Help Lincoln fix his computer...

[Lincoln]

It still works sorta because I am obviously still able to post here but I have let it get really screwed up over the years. It probably has a few viruses and things because I have never had an antivirus program or anything like that. I do the windows thing every so often (disk cleaning, defrag or whatever you call it). I plan on deleting all my unused files and programs before I start but I want to run some type of repair program to get the system back to normal. Here are the problems I am having now (I am using 98 btw):

1. The text size on IE is on the maximum setting and still the text is way to small. It used to work fine.

2. Often the computer will not shut down or it continually restarts until I get mad and turn it off.

3. There are other little irritating problems that I didn't have before that I want to fix.

Is there a program that I can download off the Internet that I can use to fix these things and return the system to normal?

[Pekka]

I guess you should consider formatting your HD and installing OS again and the programs etc..

[BeBMan]

Can´t say I´m the big computer expert - so I can only give general advice: use anti virus software (and update often) plus a firewall (Zonealarm will do it).

Also try tools like Search&Destroy or Ad-Aware for removing spyware etc. The last annoying thing I had was that something hijacked my browser, put on a stupid business start up page that wasn´t easy to remove and slowed browsing down as hell.

[Asher]

Re: Help Lincoln fix his computer...

Originally posted by Lincoln
1. The text size on IE is on the maximum setting and still the text is way to small. It used to work fine.

Shouldn't this be in your "senior's discount" thread?

2. Often the computer will not shut down or it continually restarts until I get mad and turn it off.

Windows 98...

[Lincoln]

Re: Re: Help Lincoln fix his computer...

Originally posted by Asher

Shouldn't this be in your "senior's discount" thread?

Maybe my eyes are just going bad? That's a good point...

[centrifuge]

Lincoln,

I have a couple of suggestions,

1st get some antivirus!!! You can download a free one called AVG, sorry I don't know the link but do a google search and you'll find it.

2nd download spybot search and destroy...

3rd Invest in Norton System Works, you can get an OEM version for about 20 bucks from newegg.com. It will help you keep your system clean and has a program called windoctor that will scan your system to find and fix problems like bad registry information, invalid shortcuts etc. Of course you won't need the AVG antivirus if you get this, because it comes with Norton antivirus.

I use Norton System works religiously, and would feel naked without it,

[Zopperoni]

I find Norton SystemWorks horrible, since it slows down my system.

As antivirus software, I use AntiVir. It's free, light on the system, and good.

The downside of it is that you need to update the virus definitions manually.

[Lincoln]

Thanks centrifuge, I have heard of that so I think I will try it. I have finally got to the point of being wiling to invest $20. so that is a good start I think.

[Lincoln]

Woops, Zopperoni doesn't like it. Does it run all the time even after I have fixed the problems?

[Asher]

I run Systemworks on all my systems and find it doesn't slow anything down.

Just avoid Cleansweep (useless) and that System Doctor thing with all the traffic lights and stuff (do they still have that?)

WinDoctor is great, Disk Doctor is more advanced than chkdsk, and SpeedDisk is better than defrag.exe (which is actually a very old version of SpeedDisk)

[centrifuge]

System works doesn't slow down my machine at all, (of course I just built one that moves like a rocket )

...Anyway, what are your specs, If they are pretty low, you might want to get an older version.

[centrifuge]

Oh and Asher,

Sysworks 2003, still has the traffic light thing, I've never used it. Maybe its useful for somebody, but I wouldn't know who...

[Lincoln]

I have the best you could get in a laptop about 3 years ago but I don't remember the specs off hand. .7 megs probably and 128 ram or something like that.

[centrifuge]

Your RAM might be a little low, but the processor is probably fine. Since you have Win98, I'd look for systemworks 2000 or 2001.

[Lincoln]

Okay, I'll check it out. Thanks alot!