Once again I'm having computer problems.  I'm about to have the entire HD reformatted but gee that's a PITA.  Can someone please help me cypher through this stuff on my computer and see if I can get it working better?

I'm also getting this crazy script warning on start up. [see picture].  I bought a new printer and hooked it up, it worked perfectly for a few days and now its no longer working at all.

Patty

Here's my start up:







Here is the script warning I get at start up:

A Google search for cmicnfg.cpl gave me this page.

My first guess would be to reinstall the drivers for your sound card.

Edit:  didn't see all of that "my search" crap.  You have a spyware problem.  Download Ad-Aware to fix it.

Also download Firefox, and use it instead of Internet Explorer... and you won't have spyware issues again.

Try this Ms Patty

www.chapo.co.il/articles/processes/

good advice!

Patty, have you had virus issues in the recent past?  Looks like a virus destroyed various system files.  For instance, in you Direct Link Library ( DLL ) there is a file called NvCpl that you seem to be missing.  I am missing that same file.  It's for your Nvidia graphics card, I believe, it is probably a driver.  If you can update some of your drivers, I'll bet some of these errors will go away.

Quoted: Spyware. Download for free: Microsoft Anti-Spyware, AND Spybot Search and Destroy, AND Ad-Aware. Install, update, and run all three to scan your computer with each to remove the programs you've installed. Finally lose Internet Explorer for most of your browsing functions - free Firefox or Opera will resist most of these better.

Paul I do have these.  I have to keep IE as most of my clients use IE.  I mainly use FireFox now.  Patty

spybot and spysweeper, shuld help, all the rest can be googled

Here's a link to something easy to use that I've found very helpful.  It's similar to Shooter505's recommendation.  A lot of the crap people have running on startup isn't spyware at all and won't be detected by Ad-Aware or Spybot, etc.  Sometimes they are perfectly legitimate processes that you simply don't need or don't need running all the time.

Just look up the processes in question alphabetically.

Startup Tasks

Quoted: Here's a link to something easy to use that I've found very helpful.  It's similar to Shooter505's recommendation.  A lot of the crap people have running on startup isn't spyware at all and won't be detected by Ad-Aware or Spybot, etc.  Sometimes they are perfectly legitimate processes that you simply don't need or don't need running all the time. Just look up the processes in question alphabetically. Startup Tasks

Thanks Echo_Hotel.  Patty

Quoted: Here's a link to something easy to use that I've found very helpful.  It's similar to Shooter505's recommendation.  A lot of the crap people have running on startup isn't spyware at all and won't be detected by Ad-Aware or Spybot, etc.  Sometimes they are perfectly legitimate processes that you simply don't need or don't need running all the time. Just look up the processes in question alphabetically. Startup Tasks

EH, thanks from me also.  Due to a virus issue from quite some time ago I have several similar errors to patty's.  They really don't cause any harm, they are just annoying....maybe this will help a bit!

It looks like you are running both McAfee and Grisoft anti-virus at the same time.  Disable one of them.  Running two AVs at once will cause problems when they confict.

(BTW - everybody says "muh-CA-fee" when it should be "MAC-uh-fee."  Several years ago I met John McAfee and that's how he pronounced it.)

I would also disable crap like HPWuSchd, Nero Check, qttask, mwsdeamon, ypager, incmail, Any Time Deluxe Edition, MyWebSearch, Photo Loader, Office Startup, etc.  There's absolutely no reason to have this crap loaded and running in memory 24/7.  All it does is low your system down and cause system errors.
Get rid of it!!

I personally like using the 2005 symantec it has good spyware blockage and many usefull repair tools for it it costs about 40-50 bucks if your symptoms do not repair you may have to reimage the drive there should be a way to update so that you don't have lose anything though.

Oh, and just for general purposes and those that aren't so familiar with such issues:

To turn off the extraneous or unwanted items that are running when you boot your computer, simply do the following (I'm not sure it works in Windows 2000, but I'm pretty sure it does in all the others), simply click

Start
Run
Type in "msconfig" (without quotes)
Press "enter"
A box pops up.  Click "startup".
Un-check the unwanted programs, then reboot.

