Binabik: ... which windows are you using? Do you use a window washer and registry cleaner??

It helps to know to try and figure out why!

pauloaguia: It can then take a few consecutive defrags to fix it.

I keep mine over 60 % and defrag even when it says it's ok if it looks like it's getting bad.

Binabik: Also it sounds like your hard disk maybe to full. It's best to keep a good clean portion % wise so defragging has space to work.

rabbitoid: ?? It's already sorted. They admitted fault, thanks to the laptop makers sending me info.

rabbitoid: The windows idea was created by other companies for their computers, they just nicked the concept and called theirs "Windows".. Not just Apple, but Commodore and Atari were using similar ideas before Microsoft saw the light.

France only so far... this is why the EU came down on Microsoft. And why again for something that is supposed to be with the machine? I took Microsoft to task on this regarding a law they made regarding windows which stopped a laptop manufacturer keeping copies on the laptops restart disk after a certain period of time. They admitted fault and sent me a XP disk

So why cannot it be presumes that Windows came with a PC/laptop and replacements be free or for a small cost rather than having to pay a lot of money?

As to third party products... this is the point, to open up the market so the existing ones and new ones are available.

And I won't download a 'disc' that is so basic for the machine. Too much risk of things going wrong.

Czuch: IE is not really needed anymore, and it would be quite easy for a shop to have at the counter a choice of browsers for people to install, or a single disk with a selection of browsers that comes in the box.

Also IE is not the safest browser on the web, so why bundle a greater security risk with a PC??

rabbitoid: I feel the idea is to open more possibilities on how a person buys his or her PC.... I mean "windows" is not a Microsoft idea, they just borrowed the idea off others and adapted it for the PC.

One valid counter-arguement comes to buying a PC from a second hand shop. Often the discs can be missing... so, why is it that the main option in the case of a computer needing re-installing that the customer has to buy a windows disk? I know there are other options, but Microsoft have made it hard for others to offer an alternative(s)

This gives an more open market.

puupia: It's called (or so the EU decided) being anti-competition and decremental to a free market.

In its 2008 Annual Report Microsoft stated:[24]

“ The European Commission closely scrutinizes the design of high-volume Microsoft products and the terms on which we make certain technologies used in these products, such as file formats, programming interfaces, and protocols, available to other companies. In 2004, the Commission ordered us to create new versions of Windows that do not include certain multimedia technologies and to provide our competitors with specifications for how to implement certain proprietary Windows communications protocols in their own products. The Commission’s impact on product design may limit our ability to innovate in Windows or other products in the future, diminish the developer appeal of the Windows platform, and increase our product development costs. The availability of licenses related to protocols and file formats may enable competitors to develop software products that better mimic the functionality of our own products which could result in decreased sales of our products."

MadMonkey: Aye.. since the EU took Microsoft to court they've had to change their attitude a little.

MadMonkey: Probably dust then.

MadMonkey: Does she hoover all the dust out on a regular basis? I do mine about once a month taking all panels off.

MadMonkey: Well McAfee seems to be working fine, it might be that they've just ironed out the bugs since you used it.

As I keep saying.. Combofix. It gives the registry a really deep scan and I've found it to have fixed various bugs thanks to ad's or the like. My PC's install disk had an old no longer in use (they've gone broke) free trial for security software. I removed from the installed progs list all entries related to it, but the ad to buy it kept coming up. Combofix listed all the registry entries and I could see where the damn prog was hiding that was causing the ad's.

Two minutes with Reg edit and they was gone.

MadMonkey: I don't run it. I deleted it from my system My ISP provider packages McAfee for free with the broadband. I also have cookie monster, Eusing registry cleaner.. and if the well.. hits the fan.. I use Combofix as it does a notepad listing at the end of what it has found and done.

For me that's all I need... until I find out differently!!

MadMonkey: Spybot is a pain in the butt now I've found. It tries to do too much and interferes at awkward times like when playing a game.

Czuch: Try http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

then if that doesn't work http://www.combofix.org/

But make sure you back up as requested your registry first.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
Is a site listing instructions and more detail on the prog and it's use. You might end up having to use "reg edit" (in your windows folder) to remove some entries.

I've found it very good at removing deep routed stuff, and it's helped me remove some annoying reg entries that kept a now non existing company's security software reminder that was bundled with my machine.

