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| Thread ID: 100200 | 2009-05-29 19:30:00 | General clean-up tool needed | argus (366) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 778170 | 2009-05-29 19:30:00 | My laptop (Four-year-old Toshiba under Windows XP) has become tortoise-slow. Startup takes an age, displaying first an otherwise blank "welcome" screen for as long as two minutes, then a blank desktop (just the wallpaper, no icons) for as long as five minutes. During this period it's possible to Crtl-Alt-Del, bring up the Program Manager and start tasks, but desktop remains blank. When the system is running, windows often take some time to generate completely when I switch to an application; they leave an overlapping mess which can take as long as a minute to resolve itself. When navigating the folder structure to find a file or application, Windows Explorer/My Computer can show the flashlight icon for tens of seconds before displaying folders and files, particularly in the MyComputer and MyDocuments folders. Every few days the system hangs totally. Sometimes it allows a reboot in good order, but sometimes there seems to be no choice but to just press the power-off button. The hard drive is nowhere near full (16.6GB used out of 74.5GB capacity) and I have chkdisked and defragged for no improvement (in fact Windows told me the disk didn't need defragging but I did it anyway). Now I know suggested solutions will include: Junk Windows, install Linux (maybe some day but not right now; I can't face the time involved to make [or locate a version of] every application compatible with a new OS). Rebuild the entire system from the OS up. Well, yes, but I only have the original version of XP on a CD and balk at having to go through at least three Service Pack installations and a myriad of other updates. Is there a trustworthy tool that can find and undo at least some of the tangles in my system? |
argus (366) | ||
| 778171 | 2009-05-29 20:32:00 | Four-year-old Toshiba Is there a trustworthy tool that can find and undo at least some of the tangles in my system? No. You'd be wasting your time, while it might help a bit you're stuck with a fresh install if you want to cure it properly. All you need to do is the install then install SP3 on it, you don't have to install each Sp + updates one at a time first. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 778172 | 2009-05-29 20:39:00 | Start here Check the DMA settings make sure DMA is enabled and using the correct DMA Once you have it booted up, post a Hijack this log |
apsattv (7406) | ||
| 778173 | 2009-05-29 20:39:00 | Decrease the number of startup programs: Start > Run > type in "msconfig" (without the quote). In the new window popped up, click "Startup" and remove the items that you do not wish to boot up when Windows starts. Uninstall junkware that came installed with the laptop when you first got it. This includes "enhancement" programs such as games and trialware that Toshiba has chosen to bundle in. Give Disk Defragmentation a try, I say. Have you got regular antivirus / antispyware programs running? Cheers :) |
Renmoo (66) | ||
| 778174 | 2009-05-29 21:36:00 | Eusing Registry Cleaner is better than CCleaner. Advanced Uninstaller Pro is good | kountryken (14110) | ||
| 778175 | 2009-05-29 21:52:00 | Start here Check the DMA settings make sure DMA is enabled and using the correct DMA Once you have it booted up, post a Hijack this log OK newbie question: how do I get to DMA settings? Apparently they're "in the Hardware Resources category in System Information"; but when I go to "system information" (start > programs > accessories > System Tools) I get a help page, which has nothing on it about "hardware resources". I see "Hardware" but there's nothing in there about DMA. And when I get there, how do I tell what the "correct" DMA is? Sorry if I'm being dense. Thanks for your help. |
argus (366) | ||
| 778176 | 2009-05-29 22:05:00 | Decrease the number of startup programs: Start > Run > type in "msconfig" (without the quote). In the new window popped up, click "Startup" and remove the items that you do not wish to boot up when Windows starts. OK, there are a number of apps there that I don't recognise and I'm not confident about unchecking: MMonitor, 007HotKey, 00StHK, HPWUSchd2, Reader_sl, juschd and another line that's just blank. It doesn't help that the window can't be resized or scrolled horizontally. There may be some info over on the right that would remind me what all these things are, but I can't read it! |
argus (366) | ||
| 778177 | 2009-05-29 22:21:00 | OK newbie question: how do I get to DMA settings? If you use XP press the windows key (if the keyboard has one + pause). Go to hardware / device manager / ide / ata / atapi controllers. Double click on the primary / secondary ide entries / advanced settings tab. These dont have to be in startup. HPWUSchd2, Reader_sl, juschd. If youre not sure do a search in google for the name (thats in startup). See what it is and does, and whether it needs to be in startup. If you want post a hijackthis log (its below), and we'll tell you what can be removed from startup. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 778178 | 2009-05-29 23:10:00 | Dude i Would Start Fresh but you could try this new tool windows live put out its free works good no traps or BS just google (windows live scan) download the tools usually takes over a hour for my PC doing the full scan. | BowzerEnt (14954) | ||
| 778179 | 2009-05-30 01:02:00 | Dude i Would Start Fresh but you could try this new tool windows live put out its free works good no traps or BS just google (windows live scan) download the tools usually takes over a hour for my PC doing the full scan. No. Online OneCare sucks. Download HijackThis (www.trendsecure.com) and post a log here. How does it run in safe mode.? (tap F8 on boot) Blam |
Blam (54) | ||
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