Computer help!! (Vanity...Sorry, I don`t know where else to look)

freerepublic.com ^ | 11/10/04 | Iamaverygooddriver

[Imaverygooddriver]

Sorry for this thread, but I am having a LOT of trouble with my computer and I`m getting pretty bugged because I can`t afford a new one.. A few weeks a go a Freeper really helped me (after I tried to get help from Microsoft about a billion times) after I noticed some other freepers asking for computer help.

What the problem is, is I can`t boot up my computer. It takes me literally 10 to 20 times. Each time I boot I get tons of error messages. "Rundlll32.exe error" "Ps.exe error" this error that error just too may to list, and the computer either locks up or doesn`t boot at all. I even had one time were it said "fan has stopped. Bring computer to get serviced immediately" (I opened it up and there is no dust or dirt, the fan works fine)

What I have is Windows XP on a HP Pavillon 545x with 1024 memory. These problems went on a few weeks ago and a Freeper told me I had too many programs loaded and told me to uncheck everything in my startup that didn`t begin with the letters LAST and it worked! It worked great! I could boot right up after that.

Now the other day, Microsoft updated my computer without me knowing what I was doing and totally screwed it up again, and now it`s 1000 times worse! Just to write this post it took me over an hour to boot this damn thing, I tried everything. I also noticed that now in the msconfig program I now have this "services" check list. Does anyone know how I can boot up the absolute basic microsoft stuff for Windows XP? This is a nightmare. Like my original tagline said (which I will soon put back up if I can`t get this fixed) "What`s the difference between John Kerry and Windows XP? Windows XP works once in a while."

Thanks for the help

[MJY1288]

1 registry Keys Identified and 19 Registry Values Identified so far,

Thanks for the advice,

Mike

[bitt]

check to see if there are any other windows critical updates you need...

if windows calls them critical, download them.

XP service pack 2 didn't ruin your pc, you just loaded a clean service pack over a mess. You have got to be confident that you have control with
1. a firewall
2. an antivirus
3. all windows critical updates
4. several spyware cleaning programs
5. diligence in maintaining all those upgrades and updates

[bitt]

the secret to these spyware cleaners is to always check for updates before running them.

I also use SpywareBlaster, free...google it.


and I also use the google toolbar.
www.google.com, go to "more", see it down on the bottom of the page.

[bitt]

when it finds the bad guys, check them all off (right click in one of the boxex, say select all)
say next.
then start a new scan, but this time, click "use cutom scanning options" and hit customize

in scan settings, click everything and make it green
in advanced settings, click the first one and make it green
go down to tweak - uinder scanning engine, make them all green.
then hit proceed.

this deeper scan will find a lot more. usually you should reboot after doing this,.....

[Imaverygooddriver]

Guess what?? IT WORKED!!!!!! I can`t believe it!! I re-booted about three times then finally it booted right and I started spy sweeper and it went through every file I had which took about an hour and I had SEVENTY FOUR of these freggin` spy things in my comp!! What the hell! And it got rid of them all, and I rebooted and it booted up 1-2-3!!! Plus my comp is running 1000 times faster! THANKS THANKS THANKS!!! I can`t beleiev this crap goes on with these spy programs. What the hell is that all about?

[MJY1288]

Congrats, Free Republic is the best :-)

I'm on my windows 98 machine because my Laptop and my primary PC is being disinfected as I type. This one will be next

[MJY1288]

Is it Ok to be running Spybot, Spy Sweeper, Ad Aware and Zone Alarm on the same PC?

[Howlin]

It's unreal, isn't it?

My niece, who never does a thing to her laptop until she has to, found -- ready? -- 527 on hers!

[MJY1288]

BTW, Ad Aware has found an additional 20 Objects so far :-)

Thanks for all your help!

Mike

[Howlin]

Disinfected?

[Howlin]

Yes, run them all, once a week.

[Howlin]

Did you get Adware SE?

[Mo1]

You should get Spy Sweeper, too. I was FLOORED by it.....I found 52!

Oh that's nothing .. before I banned my kids from my computer ... I found 386 of those buggers during one scan

[MJY1288]

It is!

My Primary and Laptop was loaded with spyware items, and Now I'm on my only PC left, an old 400 P3 Processor with a 10,000 rpm 18 Gig SCSI H/drive, I only use this for storage and burning CD's, So I doubt it's too infected since I rarely use it for online operations

[MJY1288]

Yes

[backhoe]

Help for viruses and malware:

 

 Ad-Aware ... Spybot ... Peper Uninstaller ... HijackThis... CWShredder ... Spyware Blaster ... IE Spyad ... Free online Virus scan ... AVG AntiVirus ... LSPfix ... How to Show Hidden Files ... How to boot into Safe Mode ... How did I get infected in the first place?

---

Things you need--(all FREE)
Anti-Virus
AVG

 Avast
Firewall
Kerio(Direct Download) Zone Alarm

 If are using zone alarm it may slow your PC. Try Outpost Firewall http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost or Sygate Firewall http://www.sygate.com/, both have FREE and Pro versions and are heads above ZA.
Misc.
IE Spyads SpywareBlaster Spyware Guard
Windows Update- you must keep updated, it is the start of a secure system-
get all CRITICAL Updates

Things you want(Still Free)
 

  I use Firefox PR1 and IMHO, beats the sox off MS Explorer. Life is good with tabs. Click the link and give it a try.

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D

SpywareBlaster
MS MVP Hosts file

Mike Lin's Homepage and get the Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor tools.

 

The best forum for malware removal:

 http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?s=262d844129208feb8b0cf5b0186a32f6&act=SC&c=4
SWI Forums--

[Straight Vermonter]

I had an HP with the same problem.

[Brainhose]

You may need to reinstall windows. Back up your personal files first. Try a repair install first.
If that doesn't help, do a fresh install into another directory like instead of C:\WINDOWS put it in C:\WINXP you can then later delete the C:\WINDOWS directory, you'll have to reinstall all your programs.

[Imaverygooddriver]

Thanks for all that info, I definately need a virus program, I know I got at least one virus. I keep getting that netbus trojan message from my firewall. Another guy suggested spy sweeper and last night I dowloaded it and did it, and can you believe I had 74 of those damn spy programs on my comp? My comp was totally hijacked! The thing booted right up after I got rid of all them, and it even runs faster. I can`t believe this kind of stuff goes on or is even legal, how can they do that to people computers?

[backhoe]

My wife found over 500 malware files the first time she scanned her office PC with Ad-Aware! Teenagers, coming in at night.
( Or so she claims... )

AVG has a new free release out:

 

 AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...

...which I just installed. They do update their reference files frequently, and AVG doesn't hog system resources like some of the big names do.