Kitz Forum
Chat => Tech Chat => Topic started by: chrissie on June 12, 2008, 08:09:52 AM
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I think a few of you know how much trouble I've been having with my computer, (slow to boot, hanging, "program not responding" notices coming up a lot, "end program now" coming up but won't click off..grrr, can't get rid of Postupdate.exe no matter what I try, and lots more that's niggling and hissing me off.
Well I did summat about it yesterday, well I tried to! I got this local bloke in who advertises "no fix no fee" for computers in our local church magazine. He turned out to be a very nice guy, turned up bang on time and launched straight into sorting things out...well that's what I thought.....
He wanted to take things off of start up which I thought ok.. then looked at add/remove progs.... and said, "You could remove the Orange Seimens Router prog..." GULP I thought... that's my ISP box to get on tinternet... so said "No thanks!"
He then brought in his own external hard drive and plugged it into my PC and said he had a registry thing on there which compares registry of his against mine. Whilst he was getting that hooked up, he was reading off of the screen..."Ah those are my daughters photos, mostly of cats...that's my son's program (for whatever)... that's... ah yes there's my registry thing". I was getting a bit worried by then of course... thinking he didn't even do a virus check on it......
(this is a long post.. hope you have a cuppa with you...)
He then proceeded to sort things out on the registry....whilst telling me of other's computers he's fixed et al.... then when he'd finished that he said there was summat working in the background ALL the time on PC that's why it was slow and things were hanging. Said he didn't know what it was and couldn't figure out how to find what it was.... said he'd have to get some software and bring that along to try and find out what was working away and that's why the prog not responding thing keeps coming up because it's busy doing summat else... etc etc.
He also said that upping the RAM from 256Mb wouldn't cure the problem the PC has got and probably wouldn't make the machine go much faster because of the "being busy all the time" though it would help a little. He said he would do it for me though and probably could put in 1Gig... though he'd had to check with the manufacture/his computer shop bloke how much this computer could take in RAM.
Anyway.....he left saying he'd get the memory and software and let me know when he'd come back. After he left I went to go on tinternet.... but found Nortons AV with a big X across it on the task bar. Thought that's ok I'd enable it... but it wouldn't let me. Tried and tried but it kept coming up "There is an internal error... please go to Symantec site.....". Well how could I when I didn't have protection with an AV anymore?
I rang him and he came back (luckily local here)... said he was puzzled as to why that had happened, kept trying to enable it but (as I found out) it wasn't having any of it. Said he'd probably done something within the registry when he stopped things et al... so out come his hard drive again :o ;D, plugged it in, did somethings on that... (after his daughters fotos came up on my screen... :( ) and after all that STILL couldn't figure out was was wrong with Norton's....was scratching his head.... and staring at the screen....ARRRGHH!! In total he'd been here 2½ hours and this was the result. In frustration I then said.... can you do a system restore to get rid of what you've done... he said, "yes that might work but it doesn't always but we can try" :o :o :o
Thankfully he did it and it restored back to the day before... phew.... and he left saying he'd get the memory et al......
Later after I'd calmed down (I panic when my computer can't get on tinternet)... I rang him and told him I'd changed my mind and I'm leaving things as they are....
So that's it... I can't trust anyone can I? I wanted to get PC World guys in (they come to your home now) but some peeps said don't touchPC World.... local pc shops want to have my unit on premises... I dont' want that.... or they will only do a reinstall of Windows XP and I will lose everything I have. So it seems I can't get it fixed.
I'm really hissed off now I can tell you, I don't want to go through what I went through yesterday, as I say a nice guy and didn't promise anything... BUT.... he really didn't know how to solve things and that's what I want!
Sorry to go on but I wondered what you guys thought of all this....just wish I had a nice knowledgeable techy guy living near who I'd gladly pay to sort my PC out... but I'm having no luck in that direction..... think I'm gonna have to suffer the problems and shurrup!!! :( >:( :'( :'( ???
