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Computer help: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore
Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore
by nosh38 - 4/29/09 10:20 AMHi, I have windows xp and one morning I logged on to find my desktop icons were on top of each other. They will not obey the arrange command. I tried to system restore and multiple times it told me that there would be no change because it was unable to restore.
I purchased Norton, updated, then scanned, it found one Trojan.Brisv.A
and fully removed it (twice). My computer is running very slow and I've used all the tools to free up my hard drive. I have 197 GB free!
Any suggestions? I would appreciate ANY help.
Thanks Darlyn
Norton does block system restore.
by R. Proffitt
- 4/29/09 10:34 AM
In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38
Let's find the article on that -> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sharedtech.nsf/pfdocs/2005113009323013
"I have a Norton 2009 product
STEP 1
Temporarily turn off Norton Product Tamper Protection
1
Start your Norton product.
2
In the Computer pane, click Settings.
3
Click Miscellaneous Settings.
4
Under Product Security, next to Norton Product Tamper Protection, click the status indicator to turn it Off.
5
In the Settings window, click Apply.
6
Click OK.
STEP 2
Run Windows System Restore
Follow the operating system instructions to run Windows System Restore.
STEP 3
Turn on Norton Product Tamper Protection
1
Start your Norton product.
2
In the Computer pane, click Settings.
3
Click Miscellaneous Settings.
4
Under Product Security, next to Norton Product Tamper Protection, click the status indicator to turn it On.
5
In the Settings window, click Apply.
6
Click OK. "
System won't restore
by nosh38 - 4/30/09 8:12 AM In reply to: Norton does block system restore. by R. Proffitt
Hi, thanks for responding. I followed your instructions anyway, but I bought the Norton sub. after nothing else worked. I've been doing research on possible problems but can't seem to find an answer. It's been 6 days already!!
The problem as I see it.
by R. Proffitt - 4/30/09 8:21 AM
In reply to: System won't restore by nosh38
I can only use the clues you give in your post. We know that Norton breaks system restore but if if was broken before that then you only compounded the issue. I see others have suggestions so use those now.
Bob
If system restore doesn't work ...
by Kees Bakker - 4/30/09 8:15 AM
In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38
the next step is to repair Windows XP, as described in http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
Then be sure all critical updates from Windows update since the CD was made are applied.
Kees
Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore
by nosh38 - 5/1/09 7:58 AM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38I've posted again under Virtual memory too low. It includes all my system info.
Now I'm loosing explorer. It keeps shutting down, got 1 message that said no memory in line 2.
I'm really at a loss now.
had sim prob wth hp pav
by david martin - 5/1/09 9:43 PM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38checked many possibilities & winds up being forgotten little 3 volt coin battery. keeps time & memory & others charged & running all time & when runs dwn partiialy tells things over [partialy] again & again. hope all to your prob good luck
Check the display properties/Consider a Windows Recovery
by lakephillip - 5/1/09 10:15 PM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38Re-the Desktop Icons: Check the Display properties. Right Click on Desktop. Highlight Arrange Icons By; make sure Align To Grid is unchecked. If that doesn't help, consider a system recovery.Are you able to get into your start menu? Backup your data, your installation launchers, e-mails, and re-do Windows. Once your system restore can't help you, I have found it is down hill from there unless you are proficient in Manual Registry Editing. So the least aggravating, and time consuming fix I have found is a System Recovery.Good luck.
confickr?
by Dango517 - 5/2/09 12:08 AM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org/infection_test/cfeyechart.html
Do you see all six logos? If not read the above link thoroughly.
Malware can slow down a PC.
You can run more then one malware program. (Do not run two anti virus programs at a time, however. They will attack each other. Yep, attack each other.) Run this one:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Also run this:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
and Windows defender in your all programs section of the OS.
If it's not there then:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
Are your Norton definition updates all current? If you don't know what these are see your "help" in Norton.
This thread untracked
slow xp
by udirtrat - 5/2/09 12:18 AM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38mate, im no expert and when i hve a prob i use restore. if it doesnt do it i turn off my pc and then restart and keep hitting F8 and when the page comes up use the arrows up and down to go to the last known good line. then just move arrow to start and see what happens. works for me when i make a screw up. hope it helps
Computer Slow
by rush075 - 5/2/09 10:06 AM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38Hello Darlyn,
There are many reasons for a computer to perform slowly and for System Restore not to respond. The following is a suggested checklist of general steps you may want to try. The three most common causes: malware, uncontrolled applications, and lack of maintenance.
Step 1. If the sluggishness is sudden, and you have recently downloaded an application, the problem may reside there. Test this by completely removing it. A wise user will generally perform a web search about the application before downloading it because in most cases, any potential problem with malware or poor performance will have surfaced.
Step 2. Clean up your hard drive. Delete unused programs and transfer old files to a CD or Flash Drive. Unplayed games, lots of family pictures, zipped files that you have already opened, applications you have not used in two years, software for that old printer you threw away last year---these are some examples of files you can delete.
Also, you are going to want to Clear Cache - Cookies - History
Deleting your Cookies. Cookies are stored by your browser. They are actually very helpful. Deleting them is generally pointless, although some people do, and as far as I know, those people live to tell about it.
Cookies are small text files. They contain a minimal amount of information about you. Most of it is intended to facilitate surfing on the Internet.
The Reason you want to delete these items is when you're on the Internet, your browser (either Internet Explorer® or Netscape®) saves the pages you visited most recently to your hard drive (in cache).
When you call up that Internet page the next time, it's pulled off the hard drive, which is a lot faster than calling it up fresh.
But if the "live" page is updated on the Internet, the old version is still stored in cache, and doesn't get updated. So you continue to see the old page.
To see the updated page, you have to delete the saved page off the hard drive and force the new one to be accessed instead.
Also, if you cannot complete a download, you may need to clear the cache in Microsoft Internet Explorer
To clear your Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History in
Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
a. Open Internet Explorer, one of two ways; Click Start button>
Control Panel> Network and Internet Connections > Internet Options>
OR In Internet Explorer, Click Tools, and then Click Internet Options.
A page will appear.
b. Click General tab; under Temporary Internet Files,
b.1 Click Delete Cookies.
b.2 Click the Delete Files (Cache) button. A Delete Files window will
appear. Check the Delete All Offline Content box.
c. Under History, Click Clear History.
d. Click Apply and OK.
Then use Window’s Disk Cleanup to delete temporary internet files. Disk Cleanup -Maintenance
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by searching your disk for files that you can safely delete. You can choose to delete some or all of the files. Use Disk Cleanup to perform any of the following tasks to free up space on your hard disk
You can start Disk Cleanup, by doing any of the following:
•Click Start, and then Click Run. In the Open box, type cleanmgr, and
Then Click OK.
-or-
•Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to
System Tools, and then Click Disk Cleanup.
-or-
•In Windows Explorer or My Computer, Right-Click the disk in
which you want to free up space, Click Properties, Click the General
tab, and then Click Disk Cleanup.
To remove files stored on your hard disk that you no longer use, follow these steps:
1.Click Start, and then Click My Computer.
2.Right-Click the disk 'Local Disk C' in which you want to free up space, and then Click Properties.
3.Click the General tab, and then Click Disk Cleanup.
4.Click the Disk Cleanup tab (if it is not already selected), Click to select the check boxes next to the files that you want to remove, I would check them all, and then Click OK.
5.Click Yes to the proceed with this action, and then Click OK.
Step 3. Defragment your computer. Windows tends to put new files in any available open space; defragging will place associated segments of files closer together so your read arm has less travelling around the hard drive to do, saving wear and tear while speeding up programs.
Uncontrolled Applications
Step 4. Review applications that self-launch on startup. Many programs, for instance, install a quick-launch feature that allows them to be opened quickly; other programs will include an automatic update feature that requires them to be running in the background. Each of these slows down your launching Windows and each requires a small bit of resources while your computer is running. The easiest way to review and than to manage start-ups is to use one of the many small utilities available
I find What's Running - a product that gives you an inside look into your Windows 2000/XP/2003 system. Explore processes, services, modules, IP-connections, drivers and much more.
http://download.cnet.com/What-s-Running/3000-2094_4-10256718.html?part=dl-WhatsRunn&subj=uo&tag=button
Malware
Perhaps the greatest contributor to a poorly performing computer is malware. Usually this is associated with downloading an application that contains spyware, or by failing to install security patches in a timely manner.
