My computer "stutters"

If you complete my last post and handle the list of items you mentioned in a prior post you should be in top shape!

After finalizing these and scan & defrag. Give me a final status.

Since most of these items have been there since this computer was new it is very possible this computer now runs better than when it was new. Yes better, faster!

mike

 

Update

OK, here is my update:

I still am having problems with RNAAPP. I get the feeling it's no big deal if I don't get rid of it, but it's annoying that I can't find how! On my version of Real Player there is a selection called "Preferences" and I don't see anything on there that would deal with what gets lauched on startup.

I ran System Mechanic but there also seemed to be another aplication called jv16 Power Tools that was bigger and did even more things. I wasn't sure if I needed that so I skipped it, but just wondered if download ing that was worth it too.

With RegCleaner I got a whole slew of things I could possibly delete, probably over a hundred, and I only found something like 3 that I could completely confidently delete. the reason why it was frustrating was that probably over half of the remaining things I totally didn't recognize and got the feeling a lot of them I didn't need, but again, I chose to be conservative and delete only the things I was 100% sure of.

All throughout this procedure I have been trying to monitor my system Resources figure. I am at about 73% right now when I start up with AIM Instant Messanger, and around 78% without it (am still deciding if I need it or not) I wish I knew what this figure was before I started the whole excercise so I could compare! Anyway, I am getting a message when I launch msconfig that reads "Unable to synchronize the environment variables in the Windows Registry with the environment variables in the legacy files AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS" No idea if this is good, bad or irrelevant.

After a few minutes of working on the computer I notice the systems resources figure can drop to between 50-60%, very quickly. I wonder if this is normal?

Also, is there an easier way to track System Resources other than lauching config.sys and looking for it under the Help function?

IMPORTANT: Before running EasyClean it looks like it has the potential to do a lot of damage if you don't read the instructions well, especially for Windows ME and XP users. It recommended a procedure to avoid damaging your Windows Help functions which I tried, but it looks like I damaged them anyway since I can't access them anymore. I'm not totally worried about this, but it sounds like it is a very good idea to backup your registry before running this application in case something goes wrong.

With System Mechanic, there is a feature where you can check for "duplicate files" and delete one of them. I was totally skeptical of what this would do and I decided not to do it in the end. One reason was that the application was repeatedly warning me I had to be absolutely sure I wasn't deleting anything important and that I should check the deletions one by one (and there was over 1000 of them!) Another is that some of the duplications that it found seemed weird, e.g. files from 2 completely different applications that I bought (although they were from the same manufacturer) Anyway, I ended up skipping this - hopefully I didn't miss any opportunity to improve my performance significantly by doing this.

Regarding the scandisk and defrag, it this the same scandisk that gets automatically launched when Windows shutsdown improperly? (the same one that never finds any errors? The defrag was interesting to watch unfold once I clicked on "Show Details ", even though I didn't really understand what exactly it was doing. How often should you do a defrag on your computer?

*****What a learning experience! It doesn't sound like any of what I did was specific to my problems alone so please correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I really recommend anyone who is interested in 1) improving their computer's performance and 2) learning about how their computer works, to use this thread as a guide and try it on their computer. Both very practical and a lot of fun! ************

Finally, one quick question while I have the chance: how do you delete or replace the annoying Windows sound that always plays when you startup or shutdown your computer?

 

I just jumped in here and was taking a quick look around and saw a couple of things. One is the above and the fact that ME is involved.

I also saw references to SpyBot still finding things.

And this may be just another of my Wild Ideas also.

But what I did not see ( I also may have missed it ) is any suggestion to clean out System Restore files after ( should be done before ) cleaning out the Virus.

If the system restore files are not removed the Virus can be put back and/or SpyBot and other things may pick up various references to things that supposedly have been removed.

Anytime the system is cleaned in anyway the System Restore files should be revamped also. Otherwise the house cleaning may be a waste of time.

BillyBob

 

I understand why you are suggesting this, but is it too late to consider it now that I have gone through all my "cleaning "? And how can I "look inside" my system restore files to see if there is anything there that shouldn't be?

(I have read that the computer updates these files everytime it reboots ... I don't know what "update" means in this context but I am wondering if that means you can't restore to any point previous to your last reboot)

 

but is it too late to consider it now that I have gone through all my "cleaning "? And how can I "look inside" my system restore files to see if there is anything there that shouldn't be?

I do not think it is too late. As far as I know you can not look inside of the Restore points. And if you do use and older Restore point it may reverse all of your cleanup work.

