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Geriatric XP
Dear All,
I have an XP computer, now 4 years old with 1 Gb RAM. It originally came with XP home but I upgraded it to Pro using a pukka upgrade disc. It is up to date with updates. The main problem is that after using IE 8 (particularly if my daughter uses Facebook) the computer runs slow or crashes. I've also had conflicts between programmes, for instance I've finally managed to load software for my HP scanner but now Microsoft Document Imaging can no longer save documents. I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? Please advise. AMcF -- Alex McFarlane |
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#2
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Geriatric XP
Daughter / Facebook user, who knows what malaware your PC has been infected
with. You have presumably scanned your PC for problems? "Alex McFarlane" wrote in message ... Dear All, I have an XP computer, now 4 years old with 1 Gb RAM. It originally came with XP home but I upgraded it to Pro using a pukka upgrade disc. It is up to date with updates. The main problem is that after using IE 8 (particularly if my daughter uses Facebook) the computer runs slow or crashes. I've also had conflicts between programmes, for instance I've finally managed to load software for my HP scanner but now Microsoft Document Imaging can no longer save documents. I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? Please advise. AMcF -- Alex McFarlane |
#3
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Geriatric XP
What the hell is a pukka upgrade disk?
-- -- "Alex McFarlane" wrote in message ... Dear All, I have an XP computer, now 4 years old with 1 Gb RAM. It originally came with XP home but I upgraded it to Pro using a pukka upgrade disc. It is up to date with updates. The main problem is that after using IE 8 (particularly if my daughter uses Facebook) the computer runs slow or crashes. I've also had conflicts between programmes, for instance I've finally managed to load software for my HP scanner but now Microsoft Document Imaging can no longer save documents. I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? Please advise. AMcF -- Alex McFarlane |
#4
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Geriatric XP
On 18 Dec 2009, Alex McFarlane wrote in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general: I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? It's a matter of how much time you have to spend screwing around with it. You might be able to poke around in the file system and registry long enough to get it working the way you like it, but that could take days or weeks, and it still might not work. Or, in less time, you could bit the bullet and reinstall everything and feel confident that the system is free of the crust of a thousand days. So, which is a better use of your time? |
#5
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Geriatric XP
David B. wrote:
What the hell is a pukka upgrade disk? I did a double take on that one too so I Googled. "pukka" simply means "genuine" a new on on me though |
#6
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Geriatric XP
Origonally an Anglo Indian expression / word, now part of 'real english'
"David B." wrote in message ... What the hell is a pukka upgrade disk? -- -- "Alex McFarlane" wrote in message ... Dear All, I have an XP computer, now 4 years old with 1 Gb RAM. It originally came with XP home but I upgraded it to Pro using a pukka upgrade disc. It is up to date with updates. The main problem is that after using IE 8 (particularly if my daughter uses Facebook) the computer runs slow or crashes. I've also had conflicts between programmes, for instance I've finally managed to load software for my HP scanner but now Microsoft Document Imaging can no longer save documents. I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? Please advise. AMcF -- Alex McFarlane |
#7
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Geriatric XP
You didn't mention any brands or models, but 4 years isn't that old for an
XP system; the hardware is OK and you have a decent amount of RAM. Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! E-mail addresses, Address Book, newsgroups, pictures, letters, charts, etc. etc. etc.. Either use a backup program or at least copy the important data that cannot be re-constructed easily to DVDs so you won't lose it. Either method below could end up losing all of your data and the first one definitely will. Start by running updated Antivirus software and see if that helps anything. If not, then run at least 3 spyware detection applications in full scan modes and see if they come up with anything that helps. If that doesn't help or completely get it going again: Personally, I'd say rebuilding the operating system from scratch is likely to be the least frustrating, most straight foward thing to do although it'll cost you a couple of days to get everything working and customized as you like it again. All your applications will need to be reinstalled along with letting XP updates be applied. You should start right from the beginning with the XP disk booted, delete and recreate the partition/s, format and continue following the onscreen instructions. Just read each screen and it'll go fine for you. Then install SP2 and SP3 if you have it on disk and it's not part of the pukka disk. If not, they'll