Need help with a couple CPU things

[CoachC.]

I need to clean my registry, I think. The computer has been acting funny lately, and I've never done it. I've had the computer for three years. Can someone recommend a good and SAFE registry cleaner?

I use McAfee Virus scan, and it seems to work pretty well for me.

I also use Spybot Search and Destroy, and Zone Alarm.

I don't know if any of these will effect the registry clean-out. I'm Internet savvy, but not computer-savvy. I don't even know what the hell I just wrote means.

BTW - I use Windows XP.

Please help.

Thanks.

[nehemiah]

what do you mean by "acting funny"? is it re-booting, too many popups, programs closing, etc....?

[CoachC.]

what do you mean by "acting funny"? is it re-booting, too many popups, programs closing, etc....?

It froze today for the first time I can remember, but that's not all.

Yes, too many pop-ups. I used to use PanicWare Pop-up Stopper, but don't any longer. One particular pop-up is occuring a lot, called "Ceres." Should I re-install PanicWare?

Also -- a few times over the past few days, programs just shut down and cleared off my screen, returning me to my desktop for no apparent reason. The program is was running at that time (usually Internet Explorer) just completely disappeared.

And I keep getting a message in a little box asking me to "Switch To....". I can usually get rid of it, but it happens quite a bit.

And finally, the computer is sometimes very fast (I use cable modem/Comcast Hi-Speed), but has been frequently slower and slower. I am using 32.2 GB and have 21.1 GB available. Not a lot of memory - I don't need that much. But that's pretty good space to have available, I'm told.

[pigpen65]

Yeah, i think it depends on what the computer is actually doing that's weird. If you're looking to get rid of spyware type junk, i always use adaware. I have the $$ version, but the free version does the same thing. http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

That's a good place to start. You can always try defragging the HD and clearing your internet cache too. That's just good to do on a regular basis anyways.

edit: okay, i posted after you did. hmm, unfortunately stuff like this can be so many things, it's pretty hard troubleshooting without seeing it. I think running adaware would be the best place to start. After that i would do two things. First, alt tab delete and look at the task manager. Click on the processes tab. See anything in there taking CPU cycles that shouldn't be? Click start > run > type msconfig > click start up tab. Anything in there that shouldn't be?

Second, start > settings > network connections. Right click > repair. That will clear the cache and renew your IP.

Get back if none of that works.

[nehemiah]

It froze today for the first time I can remember, but that's not all.

Yes, too many pop-ups. I used to use PanicWare Pop-up Stopper, but don't any longer. One particular pop-up is occuring a lot, called "Ceres." Should I re-install PanicWare?

Also -- a few times over the past few days, programs just shut down and cleared off my screen, returning me to my desktop for no apparent reason. The program is was running at that time (usually Internet Explorer) just completely disappeared.

And I keep getting a message in a little box asking me to "Switch To....". I can usually get rid of it, but it happens quite a bit.

And finally, the computer is sometimes very fast (I use cable modem/Comcast Hi-Speed), but has been frequently slower and slower. I am using 32.2 GB and have 21.1 GB available. Not a lot of memory - I don't need that much. But that's pretty good space to have available, I'm told.
is everything updated (IE, norton, spyware removal stuff, sunjava instead of java)?

i really don't know anything about cleaning a registry, but i would update everything first. second, install and run cwshredder (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html). third, run your spyware removal stuff. fourth, run norton in safe mode.

if that doesn't work - instead of cleaning your registry - you might just want to reformat the hard drive and start from scratch. if you're only using 10GB of your hard drive, it doesn't sound like you have too much software on there.

and use mozilla firefox instead of IE.

this site is very helpful, as well: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/You_Must_Read_This_Before_Posting_A_Hijackthis_Log-t2852.html

[gilchristfan]

Have you ever used Hijackthis? You can get it at spywareinfo.com. Be careful when you use it, because you can easily delete something you're not supposed to.

But spywareinfo.com as some pretty good help forums.

Install the program.
Run a scan, but don't fix anything. Just copy and paste the results in a notepad. I'd also run a start up scan and do the same thing, copy and paste it into a notepad. Maybe do the same thing with the process manager.

Create a thread in the spywareinfo forums, ask for help. Paste the scan, startuplist and process manager results into your post. Someone should be able to tell if something is running that shouldn't be.

Or you could post it here and have someone who knows what they are doing, like Pigpen, take a look at it.

