Maintenance Wizard - can it speed up my pc?

My computer has recently starting running very slow.

I have never run the Maintenance Wizard. Does this really help to speed it up?

I'm on a dial up

 

ladyLuck - Wouldn't hurt. Have you ever ran a defrag? It is part of Maintenance Wizard and probably the most important, esp. if you haven't run one .

 

bobmc, no I have never run a defrag with the Maintenance Wizard. I have always run a defrag from the System Tools. If I start running this MW will there be options that I have to choose?

I guess you can tell by my ? that I know very little

 

For sure ... I run a monthly maintenance. Mostly you want to run two or three routines (which I believe Maint Wizard takes care of) ... first to do ScanDisc to clean up your HD of errors, etc and then Defrag (which will take what seems like forever the first time)... I also clean out my recycle bin and make sure there are no *.tmp or ~*.* files floating around

 

I Deleted the Temp but there are a couple that refuse to delete. One of them is ~DFC6DD.

How do I find out if this is important, what it is for and if not needed how do I delete it?

 

what to delete

First, I have the options on Windows Explorer set so that it does not show System or Hidden files (VIEW/FOLDER OPTIONS/VIEW).. that way I don't try to delete those (which it won't usually let you) ... then I just figure that if Windows doesn't want me to delete something them perhaps I shouldn't
I once read an article (old WinMag online) about what it safe to delete and my notes say that the following extensions are OK to delete

tmp, chk, fts, prv, shs, wbk

don

 

I am totally lost again. How do I get to this

"First, I have the options on Windows Explorer set so that it does not show System or Hidden files (VIEW/FOLDER OPTIONS/VIEW).. "

 

ladyLuck
In Windows Explorer go to the toolbar, you will see the word View, put the mouse on it and hold down the left button, then go to Folder Options and let go of the button. Then click on View in the window that appears, you will see options in the white box, with a scroll bar.
Now the computer running slow can be caused by several things. Defragging, deleting temp files, deleting temp internet files can certainly help. Then, there is the unknown programs which could be running.
Go get HijackThis, the blue type is the link. Install it and run it. When it opens, click on Config, then click on Misc Tools, then click on Generate Startuplog. Notepad will appear in front of you will all kinds of stuff in it. In Notepad on the tool bar go to Edit\Select All, then back to the toolbar to Edit\Copy.
Post a reply to this thread and right click where you would type here and then select Paste. Everything that was in Notepad should appear. Then click on Submit Reply, and I or others here will take a look at it, and direct you if any problems appear there.

 

I don't know what is happening now but I downloaded Hijackthis and tried to open it. Irfanview came up and it would not open. I have unchecked all settings in Irfanview but it still comes up.

C:\windows\desktop\hijackthis.zip:
cannot read file header!
Unknown file format

How do I stop Irfanview from trying to open this?

 

I am not sure why Ifranview is trying to open it, as a zip file is usually not an image file. Do you have Winzip? If not, get the evaluation version, it should work for you when installed. If you already have Winzip, go to Options\Configurations, click on System, put a check mark in Associate Winzip with Archives.

 

I have downloaded winzip but when to Options This was not there
Options\Configurations, click on System, put a check mark in Associate Winzip with Archives.

Four tabs were there

Fav. zip folders
other zip folders
default unzip folders
misc

I guess this will be a trial and error for me as I have no clue as to which folders to delete. I did delete my NAV from there.

 

Hi ladyluck!

If you right click on the Hijackthis zip file, do you have an option to extract? If so, click on it and check to show extracted files. Then double click on the hijack.exe that opens up.

If the winzip download was successful, and while installing, it told you that it was associating files and adding zip files on your system to a favorites list, then the Hijack zip folder should now have a winzip icon (looks like a c-clamp). Right click on folder and select 'open with winzip'. Click 'use evaluation version', then yes or no on next screen, make sure 'unzip or install' is checked in next screen. Here you can choose to unzip it to a different location than the default.....choose whatever you like or nothing and click unzip. The hijack.exe should now come up for you to double click on.

It might also be helpful if you know any of your system specs. and list them (processor, hard drive size, disk space used and free, etc.) Processer and size can be found in controlpanel>system on the general tab and space usage at My Computer>right click on C:>properties.

 

Thanks to all for your help. I guess I'll have to figure out which files should not be associated with winzip. Thanks again.

 

Looking at Mudman's post

What is this an indication of? ~*.*

 

~*.*

This basically means any files that start with the "squiggle" or "tilda" sign (~) ... so this is just a wildcard search that says = if the file starts with "~" and has anyother characteristics ... just like a search for *.tmp would search for any files that have "tmp" as their file format.

 

Did a search using ~*.*

A lot of things came up. Is this part of the Temp?. Just wanted to know before I delete them . Thanks

 

ladyLuck,

Hi. While deleting temp files is important, it's going to be secondary when it comes to your PC's performance. It's more important to find out what all programs and processes are running and make some adjustments there. Were you ever able to open and run Hijack?

