Well it looks like it is time to reformat the computer, running like a Life Like Pancake Motor. I have not formatted a computer for 6 years or so.
I am running XP Pro and I don’t remember what kind of files I should use. Last time I did my Laptop I used I think Fat 32 or something like that. Friend that worked for Gateway (he moved) said that was a bad chose. What file system would you use?
I am running a Pentium 2.4 , Intel D850EMV2 board and 512 RD Ram.
I am going to try and stay on line today with the way it is so I can see the answer.
If you are going to stay with Windows XP Pro, I would download all Service Packs before doing anything else. Then put them on a CD/DVD for later use. This will make the Windows patching much easier after connecting back online. Not sure which web browser you use, but it would also be handy to download the newest copy (i.e. Internet Explorer 8, Netscape, Firefox, etc.)
As for the file system, I would go with NTFS. Better security features then using FAT or FAT32.
CAUTION: before reformatting, please make sure you have copies of all software and personal files. This is a critical step as you cannot get them back once the formatting has completed and Windows has been re-installed. This would also include any serial numbers needed for software installations.
Reformatting one’s hard drive is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer. If you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you will end up with a much worse mess than you started with.
At the very least, you will need the Windows install disks that came with your computer. Back up EVERY data file and reinstall windows.
Before you embark on this radical step, however, you should try defragmenting, scan disk, registry cleaners, and other software designed to clean up the garbage without reformatting. There is even software called Partition Magic which will allow you to change or rebuild your File Allocation Table (FAT) without reformatting.
Good luck. We’ll see you back here in about 2 weeks, once you’ve recovered.[:)]
Do you REALLY want to reformat your “C” drive, wiping out all of your installed programs and starting over?
You must have a lot fewer programs installed than I do. I still have not recovered from the fools at the Geek Squad who reformatted mine as they grasped at straws trying to decide why one of my computers wouldn’t boot. It turned out to be a bad DVD drive, but they totally messed up my computer before they figured that out. I had a RAID array, but they reformatted that, too. I lost programs, software that came with cameras, specialized software that had been downloaded from photo labs and album vendors, and drivers for specialized peripherals like graphics tablets and bar code readers. Finding and re-installing all that stuff has been a very time consuming nightmare.
I didn’t lose any pictures or data files because I back that stuff up religiously. I’m glad I didn’t count on the RAID to protect it.
You might simply want a program like System Mechanic or Advanced System optimizer.
A good defrag and registry cleaning/compression is all that is usually needed. Also turning off a bunch of programs that are probably automatically starting up with the computer.
Few weeks ago I was having internet problems. So I called the idiots at Charter. After 49 minutes on the phone they finally decided to set me up with services call.
Turned out to be a problem on there lines, not my modem. But, before they came out I wanted to make sure there where no bugs in the computer. (my Norton was out of date) So I download the free Charter Anti Virus called F Securities.
Computer did slow down some, but still worked. Then it started getting slower and slower. I did all of the drills I know, De-frag, Disk Clean up and Repair, Spy Boot, Windows Registry Repair and Virus scan. I even tried it in safe mode. But nothing worked.
Yesterday computer did not want to boot. So I used my Go Back program (if you don’t have this you should get it) it is something like the Windows Restore but way better. I freaked when Go Back said there where no revert times I could go to. Am Screwed, well so I thought.
I was able to get on line this mourning and posted this plea for help.
I did make one last ditch effort, and uninstalled the F Securities files and the Computer is happy again.
Far as reformatting, I have done it 3 or 4 times but it had been a while. This computer that I built 7 years ago has been pretty stable. I all so back up the important files on my Laptop. It never is used on line so it is pretty safe. I all so back up important web address as well.
Far as programs, yes I have lot of them and sure was not looking forward to loading them.
The problem that people often have is that you have to totally uninstall Norton before trying another anti virus. IMO Nortons is totally out of control and uses up lots of system resources. It also holds on tight when you try to get rid of it. It also doesn’t play well when there’s another similar program on the machine. I recommend uninstalling nortons and using AVG or similar like Avast.
Good Luck
Edit: Oh and when you uninstall there will be 2 or 3 items that say nortons that need to be uninstalled.
