For all of you who are having trouble with the speed of your PC may find that it is due to the amount of crap which is cluttering up your browser cache or temporay files.

CC Cleaner (Crap Cleaner ) is a handy little freeware program which frees up all of this free space and can restore browsing speed.

Download Crap Cleaner Here

If you have problems with spyware hijacking your internet browser and changing your favourite home page, then you have probably got spyware infecting your system. First Download and scan your system with Adaware

Next, download and install hijack This to view / edit / remove the programs which load when Windows Boots, and prevent any future spyware hijacks.

Running these three programs, along with Zonealarm and your favourite Virus Scanner should make your Browsing experience a little safer and faster.

Paranoid Xp users can also download XP Anti-Spy which allows any XP user concerned about his / her privacy to gain complete control over which areas and how much personal information XP divulges to Microsoft when it calls home to 'Update'.

*All of the Software linked to from this post can be downloaded legally and used for FREE.

IT could be you just have a slow Computer and you need to buy a newer faster one

Just downloaded and run the this - it's made a big difference - well worth doing...

If you know what your doing, then build your own !

With everything plug and play, its now even easier then ever...


.... however, for those of you who are scared to even press the power button, i would suggest you find someone who can build one for you...

*Ahem*

Going to PC World or dixons is NOT a good idea, because they can only sell you what is on the shelf... and because they have overheads, they also charge the earth!

Parts are cheaper on-line and going down all the time. The most expensive items to buy now are: processors, memory (depends on make and size), Graphics cards(depends on spec), but the majority is now relativly cheap and you can build a good base system with about £300...

Hope this is of some help to you guys.... and gals !

Thanks for the links Chris. Someone had recommended Ad-aware to me last year but due to it being mis-spelt I never found it. Anyway I have now and it found 496 critical files which have been quarantined/deleted!

This surprised me as I have anti virus software and firewall but I guess this is another area.

Now onto the HIjack software - I've run it and it's given me a list but what do I do with it since it says that some of the files on that list may be OK?

Thanks again

PaulS

Hi

Click here to find out how to build a cheap PC system.

Darren

Also of use for those of you having problems with your PC

PC Pitstop

A one stop FREE site which offers advice and tests for your pc to diagnose any PC Problems.

Sorry to 'hijack' this thread but i have a major prob with my pc that you guys may be able to help me with. ps: i use xp home edition.

I have this problem which i know what the cause is. Once online....

lsa shell has encountered a problem and needs to close

Followed by...

WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe has given code *blah*blah*blah*, windows is shutting down & the 60 second countdown begins. On re-boot in dos i get apti has failed (or something like that anyway).

Aha i have the sasser virus! But... my system needed a re-format anyway so i uninstalled & reinstalled windows back to preloaded settings, which should delete any viruses. I ran stinger and symantec's sasser removal tool, plus had a look for it manually and it has gone, no sign of it. But... the pc still gives the above I re-formatted again but to no avail.

I am at present borrowing my mothers pc which has second edition windows 98 on it. I actually don't mind it, and i have the full 98 2nd edition install cd, so my question is...

How do i wipe xp off the planet from my hard drive, so i can load 98 onto it?

try running fdisk with the 98 boot disc... thats what my technical advicer usually does.

or to get rid of sasser as we had this last week she says turn of system restore run removel tool, reboot system and run removal tool again, it should have gone, also we only had this prob when running firefox browser instead of IE....

Done the sasser removal and nothing is found. The pc still wants to crash, although with my firewall running it stops the crash but it means i cannot use the internet as i have to set the firewall to block internet access & the pc won't recognise the 'run' then 'shutdown _a' command either

fdisc? Ok i'm not brain of britain with pc's so how to do? I would rather wipe the hard drive of any windows in case the problem persists with 98. I know sasser doesn't work on 98 but i'd still rather start on a clean slate.

fdisk completely removes the operating system and any rubbish with it

u need a boot disk if u have 98 u should have a floppy called 98 boot disk

do u have one?

I have 98 install cd for pcs without windows on it.

fdisc...how to get to it? I'm not novice at pc's but i have never had to do this so you'll have to tell me what to do.

u need a floppy boot disc

get one of them put it in to ur pc
when the black screen come up with 3 options choose option 1
then type type a:/
then type fdisk

go to option3
option4
option1
option1
say Y to everything that comes up
follow any onscreen instructions that comes up

when it has done it will tell u to restart pc
restart and as it is restartign hold down f12 and choose "boot from cd-rom"
when it then comes up and say "boot from cd" at top of screen press anykey.


u may get a promt though
if u get an A:/ prompt type d:/
then type setup

windows should then install

Why are you going backwards to windows 98

the OS is not supported any more .....

you can still get viruses

and you will lose propper support for usb devices.........

if you put windows XP back on your pc and install service pack 2 and some anti virus software you should be ok

I don't have an xp install disc, but i do have a 98 install disc.

do you have the licence key for windows XP, should be on a sticker on the side or back of your computer?


if you do then i can send you a CD or you can get microsoft to send you one !!!!