come along with the auto-updates but without at least SP2 you'll have no firewall unless you have one that you downloaded. SP2 introduced the XP Firewall. Minimal, but useful. The most important things to have installed are AV (antivirus) and the spyware. Install your AV, set up the firewall, install any spyware programs you have, and then go online and let auto-update bring the OS back up to date. Do NOT connect the modem or in any way allow the computer to go online until you've done as much of the above as possible. If necessary, redownload them from the 'net before you start the rebuild. If you think there are some updates you don't want, then use the "Custom" method of installing them. That way you can see a description of every update about to be installed, plus the KB article that will give detailed data about it should you need it. Having SP3 installed makes the updating process a lot shorter and faster. OR, You could also try to figure out what's wrong with it, but since the possibilities run from file corruption to viruses to spyware and unintentional setups that caused damage, or combinations of those, you could end up investing a very substantial amount of time in the effort, and possibly never get it right. If there are more than one instance of problems, the complexity and effort needed is very high, especially for one not overly familiar with the processes. That's why I'd suggest the first alternative above; it's going to be more accurate and makes sure any/all malware is eradicated before you start, as long as you do the partition delete/recreate. Again, read each page completely before clicking anything. Folks here will be happy to help if questions develop but it's pretty straight forward if you read the screens carefully. Once XP is updated and the machine feels stable, then start installing your applications back, one at a time. Always restart between installing programs, even if it doesn't ask you to. It's better to restart extra times than to have missed one that's going to cause problems if you don't. Luck! Twayne` In , Alex McFarlane typed: Dear All, I have an XP computer, now 4 years old with 1 Gb RAM. It originally came with XP home but I upgraded it to Pro using a pukka upgrade disc. It is up to date with updates. The main problem is that after using IE 8 (particularly if my daughter uses Facebook) the computer runs slow or crashes. I've also had conflicts between programmes, for instance I've finally managed to load software for my HP scanner but now Microsoft Document Imaging can no longer save documents. I am unkeen to start again from scratch, is it possible to "spring clean" my system or do I need to bite the bullet and start again from scratch? Please advise. AMcF -- -- Live in the moment; be open to the possibilities that life has to offer. |
#8
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Geriatric XP
Twayne wrote:
Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. |
#9
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Geriatric XP
Want to see it all?
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...dd43d5e27a296/ snipped by "chuck" Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! /snipped by "chuck" chuck wrote: And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. Given what you chose to respond to (how you clipped), I feel it important to point out: That is *not* a backup. Backups are external to your physical machine - preferrably *very* external and portable to some extent. A backup is essentially a replica of your data (documents, spreadsheets, databases, bookmarks, contacts, email, music, pictures, video, etc) stored someplace other than where the original data is. So - even if you have another physical hard disk drive inside your machine (partitioning is even less wise in some ways) where you store *your* (stuff you created) data and use it from there - that is *not* a backup. It is merely an organization method. Yes - you may have an easier time rebuilding your system from scratch - but after many years of doing this on a mass scale; I would say that if you rebuild your machine often enough that such a convenience matters - you don't properly maintain your machine and you would be better served in learning to do so. For those who use it as an *easy* way of backing up their data ("I know I just need to make a copy of my X:\ drive to get all my stuff.") I'd say that makes sense, although to be honest - same thing could be accomplished using folder structures ("I know I just need to backup my C:\MyStuff\ folder to get all my stuff.".) ;-) It's been a long time since I created partitions on a Windows system. I synchronize my data to external media over a network (even at home) and sometimes even that is synchronized elsewhere. I utilize system state backups as well as occassional imaging of disks/partitions to make rebuilding easier *if* the need arises. I maintain my systems as best I can and seldom does that need arise, however. In fact - hardware failure is pretty much the only time it has in many years. The fact is that if you only have your data stored in one place - you have created your own single point of failure at a point you control. Lightning burns up the hard disk drive(s) in that machine, it is physically stolen or destroyed in some manner, if a single drive is partitioned and that drive crashes (head freezes, etc) - whatever the case - there goes your data. Yes - it is a convenience for some (backup scheme or someone who feels rebuilding is better than maintaining), organization method to be sure - but backups outweigh that by far and are a constant. Partitioning/multiple internal drives and putting your data on a separate partition/drive is an option, a matter of preference. Backing up - well - it is just unwise not to. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#10
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Geriatric XP
On Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:07:41 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
wrote: Want to see it all? http://groups.google.com/group/micro...dd43d5e27a296/ snipped by "chuck" Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! /snipped by "chuck" chuck wrote: And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. Given what you chose to respond to (how you clipped), I feel it important to point out: That is *not* a backup. I was going to respond to his post, saying much the same things as you did. But you took the words out of my mouth. Backups are external to your physical machine - preferrably *very* external and portable to some extent. A backup is essentially a replica of your data (documents, spreadsheets, databases, bookmarks, contacts, email, music, pictures, video, etc) stored someplace other than where the original data is. So - even if you have another physical hard disk drive inside your machine (partitioning is even less wise in some ways) where you store *your* (stuff you created) data and use it from there - that is *not* a backup. It is merely an organization method. Yes - you may have an easier time rebuilding your system from scratch - but after many years of doing this on a mass scale; I would say that if you rebuild your machine often enough that such a convenience matters - you don't properly maintain your machine and you would be better served in learning to do so. For those who use it as an *easy* way of backing up their data ("I know I just need to make a copy of my X:\ drive to get all my stuff.") I'd say that makes sense, although to be honest - same thing could be accomplished using folder structures ("I know I just need to backup my C:\MyStuff\ folder to get all my stuff.".) ;-) It's been a long time since I created partitions on a Windows system. I synchronize my data to external media over a network (even at home) and sometimes even that is synchronized elsewhere. I utilize system state backups as well as occassional imaging of disks/partitions to make rebuilding easier *if* the need arises. I maintain my systems as best I can and seldom does that need arise, however. In fact - hardware failure is pretty much the only time it has in many years. The fact is that if you only have your data stored in one place - you have created your own single point of failure at a point you control. Lightning burns up the hard disk drive(s) in that machine, it is physically stolen or destroyed in some manner, if a single drive is partitioned and that drive crashes (head freezes, etc) - whatever the case - there goes your data. Yes - it is a convenience for some (backup scheme or someone who feels rebuilding is better than maintaining), organization method to be sure - but backups outweigh that by far and are a constant. Partitioning/multiple internal drives and putting your data on a separate partition/drive is an option, a matter of preference. Backing up - well - it is just unwise not to. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003 Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#11
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Geriatric XP
In ,
chuck typed: Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. That's good advice though I don't see what prompted it. Many people separate data from the operating system that way and it can work well. The best way to achieve it is to use the Move feature of My Documents to move it to drive D and then be certain to put ALL data you create under My Documents. Then nearly all your data gets backed up by backing up just the My Documents folder. I don't consider moving My Documents an important point at this moment in time, but would be useful once things have gotten straightened out. And along with that, a working strategy for backing up the computer to make such recoveries faster and easier if needed. It's more important right now to attack the immediate problem since there is no way of knowing what or even if important personal data is being output, or whether even worse things are going on. Twayne` |
#12
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Geriatric XP
That's all decent advice too, although it's not very relevant to the current
