Remind_xp.exe error at start-up

[Guest]

I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes at the
very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are showing and
programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have done. I can
close the message box and continue to work on the pc with no apparent
problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

remind_xp.exe is a process belonging to the SoftThinks CD Creator CD/DVD
Writer and serves as a reminder to register for full product support. This
is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is down to user
preference.

Note: remind_xp.exe could also be also a process which is registered as a
Trojan.Win32.FTP. This Trojan allows attackers to access your computer from
remote locations, stealing passwords, Internet banking and personal data.
This process could also be a security risk and should be removed from your
system.
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/remind_xp/

If you have the legit SoftThinks CD Creator software, register the product.
If you do not have SoftThinks CD Creator...

UPDATE your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

UPDATE whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and anti-spyware
software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode can
be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal themselves
in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode can prevent those
applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses or other malware
allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Penthor-Mul]

I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes at the
very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are showing and
programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have done. I can
close the message box and continue to work on the pc with no apparent
problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.

I know this isn't much help right now, but this action has always been
good to me. I googled this and found a LOT of pages that describe what
it is. Have you googled it yet? Learn to use google, or any good
search engine.

Penthor

 

[Sharon F]

I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes at the
very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are showing and
programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have done. I can
close the message box and continue to work on the pc with no apparent
problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.

A search on Google says this is part of the tool that HP installs for users
to create their system disks. Do you have an HP computer? If yes, burn
those CDs so that, if the need ever arises, you can reinstall Windows from
them. Once that CD burning task is completed, the remind_xp.exe error
should go away.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Wes. I wnet to one of the links in your reply. Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser? I have never addressed my registry
performance. Any recommendations on how to do this? I did not purchase
Uniblue Registry Booster but did the free scan and it said I had 385 registry
errors.

Mike N

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Mike,

Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser?

No, I do not recommend either one. I included that liutilities.com link to
attribute the text to them. liutilities.com usually has pretty good
descriptions of what .exe and .dll files are.

Remind_XP.exe could also be what Sharon posted. An "HP-specific program
that reminds users to create System Recovery CDs. Once they use the Recovery
CD Creator (Start -> PC Help & Tools -> Recovery CD Creator) to make the
recovery CDs the entry will remove itself from the startup list." No link
for attribution included here.

Do a Search for remind_xp.exe on your machine...
HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

The folder that a file is in is often a clue to whether or not the file is
legitimate or not.

I personally recommend the following anti-spyware programs.

Download, install, run, update and run again. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without updates,
you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than one
anti-scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and
Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

Spybot More Help
http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index2.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also running
Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps using both.
ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working fine but they are
not free.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well? The
free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post) says I have
385 "registry problems".

PS...I have Gateway GT5056, dual processor I purchased April, 2006, running
XP Home.

Mike N

Hi Mike,

Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser?

No, I do not recommend either one. I included that liutilities.com link to
attribute the text to them. liutilities.com usually has pretty good
descriptions of what .exe and .dll files are.

Remind_XP.exe could also be what Sharon posted. An "HP-specific program
that reminds users to create System Recovery CDs. Once they use the Recovery
CD Creator (Start -> PC Help & Tools -> Recovery CD Creator) to make the
recovery CDs the entry will remove itself from the startup list." No link
for attribution included here.

Do a Search for remind_xp.exe on your machine...
HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

The folder that a file is in is often a clue to whether or not the file is
legitimate or not.

I personally recommend the following anti-spyware programs.

Download, install, run, update and run again. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without updates,
you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than one
anti-scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and
Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

Spybot More Help
http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index2.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thank you Wes. I wnet to one of the links in your reply. Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser? I have never addressed my
registry performance. Any recommendations on how to do this? I did not
purchase Uniblue Registry Booster but did the free scan and it said I had
385 registry errors.

Mike N

 

[Guest]

Thank you. I have a Gateway BUT it has the same utility for creating system
recovery disks. I had not doen that. I created these disks and the Remind-XP
error message went away.

PS I followed the search tip Wes gave me to locate the program/file which
helped.

Mike

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Mike,

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

I have not heard any bad things about Trend Micro Antivirus. I do not use
Webroot Spy Sweeper because it costs money to buy it. ;-) I only use the
free stuff. If I do not use something, I do not recommend it. You need
more than one anti-spyware application, one program will not catch
everything, not matter what that anti-spyware application is. One Antivirus
app is enough, more than one can cause problems.

Most AV applications update their virus definitions at least 6 times a week.
I run my AV (AVG Free) with a full scan every time I get a new update. It
takes about an hour, I set it to run and then go eat lunch or supper.

I check for updates with Ad-Aware SE Personal, HijackThis, Spybot - S & D
and SpywareBlaster several times a week. If there are updates, then I run
scans with Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot - S & D. SpywareBlaster only
needs to be run to check for updates. I run HijackThis when the mood
strikes me.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well? The
free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post) says I
have 385 "registry problems".

Ignore the 385 "registry problems". Chances are that if you were to "fix"
these problems you would cause more harm then good.