That's all there is too it!  So simple even a caveman like me can do it!  I'm sure the computer experts here will agree that we really don't need very much at all running at startup.  Firewall, virus scanner, and a VERY few important Windows functions.  Explorer, Systray (don't remove those), virus scan and firewall are all I have running at startup.  All those other programs do is gum up your system and gobble up resources.

Oh, and from my experience, anything that says "web search" is spyware, but Spybot should alert on that type stuff.

Shoot, I've got more than that and my system runs fine.

[root@sleepy ~]# chkconfig --list | grep 3:on
atd             0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
cups-config-daemon      0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
rpcgssd         0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
lm_sensors      0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
rpcidmapd       0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
xinetd          0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
rhnsd           0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
anacron         0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
ntpd            0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:off   5:on    6:off
xfs             0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
smartd          0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
messagebus      0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
pcmcia          0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
sendmail        0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
sshd            0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
vmware          0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:off   5:on    6:off
apmd            0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
crond           0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
acpid           0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
network         0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
mdmonitor       0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
mDNSResponder   0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
autofs          0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
nifd            0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
syslog          0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
vpnclient_init  0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
cups            0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
haldaemon       0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
portmap         0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
netfs           0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
irqbalance      0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
gpm             0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
iptables        0:off   1:off   2:on    3:on    4:on    5:on    6:off
rpcsvcgssd      0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:on    5:off   6:off
[root@sleepy ~]#

I don't have any anti-virus or anti-spyware applications installed, either.

Alright, Subnet!  

But then you're probably running some AlienWare 10,000 megacomputer and all.  We humble cave folk have to keep it simple.  Makes E-lektrical stuff work more better and stuff.

Wise man once say, "No clutter on startup, Grasshopper."

I guess just about everybody is a computer expert in this group but I'll have to say I don't agree much with the advise usually given.  

Here's my two cents.

Re-load your OS, it's a waste of time to work on a system that's already gummed up.  No need to format, just replace your old windows directory.  That way all your data file and pic and docs will be saved.

I don't use anti-virus, it slows your computer down a lot.  Why go buy a hot computer and slow it down with software that isn't going to help anyway.

No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware.

No weatherbug, weatherbug should be listed as a virus.  I don't like Incredimail either although I don't think is destructive it's just a PITA when re-loading an OS.  I recommend using web-mail.  Makes fixing a computer a lot easier.  

Stay away from screen savers and browser ad-ons and definitely no themes.  System resources are limited and RAM and hard disk space make no difference to them.

Keep your browser updated often, which beats the heck out of all the anti-virus and ad ware stuff.  And keep off the porn sights.  I work on a lot of computers and porn surfers mess them up the quickest.

End.

I've a thick skin so go ahead and flame away.

quit downloading pron

Quoted: I guess just about everybody is a computer expert in this group but I'll have to say I don't agree much with the advise usually given.   Here's my two cents. Re-load your OS, it's a waste of time to work on a system that's already gummed up.  No need to format, just replace your old windows directory.  That way all your data file and pic and docs will be saved. I don't use anti-virus, it slows your computer down a lot.  Why go buy a hot computer and slow it down with software that isn't going to help anyway. No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware. No weatherbug, weatherbug should be listed as a virus.  I don't like Incredimail either although I don't think is destructive it's just a PITA when re-loading an OS.  I recommend using web-mail.  Makes fixing a computer a lot easier.   Stay away from screen savers and browser ad-ons and definitely no themes.  System resources are limited and RAM and hard disk space make no difference to them. Keep your browser updated often, which beats the heck out of all the anti-virus and ad ware stuff.  And keep off the porn sights.  I work on a lot of computers and porn surfers mess them up the quickest. End. I've a thick skin so go ahead and flame away.

