OT: Adware removers

[woodbutcher]

I meant to post this question here, but I posted it on the JD board earlier. Oh, well, here goes.
My computer has been slowwww lately. I've tried everything I know to bring it back, but nothing helps. System restore refuses to restore the system and gives me no explanation. I googled adware removers and downloaded software from NoAdware. The scan was free and showed 19 dangerous items. I removed some, but could not find others. So, I registered which cost me $37.00. That removed the rest of the dangerous items, but it did not help the computer. Satisfaction was supposedly guaranteed, so I asked for a refund by email and livechat. They don't show a phone number. I've received no reply. I think I was taken in.
Butch

 

[Mike M]

I have always wondered if the company's with the "fix" were the ones who sent it out in the first place ?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Try running the software in safemode.

 

[DarwinCam]

For spyware removal, I use and like Spybot -- http://www.spybot.info/

 

[Anonymous-0]

Adware may not be your only problem. Trojan horses, virus and worms can also slow a computer to a crawl, and some are very difficult to detect and remove. There is no 1 program that detects everything. Some are better than others, but none are perfect. Running 2 or 3 is kind of like getting second opinions from doctors

I run 4 different programs on my computer, a couple times a month. Adaware, Spybot, AVG Anti-spyware, and AVG antivirus. The last 2 run all the time the computer is running. And they are all free, and don't contain a bunch of advertisements. Windows Defender also runs.
Some programs detect things that the other don't.

Remember to also keep things programs updated with there latest definitions and info.

Norton has a collection of similar tools, but I find Norton slows my computer down more than the things its supposed to be preventing, and in addition to the cost of the software, they charge a yearly subscription fee to get updates.

There are other anti-virus companies around too. Avast is one.

A last option is to completely format your hard drive, clear of everything, and re-install everything with the disks that came with your computer, if you have them. This is not the same as System Restore, that you found already. This completely erases everything, and returns the computer to the way it was the day you bought it. You'll lose any pictures, and other things you saved to it since then. Back them up to disk before you attempt this.

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks to all for the replies. Annn, I too found that Norton slowed my computer more than the problems they solved. Mike, I am beginning to feel the same way about these problems.
Butch

 

[Teebogr81]

Try these two products:

Trend Micro - House Call - www.trendmicro.com

and from Microsoft - Windows Defender

Both products are free and I will testify that they do a great job.

Also visit your 'installed programs' list. Anything there that is from GAIN get rid of it. Extra smileys, webshots...etc. Get rid of them they will KILL your performance.

Tee

BTW - I have 15 years working with PC's and networks and these are the best tools I have found for people to use without being a computer nerd. ;-)

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree with Ann's post. I use AdAware Free Edition, AVG Anti-virus Free Edition and Zone Alarm firewall (You guessed it) Free Edition. AVG does a virus check overnight if you leave yourself logged in (and downloads its latest update to get any new viruses). AdAware you have to run manually, I suggest every few days, just takes a few minutes. Zone Alarm prevents someone or something from taking over your computer.

Open your Internet browser (Internet Explorer or whatever) and click on the top-edge menu TOOLS>INTERNET OPTIONS then click DELETE COOKIES, DELETE FILES (including offline content). That will dump a bunch of baggage. Then, still in INTERNET OPTIONS click the ADVANCED tab and down near the bottom of the list of choices, under SECURITY check "Delete Temporary Internet Files When Browser IS Closed".

Occasionally empty your Recycle Bin.

Be aware that some software, like Kodak's Easy Share to get pics off your digital camera onto your computer, will automatically log onto the INternet (without asking or telling you) and go get their latest update, every time you log on. These can eat up a lot of processing time and make your machine run slow. How do you know? Press the Ctrl-Alt_Del keys simultaneously. At the pop-up box, click on Task Manager. Under the Applications tab, lookto see if there's anything running that you don't need or want (like Kodak Updater Agent). If so, click once on it to highlight it, then click the End Task button. That'll kill the little bugger until the next time you log in. You can stop some of these automatic updaters by opening the software's Preferences (usually under Tools or Options) and de-selecting "Automatically Update" or whatever.

 

[paulS]

Save yourself the headache, switch operating systems.

Distrowatch.com - weekly magazine for the open source world.

ubuntu.com - linux for the masses.

pcbsd.org - unix for the masses.

If you just surf the internet and get email/im, then the switch is just common sense. Lose the bloat, make your machine yours again and keep it that way.

 

[petetx]

i had sprint as my home page they sold to embarq so i was forced to change the problems started freezes lockups slow downlaoads you name it finnally in desperation i removed all there security soft ware and installed system suite 8 from V-Com run like a dream now

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks. I have a lot of work to do. I have requested a CD of ubuntu to check that operating system. Meanwhile, I'll try the cures that have been offered.
Butch

 

[JML755]

I just fixed a woman's computer that was unbelievably SLOWWWW. Someone had put Windows Defender on it and she already had Trend Micro on it. I removed Defender and added memory to her machine. (512mb). Problem solved. Anti-virus programs suck up a lot of memory space and CPU cycles. Take a look at Task Manager and see how much of your available memory is being used. Adding memory is a relatively cheap upgrade these days.

