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Now it's my turn to ask for computer help!
Sally'sConcerns | 12/05/04 | Sally'sConcerns

Posted on 12/05/2004 4:13:30 PM PST by Sally'sConcerns

Before anyone asks I have AVG, Spybot, Ad-Aware, SpySweeper (paid for) and TrojanHunter. SpySweeper runs nightly as does AVG. I run Spybot every couple of weeks as back-up for SpySweeper. I'm on cable modem and the only protection I don't have is a firewall. I plan on securing that when my computer whiz son visits at Christmas. (I'm an almost computer idiot)

So my computer's been acting hinky and I don't know why. I decide to go to http://www.pcpitstop.com to check my computer. For some strange reason I click on the free scan from Stop-Sign. Stop-Sign finds stuff and the only way I can get them to "correct/fix" it is to purchase their program. Is it worth the money to buy their program? They did find several things such as the remains of IWon and AllAdvantage which none of the other programs found.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: aaargh; computers; help; lexicon; microsoft; spyware; windows
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To: edchambers

Thanks for the response.

I think I stumbled onto the problem and it now appears to be working.


101 posted on 12/08/2004 5:01:05 AM PST by Loyal Buckeye ((Kerry is a flake))
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To: edchambers

Thanks I am trying to delete MSIE it keeps telling me there is a file or user that is keeping me from deleting this program
I cannot find anything that is open. any suggestings?


102 posted on 12/08/2004 6:18:31 AM PST by since1868
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To: since1868
(Thanks I am trying to delete MSIE it keeps telling me there is a file or user that is keeping me from deleting this program I cannot find anything that is open. any suggestings?

I think safe mode will get you out of this one too.Windows loads part of IE into memory when you boot up.Safe mode loads just the bare essentials so it will allow you to delete things that otherwise would be in use.Now why do you want to get rid of IE?Even if you're not using it as a browser you might need it for some other stuff like windows update or media player.IE is built into Windows and it may not even be possible to completely delete it.

103 posted on 12/08/2004 7:43:04 AM PST by edchambers ("Pajamahadin Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: edchambers

I think there might be spyware on MSIE is it safe to keep it on my computer


104 posted on 12/08/2004 7:48:54 AM PST by since1868
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To: since1868
( I think there might be spyware on MSIE is it safe to keep it on my computer)

Considering that virtually all the anti spyware programs were written to work in IE you should be able to get it cleaned up.There may be some extensions available that allow Media Player and Windows Update to run on Firefox I would install those and make sure they work before completely removing IE.Also if you know the filename and path of IE you might be able to reinstall it from your system disk without reinstalling the whole OS.

105 posted on 12/08/2004 8:00:30 AM PST by edchambers ("Pajamahadin Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: edchambers

Thanks I was hoping I could download mozzila and never see IE again so sick of spyware


106 posted on 12/08/2004 8:30:27 AM PST by since1868
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To: Sally'sConcerns
I have one more suggestion for you since you say your son is computer literate.When he installs your new OS have him edit the boot INI so that it boots to a menu giving you the option to boot into safe mode.There is nothing scary about safe mode hence the name "safe" mode.It is one of the most useful tools you have in removing spyware and other programs you don't want.The following standard issue Windows components are available and enhanced by safe mode "add and remove Programs" in control panel,"Disk clean up","Scan Disk","Windows Explorer" and "disk defragmenter" all work in regular mode but will work better in safe mode along with all your aftermarket security stuff like Spybot,Adaware,AVG etc.
107 posted on 12/08/2004 1:36:08 PM PST by edchambers ("Pajamahadin Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: Sally'sConcerns

I keep getting a weird message when I reboot that says "autoupdt.exe" had an illegal operation or something or similar computer jargon and could not run.

I don't know what the heck autoupdt.exe is and can't seem to figure it out. My spyware scans come up dry though.


108 posted on 12/08/2004 1:39:15 PM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: Truth Table

Is RSS where you can do a newsgroup feed on pretty much any site?

I have heard of it, but haven't tried it out in my Firefox.


109 posted on 12/08/2004 1:47:12 PM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: dennisw
In newer motherboards the sound is carried through the IDE (ATA) cable.

