Speed up Windows XP

Have no idea now how to do this. Maybe the mekanic will sen dme RAM stick, don't know yet. If not I can install this version - not going to use laptop forever.

Thank for help, sorry need to go now. Are you here later?

 

I don't know when you're going to be available so, I'm going to go ahead and post this.

You're thinking of going with Windows Vista Home Basic because your current configuration on your XP machine meets the minimum requirements to run it. I don't know if you already have the Windows installation DVD. If you do, does it have the COA/Product Key sticker with it? If it doesn't, the product won't activate and you'll only have 30 days to "try it out".

If the version you have doesn't have Service Pack 1 or 2, you'll need to download and install Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2. The reason for this is because unless you're running Service Pack 2 now you won't be able to get Security Updates for Windows Vista. Support for Service Pack 1 ended in July of 2010.

Once you've got your Vista installation, post back and I'll guide you through wiping the drive to get it ready for the Vista installation.

My Dell Precision M70 came with XP Pro installed and the COA/Product Key sticker on the bottom. Because support for XP is ending, I experimented with the different versions of Windows (Vista through 8.1) and several Linux distributions. I chose Vista Ultimate and purchased a DVD with Service Pack 2 and a COA/Product Key from ebay. I still have the XP installation on another hard drive but, I don't think I'm going back to it.

 

Hi mdonah,
thank you for assistance
I have installed Service Pack 3 on laptop.

Right now I am scanning my HDD with HDTune and it tells me that I have these problems:

Benchmark:

C4 Reallocated Event Count - Current 100 Worst 100 Threshold 0 Data 179 Status warning
Number of sector replacement operations 179

C5 Current pending sector - Current 100 Worst 100 Threshold 0 Data 3 Status warning

What can I do about it? Is there any way to correct this?

And another scan:

Error scan:

Error at 24621 MB (LBA 50424266)
Error at 26544 MB (LBA 54364078)
Error at 48835 MB (LBA 100016062)

And about this one?

 

Unfortunately, the number and types of errors being reported mean that the hard drive on your XP machine is failing and needs to be replaced. It's not difficult to do but the question is if you want to spend the money on a replacement hard drive. They can be gotten for around $0.20 to $0.25 per Gigabyte on ebay. The hard drive failure would have been one of the biggest reasons for the slow down.

 

How long it will survive?

 

Hi,
I got back my other laptop, glad for that.
Is there any way how can I reset whole OS ? Or any cleaning?
OS - Vista.

Thank you

 

get windows 7 or 8 big speed up.

 

You're good to go with Vista until April 11, 2017. If you uprade to 7, you may have a problem with getting device drivers compatible with Windows 7.

Which computer are you talking about cleaning? If you want to get rid of junk and temporary files and the like, what many of us use is CCleaner.

 

Actually I used W7 compatibility mode to install the XP drivers on my old HP dv4150.

Runs far better than XP ever did...

 

Hi,
could somebody help me to remove skype completely form PC?
I uninstalled it already and removed Skype folder and pictures from program files.

Is it necessary also form registry? Afraid a bit to remove files form registry.

Thank you

 

Are you using Revo?

I have used Comodo Programs Manager to remove programs because it monitors installations of programs, so that registry items can be removed. The thing is it creates a pop up during the removal process when a registry item is shared. These seem to be .dll files mostly that I have noticed. I always leave the shared ones, because I have seen cases where another program will break when one is removed.

Don't know if any of the uninstallers other than CPM issue this warning when a registry entry is shared, but removing a shared registry item (.dlls too) can cause problems...

 

I will try thank you ....

 

Jassmin...

If you try CPM, install CPM and then reinstall Skype. At that point it should be monitored.

To be sure the installation is monitored (it should record it anyway), right click on the Skype installer and select Install and monitor setup using CPM. Hope it works for you.

Next time you install an operating system, if you install CPM right after the OS, you can monitor all your program installations...

 

Great, I will.

Could you give me advice regardinf antivirus programs?

How many can I run? I use Avast. But installed also McAfee security scan plus.

What should work best with Avast?

TY.

 

Jassmin...

Sorry, this is a little bit long...

Two A-Vs is supposedly a really bad idea, because the scanners tend to conflict with each other. Most techs would advise removing one. Not exactly sure the McAfee program is an A-V. Its scanner could slow the PC, though. It scans open programs and your avast is scanning too at times. Each of the ones you mention have a removal tool you can find by Googling "[A-V product] removal tool".

If you do remove one (or if not), you can install a firewall that will give you protection from outbound threats. Looking over the results of a recent test, the only one that is free that does this is Zone Alarm free. You can try this test...it's pass or fail...to see if your PC is succeptable to having data sent outbound. The native firewalls of Vista and Windows 7 fail this test:

https://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm

There is some information below the link at the top. Read that and the following page for more knowledge of a secure firewall. All this is basically public service and not anything to do with a product.

It's hard to keep malware off PCs, so the thinking with this test is stop the malware from purposely sending information out to a hacker (or by accident).

There are some other interesting programs that block keylogging, but they aren't in any of the free firewalls I don't think. There are some that also block unathorized screen capture and clipboard capture, but I don't think those are free...or at least that I have seen.

If you install a firewall, and it's your first time to use one, I think of things this way. You will get prompts and be asked to make decisions on what to allow. This is mostly about granting a program access to the internet. Programs have a feature to check for updates and there are other features programs use for the net. Anyway, if you reject the prompt (block the process), you will be denying the process listed on the prompt access to the internet usually. Sometimes, a firewall pop up will tell you that a process wants to change a setting in Windows. This is a similar decision. It depends on how safe you feel like you are letting the program do so. For most programs it's OK I would say...

You can read up on operating a firewall in the user's guide if you choose one...

 

@AtlBo,

I downloaded and ran LeakTest and as expected, Windows Firewall failed the test.

So, on your recommendation, I downloaded and installed ZoneAlarm Free. This meant I had to uninstall MSE because it conflicts with ZA anti-virus. I'm OK with that.

But, I ran LeakTest again after ZA was installed and ZA failed the test as well. I reset LeakTest in the ZA secured programs list to Deny and LeakTest was blocked. When I set ZA to ask, the firewall was penetrated again.

Thought you should be informed of this.

 

OK, I uninstalled McAfee.

Result of Leak Test:

Firewall penetrated !

And I have only Windows firewall on my PC.

Should I install your recomended one?

Really appreciate your help

 

P.S. Reading post of mdonah ... ZA failed the test ??

 

OK thanks mdonah...

I don't know mdonah. I was going purely by Steve Gibson's word on the tests results. I have PrivateFirewall, and I was just about to make the change to ZA based on the test results.

I guess you understand how it works. The test process changes itself to the name of something that has been approved for net access to see if the firewall will catch the trick. Supposedly ZA passes this test, but I guess not. I have some serious questions about this. What do you think mdonah? Any impressions on this? I can't see the light on whether a dormant malware that installed itself as an approved process would be caught by ZA, even though Gibson says so. His own test says not.

I really appreciate the information. This is a pretty darn scary scenario, because this isn't even all that stringent of a test it appears to me. I don't mind paying for a firewall, but do any of them protect from net intrusion and data theft? Really got my doubts now.

Here is how Gibson rated the firewalls:

https://www.grc.com/lt/scoreboard.htm

The info is obviously very old, but how could a firewall go backwards with this test?

Jassmin...

Looks like I need to do some more research on this topic. Let me get back to you. Adding ZA would be a plus, but it's an ordeal to add a firewall and deal with all the pop ups and so on only to find out it's inadequate. I will get back to you I promise.

I was falling in love with PrivateFirewall until the test...:-o

 

This is interesting, but I will see if I can really get to the bottom of the situation:

https://www.zonealarm.com/forums/sh...l-Antivirus-and-the-Gibson-Research-Leak-Test

Here is a little bit more:

https://www.zonealarm.com/forums/showthread.php/78750-Gibson-quot-Leak-Test-quot-Failure

Hmmm. I wouldn't mind setting the applications firewall setting to high. Wonder why it's not set that way by default.

 

Some more information on firewalls in the picture below. This is from this site:

http://www.matousec.com/projects/pr...pl78=on&from_m=3&from_y=2013&to_m=3&to_y=2014

These aren't the high ones. I think the avast one is their firewall not the a-v, but I'm not sure.

I could only compare 10 at a time. There were some other good ones, but most of the other ratings were abysmal. McAfee and Norton were horrible.

By the way Spy Shelter free is a great looking anti-keylogger, anti-screen capture, anti-webcam hijack, and clipboard protector. Here is more. The firewall is fairly highly rated, but it's not free. I like the way these features are bundled together personally in the firewall.

I'm going to try this with PrivateFirewall, and I will let you guys know the results. Don't think it will pass Steve Gibson's test, but anti-keylogging and screen capture means hackers get jibberish instead of personal data. That's the primary goal anyway I think...

 

OK,
so should we wait for result?

 

Jassmin...

The Spy Shelter is pretty good, but there are other anti-keyloggers out there that encrypt the keystrokes. Spy Shelter pay does this, but not the free. I'll get back to you later today.

I installed PrivateFirewall as a result of seeing the rating from this test back about 3 months ago. I really like that it moved up the charts fast, because it indicated to me that development on the program is moving forward. It's simple, well-designed, and seems to be well written. The developer of this kind of well designed program knows his program, and that's a plus. It rates better than ZoneAlarm by a fairly large margin, which I was going to recommend.

If ZoneAlarm is your choice, maybe you could install Zone Alarm from here:

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/e...B001:A002:Exact:U05:T003&term=zone alarm free

The one on the left is I think the standalone firewall mentioned in the threads on the Zone Alarm forum. That would apparently be the one that passes Gibson's test. So if Zone Alarm is the way you would like to go, you could go ahead an install the firewall only, see if it passes Gibson's test, and then decide if you would rather look around some more.

I haven't dug around much on anti-keylogging, anti-clipboard theft, anti-screen capture, etc. Working with Spy Shelter free, not sure I would recommend it when there are anti-keyloggers that encrypt. Need to see if I can find one program with all the features...

 

Your thumbnail shows CIS as the highest rated and has steadily improved as well. I ran CIS on my XP drive and may go back to it on my Vista drive. Unfortunately, it's going to mean I've got to start over from scratch! rolleyes

 

Hi guys,
I don't know which one ... recommendations?

 

mdonah...
What about Comodo Firewall? I read it passes the Gibson Test. Wouldn't have to remove A-V for this, correct? I have run Comodo Firewall and avast before. Comodo crashed, but it wasn't avast...something to do with indexing started the problem. I don't think I could duplicate the situation to be honest. Even though I got frustrated and dumped CF, I wouldn't hesitate to give it another chance if I wasn't confident enough in PF for the time being.

Jassmin...

I really want to say FrivateFirewall, but it doesn't pass the Gibson Leak Test. I mean this means I too am looking for a firewall honestly. mdonah is on the money about Comodo Internet Security, but it requires 152 MB of space according to the download page for the program. Comodo Firewall requires 201.6MB. With Comodo Firewall, it's possible to keep an anti-virus. Not sure with CIS, but it does have an A-V element, and I have seen claims from some of the experienced posters on the Comodo forum that it is not good to match CIS with a A-V. mdonah mentioned he would have to remove his A-V to install Zone Alarm Free. I think this is a similar situation. PF only uses 8 MB of space on my PC, and it scores almost as well as CIS on the Matousec tests. This is the thing with me. However, it also runs nicely with avast.

I use avast like you, and it scores fairly highly in the anti-virus category. The avast firewall (separate product from the avast A-V) is obviously not very good based on the Matousec ratings. With avast A-V and a good firewall, you should be safe, though. So I guess the choice would be yours. Would you rather go with a rising, improving program that is well-designed in PF and hope the development continues or go with Comodo Firewall here:

http://download.cnet.com/Comodo-Firewall/3000-10435_4-75181464.html#editorsreview

which comes from Comodo and its very experienced firewall developers...despite its size?

I guess short term I am going to stick with PrivateFirewall. I can manually set the program to block access for each program to keyboard monitoring, clipboard monitoring, and unauthorized screen capture. I will also be keeping Spy Shelter, which I installed last night. Not sure how long I will keep it, but for now will keep it.

In your situation, I would give the Comodo Firewall a look. You could go with Zone Alarm Free (the Firewall only version), which supposedly passes the Gibson test. It doesn't score very high on Matousec, so I think I would go with Comodo Firewall. Then too you could go with Comodo Internet Security and try running it with avast. If you don't have problems, keep CIS. It's the best performer in the Matousec testing.

Anyway, wish the choices were clear. I just started working with firewalls seriously last year when I installed Comodo Firewall. I liked everything but the size of the program, and then it crashed.

Let us know what you think or are leaning toward or decide...

By the way. Just to notify you ahead of time. Running a system with a firewall means making lots of decisions...sometimes with not much information. Google can be a friend here, and there is much to be said for going through the learning process with a firewall. I know Comodo has a good support forum out there if you go that way...

 

I ran the full CIS on my XP drive. It includes Ice Dragon, a Firefox like/based browser that can be run "Sandboxed". Space considerations aren't a concern for me and I still ran MSE without conflict with Comodo's AV. The thing is, I don't remember why I didn't re-install it when I wiped my XP drive and re-installed the OS and other programs I ALWAYS use like 7-Zip, Unlocker, LightShot, etc, etc, etc.

 

Thanks for the information mdonah. Maybe there is hope. I'd be interested to see if your PC passes the Gibson test with CIS there. If you run the test, please post the results if you get a chance.

Jassmin...maybe CIS is worth a look for you instead of Comodo Firewall. CF is not the same priority it used to be with Comodo I don't think. Seems like they keep it up for the IT gurus who have always used CF. If you decide to try CIS, hope you have the same experience as mdonah had with MSE. That would be good news...

 

Thank you for advices.
If you are satisfied with Private Firewall, I'll go probably for that one.
Is it ok?

 

Jassmin...

Yes, that would be OK. It's small in size but effective in the Matousec tests.

I'm sure you will have questions about how to use the program. The pop ups will start almost as soon as it's installed. If you look on the pop up it will tell you what's happening, and you can Google the process before you make a decision. You don't have to commit to the change, too, which means you can just choose to block something once. In that case, the pop up will appear again if the process runs again. At that time, you might be better equipped to make a decision to allow or block every time.

When you get a little bit of time in with the program, you can post here at MGs for advice on how to find settings and advice on what to block every time and so on. It's tricky knowing what to block. Many if not most programs want to access the internet for updates. There are other reasons, too, like avast wants to download definitions and so on. If you have a weather app, it will want to fetch the weather.

Early on, you will notice in the program interface processes tab that all the processes are the yellow color. This indicates you will be getting prompts about the processes. Blocking once (not every time) will not change that. Blocking every time will turn it red. Allowing every time will turn it green. When you install the program you will see what I mean in the processes and programs tabs.

By the way, even if you block something every time, you can still go into PF any time from the system tray and change the setting back to the original one.

Let us know if we can help. PF is the most unpretentious firewall I have run across in recent times. I hope you like it and that it works well for you...

 

I installed CIS and it quarantined Leak Test as a PUP (see att'd quarantine log). I restored Leak Test but didn't white list it and CIS immediately quarantined it again. I never got to run Leak Test with CIS installed. I don't know if white listing Leak Test would have allowed it to connect to it's server. I'm not getting any conflicts with MSE which I re-installed.

 

Hi,
could somebody help me how can I completely wipe out HD and install trial version on Windows Vista?

TY

 

Thank you

 

plodr gave you a link for CCleaner Slim (no toolbar). In post #59 I link you to CCleaner Standard.

Which drive are you going to wipe? The XP drive? You won't be able to do that from within XP. You'd need to pull the drive and connect it to your already Vista computer somehow — either by USB cable from an enclosure or by modular/media bay caddy for the hard drive.