Bruce Chambers puts it rather eloquently here...
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/13f6d5eb355f7804?hl=en

P.S. Ignore all of the "registry cleaner" advertisements on the right hand
side. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well? The
free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post) says I
have 385 "registry problems".

PS...I have Gateway GT5056, dual processor I purchased April, 2006,
running XP Home.

Mike N

Hi Mike,

Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser?

No, I do not recommend either one. I included that liutilities.com link
to attribute the text to them. liutilities.com usually has pretty good
descriptions of what .exe and .dll files are.

Remind_XP.exe could also be what Sharon posted. An "HP-specific program
that reminds users to create System Recovery CDs. Once they use the
Recovery CD Creator (Start -> PC Help & Tools -> Recovery CD Creator) to
make the recovery CDs the entry will remove itself from the startup
list." No link for attribution included here.

Do a Search for remind_xp.exe on your machine...
HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

The folder that a file is in is often a clue to whether or not the file
is legitimate or not.

I personally recommend the following anti-spyware programs.

Download, install, run, update and run again. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without updates,
you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than one
anti-scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers,
and Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

Spybot More Help
http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index2.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thank you Wes. I wnet to one of the links in your reply. Do you
recommend Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser? I have never
addressed my registry performance. Any recommendations on how to do
this? I did not purchase Uniblue Registry Booster but did the free scan
and it said I had 385 registry errors.

Mike N

:

remind_xp.exe is a process belonging to the SoftThinks CD Creator
CD/DVD Writer and serves as a reminder to register for full product
support. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is
down to user preference.

Note: remind_xp.exe could also be also a process which is registered
as a Trojan.Win32.FTP. This Trojan allows attackers to access your
computer from remote locations, stealing passwords, Internet banking
and personal data. This process could also be a security risk and
should be removed from your system.
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/remind_xp/

If you have the legit SoftThinks CD Creator software, register the
product. If you do not have SoftThinks CD Creator...

UPDATE your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

UPDATE whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and
anti-spyware software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode
can be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal
themselves in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode can
prevent those applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses
or other malware allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Mike N <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes
at the very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are
showing and programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have done.
I can close the message box and continue to work on the pc with no
apparent problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.

 

[Guest]

Wes, great advice. Thank you very much. I never used these news groups before
BUT now I know where to get some real help.

Thank you

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

I have not heard any bad things about Trend Micro Antivirus. I do not use
Webroot Spy Sweeper because it costs money to buy it. ;-) I only use the
free stuff. If I do not use something, I do not recommend it. You need
more than one anti-spyware application, one program will not catch
everything, not matter what that anti-spyware application is. One Antivirus
app is enough, more than one can cause problems.

Most AV applications update their virus definitions at least 6 times a week.
I run my AV (AVG Free) with a full scan every time I get a new update. It
takes about an hour, I set it to run and then go eat lunch or supper.

I check for updates with Ad-Aware SE Personal, HijackThis, Spybot - S & D
and SpywareBlaster several times a week. If there are updates, then I run
scans with Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot - S & D. SpywareBlaster only
needs to be run to check for updates. I run HijackThis when the mood
strikes me.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well? The
free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post) says I
have 385 "registry problems".

Ignore the 385 "registry problems". Chances are that if you were to "fix"
these problems you would cause more harm then good.

Bruce Chambers puts it rather eloquently here...
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/13f6d5eb355f7804?hl=en

P.S. Ignore all of the "registry cleaner" advertisements on the right hand
side. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well? The
free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post) says I
have 385 "registry problems".

PS...I have Gateway GT5056, dual processor I purchased April, 2006,
running XP Home.

Mike N

Hi Mike,

Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser?

No, I do not recommend either one. I included that liutilities.com link
to attribute the text to them. liutilities.com usually has pretty good
descriptions of what .exe and .dll files are.

Remind_XP.exe could also be what Sharon posted. An "HP-specific program
that reminds users to create System Recovery CDs. Once they use the
Recovery CD Creator (Start -> PC Help & Tools -> Recovery CD Creator) to
make the recovery CDs the entry will remove itself from the startup
list." No link for attribution included here.

Do a Search for remind_xp.exe on your machine...
HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

The folder that a file is in is often a clue to whether or not the file
is legitimate or not.

I personally recommend the following anti-spyware programs.

Download, install, run, update and run again. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without updates,
you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than one
anti-scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers,
and Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

Spybot More Help
http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index2.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Mike N <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Thank you Wes. I wnet to one of the links in your reply. Do you
recommend Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser? I have never
addressed my registry performance. Any recommendations on how to do
this? I did not purchase Uniblue Registry Booster but did the free scan
and it said I had 385 registry errors.

Mike N

:

remind_xp.exe is a process belonging to the SoftThinks CD Creator
CD/DVD Writer and serves as a reminder to register for full product
support. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is
down to user preference.

Note: remind_xp.exe could also be also a process which is registered
as a Trojan.Win32.FTP. This Trojan allows attackers to access your
computer from remote locations, stealing passwords, Internet banking
and personal data. This process could also be a security risk and
should be removed from your system.
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/remind_xp/

If you have the legit SoftThinks CD Creator software, register the
product. If you do not have SoftThinks CD Creator...

