Essential shareware utilities for XP users?

[AL D]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster,
System Mechanic, Regclean, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus (no longer with
fee updates, it sems) and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP
machine.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP
user to acquire?

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc. Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or
file encryption program.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

Thank you.

Al D

 

[David Maynard]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster,
System Mechanic, Regclean, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus (no longer with
fee updates, it sems) and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP
machine.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP
user to acquire?

Those all have XP versions already but why do you have Kerio on it?

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc. Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

Need to find out what the problem there is before you start loading it up
with additional bells and whistles and, in particular, I'm wondering if
that Kerio firewall is causing a problem since XP SP2 has it's own built-in
firewall turned on by default. And firewalls in general can cause problems
if not configured properly.

Need to know what the setup is, though. What's the computer? Multiple
machines networked? What's your internet connection? Logging into a domain?

Have you popped up task manager to see if something is hogging CPU time?
Checked your event logs for odd reports?

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or
file encryption program.

Locking how and for what purpose? XP has multi-user security built in. If
you simply want to block access to other users don't give access rights to
them.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

Can't help ya there as I haven't done that in a coon's age, and not on XP.

 

[AL D]

Need to find out what the problem there is before you start loading it up
with additional bells and whistles and, in particular, I'm wondering if
that Kerio firewall is causing a problem since XP SP2 has it's own built-in
firewall turned on by default. And firewalls in general can cause problems
if not configured properly.

Uninstalled Kerio but problem persists. I suspect something called
Aveo Attune which XP reported a problem with last time I loaded XP. A
google suggests it is spyware. Apparently it's not something that is
easy to uninstall. Seems to start itself up ad do whatever it does as
soon as the PC loads Windows.

Event logshows a few application hangs but doesn'rt say what which
programs.

It's a standalone PC with only dialup access to the net.


Thank you

Al D

 

[spodosaurus]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster,
System Mechanic,

Unnecessary

Regclean,

What are you doing to your system to need this?

Ad-Aware,

Redundant, but probably better than 'spyware blaster'

and AVG antivirus (no longer with
fee updates, it sems)

There is a free version of AVG.

and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP
machine.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP
user to acquire?

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc.

Scan your hard disk drive using the thorough scan option in the hard
disk testing software available from your hard drive manufacturer's website.

Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

See above, for starters.

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or
file encryption program.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

Thank you.

Al D

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[spodosaurus]

Uninstalled Kerio but problem persists. I suspect something called
Aveo Attune which XP reported a problem with last time I loaded XP. A
google suggests it is spyware. Apparently it's not something that is
easy to uninstall. Seems to start itself up ad do whatever it does as
soon as the PC loads Windows.

The fact that you already have spyware on a fresh install indicates
you're putting shite onto your system without knowing much about it and
buggering things up. Be more selective in what you install.

Event logshows a few application hangs but doesn'rt say what which
programs.

You have so many programs that you don't know which ones are hanging?
Have you installed a lot of downloaded software that is really unnecessary?

It's a standalone PC with only dialup access to the net.


Thank you

Al D

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[David Maynard]

Uninstalled Kerio but problem persists. I suspect something called
Aveo Attune which XP reported a problem with last time I loaded XP. A
google suggests it is spyware. Apparently it's not something that is
easy to uninstall. Seems to start itself up ad do whatever it does as
soon as the PC loads Windows.

Well, you either installed Aveo or installed something that included it.
It's an adware program that checks various things and then pops related ads
up. Like if it sees your printer is low on ink it pops up ads for printer
ink suppliers. Nice for the advertisers but not so much for users.

Event logshows a few application hangs but doesn'rt say what which
programs.

It's a standalone PC with only dialup access to the net.

If you can't uninstall that stuff then reformat and do a fresh install
without adding in extras.

Also, disable any network cards in device manager. Since you're on dial up
they'll just slow boot up trying to find an IP address that'll never come.

 

[jaster]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster, System
Mechanic, Regclean, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus (no longer with fee
updates, it sems) and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP machine.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP user
to acquire?

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc. Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or file
encryption program.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

Thank you.

Al D

There are free A-Vs but not sure about viral clean or updates.
PC-cinlin is this years trade winner. System Mechanic 5 still good
although I think 6 is out. Kerio got a few good reviews and I'll
find out when my Kaspersky AH expires. The XP firewall only protects
incoming connections so if you dl'd a trojan it could dial home all day
and XP wouldn't know.

I recommend:
Spybot Search and Destroy
Ad-aware
I've been using RegistryHealer shareware.

Also, install hosts file and the hoster utility from
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
to reduce pop-ups and site redirects.

 

[Stephen]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster,
System Mechanic, Regclean, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus (no longer with
fee updates, it sems) and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP
machine.

All of those should have versions that will work on XP.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP
user to acquire?

Microsoft's Power Toys for XP.

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc. Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or
file encryption program.

XP has encryption available for NTFS formatted drives.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

None that I know of.

Stephen
--

 

[MixMasterJ]

On my previous (Win98) PC, I had a short list of useful freeware or
shareware utilities to keep the system healthy: Spyware Blaster, System
Mechanic, Regclean, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus (no longer with fee
updates, it sems) and Kerio firewall which I now use on my XP machine.

Some programs will work just fine without having to be reinstalled. Regclean
and Adaware will copy from one directory to another without problems. Most
programs will have to be reinstalled or they will be buggy though. Others,
like Nero, will work when copied to a new location but ask for your original
serial number when you start it up in its new location.

Can anyone suggest a list of similarly essential utilities for an XP user
to acquire?

All this depends on what exactly you want to do, and you seem to have
already all the things you want. XP also has a compatibility feature that
works well with most older-OS programs. Just right click on the program
before you install it, select Properties, select Advance, select
Compatibility and choose 98 or ME.

I've only been using XP for a few days, and it's already doing strange
things: mouse clicking taking more than a minute to have any effect
sometimes and XP's initial "loading user settings" taking forever,
sometimes etc. Tried reloading the OS but it didn't cure the probs.

If this is only happening with your mouse, this is a driver problem. If you
can't fix it, go buy a new mouse. Of course, you are trying to copy and
relocate things without doing the re-installs and updates, so you are
probably creating all kinds of problems for yourself. XP is by far the most
stable, versatile, and trouble free OS you will find. The problems resulting
from its use are usually the operator's error.

Also looking for a cheap but secure directory-locking program and/or file
encryption program.

Regarding your encryption question, go to download.com and search
encryption. Their files are generally cheap and allow you a trial before you
purchase.

Is there a problem-fee way of moving programs from one directory to
another (without uninstalling, then re-installing them)?

Again, depends completely on the program. I am surprised someone has not
mentionied ISO or some other imaging technique yet, but you are going to
have to use trial and error to see which programs will allow you to just
drag and drop them from the installation program folder to a new one without
reinstalling.

What I do is use my USB 2 external drive and just periodically drag and drop
my whole My Documents and Programs folders from the C drive (main hdd) to my
external cd drive as a backup. If there is ever a problem, I know I have my
handy dandy external drive backup. Then ever few months I will burn My
Documents folder to a DVD as a second backup.

 

[MixMasterJ]

external cd drive as a backup.

I said external cd drive, but actually it is a Maxtor 120gig external hard
drive.