(a very deflated and fed up) Chrissie
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I'm not a Windows user, but 'something working in the background' shouldn't be too difficult to find. Control-Alt-Delete will bring up the list of processes running on the machine, and if you're not sure what's what you could copy the list here, and I'm sure someone will be able to advise. Nil illegitimi carborundum!
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Chrissie have a look at what BT might be able to do to sort your problems out.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=22814&s_cid=con_FURL_homeitcall
Edit,they can access your computer remotely and fix it from their end if you don't feel confident enough.Dell once did this to my computer,it was amazing just to watch everything getting sorted without having to touch/do anything.
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If you know what the little blighter is, this tool should be able to get rid of it for you:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/
@ Eric, these days you can rt-click the taskbar to bring up the task manager.
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Chrissie,
Not much of a clue on Google as to what it is, some say an updater for Shockwave (the online game player, I think) not Adobe Shockwave. As it ain’t doing much except making you pull your hair out, let’s try to disable it.
Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools.
Double click Services.
Scroll down the list and see if it is there.
If so, double click it to open it’s own window.
In the General Tab look for the Startup Type and select Disabled.
Below that check the Service Status. If it says Started, click Stop.
Click Apply and OK.
Try that for a start then let us know how you got on.
dave
Whilst on,
download and install RevoUninstaller from here:
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
May have to use it later but it is a much better tool than the Add/Remove that windows supply.
dave
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Hi Dave,
Thanks for that. Yes it is the online game player update, but I didn't download it, it appeared after I'd been onto Shockwave site! Anyway, it's not in the services I've checked. It is in Win32 macromedia file and I've tried to delete Shockwave8 and the updater.exe file and it comes up each time with error deleting file or folder – access denied so I can't delete it! I did a search and it came up with it being in the prefetch folder under POSTUPDATE.EXE-ODO65608.pf. I have read that a lot of peeps have trouble with this and can't get rid so it's not just moi.
Also, I have found out today regarding Norton's not only can I not get into the quarantine reports, it now isn't updating live updates, it's stuck on the day it did it when the "techy" guy messed it up... scream.
I have emailed a few pc repair people and some have said it needs a complete reinstall... well not only have I not got the discs for Win XP I don't have for Norton's either and my subs don't run out until December!
Tearing my hair out is right... really peeved I got someone in to look at it now... I should have had PC World at home service where they come in to see to it.....now I don't know what the heck to do... sob.
Chrissie
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Does your PC have the facility to 'return to factory settings'?
If you are not sure then try the manufacturers site for instructions or, what is the make and model of your PC and one of us could probably find out for you.
To return to factory settings you lose all the things in My Documents and other software that you have installed but you can save them to another hard drive before hand. If you get hold of an XP Disc and reinstall, the same thing will happen so you could do with getting an external hard drive like one of these:
http://tinyurl.com/6har9f
It is a good idea to have one of these to always keep a backup copy of all your files and folders in case of what is happening now.
To do this, you would lose Norton, which many would consider a good thing, so you could then use some of the free stuff that a lot on here find more than satisfactory. You would also notice a bit of a difference to the speed when a lot of programs that you never use but are, at the moment sat on your computer, remopved.
dave
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Hold up on my last post.
How to remove Macromedia (Adobe) Shock Wave 8:
http://sdc.shockwave.com/shockwave/download/alternates/
Scroll down the list a bit.
Try that first.
dave
Hope that works 'cos it's pub time.
If not we can have another try later.
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I have seen the the PostUpdate.exe is running in the processes on task manager. I have clicked on it to end process but decided against it when it came up "Terminating a process can cause undesired results...etc etc..." so I thought I'd leave alone. HOWEVER.... as mentioned before, when I go to delete the shockwave8 file and PostUpdate.exe file, the message comes up access denied and it also says ensure it is not running. So..... can I remove from the process on task manager or will it cause problems with my computer?
Not that this is the be all and end all... because I have the probs with Nortons etc, but I wondered if it would help.
Don't really want to do the factory settings because of loss and I don't know what the heck I'm doing.... but seriously considering buying a new pc cos I'm sooooo fed up with all of this.
Chrissie :(
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Ignore the warning, and go ahead and terminate it.
