Major Issues

Gotcha. Im not sure what the deal is with the disk clean up.. The activity light doesn't blink at all, the computer just sits there.

Any idea of a way to fix this if it is some sort of problem? Or is it just because Ive never done it?

Also, I have ran CCleaner atleast once a week for the past.. long time, if that means anything.

Adam, try this path for the disc cleanup:
My Computer> Right click on Local Drive- usually C> Properties> General tab> remove any checks at the bottom in the lines for Compressing and Indexing> click on Disc Cleanup>> you should see a blue bar going from left to right as the process is being done. Forget about watching lights blink. Let it finish.

I'm surprised your computer runs at all with the lack of maintenance! Think of never taking a shower or doing laundry for yourself- after a while it's a big piece of Yuk! So take care of your computer system and you will have a more enjoyable time using it.

I'd rather see you doing the disc cleanup, Error Check and defrag yourself instead of relying to CCleaner to do it. It doesn't sound like it's been doing a very good job.

I understand and feel horrible about my neglecting to the safety of the PC since I rely on it for so much.

The one thing I was baffled about thinking back, though.. Considering I've never done ANYTHING and it was loaded with all kinds of bad files. It ran - Or so it seemed, performance wise - decently. I mean, it loaded things quickly, never horrible lag. Plus I always have many programs open at the same time.

I will follow your instructions and let it run over night and through the day tomorrow. I'll post back if I encounter trouble of some sort.

Thanks so much for everything, Bob, Dragon, Daniel. I will post back here, as I said, if something comes up.

Sorry for draining so much time.

Define "done anything"! You use Limewire and BitTorrent for two things. And you turned your computer on and access the internet, also allowing your system to be accessed FROM the internet. That's why a two-way firewall is best.

Get it cleaned up Adam and keep it that way. I think you will come to appreciate the difference.

I agree, I will come to appreciate the difference.

My style of typing often gets the wrong point across: What I meant was that I haven't done anything good for my computer - IE: BitTorrent, Limewire (Which I don't even think I used, just got.. Not that it makes a difference)

I've taken this entire situation to heart, I don't want to get any bad ideas across to any of you guys - Because I realize now what I did.

What I was trying to say above was that, my computer runs decently despite all the bad things I've done to it and I don't understand why. Now that I do understand the reprecussions of some things, I wonder why my computer isn't in pieces.

Again, I don't mean to get the wrong idea across because of the way I type. You guys rock for what you've did, I've learned my lesson and will continue to do as said. I'm going to hop off for the night and check back in the morning.

Also, I think I'm going to get joined into this forum. Just because it seems to be full of such nice people -- Obviously, I'll leave the tech help to the pros!!


(BTW: This is how I meant to say it.. Considering security-wise I've never done anything, or tried to fix it.. And the face it was loaded with all kinds of bad files, It seemed, performance wise - decently.) Which is why I was baffled, and wondered why in a sense -- Also, that's why I never really went into any big things on trying to fix it.

I really can't thank you guys enough.
Thanks again, all of you.

I do understand what you're saying. Just realize that not all malware will make itself known, such as grossly slowing down a system. Some of the really bad 'stuff'- the kind that steals your information every time you strike a key- makes a point of staying in 'stealth' mode because they don't want you to know it there and remove it.

Doing the regular maintenance, running regular scans with updated security programs and being careful when you surf an open mail or attachments will go a long way to keeping your system, safe and in good performing condition.

Don't assume you have to wait for something obvious! Avoid it. I hope your time here has been a good experience and that you have learned from it. Stay safe.

It has, thanks alot Bob. I'm replying from another computer in the house.

Since I've never done a disk clean before, Im assuming that's what's taking so long. I'll leave it to run overnight again, I suppose.

It's on the same spot it was in my last posts and I started at 11:30 PM last night, it's now 4:22 PM. I'm assuming it's going to take quite a while to do it's thing.

Again, thanks. I understand what you're saying, and take your advice whole-heartedly. Thanks so much, again.

Adam, I am hoping you can get through the clean up successfully. IF the cleanup doesn't advance, you may have to remove some of the files manually first, then run the cleanup. To do this, you will need to use the computer search for Files & Folders:

Type in Temporary internet folders> open each folder> Edit> Select All> Delete.
The do the same thing for History, then tmp files, then Cookies.

DO NOT do this all at once! Delete one section and reboot. Delete another section, then reboot and so on. Please make sure the CCleaner program is not running at this time. Doesn't sound like it's been doing very much anyway.

It would also be best TRY and set a system Restore point before deleting each section. I don't think you're going to be able to do this, but try and we'll set up a shortcut for it:
Open Notepad and put the following two lines in, making sure to separate them.

Save this file to your desktop. Name it "restorepoint.vbs" (without the quotes).
Unlock the Taskbar and drag this shortcut into the Quick Launch Toolbar.

To create the Restore Point> click on the shortcut> check 'Create a Restore Point'> Next> when finished> Close.
Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools

I'm going to eat dinner, relax with some TV and if it hasn't advanced I will do exactly as you say, Bob.

Will report back in a bit!

Bob,
I went through my Temporary Internet Folders.. There was nothing in them except for some song I played last night through a browser system I installed on a game.

My firefox is set to delete cookies (Not sure what all else is in there) upon my closing the window. For some reason (Though, I'm not an expert. So I will follow the rest of your things.. then try the disk cleaning again) I don't think this is what was causing the problem.

I couldn't even fathom what the problem could be with it.

Did the disc cleanup finish?

I am planning on running it tonight.. I have a feeling it will not, but I'm going to give it another try.


I was busy today with getting my license and junk.

No rush. Just want to be sure you're in the best shape to continue.

Understood, the problem behind the disk clean may be 5 years of never doing it.. That's just my theory.

I ran the cleanup overnight and I don't think it finished..

By THINK I mean, I walked out of my room when it was on the same spot.. I walked back in, then walked back out but then when I came back in the window was closed.

Now it was earlier than I wake up so I don't remember if I closed it or not.

are you still trying to delete old restore points?

Try this

*

Click Start
*

Click "All Programs"
*

Click Accessories
*

Click System Tools
*

Select Disk Cleanup
*

Select the drive on which Windows XP is installed (normally "C") and click OK
*

Now click the More Options tab
*

In the System Restore section, click the Clean up button
*

Click "Yes"

I really don't have any of the choices like that. Once I select Disk Cleanup it initiates the cleanup, the only function I have is to cancel it.

You can drop off the old restore points another way:

Control Panel> System> System Restore tab> CHECK 'turn off System Restore'> Apply> OK
Reboot and then go back and UNCHECK 'turn off System Restore'. The old restore points will now be gone and the system will set a new one about every 24 hours if the computer is on.

BD, if this is not what you wanted done, please advise.

I wasn't trying to automate the process - simply get it to run

I need to know where it's freezing - if it locks up when it says something about Compressing old files try this

Backup your regsitry
First, we need to backup your registry:
Please go to Start > Run
Paste in the following line:

• regedit /e c:\registrybackup.reg

Click OK.
It won't appear to be doing anything, that's normal.
Your mouse pointer may turn to an hour glass for a minute.
Please continue when it no longer has the hour glass.


Making a .reg file
Open notepad and copy and paste the text in the quotebox below in it:

Code:

[b]Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Compress old files]
[/b]

Name the file as diskcleanup.reg

Change the "Save As" type to "All Files" and save it on the desktop.

It should look like this:

Double-click on it and when it asks you if you want to merge the contents to the registry, click yes/ok.


After try running the instructions again

pls try disabling the system restore before scanning with anti virus to prevent the virus from transferring or mutating, which causes a lot of infections.