Well, I'm not going to flame away but I'll have to disagree with you on a couple of things. Not all Anti Virus applications slow your machine down noticeably. AVG is quite nice (and free). I run it on my Windows boxen and even I - as a seasoned IT professional - catch one every once in a great while. My WinXP machines are striclty business only - MS Office and a couple of work only apps. Once in a while I STILL goof and visit a website I shouldn't have (not porn or warez, either) or trying a new utility and end up cleaning up afterwards. Shit happens.

Reinstalling Windows from scratch is daunting for alot of people. They have to install all of their apps again, find drivers, etc. I suggest having it done when a machine is really FUBAR, but I can't just tell someone "Reinstall Windows" and leave it at that. It's pretty involved for some folks.

Quoted: No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware.

How on earth do you figure that?  Those are two absolute MUST HAVES if anyone is going to surf the internet at all.  They don't run in the background.  They only run when you are checking for a problem.

As for not using a virus scanner, I'll leave that up to the pros to comment on that, but I'm certainly going to continue to use Symantec.

Quoted: Quoted: I guess just about everybody is a computer expert in this group but I'll have to say I don't agree much with the advise usually given.   Here's my two cents. Re-load your OS, it's a waste of time to work on a system that's already gummed up.  No need to format, just replace your old windows directory.  That way all your data file and pic and docs will be saved. I don't use anti-virus, it slows your computer down a lot.  Why go buy a hot computer and slow it down with software that isn't going to help anyway. No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware. No weatherbug, weatherbug should be listed as a virus.  I don't like Incredimail either although I don't think is destructive it's just a PITA when re-loading an OS.  I recommend using web-mail.  Makes fixing a computer a lot easier.   Stay away from screen savers and browser ad-ons and definitely no themes.  System resources are limited and RAM and hard disk space make no difference to them. Keep your browser updated often, which beats the heck out of all the anti-virus and ad ware stuff.  And keep off the porn sights.  I work on a lot of computers and porn surfers mess them up the quickest. End. I've a thick skin so go ahead and flame away. Well, I'm not going to flame away but I'll have to disagree with you on a couple of things. Not all Anti Virus applications slow your machine down noticeably. AVG is quite nice (and free). I run it on my Windows boxen and even I - as a seasoned IT professional - catch one every once in a great while. My WinXP machines are striclty business only - MS Office and a couple of work only apps. Once in a while I STILL goof and visit a website I shouldn't have (not porn or warez, either) or trying a new utility and end up cleaning up afterwards. Shit happens. Reinstalling Windows from scratch is daunting for alot of people. They have to install all of their apps again, find drivers, etc. I suggest having it done when a machine is really FUBAR, but I can't just tell someone "Reinstall Windows" and leave it at that. It's pretty involved for some folks.

The original poster said he/she was ready to format.  The machine must be pretty messed up.  You’re right, most people don't know how to re-load an OS and should either learn or find someone who can.  Most machines I see have Norton or McAfee and I stand by my assertion that they bog down a machine.   My experience with anti-virus and ad ware programs is that they serve only one purpose and that is to sell themselves.  I can't say I’ve seen any of those programs do anything except go through a song and dance and say they did all these wonderful things but the computer was still screwed up in the end.

Quoted: Quoted: No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware. How on earth do you figure that?  Those are two absolute MUST HAVES if anyone is going to surf the internet at all.  .......

I used to think that too.

Quoted: Quoted: As for not using a virus scanner, I'll leave that up to the pros to comment on that, but I'm certainly going to continue to use Symantec.

I don't run one (as stated earlier) on my Linux box, because it would be kind of pointless. Come to think of it, I'm not sure anybody even MAKES one for Linux, other than for a mail server used by Windows clients.

I, along with millions of other people, have used Ad-Aware and Spybot for ages.  They perform an invaluable function, i.e., that of pointing out malicious programs which the user can then opt to remove or leave alone.

They do not run in the background, they do not "gum up" one's system.  They are simply a tool like defragmenting or clearing the cache on the p.c.  There is no reason to reformat your hard drive every time you get a spyware program.  

You are advocating the equivalent of cutting your nose off because it has a pimple on it.  Spyware is a common, everyday problem lots of folks run into and can be handled easily once one learns how.  

