My computer has been giving me trouble for a while -
Removed Norton Internet Security - Bloatware - can cause slow but wasn't it --
Checked Adware - Can cause Spyware -crashes and slow --
Checked Viruses -- Can cause destruction of computer hard drive - crashes - slow etc -
Checked Firewall --
Finally got this program -
http://www.answersthatwork.com/TUT_pages/TUT_information.htm
Microsoft Task manager shows what is running but leaves you pretty clueless as to what to do. This one (TUT) tells you all they know about the running programs - advises you and allows you to turn off unnecessary programs. I turned off about 18 unnecessary programs running in the background. Everyone thinks they need to load first or update automatically and add programs to do that. This is mostly what was crippling my computer. Programs behaving badly.
I have links to many free programs for much of the above. Post here if interested.. TUT is $29
Here is some of the good stuff from a trusted company.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
AVG Anti-Virus Free, AVG Anti-Spyware Free and AVG Anti-Rootkit are for private, non-commercial, single home computer use only.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp;jsessionid=GZeMP3pNU6p1K4MadcalCVPXdEJSXNr1BhGWmvWV3f4UCScYoXZ7!-1064389892!-1062696903!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en
Zone Alarm Firewall - free version -- takes a bit of fooling with to not block things you want sometimes.
I have used both of the above on my computers for years with no problems whatsoever..TUT would be handy..does anyone know if there is there a free version?
IE Privacy Keeper is a small free program which can be set to remove all unwanted cookies every time you shut down- very effective in stopping junk...the same company produces Easy Go Back,which eliminates the need for the back button - and hence the Standard Buttons bar, handy if you use a laptop.
Keeping unwanted cookies off the computer--sounds like heavenly computing! So I could keep the password for this place, but not 150 other cookies.
There is a TUT demo available, and it's on sale through (our) Monday.
Start->Run->msconfig
Look in the startup tab for all proggies set to run at startup. Type the process name into a search engine (goggle toolbar will likely autofinish for you). Pretty much any process will be discussed somewhere in length with suggestions on whether to keep it running or not. Uncheck those items you don't want to run at startup and click ok. After the reboot, should a proggy you want working not work correctly you can recheck the item and try again.
That is a good one too, Daddymem, but I had so much junk running on my computer it was taking me way too long looking so I went to TUT.
I liked what I saw so I ordered the program right away after the download. I think the trial version will work for 30 days free but will not give you explanations. I really like the info they have on thousands of programs- things running on your computer. What is surprising is that many of the things that are OK help to cause the problems. The video accessory programs for an HP Laptop load at the start all of the time but are among some of the ones that are recommended to be bocked due to slow ups and crashes they help to cause.
You are right though - msconfig is very helpful. I was also getting Windows notices that it was on and not loading normally - did I want to change it - etc. I think I could have told it to ignore it but wasn't completely sure if what I was doing would cause other problems. TUT lets you set things to manually load - stay and disable - delete etc after you figure out what it is. Pretty easy to use.
Here is a free one that's pretty good at getting the cookies off the computer, Amanda. Won't do much for that glass of milk though. :-/
http://www.superantispyware.com/ Has a free edition.
and
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php Good free cookie- malware remover.
Glenn,
This is all part of a conspiracy between Microsoft and the hardware manufactures.
See, first you will spend months uninstalling/reinstalling applications. Then, after countless hours of working with it and dealing with its issues, a buddy of yours will come to your house and reload the operating system. You will get all of your applications and data reinstalled, just to find out you are missing the driver for your printer which they don't make anymore, so you scour the internet for something that will work.
4 months have elapsed, you can partially print but that neat feature that came with your printer does not work cause you do not have the exact driver you had before. You are also now dealing with some kernel error which you never received before and you have got tired of making dinner for your buddy so you start looking for other technical resources to assist you. 6 months have gone by now, and your warranty for your system has expired. You get frustrated and end up looking at old - used computers. You get frustrated even more cause these old computers will not run the new applications you have, or are slower than the system you have now.
You contemplate starting from scratch with the new operating system from Microsoft - researching reviews only to find out that the new version is pretty much like the version you have now - just "looks" and "feels" different. You buddy is of no use cause he is smart enough not to be the pioneer on this new OS - so you are compelled to make a decision - Buy a new computer (and get stuck with the new OS version) - or just deal with the aches and pains of kernel errors - afraid to call Microsoft Support and pay $50 to listen to guy person who speaks with a heavy foreign accent go through the list of things you already did when you originally had the problem.
8 months....You finally break down and get a new system. You transfer all your apps/data and finally get it settled in. Everything is working fine for a year, and then, inexplicably, you start having problems again...
Chris --- I believe you. :o
Sounds like you have been there and done that --- or maybe you are the buddy???? :-?
I really studied hard when Win95 came out due to major hardware incompatibility problems -- so much so that I could probably have taken the MCSE test and passed. Only missed on the beta test by about 3 questions.