 

Here it is

StartupList report, 7/26/03, 4:24:22 PM
StartupList version: 1.52
Started from : C:\UNZIPPED\HIJACKTHIS195\HIJACKTHIS.EXE
Detected: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
Detected: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
* Using default options
==================================================

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYMANTEC_CLIENT_SECURITY\SYMANTEC ANTIVIRUS\RTVSCN95.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYMANTEC_CLIENT_SECURITY\SYMANTEC ANTIVIRUS\DEFWATCH.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\KERIO\PERSONAL FIREWALL\PERSFW.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TAPISRV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYMANTEC_CLIENT_SECURITY\SYMANTEC ANTIVIRUS\VPTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\ptsnoop.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RunDLL.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\PANICWARE\POP-UP STOPPER FREE EDITION\PSFREE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\WEBSHOTS\WEBSHOTSTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\S6U12BX\WATCH.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CALLWAVE\IAM.EXE
D:\SPYWAREGUARD\SGMAIN.EXE
D:\WINZIP\WZQKPICK.EXE
D:\SPYWAREGUARD\SGBHP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\INTERNET EXPLORER\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RNAAPP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE
C:\UNZIPPED\HIJACKTHIS195\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

--------------------------------------------------

Listing of startup folders:

Shell folders Startup:
[C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp]
Webshots.lnk = C:\Program Files\Webshots\WebshotsTray.exe
Watch.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\S6U12BX\WATCH.exe
Internet Answering Machine.lnk = C:\Program Files\CallWave\IAM.EXE
SpywareGuard.lnk = D:\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

ScanRegistry = C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
TaskMonitor = C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
SystemTray = SysTray.Exe
LoadPowerProfile = Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
vptray = C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\vptray.exe
PTSNOOP = ptsnoop.exe
CountrySelection = pctptt.exe
StillImageMonitor = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
DXM6Patch_981116 = C:\WINDOWS\p_981116.exe /Q:A
LVComs = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\LVComS.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

LoadPowerProfile = Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
rtvscn95 = C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\rtvscn95.exe
defwatch = C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\defwatch.exe
SchedulingAgent = mstask.exe
PersFw = "C:\Program Files\Kerio\Personal Firewall\persfw.exe" /hide

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Taskbar Display Controls = RunDLL deskcp16.dll,QUICKRES_RUNDLLENTRY
PopUpStopperFreeEdition = "C:\PROGRAM FILES\PANICWARE\POP-UP STOPPER FREE EDITION\PSFREE.EXE "

--------------------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\WININIT.BAK listing:
(Created 23/7/2003, 14:56:50)


--------------------------------------------------


Enumerating Browser Helper Objects:

SpywareGuard Download Protection - D:\SPYWAREGUARD\DLPROTECT.DLL - {4A368E80-174F-4872-96B5-0B27DDD11DB2}

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Task Scheduler jobs:

Tune-up Application Start.job
Maintenance-Defragment programs.job
Maintenance-ScanDisk.job
Maintenance-Disk cleanup.job
Symantec AntiVirus Client.job

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Download Program Files:

[Update Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IUCTL.DLL
CODEBASE = http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/ansi/iuctl.CAB?37771.6194328704

[Shockwave ActiveX Control]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MACROMED\SHOCKWAVE 8\DOWNLOAD.DLL
CODEBASE = http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab

[SoundCtl Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\NPBMCTRL.DLL
CODEBASE = http://www.buzme.com/ActiveX/NPBMCtrl.cab

[Shockwave Flash Object]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MACROMED\FLASH\FLASH.OCX
CODEBASE = http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

[CWDL_DownLoadControl Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLOADED PROGRAM FILES\CWDL_DOWNLOAD.DLL
CODEBASE = http://www.callwave.com/include/cab/CWDL_DownLoad.CAB

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items:

WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WEBCHECK.DLL

--------------------------------------------------
End of report, 5,500 bytes
Report generated in 0.386 seconds

Command line options:
/verbose - to add additional info on each section
/complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data
/full - to include several rarely-important sections
/force9x - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT
/forcent - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x
/forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform
/history - to list version history only

 

To disable things from starting up, Start\Run, type in Msconfig and press Enter, click on Startup tab. Uncheck items to prevent starting.
You could disable the following from starting up.

LVComS.exe, Lvcomm server. Related to Logitech Quick Cam - works fine without it.

WATCH.exe, all this does is start your scanner program when the lid opens, not needed at startup.
If you don't have a scanner, it could be for Wannadoo ISP, again not needed. I can see that you have a dial up modem so the other possibilities are mute for this, such as a ADSL or ISDN modem.

WebshotsTray.exe, Screensaver program that automatically downloads from the webshots web site, disabling this will have no affect on your screensaver working.

p_981116.exe, you can disable this, it apparently is a holdover from a DirectX6 upgrade, it really shouldn't even be there.

pctptt.exe, Country Selection for a modem, once the modem is setup it is not needed.

Taskbar Display Controls, you can disable this, unless you like to change your screen settings often.

I do not find anything real suspicious, due to AV, firewall, and spyware guard working for you. Much better that I expected to see, really.

 

Thanks for you help.

One thing more. I have unchecked and restarted

pctptt.exe, Country Selection twice and it keeps coming back checked. Any ideas why this happens?