Step 5. Update the definitions of your anti-virus and run a complete scan of your hard drive in Safe Mode.
"Windows Safe Mode is a way of booting up your Windows operating system in order to run administrative and diagnostic tasks on your installation. When you boot into Safe Mode the operating system only loads the bare minimum of software that is required for the operating system to work. This mode of operating is designed to let you troubleshoot and run diagnostics on your computer. Windows Safe Mode loads a basic video drivers so your programs may look different than normal.
For Win98/ME and XP there are two methods of booting into Safe Mode. The following will describe these methods below:
F8 - By pressing the F8 key right when Windows starts, usually right after you hear your computer beep when you reboot it, you will be brought to a menu where you can choose to boot into safe mode. If it does not work on the first try, reboot and try again as you have to be quick when you press it. You might find that during boot up right after the computer shows you all the equipment , memory, etc. installed on your computer, if you start lightly tapping the F8 key you will usually be able to get to the desired menu.
System Configuration Utility - You can use the System Configuration Utility found in Windows 98, ME, and XP to make Windows boot into Safe Mode on the next reboot.
Windows XP
Using the F8 Method
Restart your computer.
When the machine first starts again it will generally list some equipment that is installed in your machine, amount of memory, hard drives installed etc. At this point you should gently tap the F8 key repeatedly until you are presented with a Windows XP Advanced Options menu.
Select the option for Safe Mode using the Arrow Keys.
Then press enter on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode.
Run a complete scan of your hard drive in Safe Mode.
When you are done reboot to boot back into normal mode.
Using the System Configuration Tool Method
Note: If you are having trouble entering Safe Mode via the F8 method, you should not use this method to force it to startup into safe mode.
Step 1: Close all programs so that you have nothing open and are at the desktop.
Step 2: Click on the Start button then click on Run.
Step 3: In the Run field type msconfig.
Step 4: Press the OK button and the System Configuration Utility will start up.
Step 5: Click on the tab at the top labeled "BOOT.INI".
Step 6: Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled "/SAFEBOOT". Then press the OK button. After pressing the button you will be presented with a confirmation box.
Step 7: Press the Restart button and let the computer reboot. It will now boot up into Safe Mode.
Step 8: When the computer boots up, run a complete scan of your hard drive in Safe Mode.
Step 9. When you are finished with your tasks, complete steps 1-7 again, but in Step 6 this time uncheck the checkbox labeled "/SAFEBOOT". Then click on the General tab and set it for Normal startup.
Step 10: Reboot the computer back into normal mode."
Resolve any unfixable issues. Note that some viruses require additional steps before they can be removed; usually a web search will find specific instructions or a special removal tool.
As for Spyware Removal, I find SuperAntiSpyware a very useful tool for the job. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition is 100% Free and will detect and remove thousands of Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, KeyLoggers, Dialers, Hi-Jackers, and Worms. SUPERAntiSpyware features many unique and powerful technologies and removes spyware threats that other applications fail to remove.
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition does not include real-time blocking or scheduled scanning.
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html
Hopefully, upon completion you will see a marked improvement in computer performance.
Good luck,
Rush
Computer slow-down
by georgebrown513 - 5/8/09 3:04 AM In reply to: Computer Slow by rush075Dear Rush075
By a stroke of luck I have found your answer to theexact problem I was hping to get solved through CNET.
I am going to thank you before I start the process you recommend. You have already saved me a great deal of searching.
May I come back to you if I reach a blockage?
Best regards
George
crazy desktop
by hemidog 990 - 5/2/09 10:21 AM In reply to: Crazy desktop, XP runs slowly, won't system restore by nosh38boot and at the same time tap the F8 key when the options screen appears choose safemode with networking then go to Safety.Live.com that is Microsoft's online virus scanner there ar three scans use all three...if this does not work go to Majorgeeks.com on the left side of the screen click antisypware skroal down to the bottom and download Wallpaper Highjacker Remover it's great at desktop/icons/wallpaper virus's
Crazy desktop
by nosh38 - 5/3/09 7:08 AM In reply to: crazy desktop by hemidog 990Hi, and thanks to everyone who sent help. My desktop issue had been fixed, however I still have a lot of options to try for the rest of my problems. I'm happy to know you all are here and very good at computers.
Thanks again,
Nosh38
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