About my crazy computer/extension from another thread

[patrina]

Hey all, So Vinyl, if you come around and read this, where exactly should I start. I am not all that computer savvy. I took windows excel, and business computers, but that was a long time ago. Sorry, you dont need to retype everything, just how do I go about saving everything I want first? I kinda need baby steps. If you dont mind? Thanks so much!
Patrina

[redline4]

Hi, I came across your posts in another thread and can sympathise with you, having gone through something similar albeit some years ago. The option of re-installation is appealing at first glance, however to ensure a clean installation is achieved, ALL programs must be re-installed. If you look at the programs on your computer, you may be astonished at the number of programs you cannot do without. Each one of these will have to be installed, updated and configured individually, a task that will take many, many hours.
The documents, emails, files, folders etc etc that you plan to transfer to the new installation would all need to be squeaky clean, as any bugs or nasties in these would also be migrated, rendering the whole exercise of a clean installation futile.

May I suggest that you take it slow and one step at a time. As your files need to be clean anyway, run an up to date anti-virus scan, at least two individual anti-spyware scans and ensure your firewall is up to date and functioning. Suitable programs are mentioned elsewhere, with free versions of most available.

Uninstall any unwanted programs [through Add/Remove programs in Control Panel] or a good uninstall program. Then run a good Registry Cleaner program, followed by an Internet Cleaner and/or File Wiper program on your history and cache files.[Don't forget the Recycle Bin]. Do not use the delete function on your browser as this tends to dump the files on the hard drive. Defrag your hard drive and check for any improvement.

If no improvement, consider the possibility that some component/s in the computer are simply tired and slowing down before you take the step of re-installation. I would be interested in knowing the configuration of your computer, as this can have a bearing on performance.

Hope I haven't bored you and best of etc. See Ya!

Computers are useless, they can only give you answers. Pablo Picasso.

[patrina]

[QUOTE=redline4;165237]
Uninstall any unwanted programs [through Add/Remove programs in Control Panel] or a good uninstall program. Then run a good Registry Cleaner program, followed by an Internet Cleaner and/or File Wiper program on your history and cache files.[Don't forget the Recycle Bin]. Do not use the delete function on your browser as this tends to dump the files on the hard drive. Defrag your hard drive and check for any improvement.


Hey there redline! Thanks so much for your help. Not boring at all! I cant afford a tech right now, need my spare change for spinning! lol. Anyway I really appreciate your and everyone elses help and yes, I want to do this in baby steps and make sure everythng goes smoothly. I have to tell you what I did, maybe you could offer a suggestion. First time I started having problems... I was at a friends and I noticed that they had their families names on their home screen, so they could just click and open up their own email etc. I wanted to do this. So, I went into users & groups and started trying to add my name and a new password to try and build this option. I ended up getting so frustrated, I typed everyone and then everyones names. I really didn't have a clue what I was doing So, then, after I closed down the computer and started it up again, my screen saver changed, my sign in for msn didn't come up anymore, nothing. The only thing that came up was the log in box, which was empty! So, I tried everything to open it up again. After a day or so, I tried again and typed administrator and I got through, ever since then that was what I have had to do. I am afraid to go into users and change anything again. Also when I tried to uninstall some rogue casinos (I had on for a while but never got around to deleting) my good casinos moved, some stayed on my desktop and split theirselves up into file folders with names like group and mud, and seemed like they had broken up somehow. So I uninstalled some, and then when I tried to reinstall I got things like error:bad image, or windows cant download this because it is not valid etc. Now, I have 4 or 5 on my desktop and 3 from TPG, m.gold I can open, s.palace I cant (the casino will pop up on the screen but will close after about 5 sec. and r.fortune doesn't do anything. Alot of confusion and I learned my lesson for sure, but, also when uninstalling those rogueys, they didn't completely leave either. When putting them into the recycle bin to uninstall, sometimes they wouldn't uninstall (when going into r.bin and clicking delete?) So, I have to ask, where should I start? You said go and uninstall the stuff I dont want (in my add/remove programs) right? Or should I try and straighten out the users first? I hope you dont mind all my questions. And please dont worry about getting back until you have some free time. I really appreciate this. Oh yeah, I did run windows onecare (full service) it found 217 invalid items and got to step 3 then when at the disk cleanup (step 3) it stopped and seemed to freeze at 19% completion. It didn't move for over 18 hrs so I cancelled it. Also when I first accessed the onecare web site, it said there was an error on the page.? Anyway, thanks again and I dont mind if it takes a while to straighten it all out, better safe then sorry! "Words of advice I should of considered in the first place!" Thx,
Patrina

[Pinababy69]

Winbig!! Vinyl!! Someone, anyone...help...damsel in extreme distress. We need a knight on a white steed.

Patrina, I couldn't begin to tell you where to start...way above my limited knowledge.

[fcat]

I would use system restore to bring you back to previous time, say a week when everything was running smoothly, then go to the control panel and start to uninstalll unwanted programs, then do a system defrag. I have also messed up my computer at time and this always works.

Good luck,
L.

[Rusty]

OK I'm no white knight but here is one simple thing to try before any of the complicated stuff.
Go to start menu/accessories/system tools/system restore
It will show a calandar and give you a choice of dates you can restore to.
Chose the first availible date before all your problems started.
If it looks like things are improving run a defrag start menu/system tools/disk defragmenter.
Hope this helps, if not then we are going to have to get serious

[Rusty]

I would use system restore to bring you back to previous time, say a week when everything was running smoothly, then go to the control panel and start to uninstalll unwanted programs, then do a system defrag. I have also messed up my computer at time and this always works.

Good luck,
L.

Great minds think alike

[redline4]

WOW!!
You must feel like that computer has turned on you and firing with both barrels
(All references to System Restore deleted)

A couple of basic rules here: Always use the uninstall feature in Add/Remove Programs to remove a program. Using the delete function does not "remove" anything from your computer, it merely places it elsewhere [more complicated than that but hell its a start]
Personally, I rarely use the delete function, as I use a file wiper program for removing anything from an individual file to unused space cluster tips on the hard drive. The downside is, of course, that anything wiped is gone forever, or is that the upside?
Do read the Help files where available. They can be more frustrating than the problem at times, but sometimes comes a ray of light.
Better stop raving on and do some chores.
See Ya!

[patrina]

Winbig!! Vinyl!! Someone, anyone...help...damsel in extreme distress. We need a knight on a white steed.

Patrina, I couldn't begin to tell you where to start...way above my limited knowledge.

You never cease to make me laugh PinaThanks everyone, ok here we go I am going to try and do the system restore...I didn't know about that or anything else all you guys told me so a huge thanks! I'm scared though, really really scared! I think I will go for some spins first!Yep, that's what I'm going to do. So after that I will try, I have to get up the courage anyway.
Bye for now.........hopefully I will return.......I really DO trust all of you.....You guys like me right?!! lol

[Rusty]

So, how did it go?
The spins and restore