Lesson to all, that Ken learned on his own → antivirus programs do not play well together. You should only have ONE (1) installed at any time, lest they start duking it out and bringing your machine to a crawl.
railroad analogy – it’s like a full-service brake application and trying to go uphill[:$].
Antivirus programs are memory hogs. If you only have 512 megs of memory, you’re going to see a drastic slowing down of your computer. I’d suggest installing the maximum memory that your mother board can support. With the processor speed you have (2.x ghz) and the maximum memory, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your pc’s performance.
I bought a new laptop and it came bundled with McAfee. I was unable to get it to connect to my wireless N network. Tech support was no help. On my own, I finally discovered that I could connect if I turned the McAfee off.
I uninstalled it and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. It is free, gets auto updated once a week, and works perfectly. I now have it on all my computers.
Far as the Norton well that could be it. As mentioned I thought I had it all uninstalled. But, when i was getting rid of the F Anti Virus, found the update installer was still there.
The reformat and reinstall trick works but it will cost you. You will have to re install every single applicatio program (Microsoft Office, Firefox, Picassa, etc). If you cannot find (or never had) the original install disks you are out of luck. You will have to install the last 6 years worth of Microsoft patches which will take forever.
Was it me, I’d try to clean up your existing system. Do some weeding. Uninstall programs you never use, old versions, craplets, games. If you haven’t used it in the last six months, you don’t need it on your disk. You never know what’s hiding out there and the more weeds you pull the easier it is to see the virus for the trees.
Backup up all your stuff, photos. music, memos, track plans, whatever. Once you have a solid backup, delete some of your older stuff from hard disk.
Do “disk cleanup”
Do “Disk cleanup”, “Error Check” and defrag. You can get to these from “My Computer” , right click on the C drive icon, click on properties, then tools. Do cleanup FIRST. Do error check second. DON’T defrag unless error check passes. Defragging has been known to kill the odd virus.
Get a good antivirus are run it, run it twice. AVG works for me and it is free. Stay away from Norton and EZtrust and Computer Associates. Then run Spybot Search and Destroy and Lavasoft AdAware to catch the network invaders.
I’ve used the free antivirus software from AVG and it has worked very well for about 2 years now. I’ve had zero problems or issues with it and it is a program you may want to consider.
If you have a dell, they have a factory spec’s setting and you can always go to that and it will reformat all but that little section, it will be like a new computer every time, use it all the time for my sons computer (he autistic and doesn’t pay attention to computer warnings).
Glad you found the issue Ken. No do yourself a big favor and max out the RAM. 512 Meg is too small for XP. XP likes around 2GB if your motherboard can handle it. Even 4GB is OK but XP will NOT recognize all of it for technical reasons. It will read about 3 and a half. That’s normal. Also check your startup processes (msconfig). Spybot is a great idea. Malwarebytes is a similar program that will pick up other nasties. I run both weekly. Karl
I really wish I knew what people do to their computers. I hve NEVER had to reformat and rebuild any of my computers EVER (other then hardware failures). I run AVG Free,have for several years now, but it never finds anything. I periodically run Malwarebytes to clean spyware, but all it ever finds are some tracking cookies.
Since building my latest computer with Windows 7, I don;t even defrag anymore - Windows 7 does this automatically now. I DO and always have periodically run disk cleanup to get rid of the horde of temp files that accumulate over time. I DO apply Windows updates, especially security ones. I do NOT have my computer connected directly to the cable modem, I have a firewall/router in between.
However, my previous computer, which has XP, and another one which I NEVER had a virus on, when I was using it - my GF now uses, and every couple of weeks I need to clean spyware off it with Malwarebytes. It too has AVG and doesn’t get viruses, but whatever she does, she keeps getting spyware. She does play a lot of games on Facebook, something I don’t do - I do have a facebook account but I don’t play the games and I’m not updating my status every 10 minutes. Who knows. And I use IE8 exclusively on my machine, I never even installed an alternate browser on this system. I don;t have problems logging into the forums here, or any of the other issues people mention. I really wish I knew what I’m doing that other people aren’t - I could make a fortune selling my technique and buy more trains.
The computer problem that I experienced was caused by a hardware failure. Unfortunately, the “IT professionals” at the Geek Squad formated my hard drives before they found the problem DVD drive and removed it. Since the computer had two of them, they didn’t even replace it, they just removed it.