problem and query the OP put forth. More attention to the OP's query is what's needed here. Twayne In , Ken Blake, MVP typed: On Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:07:41 -0600, "Shenan Stanley" wrote: Want to see it all? http://groups.google.com/group/micro...dd43d5e27a296/ snipped by "chuck" Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! /snipped by "chuck" chuck wrote: And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. Given what you chose to respond to (how you clipped), I feel it important to point out: That is *not* a backup. I was going to respond to his post, saying much the same things as you did. But you took the words out of my mouth. Backups are external to your physical machine - preferrably *very* external and portable to some extent. A backup is essentially a replica of your data (documents, spreadsheets, databases, bookmarks, contacts, email, music, pictures, video, etc) stored someplace other than where the original data is. So - even if you have another physical hard disk drive inside your machine (partitioning is even less wise in some ways) where you store *your* (stuff you created) data and use it from there - that is *not* a backup. It is merely an organization method. Yes - you may have an easier time rebuilding your system from scratch - but after many years of doing this on a mass scale; I would say that if you rebuild your machine often enough that such a convenience matters - you don't properly maintain your machine and you would be better served in learning to do so. For those who use it as an *easy* way of backing up their data ("I know I just need to make a copy of my X:\ drive to get all my stuff.") I'd say that makes sense, although to be honest - same thing could be accomplished using folder structures ("I know I just need to backup my C:\MyStuff\ folder to get all my stuff.".) ;-) It's been a long time since I created partitions on a Windows system. I synchronize my data to external media over a network (even at home) and sometimes even that is synchronized elsewhere. I utilize system state backups as well as occassional imaging of disks/partitions to make rebuilding easier *if* the need arises. I maintain my systems as best I can and seldom does that need arise, however. In fact - hardware failure is pretty much the only time it has in many years. The fact is that if you only have your data stored in one place - you have created your own single point of failure at a point you control. Lightning burns up the hard disk drive(s) in that machine, it is physically stolen or destroyed in some manner, if a single drive is partitioned and that drive crashes (head freezes, etc) - whatever the case - there goes your data. Yes - it is a convenience for some (backup scheme or someone who feels rebuilding is better than maintaining), organization method to be sure - but backups outweigh that by far and are a constant. Partitioning/multiple internal drives and putting your data on a separate partition/drive is an option, a matter of preference. Backing up - well - it is just unwise not to. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html -- -- Live in the moment; be open to the possibilities that life has to offer. |
#13
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Geriatric XP
Want to see it all?
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...dd43d5e27a296/ snipped by "chuck" Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! /snipped by "chuck" chuck wrote: And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. Shenan Stanley wrote: Given what you chose to respond to (how you clipped), I feel it important to point out: That is *not* a backup. Backups are external to your physical machine - preferrably *very* external and portable to some extent. A backup is essentially a replica of your data (documents, spreadsheets, databases, bookmarks, contacts, email, music, pictures, video, etc) stored someplace other than where the original data is. So - even if you have another physical hard disk drive inside your machine (partitioning is even less wise in some ways) where you store *your* (stuff you created) data and use it from there - that is *not* a backup. It is merely an organization method. Yes - you may have an easier time rebuilding your system from scratch - but after many years of doing this on a mass scale; I would say that if you rebuild your machine often enough that such a convenience matters - you don't properly maintain your machine and you would be better served in learning to do so. For those who use it as an *easy* way of backing up their data ("I know I just need to make a copy of my X:\ drive to get all my stuff.") I'd say that makes sense, although to be honest - same thing could be accomplished using folder structures ("I know I just need to backup my C:\MyStuff\ folder to get all my stuff.".) ;-) It's been a long time since I created partitions on a Windows system. I synchronize my data to external media over a network (even at home) and sometimes even that is synchronized elsewhere. I utilize system state backups as well as occassional imaging of disks/partitions to make rebuilding easier *if* the need arises. I maintain my systems as best I can and seldom does that need arise, however. In fact - hardware failure is pretty much the only time it has in many years. The fact is that if you only have your data stored in one place - you have created your own single point of failure at a point you control. Lightning burns up the hard disk drive(s) in that machine, it is physically stolen or destroyed in some manner, if a single drive is partitioned and that drive crashes (head freezes, etc) - whatever the case - there goes your data. Yes - it is a convenience for some (backup scheme or someone who feels rebuilding is better than maintaining), organization method to be sure - but backups outweigh that by far and are a constant. Partitioning/multiple internal drives and putting your data on a separate partition/drive is an option, a matter of preference. Backing up - well - it is just unwise not to. Ken Blake, MVP wrote: I was going to respond to his post, saying much the same things as you did. But you took the words out of my mouth. Twayne wrote: That's all decent advice too, although it's not very relevant to the current problem and query the OP put forth. More attention to the OP's query is what's needed here. No disagreement on the final point - but I stated what I felt needed to be stated given the tangent path that had already been initiated and I snipped the rest. While many people don't like tangents when it comes to postings like this - some believe they are not much better than a complete hijacking of a conversation - this case was more of, "Things have been said, I believe some clarification should be added for the sake of everyone." -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#14