 

Hi mdonah,
I have CCcleaner already ... would like to reinstall entire OS .... yes XP and install Vista

you know what I am talking about .... I am using another laptop with Vista already but like to cancel everything on old one

 

You'll need to have a bootable CD with something like MiniTool Partition Wizard (the download link is a button near the bottom of the page) on it so you can wipe the hard drive without having to remove it from the XP laptop.

The download is an ISO file that you would burn to a CD using your burning software. You would then boot from the CD and select Partition Wizard on the left by clicking on the large button. Partition Wizard will come up and you select the drive by clicking on it in the right pane. Then select wipe disk/partition in the left pane. Leave the next screen at "Fill Sectors with Zero", then click Apply in the upper left.

I don't know exactly how long it will take because I don't know the size of the hard drive you're wiping. But at this point, you'll be able to remove the CD from the drive because everything is running from the RAM.

Once the wiping is complete, insert your Vista installation DVD, restart the laptop and go from there.

 

And what about upgrading directly?

 

Do you mean upgrading from XP to Vista? The Vista installation DVD should allow that option.

 

yes but only trial version ... for one month

 

That's correct. If you want a "licensed" version for the XP computer, you'll need to purchase a license from Microsoft and change the current Product Key to the one they give you or purchase an installation DVD with COA/Product Key from a place like ebay. That's where I got my Vista Ultimate DVD and COA/Product Key from. The COA/Product Key sticker is on the bottom of my laptop and Vista has activated every time I've re-installed it (3 times so far).

 

I have "licensed" version on another PC.
I wanted to wipe entire XP system and run trial version only for 30 days just for case that something happen to computer which I use.

Don't know where to download and how to wipe entire system.

That' all.

 

In Post #88, I give you a link to download MiniTool Partition Wizard bootable CD ISO which you would burn to a CD and boot the XP laptop from that CD. Select the first option "Boot to Partition Wizard". You'll see a lot of information come up on screen but don't worry about it.

Partition Wizard will launch and you will select the XP hard drive by clicking on it. Then select Wipe Disk/Partition on the left. On the next dialogue box, leave it set at "Fill sectors with zero" and click OK. Then click Apply in the upper left. Confirm the action and Partition Wizard will start wiping the drive/partition.

You can now remove the CD because everything is running from RAM. Insert your Vista installation DVD. When Partition Wizard is done wiping, click OK and go under General to exit. The laptop should restart and boot to the Vista installation DVD and you can go from there.

One important caveat:

If your installation DVD only has Service Pack 1, you'll need to download and install Service Pack 2 in order to get Security updates through Windows Update because Microsoft support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ended in 2010. But once you install SP2, you may notice that your "grace period" will change to 15 days from 30 days. That's what happened with me when I installed Vista SP1 and installed SP2 using wsus offline update.

 

Just in case, might it not be a good idea to image XP as it is now, before destroying it?

 

She was having issues with XP to begin with, so she started this thread. We were going to try and help her with the XP issues but it seems to me the thread somehow got hijacked. Now Jassmin simply wants to dump XP and run a "temporary" version of Vista until she can get a licensed version (or licensed Win7 for that matter) up and running on the XP laptop.

There's really no reason to get rid of the laptop if it can be "repurposed" like I did with mine. Vista Ultimate is doing fine and dandy on my Dell Precision M70.

 

yes, that's right ... mdonah you are my guardian angel here ... I will try to wipe HDD but right now I'm trying to remove buenosearch from explorer .... is there any removal tool please ??

 

This 4-step guide will tell you how to remove the Buenosearch browser hijacker.

In the future, to avoid another incident like this, please pay attention when installing software and DON'T choose Express Install or whatever the installer calls it. Choose custom install or uncheck the option to install bundled software. Choosing Express Install is the way a lot of malware finds it's way on to computers.

 

perfect, thank you again and see you soon while wiping HD, hope u can assist me again ... have a nice day

 

BTW, what is the make and model of the XP laptop? You may need some device drivers once Vista is installed.