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CowboyFromHell
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05 May 2008, 10:55 pm

Here's the lowdown.

My parents have had this XP desktop for a couple years, and it's slow as hell because they don't know s**t about computers and haven't done to usual stuff as far as taking care of it (e.g. virus scan, etc.). But there was once where we called Compaq and they walked us through the registry and we deleted a few minor things from it, then all of a sudden the computer was super-fast again, and performed like it did when it was first bought. But after another year of not doing the required routines needed to run a computer, it's slow as hell again.

Is there anyone here who knows what I'm talking about? If I could figure this out again, I could get it up and running and install up-to-date security software and teach my brother (who now owns the computer) to run the virus/spyware scans and defrag the PC.


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Dokken
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06 May 2008, 1:07 am

CowboyFromHell wrote:
Here's the lowdown.

My parents have had this XP desktop for a couple years, and it's slow as hell because they don't know sh** about computers and haven't done to usual stuff as far as taking care of it (e.g. virus scan, etc.). But there was once where we called Compaq and they walked us through the registry and we deleted a few minor things from it, then all of a sudden the computer was super-fast again, and performed like it did when it was first bought. But after another year of not doing the required routines needed to run a computer, it's slow as hell again.

Is there anyone here who knows what I'm talking about? If I could figure this out again, I could get it up and running and install up-to-date security software and teach my brother (who now owns the computer) to run the virus/spyware scans and defrag the PC.


Why don't you clean out the registry and defrag the computer. Get rid of the temp files also Ccleaner is good for that. Use firefox or Opera for browser and set them so they always clear your private data, such as cookies, history...etc Get AVG anti-spyware, it's free and is pretty good with detecting spyware. A free antivirus that have good detection rate are Avira, I think Avast might be good also. Comodo Firewall is pretty good, so is Online Armor, that for firewall and HIPS I believe.

When I used Windoze, I'd usually borrow my software. It too expensive paying for all that garbage to keep windoze functioning. Those programs may help ya out.

Go to these sites, they usually have retail versions of programs for free. Well, the programs are probably cracked or have keygen with em so you can get them for free, instead of for fee.

http://www.ssupdater.com/
http://www.nsanedown.com/


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Bopkasen
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06 May 2008, 3:22 am

CowboyFromHell wrote:
Here's the lowdown.

My parents have had this XP desktop for a couple years, and it's slow as hell because they don't know sh** about computers and haven't done to usual stuff as far as taking care of it (e.g. virus scan, etc.). But there was once where we called Compaq and they walked us through the registry and we deleted a few minor things from it, then all of a sudden the computer was super-fast again, and performed like it did when it was first bought. But after another year of not doing the required routines needed to run a computer, it's slow as hell again.

Is there anyone here who knows what I'm talking about? If I could figure this out again, I could get it up and running and install up-to-date security software and teach my brother (who now owns the computer) to run the virus/spyware scans and defrag the PC.


Done some spyware killing and based upon my experiences...

It doesn't make much a different whether you defrag the hard drive or not. It might be disagreeable but I have done it in many occasion and even it does that doesn't seem to be productive. Would it matter if your system were 1-2% faster because you did defrag it?

Registry is the area that most spywares would like to alter because it allow them to be enter i the first place. Any coded key would allow Internet Explorer to allow automatic download and also forced the system to allow filed that being hailed as "system files" even if you run Spy Bot Search and Destroy.

In most case if all else failed, you should partition and start over a new operation system. This method should be used if you can't afford moving data. I have lot of data and I can't afford it either. I used magic partition from Norton. The only exception is that you have to used free space to make another partition. This allow Windows XP install a fresh copy without you formating that may remove important data. If you want a copy of Magic Partition, I can happily give it to you.

When starting over, you should upgrade to Service Pack 2 and it should work well with 512mb or more in system memory. Service Pack 2 is what you really need concerning security because it sure lot stupid to run your computer system against a oddly more "smarter" spyware.

Installing Service Pack 2 will allow you to install Windows version of firewall that can block potential program that could otherwise hijack and start the spyware problem all over. What this can't do is sniff at file that you download which otherwise ruin the all security overall.

People are cheap and I am not saying that you should avoid good top decent antivirus that cost $30. Cheap can be harder but it sure way of getting an exchange for a kick in the behind.

The best antivirus is by the way is not Norton or McAfee like some clown acted Geek Squad would suggest. :wink: