PC tools Versus Microsoft Media Player 11

Hi Everyone!
I'm new to these posts and threads, but not to Majorgeeks. I've been coming here to download programs like PC Tools etc. thanks for reading my post.
I'm having a problem with freezes and crashes. I've had to reinstalled my system because it stopped loading windows. I'm on a Hp Laptop and running XP Pro. Windows media player 11 and Pc Tools Anti-virus. I've got everything running again. But seem to have the same issue between PC tools and Media player. When I play or rip a CD it will freeze or crash and reboot. Microsoft wants me to send a report. I do. then it reports that it is caused by spyware doctor, created by PC tools. I don't have spyware doctor. I installed Belarc advisor (Advised by PC tools to do so) it concurs that I do not have spyware doctor. PC Tools also advised to Uninstall and reinstall and gave web address to install from. Did that too. Then it froze during loggin off. Is there a compatiblity issue between the two? should I go to a different Anti-virus program? Or is there another issue I'm not aware of? I would really appreicate your help. I've already paid for bad help. left with same issue. so I'm counting on someone here. Thanks

 

I don't understand what you have done here.

What exactly do you mean by 'reinstalled my system' ?

When you reinstalled did you have any problems with media player before installing a PC Tools product, with or without Spyware Doctor?

What do you mean by paid help? What did they do?

 

Sorry to be so confusing. On my laptop, the Cd will freeze or crash & reboot. Microsoft says that my system has recovered from a fatal error, I send the report in and Microsoft says it was caused by spyware doctor, created PC Tools. This problem was going on before I had to reinstall windows XP from my backup installation Discs. One day I start up my computer and it won't load windows at all. It's in Dos, stating that it has been shut down wrong, giving suggestions like, pick last known good configuation, so on and so on. Nothing worked. I paid a guy to come out to fix my computerS. My desktop had a virus, and other issues. My laptop, which is what I'm trying to get fixed now, wouldn't start windows. What he done was mainly with the desktop. To make a long story short, I was left with the same problem on the desktop and to reinstall windows on that, and also on his suggestion reinstalled it on my Laptop as well. I now have everything running on both. The problem with the laptop crashing still exists though. I'm reluctant to pay him 125. to come back out after I had to reinstall everything myself and basicly all he did was to run some virus programs and told me my desktop was free of viruses (Virtumonde.dl) and it was still there after he left. Hope I've explained better. Tks Studiot for your response and help and yes to your question, I had this same problem before the laptop refused to load windows. I had PC Tools then, I've never had spyware doctor. I do have, spybot search & destory, spyblaster, and adware 2008.

 

You still haven't answered my questions.

What do you mean by reinstall?

If you have done a clean install properly any software problems you may have had will be gone.

If you still have problems then they are hardware based.

But describe the reinstall please?

 

Well studiot, I mean I had to put in my system recovery discs in and I reinstalled everything. Windows XP on up. I'm not sure how else to state that. I hope I did it properly. I don't have any virus's. So yes a Clean install. And if it's hardware based, why does microsoft keep saying it's caused by spyware doctor, something I don't even have? Is it possible that PC Tools is the problem? Today someone suggested that I reinstall my drivers for the CD rom. But wouldn't that have occurred during the re-instalation of Windows? Thanks so much again for all this help.

Tim I was talking about the desktop when I said the virus Virtumonde was still there. the problem I'm trying to solve now is with my Laptop. I've been dealing with both at the same time. Studiot wanted to know what the guy I paid had done. I only mentioned it because I'm not comfortable now calling someone to come and help me clear up this problem with my laptop after paying someone for virtually nothing to help me with the desktop. That's why I came to you guys. I trust this site and you guys and all though I'm far from an expert I feel I can follow your instruction.

 

HP has more than one type of 'reinstall ' for XP.

You can do a repair install, which fixes Windows faults, but leaves your data, programs and viruses intact.

You can reinstall windows over the top of the existing which is similar

You can reset your pc to factory conditions by deleting the existing partition and starting again. This is a clean install. You will loose all your data, programs and viruses.

If you did a clean install did you then reinstall PC tools or one of their products?

Windows will have all the drivers you need for the CD ROM, the mechanism may be damaged or worn out, laptop drives are delicate.

 

tks studiot, yes I had to reinstall PC Tools, spyware blaster, spybot search and destory, set up my wireless network again, install the all in one printer and so on. It's when I was in the process of installing my music again in media player that this happens. Mostly when ripping. The issue for me is that I bought this laptop in 2006 and almost immediately it began giving me issues. Circuit City, who I bought this from and also an extended warranty, replaced the hard drive about 8 months I think after I bought it. I also, at that time told them about the CD rom. Which they did nothing about. Even though I told them at that time it didn't happen everytime. All they did was insert a disc and say "well it seems fine". Then as I explained earlier, one day it refused to load windows at all. It has set for some time, because I've been to heart broken to deal with it. When the desktop began giving me trouble, it forced me to do something. That's when I called this other guy over. and You know the rest of the story. What should it cost to replace the CD Rom? Is This something my husband could do?

 

OK I'm trying to separate different issues here as there seem to be several mixed up.

Why have you loaded all these antispyware and tweaking tools?

What program do you use to burn CD's - Windows or a third paty like Nero?

What is the capacity of your hard drive and how full is it?

Exactly what happens when the CD goes wrong?
What error messages are displayed?

 

tks studiot, Those are the tweaking tools I've always used. When I had to re-install windows I lost those as well. I downloaded them for tweaking purposes and not because I thought I had a virus.
I use Windows media player 11 to burn, play or rip. The hard drive question I'm not sure I'm going to answer this correctly, Here's what I know, it's partitioned, I have C, D, & E Drives. The E is my Disc player. I'm just going to type what it says on the sticker on the front. AMD Turion 64 Mobile Processor ML-37 with Powernow Tech.(2.0GHz, 1MB L2 cache, Up to 1600MHz system bus) Surpass: 2048MB system memory, 120GB hard drive, and Lightscribe 8X DVD+RW and CD-RW combo drive with Double Layer Support. I hope that's what you need. If not you'll have to tell me where to find it for you.
As far as capacity, Easy Cleaner says I have 73 % free space.
And as far as error message, When I put a disc in, sometimes the screen will freeze, I can't shut it down right, I just have to turn it off, or it will crash and when it crashes I get a blink look at the blue dos screen before it begins to reload, I've seen the words: error and virus detected. It's a real brief look. When it reloads, microsoft says your system has recovered from a fatal error, please send report. I send a report, then it opens up a IE page from microsoft stating this error was caused by spyware doctor, created by PC Tools. That's pretty much it. If there's an error number I didn't see one. thanks for your patience and help studiot

 

studiot, If you don't think me intrusive would you mind telling me what anti-virus and firewall you are useing?

 

That's a very simple question, which doesn't have a very simple answer, as my pc is not stand alone but part of a network which is set up for commercial purposes.

Since you are new here it is worth restating the principles of good personal security.

First and foremost
Do not use administrator accounts for normal use. In particular do not surf the net as an administrator.
Over 75% of viruses and malware can only infect and administrator account.

Set your Email client to text only for normal use. You can turn on embellishments when you are sure the email is safe.

If you have broadband set your browser cache to minimum.

If you use Internet finance set your browser to
‘Do not save encrypted pages to Disk’

Establish a web based email account and give this address to all and sundry.
View it online and forward any wanted mail to your real one.

Use a router with a built-in firewall. I do not recommend (or use) software firewalls.

Use a router with an ethernet connection. Your actual pc cannot then be seen from the internet.

Be circumspect as to what (usb) memory sticks you allow to be connected to your pc and as to what pcs you connect your memory sticks to.

I currently recommend Avast antivirus for personal use.

I do not recommend spyware guards or shields as they are too intrusive on most systems and not very effective. Viruses are in general designed to disable your pc, malware on the other hand is not so can be swept out regularly.

I have found Xoftspy, to be the most effective, and the least likely to damage the pc installation. This is not free but a stand alone installation is only a few dollars.

Some clients seem particularly prone to rootkit infection and I have found Partizan, which runs before Windows , to be very effective at suppressing them.

Most educational establishments seem to like Sophos so I fix a lot of students up with this and the College can maintain it.

 

Now that is alot of useful info studiot. thanks for all that, these are things I need to know. I think I learned more in one post from you than I have in my entire computer faze.
I will set up account for surfing, change those settings and I do use a router with ethernet connection, (Linksy) but I don't know if it's firewalled. Do they all come that way? Did You see my previous post? Did I answer your questions? Thanks again for all your help and WISDOM.

 

No don't set up a new account for surfing.

Set up a new account as administrator.

Then log on as the new administrator and demote your existing account to limited user.

That way you will preserve all your settings and data.

When you do this account passwords only protect you from someone in the same building. They have no effect on internet security so you don't have to use one.

 

well thanks again. I'll do that instead.
Did my previous post help you to decide what is going on with this freezing or crashing situtation?

 

Engineering is about balancing conflicting requirements and achieving a workable compromise.

Any fool can change this balance in one particular direction, usually at the expense of reliability. Young lads tuning motor cycles are a classic example. They are also however prey to those who sell illusiuons or 'go faster stripes'.

Higher performance is almost invariably achieved at the cost of higher maintenance.

Software engineering is no different.

So when Microsoft have done this and provided tools it pays to learn these and use them first. Then only go to third party solutions for specialist needs.

For instance why ask 'Easy Care' how full your hard drive is?

In My computer or Windows Explorer
Right click on a drive
Choose properties to see the pie diagram.

Try this to attack your problem.

Hold the windows key down and hit R
type into the run box
msconfig
select the startup tab
click on disable all
click apply yes to restart now

Do your pc run any better like this?

If so, start selectively renabling the items in the startup list until you find the culprit.

You can't hurt Windows by doing this.

If you need more help post again.

 

This is the place to compare firewalls

http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/

and here to compare antimalware

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm