PC help!!!

[ScottieBaseball]

I've run into a memory problem with my PC at home. It's running Windows XP. I've done some research, and I believe I'm a victim of an issue with MS Office where the install files, updates, security patches, etc. have all been mistakenly retained and are taking up a ton of space. I can't seem to clear things up, though. I used a utility called "Sequioa View", and about 80-90% of what popped up were .msp files.

Help?

[ScottieBaseball]

***BUMP***

C'mon...nothing? Nada? I need help!

[srock]

First thing to try is disk cleanup (Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools). On the options, select everything EXCEPT compress files. You do not want to compress files.

If that gets rid of the files, I suggest defraging your hard drive from Safe Mode (http://geodistance.blogspot.com/2006/12/defrag-windows-xp-in-safe-mode.html).

If Disk Cleanup doesn't cut it, you can manually delete the files, but I would try the utility first.

[scOtt]

First thing to try is disk cleanup (Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools). On the options, select everything EXCEPT compress files. You do not want to compress files.

If that gets rid of the files, I suggest defraging your hard drive from Safe Mode (http://geodistance.blogspot.com/2006/12/defrag-windows-xp-in-safe-mode.html).

If Disk Cleanup doesn't cut it, you can manually delete the files, but I would try the utility first.

Just a question... I have some lagging problems of my own. What exactly does the safe-mode defrag do? That a normal one doesn't?

[TGO]

Just a question... I have some lagging problems of my own. What exactly does the safe-mode defrag do? That a normal one doesn't?

I think it's just that fewer things are running in safe mode. Fewer processes equals faster and more effective defrag. But srock can correct me if I'm wrong! ;)

[ScottieBaseball]

First thing to try is disk cleanup (Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools). On the options, select everything EXCEPT compress files. You do not want to compress files.

If that gets rid of the files, I suggest defraging your hard drive from Safe Mode (http://geodistance.blogspot.com/2006/12/defrag-windows-xp-in-safe-mode.html).

If Disk Cleanup doesn't cut it, you can manually delete the files, but I would try the utility first.

I did the disk cleanup and the defrag from Safe Mode. However, it said I don't have enough free memory to defrag properly. I've already deleted PLENTY of large files, but there's never improvement in the free memory. It still hovers around 1% free.

I'm all for manually deleting the files, but I'm concerned that I'll delete something that I'll need in the future. Honestly I'm hoping to find reboot disk. I'd love to wipe the hard drive and simply re-install Windows, although I'm sure it'll be a pain to reconfigure my ISP router (Verizon Fios) and such.

Any other advice?

[PitchingWins]

I did the disk cleanup and the defrag from Safe Mode. However, it said I don't have enough free memory to defrag properly. I've already deleted PLENTY of large files, but there's never improvement in the free memory. It still hovers around 1% free.

I'm all for manually deleting the files, but I'm concerned that I'll delete something that I'll need in the future. Honestly I'm hoping to find reboot disk. I'd love to wipe the hard drive and simply re-install Windows, although I'm sure it'll be a pain to reconfigure my ISP router (Verizon Fios) and such.

Any other advice?


A few questions...

What size is your hard drive and how much free space do you have?

are you running Windows Xp (home) (pro) Service pack (1) or (2) or (3)?

[PitchingWins]

I wouldn't be to concerned about not having an XP disk. I think I could help you out with that....

Do you have an external you can back things up on? If so back everything up first.

If you want to delete them, you are going to have to make the folder they are in visible.

Its under View/options... I think.... I am currently on a mac and cannot think of the exact way of making system files viewable.

They should be in the windows\installer folder.


Open that folder, arrange by type and then select the .msp files, delete, and voila. I have read this causes no problems because the patches are already installed.

Turn off automatic updates.

Reboot. If everything works. Bingo. If not time to reformat, good thing you backed everything up right? Lemme know if you need a disc. As long as you have the Serial Number. Most of the time they are on the side of the computer on a genuine advantage sticker. And if you need a disk, let me know if you need pro or home.

[ScottieBaseball]

A few questions...

What size is your hard drive and how much free space do you have?

are you running Windows Xp (home) (pro) Service pack (1) or (2) or (3)?

It's a 120 GB hard drive with 437 MB free. That's after I ran the Microsoft Install Clean-Up utility.

I'm pretty sure it's Windows XP home. I don't know which service pack. I'm at my wits end with the PC. Any other advice? Would it be worth it to wipe the hard drive and re-install Windows? The only thing that I worry about is setting up Verizon Fios again...a Verizon tech did it when we had the service installed. But we have our phone, TV, and internet through them. I don't want to hit a snag and be without connectivity while I fumble through troubleshooting.

[RShack]

It's a 120 GB hard drive with 437 MB free. That's after I ran the Microsoft Install Clean-Up utility.