...... Plus it allowed me to fix another reg problem (ask entries) that stopped me using IE.

"GERRY": Thank God for combofix... I found the bad entries in the registry thanks to it's report and deleted them. Now IE8 works.

"GERRY": Use Firefox for BK... it is faster. IE is not as good as it could be... And at the moment I can't use it. I've gotta Go into my registry and remove some entries that combofix threw up after I tried to use a prog for file conversion (to put vids on my phone) that came bundled with alot of junk... More then I thought, or was stated clearly in the terms of use.

"GERRY": No, it's for those automove programs out there.

"GERRY": Usually a complete reinstall of your system. Not just installing a new windows. But I'd use a registry cleaner and window washer first, then if that doesn't improve, try a program called combofix which will do a deep scan of your system, but make sure you back up your registry as per the programs instructions first. It'll eventually give you a text document showing everything it's done and what possible probmatic items maybe sitting in your registry. Then you can use reg edit to fix anything that looks dodgy.

If that fails... you'll need to format your hard disk and do a complete re-install.

Czuch: My suggestion if you've done the downloading is to when you get them back to put them in folders and keep ya files neat and tidy.

.. Trust me... it makes your life much easier. I've worked in enough offices and run enough accounts depts to know how much easier it makes ya life.

And before you get the files back, make sure your anti virus software is running and upto date and scan all the files.

Czuch: As I said, delete the ones you don't want and if they are all in one folder you can just back up the folder. I had to re-install our PC recently and I just copied whole folders to disk and let the PC do the work.

But it means to do this easily that you've kept ya stuff together and not willy nilly. How big is all the data, etc?

Czuch: No... you copy the whole folder after deleting any files you don't want.

Depends on the size of "My documents" you have but you might be able to do it in one action. The other thing.... Buy a cheap external HD. Sales are on are they not.

Bernice: I know... but they are cheap enough to purchase very easily. Even if he has no CD writer, a memory stick is pennies these days.

Czuch: Save to disk (CD or DVD or memory stick) all data you want. It's best you save it yourself.

They are cheap enough (especially CD's) and you can make multiple backups if you want.

Then re-install if you wish.
But use a registry cleaner and a window washer after, as there will be alot of rubbish left over from all the bits you install. It'll keep your machine running faster.

But this is if your 'problem' cannot be corrected only.. as it takes hours especially if Microsoft are slow with all the updates you need to download.

Another good program to add to the list of needed stuff should be a registry cleaner... I use Eusing.. Also a Window cleaner.

And I've found spybot now to be just tooo full of itself and more annoying then helpful.

Anyway... my ISP service provides free software that does it as part of the protection suite.

Snoopy: Strange..... one of my kids uses Realarcade and has had no problems. Are you sure it's not your anti virus or firewall picking up something naughty in the code?

Czuch: I've been told the same. Our ISP company provides free software, but the old system which was in use when we joined was no longer good or stable.... ie it was one program that did anti virus and one that did firewall, etc... and they caused conflicts.. which explained why the anti-virus kept having to close or said it was logged into another account!!

Their new software is just one program and does everything. It's fast and stable.

Needed a router... as we bought a laptop. So I went 'window shopping' on PC World to see what was on offer (seeing as there is a store nearby) and the specs of each item.

To be sure I was getting what I needed I phoned the number in the book (a national call centre) and ask a few questions. It was what I needed so I asked if the local store had one in stock, and they did.

... She reserved it for me, but at the internet price!! A saving of £30

Tried it again today on some DDR ram for the desktop, asked about one item and if the local store had it in stock.. they didn't. So I checked my next choice.. they did and the man would reserve it for me if I liked. I asked if I had to pay the internet or shop price (being a £15 difference) and got told they would only charge me the internet price.

... That's £45 I've saved using this method!!

Give it a try... some feedback on your success or not would be appreciated.

Best way with these damn machines!!

pcpitstop.com can be a handy site if you've not tried it.

Jules :)

does the drive have jumper settings at the back?
I found an old abandoned comp a few months ago and stripped out the HD. I tried to get it to work, then after it not working properly and making the system go funny checked the Jumpers.
They were set to it being the MASTER drive.
The computer didn't like having 2 masters!! lol

Jules :)