Let me explain it a bit more... that warning is just a standard MS scare tactic - sure if you terminate a vital system process your PC could become unstable, and at worst you'd have to reboot the machine, but in this case it's not a vital process that you're stopping.
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Chrissie,
As the Updater is showing in Task Manager, turn it off (stop the process), then follow my link above and when you scroll down, click to get the Macromedia 8 uninstaller and run it.
That will shift the program and it's updater from your PC and when a new program needs a flash player it will ask and, if you say yes, will install the latest Adobe not the old Macro.
dave
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YESSSSSSSSSSSSS....YESSSSSSSSS......YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
I've deleted PostUpdate.exe and got rid of the icon in my task bar... yaaay. Haven't had to delete the shockwave8 because it's always been there... just the ruddy postupdate.exe that came in and outstayed its welcome >:(
All I need to do now is try to get Norton's right.. but I think it's going to take someone else to do it. I know you guys don't like Norton's (hate it with a vengeance I'd say) I keep hearing it, but I've read of some probs with AVG8 and you guys know how to fix these things... whereas little ole me knows nuffink <sniff>. Trouble is, my version of Norton's isn't supported so if it can't be fixed then I will have to buy a new version...scream. All this because of that poo techy guy who sodded about with the registry.
Just another question, can one stop "Quick Time" starting up and getting onto the task bar or do I need it there? Don't know what it does you see. I've also got HP digital imaging monitor on the task bar too.... why does that have to come up on start up...or am I being thick here?
Chrissie
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No you're not being thick, get rid of 'em coz they arent needed.
it might be worth running MSCONFIG and looking at the starup tab to ditch a few more un-needed startup items as well. post here if you need help identifying the items if needed.
as for norton, delete that as well and go for something a little less intensive such as AVG. to completely remove it goto www.symantec.com/symnrt (http://www.symantec.com/symnrt) and get the removal tool.
Byeeeeeeeeeeee
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Don't want hi jack your thread Chrissie,but I've also got HP digital image monitor on my task bar.What does it do?When I get a list of startup programmes,it says remove or disable.Which one should you use.If you select disable does it come back when you restart your computer?
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Chrissie,
but I've read of some probs with AVG8 and you guys know how to fix these things...
I am using AVG 7.5 524, which is still available:- http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/4029/
I did install AVG 8 and problems started but because updates are still available for the older version I reverted to that . I am going to use the 7.5 version until I HAVE to move onto AVG8, by which time I'm hoping all the "teething problems" will be sorted. The advantage for us not very techy people is that we can ask all the geniuses on here (and Other Places ;) ) when we get stuck. I haven't any experience of Norton, but had heard all the complaints about it..... In your situation I would download from the link above, then get rid of Norton (asking fore any help to do so if necessary), then Install AVG 7.5 Hope this encourages you. :)
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YESSSSSSSSSSSSS....YESSSSSSSSS......YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
It sounds like that scene from 'When Harry Met Sally'.
To replace the dreaded Norton, I recommend this combination of freebies for a (first rate) security suite:
Avast! anti-virus
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/
*Spyware Terminator (real time spyware protection)
http://www.filehippo.com/download_spyware_terminator/
Trust your uncle Floydie - you know it makes sense. ;)
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Don't want hi jack your thread Chrissie,but I've also got HP digital image monitor on my task bar.What does it do?When I get a list of startup programmes,it says remove or disable.Which one should you use.If you select disable does it come back when you restart your computer?
Hi Uncy
No worries bout hijacking the thread, every little helps as they say and I'd like to know what it does too. Also what does the Quick Time do... PLUS (sorry).... if you take them off of the task bar by disabling them how do you get them back? Told you I was a thickie!! :P
@Pwiggler.... here's a list of names in msconfig startup... some I understand, most I don't...
jusched
hpsysdrv .............drivers?
hpcmpmgr ...........computer manager?
hphupdo5 ............hp summat
KBD
RECGUARD
VT timer
ccApp
ps2
WkUfind
SND Mon
ALCXMNTR
qttask
RESET
iTunesHelper
pch button
backupnotify
Tea Timer.....................this is to do with SpyBot
HP Digital Imaging.............I have HP image zone et al
WRKCALREM......................works calendar
just wonder what I need and what I don't need.
