XP unwanted files

[Guest]

After first getting an XP packaged computer I fairly filled it full of junk
and I subsequently stuffed it. I have just done a complete system re-boot
and plan on setting things up a little better. The first thing I've noticed
is that, even now that I haven't loaded anything myself, the 'c' drive seems
to have been filled up with programs. Some are on the 'add/remove' programs
list and some aren't. Some I know what they do, and some I haven't got any
idea. There are folders which are empty which I can't delete and heaps of
text-file documents with gobble dee gook on them. Can someone recommend some
reading material or an on-line resource for setting up the computer and
ridding yourself of all of the junk. An other example is that I have 20+
programs starting up automatically, wereas friends of mine only have 9 or 10
- and this is after a total system reboot with the 9 startup disks. I
haven't done anything to it!! Thanks in advance.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Regarding the startup programs:

First, see if there is an option similar to "load at startup" in the
corresponding applications. If so, uncheck the option.

Alternately, you may use the MSCONFIG.EXE utility in Windows

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310560

How to manage Windows Startup?:
http://www.winhelponline.com/startup.htm

Startup managers:

Sysinternals Freeware - Autoruns:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html

Startup Control Panel
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

How to use MSCONFIG: NetSquirrel.com:
http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[C]

After first getting an XP packaged computer I fairly filled it full of junk
and I subsequently stuffed it. I have just done a complete system re-boot
and plan on setting things up a little better. The first thing I've noticed
is that, even now that I haven't loaded anything myself, the 'c' drive seems
to have been filled up with programs. Some are on the 'add/remove' programs
list and some aren't. Some I know what they do, and some I haven't got any
idea. There are folders which are empty which I can't delete and heaps of
text-file documents with gobble dee gook on them. Can someone recommend some
reading material or an on-line resource for setting up the computer and
ridding yourself of all of the junk. An other example is that I have 20+
programs starting up automatically, wereas friends of mine only have 9 or 10
- and this is after a total system reboot with the 9 startup disks. I
haven't done anything to it!! Thanks in advance.

XP packaged computer 9 startup disks ?

What manufacturer? Dell,Compaq,HP?
As these come w\either a recovery cd or a hidden partition on the hard
drive to restore the machine to the way it was when you bought it.

C.

 

[Guest]

What manufacturer? Dell,Compaq,HP?
As these come w\either a recovery cd or a hidden partition on the hard
drive to restore the machine to the way it was when you bought it.

C.

Yeah C, its an HP and the 9 disks aren't further titled apart from just
'Startup Disk 1', startup disk 2, etc. When the 9 disks have been installed,
the C drive has the D drive partitioned off and locked and the C drive has a
6 folders 'documents and settings', 1386', 'system.sav', 'hp',' program
files' and 'windows'. Each of these folders has a ton of stuff already
loaded including a number of working programs like 'windows media player'
microsoft works' and a ton of others. But, for example, it is also loaded
with Python 2.2 and Python 2.3. I deleted these via 'add/remove programs'
after doing an online search and discovering that python is a programming
language - like I'd ever need that. But there is a mile of other stuff. It
seems like a mess and all I've done is the inital reboot!! It only just
occurred to me that these disks didn't come with the computer. I picked them
up from the HP dealer in brisbane (after we mistakenly thought the damaged
power pack that was actually causing crashes, was a virus.) Do you think
that this 9 disk business is not the normal way people reboot their crashed
XP systems?? 2 of my mates are running XP Home, same as me, and they don't
have 1/10 of the stuff I do.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

This link may be helpful:
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html

Is your hard disk formatted as FAT32 or NTFS?

Some ways to increase the available free space. Select Start, All
Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp, More Options, System
Restore and remove all but the latest restore points? Restore points can
be quite large Mine are currently 41 mb, although all except the latest
are compressed to 20 mb on disk. By the way System Restore Points are
hidden files which you will not see even after you have taken the
measures to show hidden files detailed above.

You can limit the disk space used by System Restore. Right click on the
My Computer icon on your Desktop and select, Properties, System Restore,
Settings. This will give you the amount of Disk Space allocated to
System Restore in terms of % of size of Drive and megabytes or
gigabytes. The default maximum is 12%, which is often excessive. You can
move the slider to the left to reduce the size of the allocation. Once
the allocated space is fully taken the oldest restore point is removed
when a new restore point is created ( or it should be ).

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
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Please tell the newsgroup how any
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[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Larsman

Call up HP and ask how many disks make up a recovery set for your computer..
I fully expect it to be no more than two, and a 99% chance that it will just
be one..

You need to get the correct recovery media for your system, OR buy a Windows
XP CD, and start over..

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I'll do that. I don't know what I've loaded up. It still says XP
Home when the computer starts up though, and it still works fine but I did a
full system scan yesterday and there is already 190,000 files on the C
drive!!! Thanks for everyones advice. No need to further reply. You all
look pretty busy.......
Larsman.