New CCleaner Out

lol That's what happens when you reach the half century g and I don't
mean cricket.
Joan


Noel Paton wrote:
This is getting to be like old folk^h^h^h^h home week!
gd&r - fast!

Hi Will, I'm OK keep meaning to phone you but then get sidetracked with
something else g (Note to self - phone Will soon)
Today it was the Sky man to repair our installation and next week should
be the man to install a new bathroom for us complete with electric shower
g
Joan


Will Denny wrote:
Hey Joan - how are you you? Long time no hear. Yes Alias's postings
have been deleted.

I didn't G
I just wanted to make you aware of the implications for techs who do install
the copies. Unfortunately I have to turn away tons of business because I
will not install or repair illegal software.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone- www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"A" wrote in message
...
Don't get me wrong. I am against piracy. I told the couple they should buy
a copy but they wouldn't. I only own legit software or licenses.

A

Big Kisses!! Thank you, Joanie......I thought it was just we Colonials
that find cricket to be the ultimate in boring!!

Chuckling to myself in Canader.

Figgs

"Joan Archer" wrote in message
...
Rubbish, it's absolutely boring g
Joan


Will Denny wrote:
Football is 4 girlies - cricket is a mans game!!!!! I'm very well,
thank you Shane.

Will

On Sat, 06 May 2006 11:17:21 +0200, A wrote:
Mike M wrote:

Andrew Martin wrote:

We install WGA on dozens of computers every week but I have a
customer here who's pc will not install WGA without freezing the entire pc.

Everything has been perfectly working on this pc until automatic
updates tried to install the latest WGA but now it will not install no
matter how (automatic updates / activex control, etc). The whole system
hangs, we can't even hit cntl-alt-del or click anything with the mouse.

The Windows is definately legit, purchased from an MS authorized
vendor by us, not that this would make a difference anyway. Even if it
was not legit, it should just pop up the notification box and not cause
the whole system to hang. We just can't get it to do anything. I've
tried turning off all startup programs and system services, even tried
in safe mode with networking. Nothing works.

I tried the WGA diagnostic tool...it locks up too.

Questions about this locked-up state:
- is HD LED on or active?
- does mouse pointer move?
- does unplugging the network clear the lockup?
- any random graphics or broken UI elements? (SVGA)
How hard does it lock up, i.e. which works/don't work:
- Alt+Tab, Ctl+Esc
- Ctl+Alt+Del, Task Manager
- pressing NumLock; does keyboard LED toggle state?
- pressing ATX off button once; does it shutdown?
- hardware Reset button
- holding down ATX off button for 10 seconds
- doing nil but waiting for a long time (e.g. 1 hour; timeout)

If anyone has an idea on this one let me know...I'm frustrated beyond
words.

One would need to know more about what WGA is doing, but I'd start
with "the prelim" to get that out of the way...
- check RAM (MemTest86)
- check physical HD (e.g. HD Tune from www.hdtune.com)
- exclude malware (difficult, I know...)
....though having said that, the problem seems not only focal
(affecting WGA, nil else) but not limited to a particular file or part
of the hard drive. Unlike RAM or other hardware errors, hard drive
bad sectors can map to particular files and appear to be unifocal, but
as a separate WPA tool fails the same way, it's prolly not that.

Moving in to more specific things, I'd look for interactions (possibly
with safety/security sware that intervenes when scripts run etc.) and
version soup, e.g. an old-version .DLL involved in scripting etc.

I'd also compare mileage with:
- Safe Mode, if possible (suppresses drivers and most startup)
- MSConfig startup suppression
- different user account (avoids per-user startup and integrations)
- parallel OS installation on same hardware (use different HD)
- with all peripherals disconnected

Look for free Nirsoft utilities that can help you manage integration
points that are not UI'd by MSConfig or similar - for example, Shell
Extension Viewer lets you suppress some CLSID shell integrations.
What's nice is that typically these tools will let you reversably
disable such things, making it easy to Undo.

Final random thoughts:
- SR contents
- polluted .DLL or installation source caches
- some sort of tripwire when querying hardware

The last is relevant if WGA is sniffing for hardware comonent
identities a la Product Activation.

What's even more pathetic is that WGA ONLY benefits MS and does not
benefit the end user in any way.

