Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

If you have the original XP disc that came with the machine I would
reformat the hard drive.
Then re-install windows XP.

I would also download all the drivers I need and have them on a cd
prior to reformat.


I've found that machines bog down after time with a lot of bloat from
programs either installed or deleted.
I reformat about once a year.
A re-format and reinstall even though its time consuming will pep the
machine up again. You will be left with a clean OS for a while anyway.



Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I just used REGEDIT to find and remove Adobe Acrobat 3.0 and SpyBeGone.
> Acrobat Reader 3.0 has long since been upgraded to Reader 7.0, but 3.0 was
> still in the registry. SpyBeGone was also removed, but still had a registry
> entry.
>
> I am positive that both of these programs are no longer used, but they
> remained in the Add & Remove Programs menu. I don't know if they were
> attempting to be loaded on Start Up or not ...
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >different tasks.
> >
> > It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> > the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
> >
> > The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
> > my strategy will be.
> >
> > The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
> > it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> > restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> > the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> > restore from.
> >
> > Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >
> >
> >

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

If you have the original XP disc that came with the machine I would
reformat the hard drive.
Then re-install windows XP.

I would also download all the drivers I need and have them on a cd
prior to reformat.


I've found that machines bog down after time with a lot of bloat from
programs either installed or deleted.
I reformat about once a year.
A re-format and reinstall even though its time consuming will pep the
machine up again. You will be left with a clean OS for a while anyway.



Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I just used REGEDIT to find and remove Adobe Acrobat 3.0 and SpyBeGone.
> Acrobat Reader 3.0 has long since been upgraded to Reader 7.0, but 3.0 was
> still in the registry. SpyBeGone was also removed, but still had a registry
> entry.
>
> I am positive that both of these programs are no longer used, but they
> remained in the Add & Remove Programs menu. I don't know if they were
> attempting to be loaded on Start Up or not ...
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >different tasks.
> >
> > It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> > the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
> >
> > The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
> > my strategy will be.
> >
> > The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
> > it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> > restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> > the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> > restore from.
> >
> > Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >
> >
> >

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

If you have the original XP disc that came with the machine I would
reformat the hard drive.
Then re-install windows XP.

I would also download all the drivers I need and have them on a cd
prior to reformat.


I've found that machines bog down after time with a lot of bloat from
programs either installed or deleted.
I reformat about once a year.
A re-format and reinstall even though its time consuming will pep the
machine up again. You will be left with a clean OS for a while anyway.



Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I just used REGEDIT to find and remove Adobe Acrobat 3.0 and SpyBeGone.
> Acrobat Reader 3.0 has long since been upgraded to Reader 7.0, but 3.0 was
> still in the registry. SpyBeGone was also removed, but still had a registry
> entry.
>
> I am positive that both of these programs are no longer used, but they
> remained in the Add & Remove Programs menu. I don't know if they were
> attempting to be loaded on Start Up or not ...
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >different tasks.
> >
> > It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> > the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
> >
> > The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
> > my strategy will be.
> >
> > The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
> > it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> > restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> > the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> > restore from.
> >
> > Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >
> >
> >

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:05:50 +0000, Jeff Strickland wrote:

> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
> cleans the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?

If you have the install disks - not the recovery disks that came with the
machine - you are home free. You can use the recovery version (if the OEM
supplied it) on the machine it shipped with (others if you are clever and
a bit lucky) but the honest-to-goodness Install Disks from MS will work on
anything meeting hardware specs.

I have a problem with about all of the anti-virus apps at times.
I've watched McAfee bring even the fastest machines to their knees. One
office had all sorts of email traffic and the 2007 version basically
killed the box during mail retrieval. To see if that is the problem,
disconnect the machine from the net, do a full scan, then turn the virus
scanner OFF and see what it's doing.

For a really infected machine - which this office got a couple of times - I
pull the drive and install it as a secondary drive in another machine to
scan it and clean it up.

Will Honea <whonea@yahoo.com>

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:05:50 +0000, Jeff Strickland wrote:

> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
> cleans the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?

If you have the install disks - not the recovery disks that came with the
machine - you are home free. You can use the recovery version (if the OEM
supplied it) on the machine it shipped with (others if you are clever and
a bit lucky) but the honest-to-goodness Install Disks from MS will work on
anything meeting hardware specs.

I have a problem with about all of the anti-virus apps at times.
I've watched McAfee bring even the fastest machines to their knees. One
office had all sorts of email traffic and the 2007 version basically
killed the box during mail retrieval. To see if that is the problem,
disconnect the machine from the net, do a full scan, then turn the virus
scanner OFF and see what it's doing.

For a really infected machine - which this office got a couple of times - I
pull the drive and install it as a secondary drive in another machine to
scan it and clean it up.

Will Honea <whonea@yahoo.com>

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:05:50 +0000, Jeff Strickland wrote:

> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
> cleans the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?

If you have the install disks - not the recovery disks that came with the
machine - you are home free. You can use the recovery version (if the OEM
supplied it) on the machine it shipped with (others if you are clever and
a bit lucky) but the honest-to-goodness Install Disks from MS will work on
anything meeting hardware specs.

I have a problem with about all of the anti-virus apps at times.
I've watched McAfee bring even the fastest machines to their knees. One
office had all sorts of email traffic and the 2007 version basically
killed the box during mail retrieval. To see if that is the problem,
disconnect the machine from the net, do a full scan, then turn the virus
scanner OFF and see what it's doing.

For a really infected machine - which this office got a couple of times - I
pull the drive and install it as a secondary drive in another machine to
scan it and clean it up.

Will Honea <whonea@yahoo.com>

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:05:50 +0000, Jeff Strickland wrote:

> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
> cleans the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?

If you have the install disks - not the recovery disks that came with the
machine - you are home free. You can use the recovery version (if the OEM
supplied it) on the machine it shipped with (others if you are clever and
a bit lucky) but the honest-to-goodness Install Disks from MS will work on
anything meeting hardware specs.

I have a problem with about all of the anti-virus apps at times.
I've watched McAfee bring even the fastest machines to their knees. One
office had all sorts of email traffic and the 2007 version basically
killed the box during mail retrieval. To see if that is the problem,
disconnect the machine from the net, do a full scan, then turn the virus
scanner OFF and see what it's doing.

For a really infected machine - which this office got a couple of times - I
pull the drive and install it as a secondary drive in another machine to
scan it and clean it up.

Will Honea <whonea@yahoo.com>

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

With Windows XP, you are a bit underpowered on ram. Many folks believe
that 512 mb is minimum, and more is better.

Good luck !!

--james--

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

With Windows XP, you are a bit underpowered on ram. Many folks believe
that 512 mb is minimum, and more is better.

Good luck !!

--james--

Re: {OT} -- Computer Problem
 

With Windows XP, you are a bit underpowered on ram. Many folks believe
that 512 mb is minimum, and more is better.

Good luck !!

--james--