Bugs are eating up my computer!

[Guest]

Well, I did a post earlier. I was thinking I need to clean my registry
because IE and Firefox lock-up and sometime MS Word gets weird (in regards to
the Normal template) You all asked for more info so here it is...

For no good reason IE will not let me connect to the internet even though
I'm connected (DSL) so I switched to Firefox. It seems to be a little more
stable but still locks up. FRUSTRATING because I have a small e-business and
I hate re-starting my computer 8 times a day. I use Adaware, Spybot, Zone
Alarm and AVG but I had these problems before I started using any of these
programs.

One thing I do know is that I need a stronger computer. I'm running on 256
but I hear I need at least 512.

I have a DELL computer and I'm wondering if Windows came pre-installed on it.
BELOW, is my first post:
Question

So, I'm thinking I may have some registry problems.... Word doesn't behave
itstelf and IE plus Firefox locks up frequently. I hear I need to back up
Windows before using a registry cleaning tool. Only I can't find my original
Windows CD to use Microsofts ADDVALUE backup feature for XP Home Edition...

Any thoughts out there?

Where do I get another Windows CD?

Do I really need to backup?

What registry cleaning tool do you all recommend?

Opinions? Thanks!

 

[Kevin]

Wrangler Mom,

Great name by the way! Anyway, if you have a Dell it did indeed come with
Windows preinstalled. You should have a "restore" disk, unless the unit is
a couple of years old and you would then have an actual Microsoft Windows XP
disk. If you have the disk you could try a repair installation of Windows.
The same goes for Word. If you have your Office disk you can try a repair
installation of Word as well. As a last resort measure you could do a clean
installation of XP. This would destroy any and all data on the hard drive
so having all your critical data on backup media is paramount.

More memory is a good thing. XP really wants to have 512 MB of RAM to play
with, so this would be cheap upgrade for your system. As for messing with
the registry, I would not suggest it. Your system does work as of now, it
may have some problems but it works. You go messing around in the registry
and that can all stop very quickly!

If you are positive that your system is clean and free of viruses, worms,
Trojans and spyware/adware then try the repair installation option. Still
make sure all your data is backed up to some form of media like tape or,
better still, burned to disk.

 

[GHalleck]

Well, I did a post earlier. I was thinking I need to clean my registry
because IE and Firefox lock-up and sometime MS Word gets weird (in regards to
the Normal template) You all asked for more info so here it is...

For no good reason IE will not let me connect to the internet even though
I'm connected (DSL) so I switched to Firefox. It seems to be a little more
stable but still locks up. FRUSTRATING because I have a small e-business and
I hate re-starting my computer 8 times a day. I use Adaware, Spybot, Zone
Alarm and AVG but I had these problems before I started using any of these
programs.

One thing I do know is that I need a stronger computer. I'm running on 256
but I hear I need at least 512.

I have a DELL computer and I'm wondering if Windows came pre-installed on it.
BELOW, is my first post:
Question

So, I'm thinking I may have some registry problems.... Word doesn't behave
itstelf and IE plus Firefox locks up frequently. I hear I need to back up
Windows before using a registry cleaning tool. Only I can't find my original
Windows CD to use Microsofts ADDVALUE backup feature for XP Home Edition...

Any thoughts out there?

Where do I get another Windows CD?

Do I really need to backup?

What registry cleaning tool do you all recommend?

Opinions? Thanks!

First, before making any changes, always back up important data
and information files. Archive them to CD-R, external HD, etc.,
and store safely. This should be a regular routine.

Second, Dell typically provides cdroms for the operating system,
installed apps, utilities, etc. If there is no cdrom for the OS,
then a copy should have been downloaded from the hard drive upon
first use of the computer. But it should still be possible to get
the Windows cdrom from Dell...contact Dell support.

Third, do a clean re-install. It is the easiest way to de-bug a
computer completely. Registry cleaners may help but one needs to
know what they are doing and that a thorough job is being done.
Downloading a copy of HiJack This, running it and examining its
report would provide hints to the specific lines that might need
to be deleted from the Windows Registry.