Sure - that's why vandors walk such a thin line. If you're going to
inflict mandatory sware with NO user benefit, then it had better work
perfectly and cause no problems outside the intended payload contexts.



--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -
I'm baaaack!
--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -

Hey Chris!
Drop by DTS soon--we have been worried about your absence


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone- www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)" wrote in
message ...
On Sat, 06 May 2006 11:17:21 +0200, A wrote:
Mike M wrote:

Andrew Martin wrote:

We install WGA on dozens of computers every week but I have a
customer here who's pc will not install WGA without freezing the entire
pc.

Everything has been perfectly working on this pc until automatic
updates tried to install the latest WGA but now it will not install no
matter how (automatic updates / activex control, etc). The whole system
hangs, we can't even hit cntl-alt-del or click anything with the mouse.

The Windows is definately legit, purchased from an MS authorized
vendor by us, not that this would make a difference anyway. Even if it
was not legit, it should just pop up the notification box and not cause
the whole system to hang. We just can't get it to do anything. I've
tried turning off all startup programs and system services, even tried
in safe mode with networking. Nothing works.

I tried the WGA diagnostic tool...it locks up too.

Questions about this locked-up state:
- is HD LED on or active?
- does mouse pointer move?
- does unplugging the network clear the lockup?
- any random graphics or broken UI elements? (SVGA)
How hard does it lock up, i.e. which works/don't work:
- Alt+Tab, Ctl+Esc
- Ctl+Alt+Del, Task Manager
- pressing NumLock; does keyboard LED toggle state?
- pressing ATX off button once; does it shutdown?
- hardware Reset button
- holding down ATX off button for 10 seconds
- doing nil but waiting for a long time (e.g. 1 hour; timeout)

If anyone has an idea on this one let me know...I'm frustrated beyond
words.

One would need to know more about what WGA is doing, but I'd start
with "the prelim" to get that out of the way...
- check RAM (MemTest86)
- check physical HD (e.g. HD Tune from www.hdtune.com)
- exclude malware (difficult, I know...)
...though having said that, the problem seems not only focal
(affecting WGA, nil else) but not limited to a particular file or part
of the hard drive. Unlike RAM or other hardware errors, hard drive
bad sectors can map to particular files and appear to be unifocal, but
as a separate WPA tool fails the same way, it's prolly not that.

Moving in to more specific things, I'd look for interactions (possibly
with safety/security sware that intervenes when scripts run etc.) and
version soup, e.g. an old-version .DLL involved in scripting etc.

I'd also compare mileage with:
- Safe Mode, if possible (suppresses drivers and most startup)
- MSConfig startup suppression
- different user account (avoids per-user startup and integrations)
- parallel OS installation on same hardware (use different HD)
- with all peripherals disconnected

Look for free Nirsoft utilities that can help you manage integration
points that are not UI'd by MSConfig or similar - for example, Shell
Extension Viewer lets you suppress some CLSID shell integrations.
What's nice is that typically these tools will let you reversably
disable such things, making it easy to Undo.

Final random thoughts:
- SR contents
- polluted .DLL or installation source caches
- some sort of tripwire when querying hardware

The last is relevant if WGA is sniffing for hardware comonent
identities a la Product Activation.

What's even more pathetic is that WGA ONLY benefits MS and does not
benefit the end user in any way.

Sure - that's why vandors walk such a thin line. If you're going to
inflict mandatory sware with NO user benefit, then it had better work
perfectly and cause no problems outside the intended payload contexts.



--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -
I'm baaaack!
--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -

Yeah - as Larry says. Get back to DTS Chris.

Will

--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -
I'm baaaack!
--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -

Agreed - drop into DTS Chris.

Will

"Larry Samuels" wrote in message
...
Hey Chris!
Drop by DTS soon--we have been worried about your absence


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone- www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Bo*locks Joan :-)) Cricket is a great game.

Will

"Joan Archer" wrote in message
...
Rubbish, it's absolutely boring g
Joan


Will Denny wrote:
Football is 4 girlies - cricket is a mans game!!!!! I'm very well,
thank you Shane.

Will

Hey Figgs, how are you? Ron OK?

Will

--
"Heather" wrote in message
...
Big Kisses!! Thank you, Joanie......I thought it was just we Colonials
that find cricket to be the ultimate in boring!!

Chuckling to myself in Canader.

Figgs