of them for suggestions [nobody can scroll that screenshot].


"On the next boot, CleanIt will ask you for the path to your temp folder. Just make sure that the directory leads to your documents folder "

as in 'my documents"? because it presently goes to C:\DOCUME~1\ADMIN\LOCALS~1\TEMP\

otherwise i have no idea how where my temp folder is or how to change it
The path is C:\Documents and Settings\ADMIN\Local Settings\TEMP\Tempory Internet Files so it appears that the path you list is correct.


" The one last thing that I would recommend is a clean install of Windows every year or so. "

umm.. yeah we bought our computer with everything on it and we just have the packard bell dvd's - we dont have the windows xp disk ? so how would i do this
The Packard Bell DVD should suffice to re-install Windows.

this is a really useful document though - i hope you dont mind but i've copied it to works so i can access it offline too.

thanks

Hope this helps.
Gene K

[Zxian]

Hi there,

For the startup list, Google is your best friend. Search every entry and you should be able to get a handle on what's good and what's bad.

The temp folder you listed is correct. I've rarely seen CleanIt pickup on the wrong folder.

Packard Bell should have provided you with some documentation regarding the copy of Windows that is on your computer. Read up on that and follow whatever it says. I've never had a copy of XP from Packard Bell, so I don't know how they redistribute it.

As for Spybot S&D, I would whole-heartedly recommend installing it and using it. The new version 1.4 is simple to use, even for my father who is probably the biggest techno-clod on the planet (he's said this himself ). I would stay away from the Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta for the time being however, since it is a Beta and still has bugs. I've used it for testing purposes (that's what Betas are... test programs) and it's found several false positives (files that it lists as dangerous, but aren't). Until it goes full version, I'd leave it alone. With the software listed, you shouldn't have a problem.

I don't mind if you copy the information. If you do pass it on to others, I'd appreciate it if you mentioned where you got it from though. The internet is for sharing knowledge.

Cheers!

[janetgorin]

Sadly I have installed SP2, not having read all your comments, and I am having difficulties installing hardware. In particular I am unable to uninstall some programmes despite a patch and I also receive a message "miss !hkey" when I was given another patch to use by the technical support of the hardware I am trying to install.

[Disk_Contented]

This board is short on available staff.

Use Checkdisk once in a while on XP. "My computer/C:/Tools. A reboot will be required if you select to automatically fix errors.

If you use spybot, from the menu, select "advanced". Otherwise you miss out on a lot. Activate the "teatimer".

Replace the Host file:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Use IEspyad:
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm

[flopsy88]

[quote=Zxian]Here is a thread to give you a lot of good information on how to keep your WindowsXP computer happy and healthy.


Cool site , lots of tips to keep the old PC up and running. Thanks.