Yup -- you are right -- I am well aware of the conspiracy --- even had FBI files hidden in my restore area when it came back from HP after a hard drive replacement. Still there actually -- I just took their startup program out of my startup line up. Don't really know if it's real or not but they are in there. I also removed 2 keyboard loggers - I think the second was a repeat of the first though. Not a lot of info on the net about what this is about.
and No way I'm getting Vista....
I was wondering if anyone was getting VISTA.
(a friend of mine who seriously protects his privacy turned up with a brand new laptop running it recently--"Oh, I've done a lot of research, this is what I really need"--and I was wondering.)
IE Privacy Keeper is ze real thing, Amanda- and if you like an easy life grab Easy Go Back as well ;)
Youngins, that tale of woe sounds like a Dell user- put me off curry for weeks each time I rang their ""help"" line. Now I know why Dell rhymes with Hell..no more Dells for me, never ever..
I lump Dell in with Packard Bell, etc..
I run a home built AMD system for personal system and a Thinkpad R60 for work. I am finding more people I know are using MACs -
go figure :-/
BTW - who here just love the new MAC commercials ?
I'm a software junkie, so can't go to a Mac.
I just don't want to be so limited on what I can play with.
....of course half the software I play with is just to keep Windows running.
Vista design was assisted by the government, NSA -- but they have been in almost all other companies software also. What better way to put in the back door? :)
Seems all I remember about them was the illegal spying on US citizens - but I am wrong :o -- see they do good things too like helping design the operating system of the computers used by nearly all the US citizens --- for free even. ::)
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/01/nsa_helps_micro_1.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/08/AR2007010801352.html
This one still happens with all of the adware crap out there now.
Here is a link to some good tools. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx
In particular I like this one. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
It is a super charged replacement for Task Manager or can be used stand alone to help sort out problems. Much more info there on what is running. There is also a tutorial online and a video.
One thing that can make your machine purr is to install the maximum amount of RAM it'll hold. ;D Nowadays it's so cheap there's almost no reason not to. My laptop has 4 GB total now; ditto K's desktop.
I've mentioned this company before for RAM, crucial.com. Go HERE (http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=3074.msg42028#msg42028) for more about them.
I have found a very useful website (for PC's) to be Windows Secrets. (https://windowssecrets.com/info/) They have 2 email newsletters, one free one paid. The paid one has more info. The paid version is a pay what you think it's worth deal. Worth a look.
One useful feature is their testing and advice for all those patches Microsoft comes along with. There sometimes are problems and Windows Secrets usually posts work arounds, etc. within a week of their release. FYI, it's not a good idea to let your Windows O/S automatically download and install those. It's a simple enough matter to set your computer to download and hold off on the install until you oaky it. Or you can turn the doenload off auto and make it manual as well. In any event the patches can be good; plugging security holes and so on. But better to be cautious and hold off for a week or so.
Go to Control Panel, select Automatic Updates, to make changes.
We've always been devoted Mac owners. It's just always been so stable and intuitive... I'd say we don't have to reboot more than once every couple months, if that. :)
I'm pretty sure an old MS update is what's giving me fits. Still problems with it every so often.
I've been a Mac person for years, too. (Since the days when they were just Apples). They're just a better machine. Period.
And malware/spyware/viruses/etc. are almost completely unheard of.
BTW, glenn, the new Intel chipped Macs will run Windoze (and its assorted software) native. Though I have no idea why you'd want to. That's like setting up a barbeque grill in the middle of the Sistene Chapel. [crz]
So much more available for Windows - I'm a bit of a program junkie. [bbq]
Could never go to a Mac, although I know people who have them really like them.
QuoteSo much more available for Windows - I'm a bit of a program junkie.
No, that's what I'm saying. You can run all that stuff
on your Mac, if it's one of the newish Intel based ones.
The old adapters like Dave would do it too, but it wasn't native, so it'd move a lot slower.
My Mom has a ton of Windows programs that she runs on her Mac. She only runs Windows when she knows she's going to be running a specific program though. Otherwise it's just too untrustworthy to leave on all that time...
I'm so brainwashed, I still couldn't switch, Erin. :)
Microsoft and Windows is good for the economy. Look at all the IT jobs.... ;D ;D ;D ;D
Seriously though, the lack of malware, viruses, etc. traditionally has been a by product of the less popular Apple and Mac O/S. Not to say Macs are not a good computer, but I cut my teeth on DOS back in the early 80's and I don't want to change.
I also did DOS and programmed a bit in Basic. Maybe that's why I don't want to change. I also studied Win95 almost enough to each it. What a challenge for the big changeover and lots of things didn't work well with it.
I've been a Mac person for years, too. (Since the days when they were just Apples). They're just a better machine. Period.
And malware/spyware/viruses/etc. are almost completely unheard of.
There's a lot to be said about that....both pro and con.