Yep it does have the licence key sticker on it. If you can send me a cd that would be brill. While i've been away windows completely crashed and now refuses to boot up (came up with 'hard disk boot failure') so i wiped the hard drive of windows, so i'll need a complete install disc. Will i need a floppy boot disc? My pc didn't come with one (just the recovery disc).

I'm still using my mums W98 pc which runs fine but i am starting to miss some of xp's features.

If someone's sending you a win xp disk, make sure they send you the same type as is already installed on your PC.

If you purchased your PC with Windows already installed on it, then you probably have what is known as "OEM" softwrae. The serial number from this will not work with a bog standard "Retail" copy of windows.

Discuss this further with DJ Marky Marc before he sends you a copy of the disk.

Chris, Thanks for the links to CCleaner and XP-Antispy.

Great finds mate.

yes, but there is a difference between the 2 versions. If you've been sent a Retail copy, and you have an OEM serial, then it won't work.

thats the reason for asking if the sticker was on the pc.

OEM licence keys are stuck to the system. retail licence keys are in the packaging with the software....

the latest version of the OEM disc is on its way to him first class post....

stick the CD in and boot from the CD.

if it detects you have a version of windows installed already dont repiar it just continue to the point of partitioning the disc.

remove all the old partions untill the disc is blank

then select the disc and format it with NTFS (quick format)

then sit back and watch it all install...

I think those distributors who sell PC's are perhaps more likely to install the OEM version.

Not sure how software copyright works, but I guess the OEM version comes without the bells and whistles packaging and can be sold with the PC. Where-as the retail version comes boxed and has the manuals and colourful POS Packaging?.

True, but you could still install retail on a normal machine - I do it all the time as OEM may only be installed as part of a New system build, or as an upgrade (but only if the hardware is upgraded at the same time).

If a consumer wishes to upgrade their OS, but does not upgrade their system hardware at the same time, then a Retail version must be used.

The licence agreement is much more detailed than this, obviously, but this is basically it in a nutshell.

Pc came with xp home ed pre installed. When new i had to type in the licence key that's on the sticker on the back of the pc.


I'll tell you what happened to my pc to give a clearer picture.....

All my troubles started in december when my HD started making noises and finally decided not to boot up. So i had a brand new HD fitted and used ghost to transfer all the settings over.

All went well for 2 weeks then it started to freeze up when it was left on for more than 4 hours. It got to a point where it would only stay working for about an hour so i stuck the recovery disc in to re-format. After that, i kept getting the 'lsa shell encountered...' & lsass.exe crashes. After running every known virus removal tool in the book & not getting anywhere i decided to wipe the os off the planet and here i am using windows 98 on a pc older than my youngest son (whos nearly 6!) with a 7gb HD I want my 80gigs back

micro$oft windows XP Retail boxes dont have a sticker....... its a yellow label on the cd foldout.

Cd has just arrived through my mailbox. I'll be back in 5 minutes, i'll plug in the tower and let it rip!

speedy pm me if you need help and ill let you have my contact details

Err....it's spotted 500mb of a fat32 file system???? It's currently formatting back to ntfs.

i hope you removed that fat 32 partion not just reformated

Hey guys,

Just a note that may help remove the XP doo-hickey..... try the following commands AFTER doing the fdisk job:

at the A\: prompt type:

Fdisk /mbr

This REMOVES the master boot record and also clears the last vestiges of XP off of the drive allowing full 98 installation - Works EVERYTIME!

Hope this helps!

Chris - read more info on spyware etc here


www.spywarewarrior.com

I search there when I need to remove something and it finds what I am looking for to remove

anyway have a nice day

Quite a few posts back, DJ Marky Marc asked "why go back to Windows 98?" or something like that...

The way I see it, why 'upgrade' just because the people at Redmond say you should? They have an alterior motive for saying that!

XP is wide open to viruses and intrusions unless steps have been taken to disable Universal Plug & Play along with a few other so-called features the average user will never use. XP is also the fattest, most bloated offering ever devised by Microsoft. USB devices work fine on '98, you simply have to load the drivers as they often weren't available on the install disk back then.

What else?

Oh yes; Put '98 on modern hardware and ensure you have updated to the latest drivers for MB and so-on, and the computer will be (should be....) stable and simply fly.

For low-bloat systems such as a DJ might want, I would recommend '98 any day.

OK, I'm now prepared for the inevitable barrage of abuse!

