Re: I messed up Tony's suggestions on speeding up my computer. Nee

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Bonjour *Chuck* :

> Claude:
>
> I'm not sure what the problem was. I had been frustrated that my computer
> had become terribly slow over the past few months, so I googled "slow XP
> computer" and ran across a Microsoft article (by "Tony" someone) about steps
> to take--removing unused programs, degragging, etc. The fateful step was
> removing a bunch of things that were being started at Startup, which actually
> helped some until I removed something that caused the problem that I
> initially posted about (couldn't logon). I think I disabled something called
> userinit--could that have been it? I tried to check on the things I was
> disabling to make sure they weren't essential to startup, but I must have
> messed up on one (duh?). Anyway, now that it's running, I've gone back to
> msconfig, and I don't see one in there that's called userinit. I guess I'll
> just stay away from msconfig for awhile.
>
> My computer's still slow, but that's "a whole nother" issue . . .
>
> Thanks for your help.


Most of the time it's possible to recover normal performances
by removing malwares and some useless "utilities"...

Make a scan with HijackThis and post the scan log here.
I'll check it and tell you what bad or useless things you
have to remove or disable.

http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html

Check list for maintenance :

A)

1- Set explorer to use à different process (multi-threads):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Create this key:

DesktopProcess
Reg_DWord
value 1

2- Change the Windows priority separation :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl
Create this key :

Win32PrioritySeparation
Reg_DWord
Value 26 in HEX


B)

A good maintenance of W xp is required from time to time.

Here some hints:

1- Use chkdsk to check the integrity of your hard disk:

Windows explorer | right click on disk icon |
properties | tab "tools" | "check errors" | check both options
ok and restart your computer

or

Start | Run | cmd | chkdsk X: /F /V ,
Where X= disk volume

For the results un applications log:
Souce : Winlogon
ID : 1001

2) Clean the temporary files:

Start | Run | cleanmgr.exe

3) Defrag the volumes of the HD :

Start | Run | Defrag.msc

For multiple volume defrag use this:
http://www.dougknox.com/utility/scripts_desc/defrag_all.htm

4) Check devices and drivers and upgrade them if needed

Start | Run | devmgmt.msc

Devices error codes:
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=310123

To find the drivers check the manufacturer links in Everest.
The drivers must comes from the manufacturer and nobody else...

5) Check the errors and warnings messages in the system and applications logs

and , if needed, fix those problem as soon as possible. Some "errors"
messages are not important and can be ignored. Ask in new groups and
make some seach at Event ID site and with Google...

Start | Run | eventvwr.msc

Hints for Event IDs:
http://www.eventid.net/

6) Check the services configuration:

The mandatories services must be started and in automatic mode
The others in manual...or disabled....

More info on W xp services:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
if you understand french:
http://climenole.serendipia.net/archives/3-La-Configuration-des-Services-de-Windows-XP.html
(english version soon...)

7) Check the applications started at boot and keep them
to the minimum.

instead of using msconfig used Starter from CodeStuff...
http://codestuff.mirrorz.com/

Check for applications in your account and All users
(from an admin account...)

8) Control what's running on that PC with those tools:

Autorun
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml
*Don't delete or disable anythings unless you are absolutly sure of what's you're doing* [as you know ;-) ]

Process Explorer :
(an enhanced Task Manager!)
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

9) Defrag the protected files ( Registry , hiberfil.sys, Pagefile.sys etc.)

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/pagedefrag.shtml

10) Optimize the prefetching

Run this command :
%windir%\system32\Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
usefull only when the computer is idle...
The service Task Scheduler must be running and in automatic mode.
Check this value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory
Management\PrefetchParameters
The key EnablePrefetcher REG_DWORD must be set to 3.

11) Safe & Cool ...

A)
Keep your system free of malwares (virus, worms,spywares, etc.)

If you understand french:
http://climenole.serendipia.net/archives/5-Quelques-liens-utiles-pour-la-securite-de-Windows-XP.html
(english version soon...)

Check your firewall configuration and make sure your PC is "stealth":
www.grc.com
Run the "Shields Up" test .Everythings must be "green" ...

Update frequently your anti-virus and your anti-spywares.
( MS Anti-spyware, SpyBot S&D, Ad-Aware, Spyware Blaster and
Spyware Guard... more than one is better since no one are 100% reliable...)

And check if the AV is set to protect your PC "On Access"
(in the so-called "real-time") not only "on demand" ( scan
runned after the problem...)

Used an alternate Internet Browser and keep IE
only for Windows updates and MS specific stuff.
By alternate I mean :
Firefox or Opera (not Maxthon, Avant etc.)

Avoid to surf on the Web from an administrator account.

You have to "feed" your HOSTS file :

What is an Hosts file :
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/dictionary/hostsfile.html

The hosts from MVPs:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Frequent updates and documented...

Tools for Hosts :

HostToggle:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/HostsToggle/
and/or
WinPatrol:(good also for other insteresting stuff...)
http://www.winpatrol.com/download.htm

Some tools and links:

"Mini- antivirus" to be runned in safe mode:

Stinger :
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Avast cleaner :
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_cleaner.html

MS:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ad724ae0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356&displaylang=fr

Kaspersky:
ftp://ftp.kaspersky.ru/utils/clrav.com

Anti Root-Kits
F-Secure (beta)
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/

Online scan:

Anti-trojan:
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

Anti-spy:
http://www.spywareguide.com/txt_onlinescan.html
http://store.ca.com/dr/v2/ec_main.entry25?page=FindOutWhosWatchingYou&client=ComputerAssociates&sid=35715&CID=181432

Anti-virus:
www.trendmicro.com

B)
Keep your PC free of dust and check the temperatures with those tools:

Everest:
http://www.lavalys.com/

Remark:
Very good software but the warnings about the Bios
and the commercial links to that stuff are useless...

Bios upgrades *if needed* must comes from the PC manufacturer
or the Motherboard manufacturer and nobody else.
(Not needed most of the time : don't worry about this..)

SpeedFan
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Remark:
Good software but the temperatures of the hard disk are not
reported correctly and most of the time not related to the disk
reliability.
Better info from Everest...

No more idea....

Let us know...(and post your HijackThos log...)

:)
--
Claude LaFrenière [MVP] :-)

«My Principal Design Was To Inform, Not To Amuse Thee.»
Lemuel Gulliver, The Travels (IV:12)
http://climenole.serendipia.net
Soon on www.msmvps.com
Bientôt sur www.msmvps.com

.

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