 

[2t2@IA]

Good advice.

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Butch,

Post some more info on your PC configeration(ram, HDD cap, video card?) and OS (XP, Vista, Win98?), as this would make a difference.

XP and Vista restore, likes being run from the safe mode as then you remove the root of the problem. Yep it makes a huge difference where you restore from.

I got a hot puter thread posting next Monday. The FBI wanted me to wait until then to post the details.

T_Bone

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks, T Bone,
I'll try to get that info. I don't know what the HDD cap or video card would be found, so maybe I don't have those. I have the XP operating system. I'll try system restore in the safe mode.
Butch

 

[Anonymous-0]

You may want to go to filehippo.com and download a copy of CCleaner and give that a try. It removes the unwanted or unneeded files that track your searches or are left behind when you remove old application software.

 

[woodbutcher]

T Bone,
I tried System Restore in safe mode. I thought that had to work. But I had the same result as I did with System Restore in regular mode. The restore was unsuccessful, but they gave no reason why.
Butch

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks, Vern,
I've scanned with four different cleaners with four different sets of dangerous items listed and removed. None of that helped. I think you're on the right track. Something has a strangle-hold on this computer. Downloads are so slow that my dial-up will drop the connection half-way through. I'm considering formatting the hard-drive and starting from scratch. If I do that it may be "adios, amigos" for awhile.
Butch

 

[JML755]

woodbutcher,
google "dcombobulator". You could have a vulnerability that, in spite of all the virus/adware protection you have installed, is compromising your machine. My daughter's computer at college was constantly getting viruses and getting thrown off the campus network, in spite of their IT department's efforts to figure out what was wrong, having the school's latest anti-virus s/w and her numerous attempts at "cleaning". I used this tool to determine that she was vulnerable and then we fixed the problem. It's been almost a year and she's had no problems since. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I wouldn't completely rule out hardware issue. We had one computer with a Gigabyte motherboard that started to run real slow and we were trying to fix the software until one day we smelled some hot circuit board odor. We opened it up and saw that three of the electrolytic capacitors were bulging at the end caps and shorting out. It turned out that there was a batch of capacitors that were made with water based dielectric which in time corroded the plates and eventually started to short out and get real hot.

 

[srs_MN]

Here is a free 'System Scan' from Microsoft: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm?s_cid=sah
I used it on my Windows Vista and my wife used it on her Windows XP... it'll find all kinds of stuff and get rid of it... plus, it's FREE.

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Butch,

That is a good indication that your XP registery is corrupted with a worm.

When you tried to restore from the regular XP loading, you transferred that worm to the safe mode registery thus restore will not work in any XP mode and your will need to "completely" reformat the HDD. This tip came from my son's BIL who makes $250kyr plus at repairing large coorperate puter systems as they use XP-nodes for some reason on there notebook PC's.

Caution: If your using a lap-top with a propriatary(sp)(OEM copy of XP), you will not be able to use the OEM recovery disc and you will need to buy a original Ms-XP copy, THEN download the OEM keyboard and DVD/CD drivers for your model of notebook. Why?

When you delete the original OEM partition, that keeps the OEM disc from reloading the OS. Acts just like the recovery disc is corrupt when in fact it's still good. Toshiba wanted $35 for another disc to make the OEM recovery disc orperational.

There are some keys that would work with my OEM Ms-XP disc but the DVD would not work without the correct OEM driver that is not available for free DL.

T_Bone

 

[wfw]

I use spybot search and destroy, adaware, both free, to remove spyware, avg antivirus, also freeand easy cleaner, but with easycleaner do not remove duplicate files. then defragment your hard drive. also do you have enough memory? not hard drive but memory. running windows xp you need at least 512 mb but 1gig would be better. all the programs mentiones are available at free at 100-downloads.com. good luck

frank

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks, Frank. I've used all those you named, but there's still something dragging us down. It could be the memory problem you mentioned. The OS is XP, but I don't even know how much memory I have. Disk scan shows that I'm only using 15%of the space available.
Butch

 

[woodbutcher]

Thank you kindly. I'll give that a try. If it doesn't work, I've moved all personal files to CD and I'm planning to format my hard disc. Then I'll start all over.
Butch

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks, JML. I'll give that a try too.
Butch

 

[JML755]

woodbutcher,
go to "belarc.com" and download the "free" PC Audit tool. It will take a look at your entire system and give you a complete breakdown of ALL of your components, video, memory, disks, s/w, etc. It's pretty hand and will answer your questions about HD cap, memory, etc.
Jerry

 

[idontno]

Go here and do your thing... http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=1151