For me, this is what I do (from a personal document I have recently created):

ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE:

Microsoft Office
MSN Messenger
Google Talk
ICQ
Skype
Adobe Acrobat Reader
JAVA
Windows Media Player (New + 6)
Quicktime + iTunes
RealPlayer
Winamp
Google Earth
Lavasoft Adaware SE Personal
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Microsoft AntiSpyware
xp-AntiSpy
Windows ? Powertoys
AVG Free
CCleaner
HijackThis
LSPFix

FROM www.grc.com:

Mousetrap
Shootthemessenger
Socketlock
Unpnp
Xpdite

OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL BUT USEFUL SOFTWARE:

TightVNC
No-IP DUC
NetTime
Buzzsaw CD Ripper
RegCleaner
SSC Service Utility
Gens
ENCO DADpro32 Demo
All Recorder
CCTools
Chips Challenge + LP2
FILconvert
REL Link Checker Lite
NEC Handset Manager
K-Lite Codec Pack
Flash Renamer
exPressIT
Loop Recorder
Lavalys EVEREST
REL Link Checker Lite
NCH Tone Generator
SyncBack
Wg backup
WebJockey
Power Tab Software
TPlayer

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATING/MAINTENANCE (IN ORDER):

Check Windows Firewall + Remove Unwanted Entries
Run Windows Update (Custom option)
Update Google Earth
Update Microsoft Office
Update + Run AVG Free
Update Adobe Acrobat Reader
Update JAVA
Update Quicktime + iTunes
Update RealPlayer
Update Winamp
Update Windows Media Player
Update Skype
Update ICQ
Update + Run Full System Scan Lavasoft Adaware SE Personal
Update + Run Spybot - Search & Destroy
Update + Run Microsoft AntiSpyware
Update + Run xp-AntiSpy
Check HijackThis
Check LSPFix
Check Mousetrap
Check Shootthemessenger
Check Socketlock
Check Unpnp
Check Xpdite
Manual Cleanup
Update + Run CCleaner
Run Disk Cleanup
Run RegCleaner
Check Disk For Errors
Run SyncBack or Wg backup
Defragment Disk
Set a System Restore Point
Run pcpitstop.com
Run A Bandwidth Tester (ie/ www.internetfrog.com)
Run http://housecall.trendmicro.com

An extensive list for you - don't always do it all

Generally I agree, like with most things, if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it (don't get me started about the analogue TV switch-off !!) Though having said that, for PC users wanting power use, I'd advocate Win2000 or XP for overall system stability.

One thing to bear in mind is that Micro$oft will discontinue support for Windows 98 & Windows ME as of 11 July 2006. Mind you, it's doubtful that becomes an issue for 98 users.

i used to use xp but just got annoyed with virus's. i run mac osx now and it is so much easyer and user friendly to use, also it has never crashed or any sign of a virus in my life!!!! i think Mac all the way... its going to be the future of computers..!!!

well i just downloaded it and its worked for me , nice one !

Its worthwhile reinstalling XP every few months just to get rid of rubbish according to many computer mags.
I have done this a couple of times and it made a big difference.

I just reinstalled Vista after 6 months and that was a nightmare.
Blue screens of death and a "operating system missing" message half way through !

Having a hard disc that is working well within its capacity is advised.
Having plenty of memory too. I use 2GB with Vista and it is much faster than 1GB

I can also recommend CC Cleaner.
I can't see the OP, (bad me!), so not sure what else is running. However, my general tips would be:

Very ideally, it should be a separate PC. Its much easier to control whats installed (in an ideal world, the DJ software and Windows.)
However, create a different log-in for the "DJ" user. 512MB should be ok for XP, but more is preferred. As previously mentioned 2GB+ is recommended for Vista.

Most slow PC's are only slow on boot-up.. Lots of drivers/icons/widgets to load. If you can't take them out, at least give it a few min to completely settle down before launching your DJ software. The HDD can only read one thing at a time, and seek times (ie Track-to-track) are fairly slow.
If boot-up is asking for one thing, and you're asking for another, it will take much longer.

To increase boot-up time, take all the OFF the desktop (ie just the icons you actually need!), and you should see a marked increase. A defrag may help, but only if you've been running out of space...
Fix the size of the pagefile to about 2.5 x your Ram (min and max), it will stop it resizing.

