More computer help questions

[Debbie]

Don't forget, the least intrusive file-sharing program is an IRC client, and an FTP client, plus you get props for being old-school.

Debbie... Have you called an exorcist?

LMAO Are you offering to do it for me?
Yesterday was weird! I had two mouse
cursors! Maybe my computer is haunted
or underpaid and overworked.

AzureAngel, ok I will try reformatting.
My computer will RUN faster if I have to kick
it's heinie and chase it around the room for
performing badly!

 

[Zamdrist]

MaxMem? I haven't
heard of that. I am running rambooster to get
the maximum out of my memory.

MaxMem is from a wonderful software developer. It works differently that other memory managers in that it simply clears out expired programs from memory. It's not a memory booster, but manages better what memory you have.

Check it out here: MaxMem

 

[AzureAngel]

Debbie - FIRST, make sure you've got the latest drivers for your system components.

That MAY fix problems!

AND... go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and see if there are any updates that might help!

I don't want you to reformat unless absolutely necessary! I CARE!

 

[heterotic]

Right, make sure you have the latest versions of any of those DLLs windows has a problem with, too.
Do Not make an offering of your IO.sys, system.dat, or user.dat files to the computer demons in an attempt at appeasement
Just an important guidline to remember there...

 

[Debbie]

Thanks for the link, Zamdrist. I will
check that out.

AzureAngel, I will only reformat if I
absolutely have to. And I will make sure
I have the latest drivers etc before I do it.

SummerRose? You name the time, I'll be
there on MSN.

 

[koalabear]

Keep 98

Update it at Microsoft site. Ditch the virus program that it has in it and get a good one. Put windows 98 disc in find tweak U.I. use it to fix all your bugs.

Find Tweak under tools---------reskit-----------power toys folders.

You can correct file associations and system files with it.......do that once a week and you should run error free.

 

[Debbie]

Thanks koalabear, will give this a try tonight.
Hubby backed up all my stuff on his computer
last night in case we need to format.
Guess what? Turn his computer on this morning
and it now has similiar problems.
Sounds like it may be a remanant of a virus?
I have run virus checker and fouund nothing.
Weird.

 

[AzureAngel]

Debbie, have you updated the virus checking software to be up to date?

What do you use for it?

 

[ag2507]

A cople of things:...

1) How old a version of Win 98? there are two or three manifestations and they are all inherently more stable than the one before - until you get to Win Me which is a giant leap backwards. Right click on your MyComputer icon, select proporties and you will see there which version of Windows 98 you have.

2) Use of Windows Update is strongly recommended. A lot of silly bugs get gotten rid of that way.

3) Internet explorer 5 or 5.5 are better than 4 or earlier and a lot of internet bugs (and virus holes) go away.

4) IE 6 should be better again: I had to install it to get out of a hole 5.5 left me in.

5) You must do your housekeeping. That doesn't just mean defragging; keeping your c:\Windows\temp directory EMPTY as much as possible is very important. There is a utility that from right clicking your c drive icon that will nearly empty it, but you need to be ruthless; microsoft office and other ms utilities leave unnessessary crap in there and if you are failing a lot, yet more crap will get left behind

6) Ensure you have at LEAST 300+ Megabytes of empty disk space. I find that once there less than 500Meg spare disk, Win 98 starts to get flakier.

7) Cut down the number of things you run concurrently down to a minimum: if you install stuff: including office and AOL all sorts of unnessessary thing get sterted on your behalf THAT YOU DON"T NEED.

Click Start, Programs, Startup and you can probably delete everything in that menu. If you have a recent Win 98 you can right click the menu item and delete it: there is another place where programs get autostarted but that will need another thousand hours of typing to describe. The utilities started by Office really gobble up memory and slow your machind down, and I bet you never use them.

 

[Debbie]

Debbie, have you updated the virus checking software to be up to date?

What do you use for it?

Norton Gold edition. Yes I have updated, a live
update is scheduled weekly.