UPDATE your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

UPDATE whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and
anti-spyware software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode
can be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal
themselves in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode can
prevent those applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses
or other malware allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Mike N <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes
at the very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are
showing and programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have done.
I can close the message box and continue to work on the pc with no
apparent problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.

 

[Sharon F]

Thank you. I have a Gateway BUT it has the same utility for creating system
recovery disks. I had not doen that. I created these disks and the Remind-XP
error message went away.

PS I followed the search tip Wes gave me to locate the program/file which
helped.

Mike

You're welcome, Mike and I'm glad to hear that you've resolved your
problem.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Mike,

I have a Gateway BUT it has the same utility for creating system
recovery disks. I had not doen that. I created these disks and the Remind-XP
error message went away.

LOL I just got done helping my Cousin with his HP computer over the phone.

This was his start reference...
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Reminder "c:\windows\creator\remind_xp.exe"

I told him to make the recovery CDs and the entry would remove itself from
the startup list.

Keep having fun!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Wes, great advice. Thank you very much. I never used these news groups
before BUT now I know where to get some real help.

Thank you

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

I have not heard any bad things about Trend Micro Antivirus. I do not
use Webroot Spy Sweeper because it costs money to buy it. ;-) I only
use the free stuff. If I do not use something, I do not recommend it.
You need more than one anti-spyware application, one program will not
catch everything, not matter what that anti-spyware application is. One
Antivirus app is enough, more than one can cause problems.

Most AV applications update their virus definitions at least 6 times a
week. I run my AV (AVG Free) with a full scan every time I get a new
update. It takes about an hour, I set it to run and then go eat lunch
or supper.

I check for updates with Ad-Aware SE Personal, HijackThis, Spybot - S & D
and SpywareBlaster several times a week. If there are updates, then I
run scans with Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot - S & D. SpywareBlaster
only needs to be run to check for updates. I run HijackThis when the
mood strikes me.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well?
The free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post)
says I have 385 "registry problems".

Ignore the 385 "registry problems". Chances are that if you were to
"fix" these problems you would cause more harm then good.

Bruce Chambers puts it rather eloquently here...
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/13f6d5eb355f7804?hl=en

P.S. Ignore all of the "registry cleaner" advertisements on the right
hand side. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thank you again, I will try some of your recommendations. I am also
running Trend Anti virus and Webroot Spy Sweeper and have weekly sweeps
using both. ANy comments about these products. They seem to be working
fine but they are not free.

One last question...how do I address my registry? It there regular
"maintenance" that needs to be done to it to keep my PC running well?
The free scan from Uniblue (which I am uninstalling after this post)
says I have 385 "registry problems".

PS...I have Gateway GT5056, dual processor I purchased April, 2006,
running XP Home.

Mike N

:

Hi Mike,

Do you recommend
Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser?

No, I do not recommend either one. I included that liutilities.com
link to attribute the text to them. liutilities.com usually has
pretty good descriptions of what .exe and .dll files are.

Remind_XP.exe could also be what Sharon posted. An "HP-specific
program that reminds users to create System Recovery CDs. Once they
use the Recovery CD Creator (Start -> PC Help & Tools -> Recovery CD
Creator) to make the recovery CDs the entry will remove itself from
the startup list." No link for attribution included here.

Do a Search for remind_xp.exe on your machine...
HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

The folder that a file is in is often a clue to whether or not the file
is legitimate or not.

I personally recommend the following anti-spyware programs.

Download, install, run, update and run again. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without
updates, you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than
one anti-scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it
from ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers,
and Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

Spybot More Help
http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index2.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Mike N <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Thank you Wes. I wnet to one of the links in your reply. Do you
recommend Uniblue Registery Booster and Spyeraser? I have never
addressed my registry performance. Any recommendations on how to do
this? I did not purchase Uniblue Registry Booster but did the free
scan and it said I had 385 registry errors.

Mike N

:

remind_xp.exe is a process belonging to the SoftThinks CD Creator
CD/DVD Writer and serves as a reminder to register for full product
support. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is
down to user preference.

Note: remind_xp.exe could also be also a process which is registered
as a Trojan.Win32.FTP. This Trojan allows attackers to access your
computer from remote locations, stealing passwords, Internet banking
and personal data. This process could also be a security risk and
should be removed from your system.
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/remind_xp/

If you have the legit SoftThinks CD Creator software, register the
product. If you do not have SoftThinks CD Creator...

UPDATE your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

UPDATE whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a
full system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and
anti-spyware software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe
Mode can be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to
conceal themselves in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe
mode can prevent those applications access and therefore unprotect
the viruses or other malware allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Mike N <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
I have been receiving a error message when I boot up my PC. It comes
at the very end of the start-up, after all the desk top icons are
showing and programs have loaded. The message I receive is:

Remind_xp.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It asks me if I want to send an error report ot MS which I have
done. I can close the message box and continue to work on the pc
with no apparent problems.

Any suggestions to get rid of this annoying message.