Chrissie
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chrissie
heres what they are, untick at your own perill - should be ok tho ;)
jusched - java updater - leave it
hpsysdrv .............drivers? - untick it
hpcmpmgr ...........computer manager? - untick it
hphupdo5 ............hp summat - untick it
KBD - logitech keyboard options - leave it
RECGUARD - stops you deleting the recovery partition - leave it
VT timer - vid driver - leave it
ccApp - a norton module - it'll go when you remove norton
ps2 - logitech keyboard options - leave it
WkUfind - ms picture it module - untick it
SND Mon - sound driver?? dunno leave it
ALCXMNTR - realtech monitor - untick it
qttask - quicktime app - untick it
RESET - hp software updater - leave it
iTunesHelper - thats upto you
pch button - dunno leave it
backupnotify - hp backup app - leave it
Tea Timer.....................this is to do with SpyBot - leave it
HP Digital Imaging.............I have HP image zone et al - shouldnt need this one
WRKCALREM......................works calendar - upto you
if you find anything doesnt work after unticking any of them then you can go back into msconfig and retick 'em
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Chrissie,
Getting there. All hands to the pumps when the ship looks like it might sink.
Your Macromedia Shockwave v 8 is from the Ark. Adobe took over Macromedia a while ago.
Use the link I gave earlier to uninstall it and that will stop the updater ever coming back.
Then go to:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/
And download the Adobe Shockwave Player v 11.
As for the startup list in MSCONFIG.
Jusched is the Java updater that only contacts Java once a month for updates but it starts every single day at boot up if you leave it ticked. Un tick it.
Have a read here how to stop it:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-juschedexe-and-why-is-it-running/
Pch button is not required at startup, untick it.
Itunes helper will start when a program requires it so untick it.
dave
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UPDATE
With all the problems I've got with Norton's I am considering taking unit to a computer place and getting someone to upgrade the RAM (I've got 256MB RAM with shared graphics card of 64MB) so no wonder it's running slow. Just wish I'd not had that bloke touch the computer to s*d Norton's up and just had the RAM upgrade instead. Too late now.
I went to a computer place about 14 miles from me, I thought they were good from speaking to the guy there. Said they could do the RAM in about half an hour so that impressed me as I expected them to keep it for a couple of days. I asked about AV and yet again was told to ditch Norton's... SO... I will be doing that soon - it sez ere. He said they could put on the AVG 8 (well I asked if they would do it).... they sell it at around £50 which covers 2 years. I think if I get them to do all this that I will get them to give the PC an overhaul et al... it's just that after that guy came in I really don't trust anyone now.
Btw, found out why Norton's isn't working properly, there are some files from it missing off the start up..... don't suppose I can get those back can I? Re AVG 8, have read a lot have problems with it and told the guy so, but he said none have that they've done, also he said with AVG I wouldn't need the spybot s & d and superantispyware or adaware on my computer as AVG 8 does it all. Can someone confirm this for me please?
Thanks for bearing with this computer dummy, but I AM learning guys....it is sinking into this old grey cell (only got one) somewhere along the line :D
Chrissie
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Light at the end of the tunnel Chrissie. :).Definitely upgrade the RAM,my old PC only had 256MB,my new has 2GB,what a difference.I have McAfee security suite installed on my PC and as a bit of a novice I find it very good,just set it to do its job and no worries.
Can't confirm about AVG,but I'm sure someone will come along with an answer to your question. :)
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yeah avg8 does does do what they say but forget £50 .... use the free one as well as spybot and adaware, altho everytime i run them they dont find anything to worry about.
depends how much cash u have spare
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Err.... £50 for 2 years for AVG - like paul says, use the free one. Although at just over £2 a month it isn't bank-breaking, and I can see where people who want the hassle-free, all-in-one solutions are coming from.