Windows 98, bought less than a year ago.
Running IE 6

14.9 GB unsused

Internet cache is cleaned out everyday

 

[AzureAngel]

Sheeeit. I'd be tempted to say virus, but Norton's excellent about that stuff, in my experience. Blarg.

 

[freakygirl]

Debbie.. baby.. talk to Draco if possible..

or http://www.virtualdr.com

both have helped me many times....

 

[Debbie]

Debbie.. baby.. talk to Draco if possible..

or http://www.virtualdr.com

both have helped me many times....

Thanks freakygurl, I don't like bothering Draco
but I think I will have to get his advice on this!
Last night I gave up using my computer on the
net, it was too frustrating.

Checking out that link now.

 

[Debbie]

Sheeeit. I'd be tempted to say virus, but Norton's excellent about that stuff, in my experience. Blarg.

Yes, it was a virus! SUCCESS!!!

Managed to track it down through

http://www.antivirus.com/


(Click on free tools.
Scan your PC for free.
It will ask you to
register but you don't have to.)

Norton did not detect the viruses.

The viruses were BKDR ACEBO.A and
win/sys/ngsut.exe.
They were both hiding in other programs.
Whenever I hooked up to the net the virus would
terminate zonealarm.

Problems fixed and my computer is rocking
and rolling again!
Thank you everybody for your input! And to
www.google.com which helped me track the
problem down.

 

[Lady_Sam]

Well I ran win 98 se on my comp for oh three years with no problems. Then I started having hard drive problems. I have since become semi tech literate. Built my own comp Now I only have to replace the drive that bit the dust for good with this last crash...you know that nasty grinding noise can't be a good sound. I'm not sure yet what I think of win xp, but since I got it for free *hides her cd burner* I'm not gonna complain.

 

[Synnerman]

Bad Porn?

LOL Heterotic!


I don't mean to hijack your thread Debbie.
But, I am running Windows 2000 and having very comparable problems.
My computer does all it's weekly and monthly maintenance. My virus scan is updated....what gives.
Maybe I have downloaded some seriously bad porn!

now wait a minute there is no such thing as bad porn. There is good and gooder, but no bad. OK, once in a while.

 

[Draco]

Freaky..once again thanks for the vote of confidence.
Debs...anytime you need help..I'm here for you...it aint no bother at all.

Time to ditch Nortons Gold and find Trend PC-Cillin( its THE BEST, most reliable anti-virus software available. The update at least twice a week and it finds many that Nortons miss.

Ok, the two utilities I thoroughly recommend ( and use on my system) System Mechanic By Iolo Systems (www***lo.com) and
Cacheman Memeory Optimiser by Outer Technologies (www.outertech.com)

I've tried Membooster/Rambooster/RamDefrag et al, nothing works like Cacheman (and its free!)

System Mechanic can tune your Start-Up list, Clean out your Registry (safely), Find and remove all the junk files ICQ and Office and Windows create over time, plus Windows 98 has a start-up editor built in as well. Click Start/Run and type msconfig.exe.
Go to the Start up tab and disable all the things like Msn Messenger, NDetect (from ICQ) OSA from Office....

The best thing to do here..is make a list and PM me or email below, I'll try and tell you which ones can be removed safely and what needs to stay. This is an open offer to all those using Win98 A or Second Edition. To those using Millenium Edition or (ME)...SHAME ON YOU...suffer in hell for all eternity..muhahahahha

OK, I'm kidding.....

Draco (A+/Net+ Certified Technician)
kurgzcomp@yahoo.co.nz

 

[Debbie]

Thank you, Draco. I know you are a very busy guy.
I do appreciate the help you give to others.
Your advice should be paid for by the sec.
Instead? I give you a flower.

 

[ag2507]

Borg warning to the species known as Hersheys. Chocolate will be assimilated. Wrappers are futile

Having just visited the Mecca of American chocolatedom (and thank heaven the theme park was closed): I thought this was very funny!