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Geriatric XP
In ,
Shenan Stanley typed: Want to see it all? http://groups.google.com/group/micro...dd43d5e27a296/ snipped by "chuck" Twayne wrote: Before you start anything, be certain to backup ALL of your data! /snipped by "chuck" chuck wrote: And I am STILL a very firm believer in keeping ALL data on a d: (or higher) drive. Bookmarks, email, tunes, videos, whatever. Put it on d:. Then you can format c: and rebuild it with little worry. Shenan Stanley wrote: Given what you chose to respond to (how you clipped), I feel it important to point out: That is *not* a backup. Backups are external to your physical machine - preferrably *very* external and portable to some extent. A backup is essentially a replica of your data (documents, spreadsheets, databases, bookmarks, contacts, email, music, pictures, video, etc) stored someplace other than where the original data is. So - even if you have another physical hard disk drive inside your machine (partitioning is even less wise in some ways) where you store *your* (stuff you created) data and use it from there - that is *not* a backup. It is merely an organization method. Yes - you may have an easier time rebuilding your system from scratch - but after many years of doing this on a mass scale; I would say that if you rebuild your machine often enough that such a convenience matters - you don't properly maintain your machine and you would be better served in learning to do so. For those who use it as an *easy* way of backing up their data ("I know I just need to make a copy of my X:\ drive to get all my stuff.") I'd say that makes sense, although to be honest - same thing could be accomplished using folder structures ("I know I just need to backup my C:\MyStuff\ folder to get all my stuff.".) ;-) It's been a long time since I created partitions on a Windows system. I synchronize my data to external media over a network (even at home) and sometimes even that is synchronized elsewhere. I utilize system state backups as well as occassional imaging of disks/partitions to make rebuilding easier *if* the need arises. I maintain my systems as best I can and seldom does that need arise, however. In fact - hardware failure is pretty much the only time it has in many years. The fact is that if you only have your data stored in one place - you have created your own single point of failure at a point you control. Lightning burns up the hard disk drive(s) in that machine, it is physically stolen or destroyed in some manner, if a single drive is partitioned and that drive crashes (head freezes, etc) - whatever the case - there goes your data. Yes - it is a convenience for some (backup scheme or someone who feels rebuilding is better than maintaining), organization method to be sure - but backups outweigh that by far and are a constant. Partitioning/multiple internal drives and putting your data on a separate partition/drive is an option, a matter of preference. Backing up - well - it is just unwise not to. Ken Blake, MVP wrote: I was going to respond to his post, saying much the same things as you did. But you took the words out of my mouth. Twayne wrote: That's all decent advice too, although it's not very relevant to the current problem and query the OP put forth. More attention to the OP's query is what's needed here. No disagreement on the final point - but I stated what I felt needed to be stated given the tangent path that had already been initiated and I snipped the rest. While many people don't like tangents when it comes to postings like this - some believe they are not much better than a complete hijacking of a conversation - this case was more of, "Things have been said, I believe some clarification should be added for the sake of everyone." -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP Welll, can't really argue with that and have done it myself. All I really meant was, it'd be more interesting to get back on topic. Twayne -- Live in the moment; be open to the possibilities that life has to offer. |
#15
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Geriatric XP
Oh dear, sorry chaps!
It's a term from India from the days of the Raj when the British Empire covered half the globe. Similar Indian words in the English language include: Tiffin Thug Khasi Curry etc (that's Latin) AMcF In message , philo writes David B. wrote: What the hell is a pukka upgrade disk? I did a double take on that one too so I Googled. "pukka" simply means "genuine" a new on on me though -- Alex McFarlane |
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