This makes me sad

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:28 am

When I turned my laptop back on today I noticed that there was a huge different in the speed it once operated in. Now it takes like one minute to open a folder and sometimes get things like AIM started. I deleted a lot of stuff and ran scandisk a few times but it is still very slow. Any suggestions on how to get this problem fixed? BTW, this is a Toshiba running a windows 98 operating system.

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:52 am

I've always wondered why systems do this sometimes as well. Sometimes the only way to fix it is to reformat your HD and start fresh.

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:56 am

Go to http://www.lavasoft.com and download the freeware version of adaware and make sure you don't have some nasty spyware, run defrag, scandisk just checkas for errors, but doesn't optimize the layout of files. Also do a good virus scan.

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:15 am

Thanks for all of your advice guys

I'll be sure to try that stuff A.S.A.P.

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:55 am

Just make sure if u decide to try a reformat if all else fails, you remember that it is necessary to back up all of your data to Cd's or DVD's because a reformat will delete EVERYTHING. You probably already knew this, but I have seen some people who did'nt loose all their data.

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:03 am

When I saw this happen today I backed up everything that I would need incase I have to reformat the hd. I did however download adaware and it picked up a ton of things! I think that might be the problem. Hopefully it is. I'm just looking over the files it picked up and making sure it isn't an important file I need. Thanks for all of your help everyone. I think my problem is solved

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:12 am

Adaware did the trick! My computer is running faster than it ever did. Thanks for suggesting adaware Raptor

. And thank you to everyone else that took the time to help me with this problem.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:23 pm

yeah i would scandisk and defrag, scan for a viral problem and then maybe format C: and start fresh.

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:18 pm

Another thing to look out for is un-necessary program segments!

When you install a program, you'll often see an icon for that program in the taskbar (Next to the clock). It's okay to have those icons in place when you're actually running the program, but they just take up memory space and slow the computer downespecially when you boot it up!

Get rid of as moany of those as you can!

Also, any programs you never use: Uninstall them!

Also try this before you defgrament the hard drive: Go to the START menu, then select FIND, then FILES OR FOLDERS, then do a search over your hard drive for *.tmp files. When the list comes up, delete them all! This'll also help free up some space.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:39 pm

Ide take it to a computer store pay the 40 dollars and have them look it over, always be safe about your pc, cause if something is majorly wrong with it you wouldnt want to end up payuin 500 bucks for something...

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:08 pm

I don't know if it's even worth doing that though. This laptop is old and nothing special. I think it has like a 4 meg graphics card and the HD is nothing special at all. I will be getting my brother's computer when he starts college which will be in like a month, so then I'll have a killer computer to do all my editing and stuff on. And if this thinks conks out we have another computer I could use. It's nothing special either, but better than this piece of garbage. I don't know what I was thinking by getting this laptop...

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:56 am

I just ran the adaware software and removed 54 files. But it hasn't changed my computer a bit. I figured that however, because I run Windows Pro. And I noticed that Pro always takes a bit longer than Home does opening programs.

Post by **Matt** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:07 am

I can also recommend Adaware. Get program. I don't mind software being supported by adverts but I don't like hidden stuff running behind my back sending data to people over my internet connection.

I can also recommend http://www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.php. This tells you how to identify software that runs automatically on system startup and which things you can turn off. I do this regularly. Half the stuff in the startup list I have disabled. As usual make regular backups of your data.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:31 pm

I was just bout to say MSconfig...i called gateway when i kept getting pop-ups during my online playing time of planetside, all these pop-ups of porn spam etc...which i dunno what they were from, ran adaware they stopped for a while...then all of the sudden a thing from "messenger" kept popin up askin me for stuff....Then my pc became very slow...I looked into it, appearently Best buy stores (who installed my additional 256 ram 512 all together) had a contract with Microsoft Messenger (a program) in your computer, NOT MSN messenger.....It always would pop up sayin stuff like "Do you wanna buy this blah blah blah".... gateway told me how to shut that off, then my pc ran fine, shut everything i didnt need off in startup (help of myself who was just guessing at the time) hehe...wish u would of gotten that msconfig thing earlier hehe...anyway if this ever happens to u let me know, ill help u shut it off (if i can remember)

Twabi2 · Post by **Twabi2** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:40 pm

windows messenger is installed as default and isn't meant as an instant messaging system, but for admins to keep the systems in condition.
But you can abuse it, as yee all can read

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:12 pm

You are getting the WIndows Messenger dialogs, has nothing to do with any contract Best Buy has with anything. It is an exploit for every version of windows no matter who sold it. Uses UDP port 135 to issue the same system calls as the NET SEND command does. NET SEND is designed as Twabi said, to make general announcements to LAN users, unfortunately if you do not firewall port 135 it can be triggered from the internet by a very simple call

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:07 am

every version of windows? i thought it was every version after windows 98. hmm maybe im wrong, that does happen alot

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:34 am

I hate the Windows messenger. I just keep it turned off.

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:26 pm

i ran spybot search and destroy on my moms 5 yearold comptuter. removed well over a hundred files. before you coulkd barely move the mouse, now it runs almost prefect. still dont know how she can stand using that thing though

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:32 pm

Windows Messenger is installed as standard on XP. I always avoided 2000 like the plague, and you won't see it on 98 unless you add it in. I've disabled it on XP, it's a nusience! Although I've got tons of RAM and a much faster processor, I still like keeping things tidy, besides, it opens up a link to Microsoft, and who knows what they can really do without us knowing! Makes you wonder if those security holes in IE were there deliberately!