That description is a bit misleading. Newer drives still have the analog connection just like the old ones. Depending on the O/S, any of the drives can just send the sound data to the program (through the ribbon cable) to be converted to analog there. This would, of course, be necessary for surround sound. In no CD/DVD drive does the analog, stereo sound signal travel via the IDE cable, AFAIK. I have been a PC specialist since MS-DOS 3.3.

110 posted on 12/08/2004 1:48:16 PM PST by TChris (You keep using that word. I don't think it means what yHello, I'm a TAGLINE vir)
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To: bkwells

I will have to upgrade to that......am going to wait a couple months before considering upgrading to SP2 due to probs some people in my dorm have had.....but as of now, all I am using for firewall (have a lot of spyware/virus protection stuff running, probably too much) is just the XP1 version, which is not enough.


111 posted on 12/08/2004 1:49:05 PM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: rwfromkansas; edchambers; Bloody Sam Roberts
I keep getting a weird message when I reboot that says "autoupdt.exe" had an illegal operation or something or similar computer jargon and could not run.

I don't know what the heck autoupdt.exe is and can't seem to figure it out. My spyware scans come up dry though.

I'm forwarding your question on to some of the people who've helped me. I could only guess what that might be and would probably guess wrongly.

112 posted on 12/08/2004 1:50:18 PM PST by Sally'sConcerns (It's painless to be a monthly donor!)
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To: konaice

linux is easier than Windows? I always thought it was really complicated, but then again, I never actually tried it, just thought I heard that.


113 posted on 12/08/2004 1:52:39 PM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: rwfromkansas

That was then. This is now.
http://www.kde.org/screenshots/kde330shots.php


114 posted on 12/08/2004 2:30:09 PM PST by konaice
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To: konaice

Wow.

That doesn't look difficult.

Is there a way to have both XP and linux on teh same machine and you choose which OS to load? For the sake of roommates etc., I would not want to switch over completely, but there is one program I would like to run that is only available for linux...


115 posted on 12/08/2004 2:49:59 PM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: rwfromkansas

Yes there is. In Fact, many version of Linus, and my favorite (SuSE 9.2 - owned by Novell) will even shrink your XP partition to make room without losing any data.

Lots of users start this way, and then slowly drift away from Windows. Makes a good non-tramatic conversion tactic.


116 posted on 12/08/2004 2:58:03 PM PST by konaice
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To: Sally'sConcerns

One of your programs that has an automatic update feature is malfunctioning.AVGs auto update feature is a little buggy, try tuning that off and rebooting see if that fixes it.Here's what I would do, one by one try turning off automatic updates in your programs and rebooting to see which one is the problem.Once the error message stops you should know which program is causing the problem you could either re install it or just live without the auto update feature.Come to think of it AVG updates at boot-up open the program, do a manual update and see if that solves the problem mine did the same thing not too long ago.


117 posted on 12/08/2004 3:00:44 PM PST by edchambers ("Pajamahadin Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: Sally'sConcerns
I did some research and this "autoupdt.exe" does not seem to be a legitimate Windows process.

I suspect that it's a trojan. Go to Start > Run and type:

msconfig

then OK.
Click on the Startup tab and see if autoupdt.exe is is anywhere in the listing. If so, uncheck it.
It may look something like: "autoupdt = C:\WINDOWS\AUTOUPDT.EXE".

Once you do this, then reboot.

Now go to C:\WINDOWS (or wherever it lives) and rename AUTOUPDT.EXE to AUTOUPDT.old. This will disable the file but should it turn out that you need it, it can still be renamed back to the original. If you find that you dont need it after a couple of weeks, just delete it.
Use the Windows search function to find the file on your hardrive is it is not in C:\Windows.

118 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:39 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (All I ask from livin' is to have no chains on me. All I ask from dyin' is to go naturally.)
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To: rwfromkansas

rw, check reply 117 and 118 on this thread for answers to your question about your computer problem.


119 posted on 12/08/2004 3:37:34 PM PST by Sally'sConcerns (It's painless to be a monthly donor!)
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To: lolhelp; JockoManning

LH says: 'For goodness' sake, go to ZoneAlarmPro.com and buy their fire wall program, don't wait for your son. I was just like you and bought it and my son, who had set up my computer was so impressed with it, when his fire wall came up for renewal, he bought ZoneAlarm.'

thanks, and bookmarking as reminder to self.


120 posted on 12/08/2004 3:45:19 PM PST by JockoManning
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