I'm pretty sure it's Windows XP home. I don't know which service pack. I'm at my wits end with the PC. Any other advice? Would it be worth it to wipe the hard drive and re-install Windows? The only thing that I worry about is setting up Verizon Fios again...a Verizon tech did it when we had the service installed. But we have our phone, TV, and internet through them. I don't want to hit a snag and be without connectivity while I fumble through troubleshooting.
So, the memory problem you're talking about is hard-disk space, right? Other than that, are things more-or-less OK? If so, then I think the main problem is that it's 2009 and you've got a measly 120GB HDD.

If it was me, I'd get a much bigger HDD. They've gotten dirt cheap. Then, you can get a free-trial of Acronis True Image, or something like it, to make the new one a clone of the old one, just with way more free space. That way, everything on the HDD will still work fine, you won't have to reinstall everything and then screw around with the zillion little annoyances of getting it all set up right again. Getting all those little details back like you want/need them would take 3 days and make you wanna blow your brains out, or yell at the missus, or kick the dog, or something else bad. So, IMO better to install new HW than have to reinstall all kinds of SW on a HDD that's too small for modern times anyway.

Then, once you have the bigger HDD, you can make sure all your software is current with appropriate updates, etc., and then see what's what. The 437MB part might sound big to you, but if you're at 437MB free on a 120GB HDD, that's like one-third of one percent free, which isn't enough to do anything, really. Even if you find a bunch of stuff that's not supposed to be there, I bet it's not enough to magically make your HDD be big enough for modern times.

I just looked on newegg. You can get a 500GB for $55 delivered, or a 1TB for $90 delivered.

Not saying you should do what I would do, I'm just passing along what I would do if it was me and if I was otherwise OK with the rest of it. Way better to have too much disk space than not enough, especially since it got so cheap, and especially since 120GB just isn't big enough anymore... unless you're gonna be a disk-space nazi and stay on top of it all the time. Even if you wanna do that, unless you're the only one using the machine, you can't really do it without keeping all the other users mad at you all the time for erasing their oh-so-important pictures, or music, or whatever. It's the multimedia stuff that does it. So, all in all, IMO getting a way bigger HDD seems like the shortest road to making things better.

[TGO]

So, the memory problem you're talking about is hard-disk space, right? Other than that, are things more-or-less OK? If so, then I think the main problem is that it's 2009 and you've got a measly 120GB HDD.

If it was me, I'd get a much bigger HDD. They've gotten dirt cheap. Then, you can get a free-trial of Acronis True Image, or something like it, to make the new one a clone of the old one, just with way more free space. That way, everything on the HDD will still work fine, you won't have to reinstall everything and then screw around with the zillion little annoyances of getting it all set up right again. Getting all those little details back like you want/need them would take 3 days and make you wanna blow your brains out, or yell at the missus, or kick the dog, or something else bad. So, IMO better to install new HW than have to reinstall all kinds of SW on a HDD that's too small for modern times anyway.

Then, once you have the bigger HDD, you can make sure all your software is current with appropriate updates, etc., and then see what's what. The 437MB part might sound big to you, but if you're at 437MB free on a 120GB HDD, that's like one-third of one percent free, which isn't enough to do anything, really. Even if you find a bunch of stuff that's not supposed to be there, I bet it's not enough to magically make your HDD be big enough for modern times.

I just looked on newegg. You can get a 500GB for $55 delivered, or a 1TB for $90 delivered.

Not saying you should do what I would do, I'm just passing along what I would do if it was me and if I was otherwise OK with the rest of it. Way better to have too much disk space than not enough, especially since it got so cheap, and especially since 120GB just isn't big enough anymore... unless you're gonna be a disk-space nazi and stay on top of it all the time. Even if you wanna do that, unless you're the only one using the machine, you can't really do it without keeping all the other users mad at you all the time for erasing their oh-so-important pictures, or music, or whatever. It's the multimedia stuff that does it. So, all in all, IMO getting a way bigger HDD seems like the shortest road to making things better.

While I agree that hard drives are getting pretty cheap and he could easily just replace his, I don't think space alone is the problem. I have four year old laptop with a 50 gig hard drive and I still have about 14 gigs left despite having thousands of photos and song files. Unless Scottie has a couple hundred video files in HD format and several dozen game files on his PC, I don't think his multimedia files are the real problem.