Just shut it down and let it get rid of its files. Reboot the machine and let it make a new one. Or make one of your own. Then it will contain the system AS IT IS not as it was.

I have read that the computer updates these files everytime it reboots ...

I do not belive that is true. It only makes one Restore point ( automaticly ) per day at a time it Specifies. ( how it decides I have NO Idea )

Or you can make one of your own at anytime.

The same mis-understanding was applied to Win98 also. It was written ( in MS help files too ) that it made a backup of the Registry at every reboot. it DOES NOT. It only makes one per calendar day at the first boot of the day.

I don't know what "update" means in this context but I am wondering if that means you can't restore to any point previous to your last reboot

I believe you can Restore any Point that shows up. Regardless of date.

I am doing a little bit guess work here as I dumped ME about 3 days after I had it.

BillyBob

 

Thanks for your help BillyBob, that is good stuff to learn.

I just came across a major problem from my "cleanup operation ". I tried to open Excel for the first time since I started this and it tries to download a missing component that it requires (which I must have deleted) It asks me to insert the CD but I am on th eroad for a couple of months and didn't bring the CD with me. I made a backup copy of my register and restroed it but that didn't fix the problem. Any suggestions on whether I have a backup copy of what Excel needs or did I delete it completely?

 

I have an ugly feeling that this file was deleted when I was using EasyCleaner and that I permanently deleted it when I emptied my Recycle Bin ... UGH!

 

OUCH !!!

The deletion of a file is very possible.

But I will be of no help whatsover with Excel.

BillyBob

 

Perp

I am at my office at work. Just checked in, will be home in 3 hrs and get back to you!

1. no problem with system restore. Leave alone!!!!
2. 2 clicks and the help is back!
3. I will tell you exactly how to handle rnapp when i get home this eve.
4. you did correct in not doing duplicates

If you will reread you will see in a prior message that I said your autoexec and config are a mess this is where the rest of your problems is.

If you will wait we can finish this! I am at work now no time, gotta go!

Mike

PS I don't understand where did a problem with a excell work sheet come from. First I heard of it! Deleted by EasyClean, not unless it was in recyccle bin.

Just wait till I get home!

 

I had the Klez virus which I thought I had cleaned

Isn't that one of those Viruses that sometimes causes a problem where some software may need to be re-installed in order for it to work properly. ?

Is it possible that the file in question may actually be in place but has been modified by the Virus.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob, Good suggestion, but I doubt it in my case because I had and cleaned the virus over a month ago and my problem started today, right after I did the cleanup stuff. The more I think about it, I am fairly sure I must have deleted a file by mistake. I don't see any other solution except going out and getting a new Excel CD (I really need to use Excel everyday and can't wait until I get home to put in the old one)

 

OK I hear you better now on the Excell problem.

Watch those Cleaner Programs carefully. ( little experience of my own thrown in here )

But in the future. Any time a virus is know to be present I would shut System Restore off. Clean the Virus and then restart System restore.

There is no way of knowing for sure that the Restore Points do not contain the Virus. And even if the AV cleanup program does find one in the RP it may alter some files rendering them useless.

BillyBob

 

Ok Guys

Finally got home!

Perp I wish you had told me you were traveling. I thought you were home on broadband. You mean you did those downloads on a modem?

Well anyway tell me more about the incident with the Excel thing. I did read it when I came home. I scanned the messages to fast at work and missed it then.

Is it stopping you from functioning? Does it mention exactly what it wants to install? Can you not just skip by it? If you are traveling do you know a client or someone that would let you stick their Office CD in long enough to let this feature install. If we can find out what it wants I probably can send it to you.

Well I will address the other questions.

As for a remaining virus in the system restore files. You said it was clean. A virus inside a compressed system restore file could do no damage unless you restored it. Klez is old enough that any up to date virus scanner would have detected it. If in the restore files it would not been able to remove but would tell you so. So if the Virus scanner is up to date and a full scan has been done then the system should be clean.

SpyBot does not detect this anyway. SpyBot should be run twice in a row. If anything is left after that it is not supposed to be removed. So leave these!

Yes BillyBob files damaged by Klez could cause a problem. But this would have shown up by now! His main complaint was slowness, so slow that the sounds were garbled.

The duplicate files function in EasyClean and System Mechanic should not be used unless you have expert knowledge of the system files.

The entries you saw in RegCleaner were not all to be deleted. As in my message "only those things you are sure about" the rest you did correctly and left alone. And sure some are not needed but that we cannot determine so we leave them alone.