If you can also take off any stuff you don't use, or at least stop it from starting up. I'm thinking;
-MSN
-Yahoo
-Google Desktop
-Any other chat/tools that are not 100% required
-etc

This will also help a great deal, as I say -the HDD can only read one thing at a time, and these things take ram and some processing time (normally not much though)

Jason

One thing I think a lot of people neglect when cleaning their pc is the registry. On a windows pc the registry is sort of like an index page in a book. Every time you download/copy/rip a new track, install a new program, create a new document, in short anything that changes the contents of your hard drive then a new registry value is written. Unfortunately these values are not deleted when you delete/rename a track etc. Over time this leads to a massive registry that will slow your pc no end, especially when booting up as the full registry is read by windows on start-up.
I've seen CCleaner mentioned, it's good but not great at cleaning your registry. Personally I would recommend Tune Up Utilities 2009 which contains many different utilities for cleaning, maintaining and speeding up your system. Some of the utilities included that I use often -

Defragger - many people neglect to defrag their hard drives. Files get split into pieces and stored and scattered all over your drive. Over time this slows the responsiveness of your drive as it has to look at different platters and sectors of your drive to find the bits it needs to play the mp3 you're after. A good defrag will put all the pieces back together and condense your drive so it has blocks of data rather than a shower of data splattered everywhere.

Free up disk space - windows continuously makes backups, logs and unnecessary files that can be safely deleted. It will also check for unused windows applications that are taking up space you could be using such as MSN messenger etc and give you the choice of removing them.

Startup Manager - gives you full control of things that start when you boot up your pc that can really slow down startup. Things like Adobe updater, java scheduler etc. All stuff that slows your system that you can start yourself if you need to and don't need to run automatically and also probably didn't know was being run at all.

Speed Optimizer - will take a look and ask a few questions about how you use your pc. Gives you options such as turning off some visual effects (eg aero interface in vista) and free up memory and cpu speed. Especially useful if you are running an older machine that you needs a bit of a boost.

Registry Cleaner - especially thorough. I use my main desktop pc for all my downloading and copy stuff across to my laptop which I keep totally clean except for dj software and tracks. After a few months of downloading, renaming and deleting tracks you'd be amazed at how much junk is leftover in the registry. My last clean removed over 400 entries from stuff that was deleted weeks/months ago.

One-click maintenance - can be scheduled to run at set intervals (daily, weekly, monthly etc) and configured to perform any of the tasks above (and more) automatically so you don't even have to remember to have a clean up. Just don't schedule a defrag for 8.30pm on Saturday night when you're in the middle of a gig

This isn't some kind of sales pitch and you can find stand alone freeware utilities that will do many of these jobs but I find the package has everything in one place to keep my systems fast, clean and running smoothly.

Hello

Tune up 2009 is in fact a very good bit of software and can help alot , But there are more Variables to Maintaining a healhty PC,

My recommendation are have two HDD's in your PC
HDD 1 MASTER DRIVE
HDD 2 STORAGE

HDD 1 use a small HDD 80 GIG will DO
For the second HDD use Any Size you like, !!
HDD 1 will Be Soley for the operating system install Xp / VISTA or Windows 7 on it do all the updates,
And then install some Cleaning and Maintanance software

ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE THAT YOU DOWNLOAD YOU DO SO AT YOU OWN RISK I WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF YOU MISS USE IT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR SOFTWARE.

Keeping your PC Clean is Important Because if you do Get a Virus or Hacked you will never Know what they are hunting for so keeping it Clean is For your OWN safety.
Cleaners
Tune up 2009
Ashampoo WinOptimizer
Advanced Uninstaller
CCleaner

Taking Care of your Registry will Help Keep it Clean from clutter and keep things ticking a long nicely,
I would Recommend REGVAC it does a Very Good JOB, it Cleans things That even CCleaner does not touch Plus it Has a Registry Pack Function that works Better than Tune up 2009's version.

Defragmentation is an Essential Part of Maintanance for a hard drives file System it keeps things in Order and easier to Access Plus your Hard Drives reading and writing head will not have to move so much to Access the DATA.
If you look at the HDD PLATTER as a 12" vinyl it would be like trying to play a song on a Record with the Tracks (GROOVES) in Different Places on the 12" Platter so your Record players tone arm would have to move from the outside to the inside and Zipping (moving) all over the 12" record to find the next part of the song,
So if you look at a HDD as a 12" vinyl the tighter and more organized the Data, The Quicker the Access time will be.
Defraggers
O&O Defrag
Perfect Disk
Ultimate Defrag Highly Recommend

Backing up all the work you have just put in to the Optimization and software installation is Essential again Because if you Do suffer the Sting Of a Virus or Problems further down the line then you have a safety net to fall back on to, keeping a complete Operating System mirror image of the whole HDD and software on the Secondary Drive will save you Hours of REINSTALLING it all again,
HDD Back up Utilities
Paragon Back up
Norton Ghost
Clone Max
HDclone

Any Question Please PM ME

MACCA_DJ

Totally agree about running two hard drives. When I have my system set up with all my software installed I always ghost it.
For anyone who doesn't have two drives, I would create 2 partitions. One for the OS, one for storage.