[RShack]

While I agree that hard drives are getting pretty cheap and he could easily just replace his, I don't think space alone is the problem. I have four year old laptop with a 50 gig hard drive and I still have about 14 gigs left despite having thousands of photos and song files...
Well, obviously, you're a freak.
;-)

Look, unless he kills several GB's of stuff, he can't even defrag the thing. I'm not saying he can't do some highly-disciplined and big-hassle thing to get by, I'm just saying why bother? I presume he's not the only one using the thing, and God-only-knows what all is on it. So, my point was that's it's probably way easier to just get himself a bunch of very cheap extra space, make it so it's readily usable, and then decide how much he wants to play Columbo about whatever zillion files he wants to nuke, that's all. Computers should be appliances that just work, like clock radio's or microwave ovens, not like old triple-carb Jag's you gotta mess with all the time just to make them run right. But, having said that, I'm not trying to spend Scottie's money for him, I was just saying what I would do first, that's all.

[itsernst]

Wiping and reloading is always a good thing to do every few years. You could always get a backup/imaging software (Acronis True Image, Backup Exec System Recovery Desktop Edition) and take an image of your HDD and restore it to a new HDD.

A better idea would be to copy all of your personal stuff (documents, pictures, etc.) and reload the O/S. Once that is done, just restore your documents to their original location. You would need an installation CD to reinstall though, as well as all of your software installations that are installed.

[srock]

It's a 120 GB hard drive with 437 MB free. That's after I ran the Microsoft Install Clean-Up utility.

I'm pretty sure it's Windows XP home. I don't know which service pack. I'm at my wits end with the PC. Any other advice? Would it be worth it to wipe the hard drive and re-install Windows? The only thing that I worry about is setting up Verizon Fios again...a Verizon tech did it when we had the service installed. But we have our phone, TV, and internet through them. I don't want to hit a snag and be without connectivity while I fumble through troubleshooting.

I was at my wits end with my computers last week. I solved the problem by dropping 2 grand on a MacBook Pro. Not a cost effective solution, but it did work! :D

I don't know why Fios would have anything to do with your computer OS, it should work fine without any computers at all.

My advice is to backup your data (external USB drive is the easiest), wipe the hard drive, then reinstall XP. Consider taking the opportunity to upgrade. Buy a larger HD and upgrade to Win 7 if your machine can handle it. If it can't, it might be time to just buy a new computer.

For future data protection, off site network backup is the best thing available. I use Carbonite with no complaints.

[paulcoates]

So, the memory problem you're talking about is hard-disk space, right? Other than that, are things more-or-less OK? If so, then I think the main problem is that it's 2009 and you've got a measly 120GB HDD.

If it was me, I'd get a much bigger HDD. They've gotten dirt cheap. Then, you can get a free-trial of Acronis True Image, or something like it, to make the new one a clone of the old one, just with way more free space. That way, everything on the HDD will still work fine, you won't have to reinstall everything and then screw around with the zillion little annoyances of getting it all set up right again. Getting all those little details back like you want/need them would take 3 days and make you wanna blow your brains out, or yell at the missus, or kick the dog, or something else bad. So, IMO better to install new HW than have to reinstall all kinds of SW on a HDD that's too small for modern times anyway.

Then, once you have the bigger HDD, you can make sure all your software is current with appropriate updates, etc., and then see what's what. The 437MB part might sound big to you, but if you're at 437MB free on a 120GB HDD, that's like one-third of one percent free, which isn't enough to do anything, really. Even if you find a bunch of stuff that's not supposed to be there, I bet it's not enough to magically make your HDD be big enough for modern times.

I just looked on newegg. You can get a 500GB for $55 delivered, or a 1TB for $90 delivered.

Not saying you should do what I would do, I'm just passing along what I would do if it was me and if I was otherwise OK with the rest of it. Way better to have too much disk space than not enough, especially since it got so cheap, and especially since 120GB just isn't big enough anymore... unless you're gonna be a disk-space nazi and stay on top of it all the time. Even if you wanna do that, unless you're the only one using the machine, you can't really do it without keeping all the other users mad at you all the time for erasing their oh-so-important pictures, or music, or whatever. It's the multimedia stuff that does it. So, all in all, IMO getting a way bigger HDD seems like the shortest road to making things better.

The question is, what are you storing on your hard drive? Even with Vista operating system, you should be ok.

[ScottieBaseball]

The question is, what are you storing on your hard drive? Even with Vista operating system, you should be ok.

Nothing...I've got maybe 70 MP3 files on there, a small number of Word docs, but nothing significant. Almost all of it appears to be consumed by these installer files. I can't even locate the installer files now.

I might take Shack's advice, though, and replace the hard drive. Pitching Wins...if you could help me out with the XP disk, there might be a modest O's merchandise reward in it for you! :D

PM me if you can still help.

[paulcoates]

Nothing...I've got maybe 70 MP3 files on there, a small number of Word docs, but nothing significant. Almost all of it appears to be consumed by these installer files. I can't even locate the installer files now.

I might take Shack's advice, though, and replace the hard drive. Pitching Wins...if you could help me out with the XP disk, there might be a modest O's merchandise reward in it for you! :D

PM me if you can still help.

