Slow Computer and Error Message

[Gill Bates]

Hi everyone,

I have a problem on my laptop which is making it run very slow. I have
Vista Home Premium.

I will admit to one thing, I removed Norton antivirus from the add/remove or
repair programs in the control panel. I then downloaded the free AVG
antivirus software and then installed it.

I have since been told that I should have downloaded the Norton removal tool
first then remove Norton then install AVG but I didn't. So I typed into the
start menu - Norton, symantec and live update and I deleted all the little
files that came up relating to those titles, there are still a few files
left that I cannot get rid of.

I am assuming it is to do with this but it may be not but my PC is
definitely running slower than it was before this action was taken.

I have also activated a backup and restore three times but this did not make
any difference.

I also get a message that appears when the laptop is started up.


Message that appears when laptop is started: -

FAILED TO CONNECT TO A WINDOWS SERVICE
Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service service.
This problem prevents limited users from logging on to the system. As an
administrative user, you can review the System Event Log for details about
why the service didn't respond.

Has anybody out there got any idea how I can fix this please?

Gill

 

[Michael]

Hi everyone,

I have a problem on my laptop which is making it run very slow. I have
Vista Home Premium.

I will admit to one thing, I removed Norton antivirus from the add/remove
or repair programs in the control panel. I then downloaded the free AVG
antivirus software and then installed it.

I have since been told that I should have downloaded the Norton removal
tool first then remove Norton then install AVG but I didn't. So I typed
into the start menu - Norton, symantec and live update and I deleted all
the little files that came up relating to those titles, there are still a
few files left that I cannot get rid of.

I am assuming it is to do with this but it may be not but my PC is
definitely running slower than it was before this action was taken.

I have also activated a backup and restore three times but this did not
make any difference.

I also get a message that appears when the laptop is started up.


Message that appears when laptop is started: -

FAILED TO CONNECT TO A WINDOWS SERVICE
Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service
service. This problem prevents limited users from logging on to the
system. As an administrative user, you can review the System Event Log for
details about why the service didn't respond.

Has anybody out there got any idea how I can fix this please?

Gill

Did you try a System Restore to a point before you uninstalled Norton?

 

[GTS]

Did you try a System Restore to a point before you uninstalled Norton?

That's a good answer.
If doesn't resolve it - I would uninstall AVG and then run the Norton
removal tool. It wouldn't hurt to then run sfc /scannow and finally,
reinstall AVG.

 

[Gill Bates]

Hi Michael,

I am not sure, I think I did but cannot be certain on that. Perhaps I
should try again and report back.

Gill

 

[Gill Bates]

That's a good answer.
If doesn't resolve it - I would uninstall AVG and then run the Norton
removal tool. It wouldn't hurt to then run sfc /scannow and finally,
reinstall AVG.

What is sfc /scannow?

The other question I meant to ask was, when I downloaded the Norton removal
tool, I wasn't quite sure what version I had (which it asks for) so I do not
know if I picked the right one. My dad loaded it on there but cannot find
the disk or key number so is there any other way of finding out what version
I have?

 

[Ǝиçεl]

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

What is sfc /scannow?

The other question I meant to ask was, when I downloaded the Norton removal
tool, I wasn't quite sure what version I had (which it asks for) so I do not
know if I picked the right one. My dad loaded it on there but cannot find
the disk or key number so is there any other way of finding out what version
I have?

 

[GTS]

What is sfc /scannow?

The other question I meant to ask was, when I downloaded the Norton
removal tool, I wasn't quite sure what version I had (which it asks for)
so I do not know if I picked the right one. My dad loaded it on there but
cannot find the disk or key number so is there any other way of finding
out what version I have?

--
re. sfc
That's a great link from the other poster re. sfc. One additional point -
in Vista this must be run in an elevated command prompt. (Right click on
command prompt and select Run as Administrator.)

re. Norton Removal Tool
The choices listed in
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
differ with respect to instructions they show re. preserving the license
information and reinstalling Norton. The executable file itself is the same
for all. Since you're not reinstalling there should be no issue.

 

[Gill Bates]

Ok thanks, I have had a look at that, which one do I download? Will it work
with Vista which is what I have?

Gill

 

[Gill Bates]

Ok GTS, I'll give it a whirl thank you.

Gill

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Gill.

A trick that often works for software that doesn't cleanly UNinstall is
to...install it again! When its installer runs, it (re)creates the
necessary Registry entries, plus any subsidiary files that the unsuccessful
uninstall may have messed up. After the reinstall, follow the instructions,
including the removal tool, in the proper order.

On your other question about sfc /scannow: SFC is for System File Checker.
This tests each of the core operating system files in \Windows, using
techniques such as CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) to verify that no bits in
the file are wrong or out of place. Any missing or damaged files are
replaced by original copies that have been saved in a cache on your hard
drive. These "originals" will have been updated by any Service Packs or
other hotfixes that have been installed. SFC MIGHT need to see your
original Vista DVD-ROM, so it's a good idea to have that handy. It usually
doesn't take more than a few minutes to run SFC, but it can sometimes take
longer, so don't get too impatient.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

 

[Gill Bates]

Thank-you R.C., The more advice the better really. I shall take it on board


Just out of interest, is "Regedit" to be trusted. I mean is it a good
program that can really find all your unwanted files and clean up your
system? Or is that totally different to what everybody else has been
describing?

Gill

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank-you R.C., The more advice the better really. I shall take it on board


Just out of interest, is "Regedit" to be trusted. I mean is it a good
program that can really find all your unwanted files and clean up your
system? Or is that totally different to what everybody else has been
describing?

I'm not RC, but I'll throw in the answer to your question. No, Regedit
will not find your unwanted files. It's won't even find your unwanted
registry entries. It's simply a registry editor. What you do with
it--what registry entries you change or delete--is entirely up to you,
not to it.

However if you are looking for a program that will look at your
registry and find what you don't need and delete those entries, be
aware that there is *no* such program that can be trusted. Registry
cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the registry isn't
needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any
registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of
registry cleaning software try to convince you of, having unused
registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

 

[GTS]

You're welcome. Good luck

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Gill.

Your welcome.

And, as to Regedit.exe and "registry cleaners": What Ken said. ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

 

[Gill Bates]

Thanks for the warning Ken, I won't use it.

Gill

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for the warning Ken, I won't use it.

You're welcome. Glad to help, but let me make it clearer than I
perhaps did that Regedit is not a registry cleaner, and is safe to
use. Just realize that it makes the changes you tell it immediately,
without prompting you to save what you did. So be very careful in
using it.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

You're welcome. Glad to help, but let me make it clearer than I
perhaps did that Regedit is not a registry cleaner, and is safe to
use. Just realize that it makes the changes you tell it immediately,
without prompting you to save what you did. So be very careful in
using it.

I can't recommend for someone who is unsure of how the registry works to
mess with it at all.

That said, it is possible to learn a bit about it.

I mess with mine quite a bit; in truth, I think that makes me foolhardy. I
also use Registry Workshop, which is a sort of Regedit with a much nicer
interface. It makes it a bit easier to see what I'm doing, and more
important, it has a fairly robust undo facility. It isn't free.