[dogginbox]

try doing a search on google of the pop ups youre having. i use zonealarm too and wish i had used it sooner.

is anyone else using your pc? cuz zonealarm should warn you of anything trying to get in, maybe someone accepted something they shouldnt have.

on my old pc id get a pop up in a tiny box in the left corner, it was something called "lbvcf9", i did a search on google and sure enough it was a virus.

you can also check your add/remove programs, sometimes youll find something in there that shouldnt be there.

but like ive try to tell everyone, i suggest going to majorgeeks.com because if you have a trojan/malware/worm sometimes using spyware removals you can delete only part of the problem, making it worse and more difficult to remove it completely. they will take you through the proper steps to remove it and they also have plenty of free tools you can dl.

and always before running any scan dl the current updates

[GrapeDRINK]

I need to clean my registry, I think. The computer has been acting funny lately, and I've never done it. I've had the computer for three years. Can someone recommend a good and SAFE registry cleaner?

I use McAfee Virus scan, and it seems to work pretty well for me.

I also use Spybot Search and Destroy, and Zone Alarm.

I don't know if any of these will effect the registry clean-out. I'm Internet savvy, but not computer-savvy. I don't even know what the hell I just wrote means.

BTW - I use Windows XP.

Please help.

Thanks.

The only way you will truly get your computer to run good like it once did is to format your computer...all those programs out there aren't worth ****. Trust me, save your money and read up on formatting it is nowhere near as complicated as you might think. Others here will disagree with me but read up on it and it is a piece of cake.

[K-Gun]

http://www.download.com/Window-Washer/3000-2144_4-10407411.html?tag=lst-0-6

Try this and see if it helps.

Also, when's the last time you ran scan disk and defrag? Sometimes that's all that's needed when things are acting funny.

[Woody]

Download Microsoft Anti-Spyware from www.microsoft.com. I've had the best luck with that program.. and it's free.

As for cleaning your registry.. I recommend 'Tune-Up Utilities' by Tune Up Software... found at www.tune-up.com.

Tune Up Utilities will clean all the junk out of your registry, and then defragment it. Best utility I've used to resolve registry problems.

Whatever you try, best of luck. Let us know what happens. :thumbup: :niterider

[Merc]

Coach C-
The tune-up software and others can help but be very careful before you go and start deleting things from the registry. You can bring a system down very easily.

Grapedrink has a point. XP just seems to start bogging down after awhile. There isn't very much you can do about it. Files get corrupted, garbage starts collecting in the registry, etc. and pretty soon you have a slow, screwed up system. Starting from scratch cleans all the crap out and makes your system perform like new.

The problem is that you have to have an XP CD (preferably w/ SP2 on it) and you will have to reload all your programs and then update them. You'll also have to reconfigure all your settings for internet access and whatever else you do. It isn't a short and sweet event but it is like getting a whole new system to work with. IF it comes down to a reload let us know and we can help you do it right.

[35Pete]

Download Microsoft Anti-Spyware from www.microsoft.com. I've had the best luck with that program.. and it's free.

As for cleaning your registry.. I recommend 'Tune-Up Utilities' by Tune Up Software... found at www.tune-up.com.

Tune Up Utilities will clean all the junk out of your registry, and then defragment it. Best utility I've used to resolve registry problems.

Whatever you try, best of luck. Let us know what happens. :thumbup: :niterider
I downloaded this and it screwed up my PC. Takes about 7 minutes to boot up now. :puh:

[GrapeDRINK]

I downloaded this and it screwed up my PC. Takes about 7 minutes to boot up now. :puh:
Damn that sucks...I've gotten my computer to like 10-15 secs to boot up, talk about a breeze!

[Woody]

:rofl: Which program? You must have pissed off the Computer Fairies. :niterider

I downloaded this and it screwed up my PC. Takes about 7 minutes to boot up now. :puh:

[CoachC.]

OK. I ran some Virus scans and found a few programs that were considered "unwanted." I got rid of them. Things seem to be working better, but I'm going to monitor it for a while and keep these suggestions handy.

Thanks for all the help!

Pete - Can't you just go to your "start-up" menu and take it off? Unclick the box that asks which programs you want to start as soon as the computer boots. Then, only run it when you want to. Can you do that with that program?

[WhiteRabbit]

OK. I ran some Virus scans and found a few programs that were considered "unwanted." I got rid of them. Things seem to be working better, but I'm going to monitor it for a while and keep these suggestions handy.

Thanks for all the help!

Pete - Can't you just go to your "start-up" menu and take it off? Unclick the box that asks which programs you want to start as soon as the computer boots. Then, only run it when you want to. Can you do that with that program?

If you run into problems again, Gil's advice would probably be the best thing to do. The guys at those boards are very helpful, and you could also post the results here, and I'm sure a couple knowledgable people would be able to help out. To me formatting your hard drive without it being last resort is kinda like rehauling your whole engine in your car and changing all the parts (starter, alternator, water pump ...) because your car doesn't start, and you are too lazy to diagnose the problem ... and the whole time it was just a bad battery cable end terminal. ;)