That said, it is a good idea to reformat once per year just for general purposes.  

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Wow, interesting dialog in my absense.  I'm a little paranoid of virus to get rid of my virus protection!  I get idiot clients daily sending me crap too.

I don't know how to reinstall my operating system but if I do decide to reformat [which I would have to have to do] I would pay the neighbor kid to do it.

Patty

Quoted: I don't use anti-virus, it slows your computer down a lot.  Why go buy a hot computer and slow it down with software that isn't going to help anyway.

Not necessarily.  I have had the worst problems with McAfee Virus Shield crashing Windows.  Symantec is a little better, but I still disable "Auto-Protect" so that way it's not always running and scanning in the background, slowing the system down, but it still scans incoming email.  Anything I download, I scan manually.

No spybot and adaware or any of that crap.  Those programs ARE spyware.

That just plain doesn't make any sense.  Neither Spybot nor AdAware contain spyware.

No weatherbug, weatherbug should be listed as a virus.

WeatherBug, OTOH, is one of the worst spyware-laden POSs I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Quoted: Spyware. Download for free: Microsoft Anti-Spyware, AND Spybot Search and Destroy, AND Ad-Aware. Install, update, and run all three to scan your computer with each to remove the programs you've installed. Finally lose Internet Explorer for most of your browsing functions - free Firefox or Opera will resist most of these better.

Be sure to run the anti-spyware apps in SAFE MODE. You'll catch more of the little bastards.

Quoted: ...And keep off the porn sights.

What do you think I bought this thing for?

Anyway Patty, I'm pretty sure you can vastly improve your computer's performance via Ad-Aware, Spybot, and removing unneeded startup programs.  Oh, and as for the printer...sounds like you may need to install the drivers again (?).  I'll leave that to the I.T. eggheads.

One quick thing about Ad-Aware: clear all your cookies before you use it because it will alert on "tracking cookies" and it will display oodles of them.  Just in case you're not familiar with how to do so, it's easy.  In Internet Explorer go: Tools-Internet Options-Delte Cookies-Delete Files-Clear History (this may take a while if they've not been cleared recently).

In Firefox just click Tools-Options-Privacy-Clear All.

Ad-Aware will sometimes seem to just sit there and you'll think your computer has crashed: it hasn't.  It just usually takes it a few minutes to do its thing.  Spybot doesn't do that, you can just watch the purty little blue line advance across the screen.

Happy computer cleansing!   I used to have the same kinds of problems.  Once you know what to look for and run Spybot every couple of weeks you'll have no problem.  Just check your startup folder when you install new programs or download new applications.

Spyware and Virus files from porn websites

Spybot: Search and Destroy.  Works wonders!

One thing no one has mentioned is that you can avoid all his crap in the first place by not browsing the web as Administrator.

Just about everyone who buys a PC gets XP Home and the first time they fire it up it asks to set up the accounts.  So they set up the first account and then use that one exclusively.  Unfortunately that first account has Administrator privileges.  What that means is you have full and unrestricted permission to trash Windows to your heart's content.  And so does any malware you install, too.

Instead, create a second account with "User" privileges and use that one for your everyday ARFcoming.  If some sneaky bug does get through your anti-virus or you mistakenly clicked on that odd dialog box on that porn/warez/casino site, you'll get a nice friendly pop-up from Windows telling you that while it knows that you really, really, really want to destroy your system, XP is sorry that it won't let you because you don't have permission.

The only downside is you won't be able to install any programs or drivers using this account, so on those rare occasions you just log in with the administrator account and make any changes you want.  But how often does that happen?  And when it does it's a simple matter of going to the "Start" button, "Log Off <username>..." and "Switch User."  Then you just switch back for normal browsing.

This functionality is built into Windows XP (even the crappy "Home" edition) and all you have to do is use it.  And it would cure 99% of your spyware and malware problems before they even started.

Interesting idea.  Makes good sense though.  Patty

Dude, you have been owned. Reformat your hard drive, and reinstall your operating system.

Then get some preventative programs so it doesn't happen again.

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