Blackouts and other bad behavior

[Ted Curtin]

My computer had been getting slow and balky (slow program opening,
slow/erratic typing), so I checked it for adware/malware and then downloaded
and ran these programs for a system cleanup:Eusing registry cleaner and
CCleaner, and defragged.

Have not noticed much difference, but today the computer shut down and
rebooted in the middle of using outlook express, and just now the screen
went black and showed the XP logo and seemed like it was going to reboot,
then suddenly returned to the browser screen I had been reading...

I thought before I did anything else (like restore the saved registry) that
I'd ask for suggestions here. While I'm here, what about the idea of
re-installing XP over itself? I have done that years ago with other Windows
versions with success. Thanks!

 

[JS]

Find a Restore Point created on a date/time before you used the Registry
Cleaner!
Then do a System Restore using that restore point.

JS

 

[Andrew E.]

One can/could reinstall xp over xp,but you need to perform a "repair
installation".
This requires booting to xp cd...Also,try locating the "dead Temp" files &
windows
Temp files & delete,clean up the registry yourself.Quit useing the 3rd party
junk that only adds spywear/malware,etc onto youre pc...

 

[Twayne]

My computer had been getting slow and balky (slow program opening,

slow/erratic typing), so I checked it for adware/malware and then
downloaded and ran these programs for a system cleanup:Eusing
registry cleaner and CCleaner, and defragged.

Have not noticed much difference, but today the computer shut down and
rebooted in the middle of using outlook express, and just now the
screen went black and showed the XP logo and seemed like it was going
to reboot, then suddenly returned to the browser screen I had been
reading...
I thought before I did anything else (like restore the saved
registry) that I'd ask for suggestions here. While I'm here, what
about the idea of re-installing XP over itself? I have done that
years ago with other Windows versions with success. Thanks!

You aren't very clear at all on what you used to check for AV/malware,
but restoring to a "saved registry", which you also aren't clean on what
you mean, is usually a first-step for this kind of thing.
I'd start by using System Restore (unless you have an image or System
State sets saved) to go back a bit and see if it helps anything. It
can't hurt, and if it's System Restore, you can undo the changes if it
breaks something you installed after that date, etc..
You could also do a Repair Install of XP most likely, but you will
lose some things that way; probably some updates in particular, which
you'll need to let down load again but in theory you won't lose any
data. It's still an excellent idea to be sure all you data is backed up
before doing anything like that, though; stuff does happen. Always keep
recovery in mind.

Is everything still working witout getting any error messages? Has the
slowness come on gradually or did it happen right after some install or
other event?
Have a look at Event Viewer to see if it has error messages; they
could give good hints whether anything is obviously wrong.
Normally slowdowns are gradual and based on the installation of
programs and their related startup components, so that might be the
first area to start looking in.

So, provide more detailed info and a better detailted descrip of
ongoing problems is likely the best advice for your at this time. How
"slow" is "slow" is one of the things to clarify too.

HTH

Twayne

 

[Ted Curtin]

Thanks, Twayne,

I used Spybot to look for adware. I did a system restore which seems to have
corrected the blackouts. But the system is just getting gradually slower and
slower - more time to open a program (especially email and browser; Explorer
got so slow and then would get stuck (freeze) so often that I switched to
Firefox, but now that is slowing down, too.) Also, it gets worse as the day
goes on - opening an email takes several seconds, and sometimes typing slows
to a crawl and is erratic. Even things like switching among folders in
WIndows Explorer takes several seconds, where once it was instantaneous.

I was just researching how to do a Repair Install of XP via the help and
support site, but couldn't seem to find instructions for doing so. I did it
once long ago with Win98, and I don't mind having to reinstall updates if it
might clear up some of these problems - at this point, I'm even considering
a clean reinstall...

Thanks again! Ted

 

[Twayne]

OK. From your description, I'm going to assume you are infected by one
or likely more things. You've probably had them for some time to
restoring may only get you minimal results; restore points etc. may also
be infected/damaged.

Before you go ANY further, you should backup ALL Of your important data!

Did you check for updates before applying adaware?
Also try downloading, updateing, and running:
-- Spybot Search & Destroy at spybot.com
-- MS Defender -
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
-- Spyware Blaster; use Google to locate
to name a few.


If those do some good but not enough, come back for further programs to
try. No single malware program "does it all" and it often takes 3 or 4
to cover all the bases.
-- You didn't mention antivirus software: Adaware is not much for
finding viruses. If you don't hae AV software, plan on getting some
but, meantime, try using the free onlin scans available from Symantec,
McAfee, AVG and I think AVAST. You only need to choose one of those;
whichever you prefer, or even another if you know it's reliable.
For the future, also consider a firewall such as ZoneAlarm.

You should probably decide how much you want/can afford, to spend on
time fixing these things. A Repair INstall or, if that doesn't work,
then a full, clean reinstall, can be accomplished in an afternoon or
morning. It will only work if the source of the infection is in an
actual system file, though, which often isn't the case.

A Repair Install in theory does not lose any of your data, but ...
those are famous last words: back up first anyway! ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR
IMORTANT DATA WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.



Here's some good instructions on doing a repair install IMO:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
It's a little wordy and a little confusing at first, but pay
attention to the warnings and understand them.
And, for good measure:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
and
http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/Windows/how_to_repair_XP_and_Avoid_a_full_Reinstall.html
and
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341


To do a Clean INstall, try these links:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
and
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
and
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm
and
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

HTH

Twayne
No, I am not an MVP.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Thanks, Twayne,

I used Spybot to look for adware. I did a system restore which seems to
have corrected the blackouts. But the system is just getting gradually
slower and slower - more time to open a program (especially email and
browser; Explorer got so slow and then would get stuck (freeze) so often
that I switched to Firefox, but now that is slowing down, too.) Also, it
gets worse as the day goes on - opening an email takes several seconds,
and sometimes typing slows to a crawl and is erratic. Even things like
switching among folders in WIndows Explorer takes several seconds, where
once it was instantaneous.

Do a thorough check for malware, following all of the steps at one of these
Web pages.
Help with malware:
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing programs like Messenger Plus,
whose ads for malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince
you that you owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.