Mac (apple) had a better idea from the get go. Memory allocation was and is better. Remember the old days of PC programing where you had to load high programs to conserve the 640K of conventional ram. It's still there, windows still does it for you....most of the time. Because of that and several other items, Macs are better for high video applications. They are very user friendly and handle most tasks without help.
Because they are so automated, when there is a program or application that it doesn't understand, you are in TROUBLE. It's very difficult o get into the belly of the beast AND if you do get one of the few effective viruses it's wipe and reload....period!
It's like comparing a 60's GTO to a 2007 Mercedes. If your happy with dull everyday carefree driving and taking the thing to a SHOP when there's a problem...the Mercedes (Mac) is for you.
If you like Fast, configurable cars that can be modified for your taste....Go with the Goat (PC) :-\
Looks like you are pretty well into computers too, Peter.
I can say, now that I think about it, that I never see Mac people who really get into the guts and tinker with their computers.
You have some valid points there... If it suits you. I've never completely dissected a chainsaw either, but it's still a tool I use day in and day out. And a good chainsaw doesn't lock up every time it's used, regardless of the operator. ;)
I'm also an amateur filmmaker, and appreciate the Mac's video and graphics capabilities..
OK I know nothing about computers because they don't have a square or circular saw installed. What about "defragging" your computer. We tried to set our up to automatically do this a couple years ago and I don't think the thing ever did complete the automatic task. Is it a vital function or just hype of the computer junkies that always have a solution for your problems. I am asking this honestly and I really don't know. d*
Re: defragging
IF you are using an NTFS disk you don't need to worry so much about this. Most XP machines will be using XP. Not sure about Vista; probably, it has advantages. Go into "My Computer", right click a drive, select properties, and the next window will tell you what file system is in use.
Going 'way back', the smart thing IBM did was to use open architecture, whereas Apple was a closed shop. Being open let every Tom, Dick and Harry try to outdo the other in innovations. That led directly to the overwhelming superior numbers of PC's vs Apples/Mac's. Who knows how Macs new Intel chips will affect their rise in popularity?
I have a friend, long time PC user who still has a high end PC, but also runs a Mac for his video editing. ???
OK What does "FAT32" tell anyone in the C drive properties.
That's the file system that PC have used for a long time... Win98 and earlier [FAT = File Allocation Table] I don't recall. FAT32 should be defragged every so often, more so if you are the sort of user who tries out a lot of software and then uninstalls it.
A FAT32 XP system can be changed to NTFS, but before doing so all important data should be backed up for certain. I don't know if I would recommend the switch to anyone who is not comfortable diddling with their PC.
FAT vs. NTFS comaprison info HERE (http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm)
QuoteBecause they are so automated, when there is a program or application that it doesn't understand, you are in TROUBLE.
??? I've never had trouble tearing into mine... (Of course I haven't tried with my mini because they
are designed to be a closed box, but the rest of them aren't an issue).
My mom is often tearing into the guts of the assorted Macs she's had, for either fun or necessity...
For that matter, my kid brother (a computer geek for Google) would be quite surprised to hear this also...
Well -- I think I found the solution to my lockups. None for 2 days now.
It was a Microsoft update of svchost a long time ago. They were aware of the problem but it took them a long time to get a fix and apparently I never got it.
http://forum.sysinternals.com/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=9326
Troubleshooting: Help with svchost.exe
If you have this problem and don't like a lot of reading it eventually directs you here for the two things to do to fix this problem --- if you get the same one.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/thenakedmvp/archive/2007/05/06/wsus-v3-the-final-fix-for-the-svchost-issue.aspx
c* [cool] 8)
Seems I did one more thing as I was able to recreate the problem.
I have a program called TUT - The Ultimate Troubleshooter. I had also turned off wuauclt - the Windows Automatic Updates and will do manual updates per TUT's advice. When I turned them back on, the problem came back.
TUT has a feature that will Suspend, Terminate and Delete a task. wuauclt was made mandatory in later Windows fixes and it has to be turned off - TUT is the only thing I found that does that.
The above fixes don't seem to work with updates turned on. As soon as I told automatic update to notify me, it locked up again.
Seems if it is not a virus, it is a very problematic MS program.
More info. http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/wuauclt.exe.html
Note that if you have this problem, wuauclt (windows update automatic update client) reinstalls itself at every boot up. TUT is still the only way I have found to remove it. After shutting it down after bootup, it does not reload on hibernate and is not a problem until the next bootup whereupon it must be Suspended, Terminated and Deleted by TUT to keep the computer from locking up. Microsoft......... hmm >:(
THIS WEBSITE (http://www.pchell.com/) was just recommended by one of the PC related newsletters I subscribe to.
It was highly recommended in relation to completely uninstalling some programs, like Symantec and McAfee anti virus products, as well as others.
Good one, Don. Thanks.
I am currently doing as last listed above. Close down wuauclt and things are just peachy. :)