As he described, the one he's selling you *should* be the paid for version, which as he stated correctly, does do all the jobs in one package.
As for RAM - what's he upgrading it to and how much is he charging to do it. Also what make and model of PC is it? Just to check the rough price of the component and therefore determine how much he's charging to do it - don't wanna see you get ripped off :) I'd reckon if he stuck in an extra 512MB or 1GB that would see you right for a while. I'd be tempted, if it isn't too much, to go for 1GB extra, then you probably wouldn't have to worry again for the rest of the PC's life. :)
UB, I think I've said it before, I'm not a fan of McAfee, simply because when it goes wrong, boy does it go wrong!! I've been to a few PCs that I've needed to completely remove McAfee before being able to get any kind of Internet access! Don't get me wrong, when it's working, it works pretty well, if not a little slow on older hardware, but it's a nightmare when it goes wrong.
For that reason I wouldn't recommend McAfee - they may end up paying a lot of money to somebody to sort it out for them!!
Good luck Chrissie :)
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@ Mr Chris,the only reason I have Mcafee is that it came with 3 years free with my Dell.I had never had any security/anti virus software until then :o.It has always worked fine,just hope after what you said it doesn't go wrong.
Chrissie sorry to hi-jack your thread a bit. :)
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Hi Guys
(You're not hijacking the thread Uncy, every bit of info helps as far as I'm concerned). I think the guy (it's Medway Computers) said the RAM upgrade would cost about £30 +vat.
My system is as follows: XP SP2 Hewlett Packard Pavilion A604 Intel (R) Pentium (R) 4 CPU 2.80Ghz, 80 gig hdrive, 256Mb MB RAM (shared video memory Graphic up to 64 MB) so only 192 RAM really... ugh. Running Norton's 2004 plus their firewall.
I would prefer them to upgrade to the highest it can have then hopefully no more probs (everything crossed). I still don't like letting the unit go to anyone, prefer in home but having said that, the guy who came "in home" mucked the Norton's up anyway AND didn't know why the pc was running slow, said he'd have to find some software to put on and check out the reasons.... :o
I KNOW I've got to get something done especially as Norton's won't add the liveupdates cos he uggered it.... so I'm trying to get a price for all I want and them install everything and clean it.... I really haven't got the inclination to touch things and them go wrong and not be able to do it meself.
Will let you know what they say IF they email me back. Thanks for your help once again, it's really appreciated.
Chrissie
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@Chrissie
After your earlier posting on this topic I felt encouraged to upgrade my RAM (from 512Mb to 2Gb) I took the old RAM out completely and put in new cards which also ran at a much higher speed - 667Mhz instead of the old 400Mhz and I've been very pleased with the noticeable difference in the computer since I did the job. I bought the memory from Dell and the 2Gb cost me £36. I already had a separate Graphics card ( a Radeon X300).
Like Uncle UB I used to use McAfee 'cos it came with Dell but I stopped using it about 15 months ago and moved onto free AV and Firewall (I use Avast! for AV and Kerio for Firewall). I also use Spybot, AdAware and SpywareBlaster. I run weekly updates and system checks and Avast has twice found a virus in the last 15 months but on each occasion was able to get rid of it without problems so I certainly wouldn't be without protection of some sort!
I hope your upgrades and systems clean-ups work well for you. Good Luck! :)
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Bit late joining this convo - but an XP machine with only 256MB of RAM is really going to struggle.
As already mentioned by some of the others if possible go for 1GB.. the computer shop didnt say how much they were going to put in for the circa £30, but as a guide heres some prices for compatable RAM for a HP - Compaq Pavilion a604x Desktop/PC (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion%20a604x). Crucial are normally about one of the cheapest so a local shop may be a little bit more so if the £30 is for 1GB of ram including fitting then that seems more than a fair price to pay.
As regards to Anti-virus - some stores are licenced resellers of AVG full version, so its likely they are.. as mentioned you can also get the free version.
I had a few probs with AVG8 myself but it was more that the free versions kept giving me false positives which annoyed me so I uninstalled.
I'm currently running the free version of Avast without any problems.