Your comments about Easyclean doing damage to the help files are, correct but easily fixed. I will get you a link to fix that.

The JV6 power tools are good but were written by the same programmer as RegCleaner so RegCleaner is what I recommend.

The answer to your question about the scandisk that runs on startup if the computer is shutdown improperly is the same as windows scandisk. No! The windows scandisk is much more intelligent and thorough.

Your autoexec.bat looks like it is part of an aborted install. I would recommend that you rename it to autoexec.bak and reboot without it. You may notice a difference in the boot problems and the system resources then. So do this and get back to me on the results.

I will have a bite to eat and check back. Then I will post the link to fix the ME help.

Mike

 

No problem about the downloads - I am travelling but still have access to a permanent broadband connection.

What happens when I start Excel now is I get a window titled "Installing components for Microsoft Excel" which starts running, then stops about 25% of the way through and I get a message saying "The feature you are trying to use is on a CD-ROM that is not available. Insert the disk and click OK ". Then when I click OK (without inserting the disk of course, since I don't have it), it shows me a message saying "try to find the installation package PRORET.MSI in a folder from which you can install the product Microsoft Office XP Professional "

There is no one I know who can lend me a disk (I am in New Zealand) I went to try and find a new version of the disk and found out, incredibly, that it would cost U$600! I originally shared the software with a friend, so maybe in the eyes of Microsoft that is fair that I should buy another, but that is just so outrageously expensive ... I mean, why not just charge a million dollars?

Anyway, thanks for answering all my questions. I'll do the autoexec.bak rename now and let you know what happens.

 

So did tried the reboot after renaming AUTOEXEC and the system resources are about the same as before, 74% *with* AOL Instant Messanger running, which I have decided to keep.

I am hoping I did the rename properly BTW: what I did was rightclick on the AUTOEXEC icon in my C: folder and went to Properties - Program and just changed the Cmd_line to read BAK instead of BAT. Let me know if that's wrong.

By the way, so far after all this I still notice the "stutter" as I play deeper and deeper into a chess match, for example. The weird thing is (and I have no idea how I noticed this) is that the stutter temporarily goes away if I launch Outlook Express in the middle of my game! Then it slowly returns if I play more and if I close Outlook Express, it temporarily goes away again! Very strange, I agree, I only mention it in case it provides a clue to anything.

 

Ok

Here is the fix for help.

go to: http://www.dougknox.com/

pick Windows ME then Fix Windows Mellenium help
then at top click the vbs file download and run.

Help is back!

To get rid of the RNAPP
in Real player go to View-Preferences at bottom of general look for Start Center then a settings box click it. Then uncheck the "Enable Start Center ". Apply and exit then reboot.

I will now research this Excel thing!

Mike

 

No don't sound like it would rename.

Use my computer browse to c:\ find autoexec.bat if it is still there then rt click and do the rename. If it is autoexec.bak what you did worked.

Mike

 

Something I am wondering regarding the Excel problem: isn't there someway to find out recent activity in Windows? Maybe some kind of a log stating what has been recently deleted from the computer? That way at least I can identify the file that has been deleted, maybe.

 

No not really. BTW all the registry cleaner programs do a backup before the cleaning.

Also BTW we made a step back in our cleanups when you restored a registry. When this is fixed we need to clean the registry again.

But that does not mean it was the registry that did it, it could have been a temp cleaner.

I have done this to 500 computers if ive done it to one. Never a problem. I may have been some stange config.

But an IDEA!

It may only be trying to reinstall the missing help because Office uses that. So go now and fix the help.

How is the weather in New Zealand? I have plans to vacation in Australia soon.

I will need to go to bed soon (now 9:50 PM EST), tired. But will be available tommorow.

Will wait a few minutes for the results of the rename and the help fix.

BTW laptops always have higher resourse usage because of the things loaded to handle battry usage.

Mike

 

Update

1) The help is fixed, thanks

2) For REal Player, I think we have different versions because my Preferences is under Tools, not View, and in the General Panel there is no option for "Enable Start Center ". I have the free player, so maybe this option is not possible in this version. I will not worry about it, this seems to be too much trouble at this point.

3) When I do a search for .bak I get nothing and when I do it for .bat I get *two* results. So what I did did not work it loks like. BUT, when I right click to rename all I get is the option to rename the "autoexec" name part of the file, not the extension. This is the problem I had when I first went to rename it, and the procedure I tried was my (bad) solution. So I am stuck here!