The directory where Windows Update installs all of its files is:

c:\windows\softwaredistribution

How big is that folder for you?

[paulcoates]

also if you think your problem is related to the Update, Windows has a free number you can call for help.

1-866-PCSAFETY

[RShack]

Nothing...I've got maybe 70 MP3 files on there, a small number of Word docs, but nothing significant. Almost all of it appears to be consumed by these installer files. I can't even locate the installer files now.

I might take Shack's advice, though, and replace the hard drive. Pitching Wins...if you could help me out with the XP disk, there might be a modest O's merchandise reward in it for you! :D
If you really have that little on it, then you might wanna first try the advice provided in the post below.
I just assumed the whole family used the thing and God-knows-what was on it.

If you do opt for a new HDD, if you clone the old one to the new one, you won't need to reinstall anything, it will be an exact copy of the original, just with a lot more space on it, and everything will work right away.


The directory where Windows Update installs all of its files is:

c:\windows\softwaredistribution

How big is that folder for you?

[PitchingWins]

If all you really have is those 70 mp3s and some word documents....

You can back them up on a thumb-drive, which can be had for like 20 bucks...

Then go back to my earlier post and delete the folder I mentioned, if that doesn't free up the space (which it should) or the Comp crashes, you will need to reformat and reinstall (well not need to, but it will be the easiest way). FYI if all you have are those files and are not a video/mp3 type of guy, 120gb will last you a very long time.

[ScottieBaseball]

If all you really have is those 70 mp3s and some word documents....

You can back them up on a thumb-drive, which can be had for like 20 bucks...

Then go back to my earlier post and delete the folder I mentioned, if that doesn't free up the space (which it should) or the Comp crashes, you will need to reformat and reinstall (well not need to, but it will be the easiest way). FYI if all you have are those files and are not a video/mp3 type of guy, 120gb will last you a very long time.

So I did a reformat and reinstall. I'm down to the bare minimum on this PC...no files saved to it at all. It ran GREAT for awhile, but it's dragging again.

Any ideas?

[The Wedge]

Maybe the hardware is starting to show signs of age?

[ScottieBaseball]

Maybe the hardware is starting to show signs of age?

Maybe YOU are showing signs of age! :D

[PitchingWins]

Maybe YOU are showing signs of age! :D

More likely it is a virus/trojan of some kind. Do you have Malware Bytes? It is free, and Amazing

www.malwarebytes.org

[blid]

If the problem is still the same, filling up a lot of disk space is an unusual symptom for a virus. But if space still is an issue, CCleaner is a free file that will clean up your hard drive and free your memory.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

If it's just dragging in general, I'd say it's probably a virus though and I'd echo the guy who suggested MBAM (MalwareBytes Anti Malware)...
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button

Then I'd check out your antivirus program... if you formatted you might not have reinstalled anything (and generally the built-in ones kind of suck anyway). The three aces are all great, free antivirus programs: AVG, Avast, and Avir. Avir gets the best reviews, but I've used AVG and it's worked great too.

Finally, if you want to make sure you avoid getting this sort of thing, be careful browsing the net. Not many people use Google Chrome, so there's less designed to nail you when you browse on there. If you like using IE, you can download a new Hosts file that will block a lot of parasites that can hit you through unwanted ads.
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip

[clapdiddy]

I've got a big problem for any geeks out there.

Somehow, I've got some spyware loaded on my computer. I keep getting these "Windows security alert" errors and it keep phishing for my credit card numbers. The bad part is that it keeps pushing inappropriate websites to my IE and opening them.

I'm using CyberDefender to run virus scan and other utilities, but when I go to open any programs, I get an error saying that it has a virus, when I know it really doesn't. I called their tech support, but they want an exorbitant amount of money to fix it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can get this garbage off my system?

[Mark Carver]

I've got a big problem for any geeks out there.

Somehow, I've got some spyware loaded on my computer. I keep getting these "Windows security alert" errors and it keep phishing for my credit card numbers. The bad part is that it keeps pushing inappropriate websites to my IE and opening them.

I'm using CyberDefender to run virus scan and other utilities, but when I go to open any programs, I get an error saying that it has a virus, when I know it really doesn't. I called their tech support, but they want an exorbitant amount of money to fix it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can get this garbage off my system?

I would download Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php) to your computer or from another computer if you can't download it. If you download it another computer, put the file on a usb drive. Boot your computer up in Safe mode and try to install the file from your computer or the usb drive. Than run it.

[clapdiddy]

I would download Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php) to your computer or from another computer if you can't download it. If you download it another computer, put the file on a usb drive. Boot your computer up in Safe mode and try to install the file from your computer or the usb drive. Than run it.
Mark,

Downloaded the free version and it worked like a charm. Thank you so much...rep given!