Is it time to buy a new computer?

I have a Dell Dimension XPS T450MHz computer with a Pentium III (512K
Cache, whatever that means) I added RAM for a total of 224MB. The hard
drive is 13GB with only 2.97 GB used. OS is Windows 98SE My computer
is very slow: takes forever to boot up, takes forever to launch apps,
sometimes mouse is slow and jerky, sometimes hard drive runs alot. I
defrag and run scandisk regularly/empty recycle bin/delete temp file.
I've used regclean; deleted stuff from startup; played with virtual
memory; scanned for viruses/adware/spyware (have McAfee); changed to
network server setting, etc. Tried all the tweaks that I dare relating
to Win 98. I've physically cleaned out all the dust in the CPU and
tried to blow out all the dust around the exhaust fan. All to no
avail. Is it time to buy a new computer? Is the thing just wearing
out? It has been hot & humid here - any connection?

Thanks for any advice.

"Mary" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a Dell Dimension XPS T450MHz computer with a Pentium III (512K
Cache, whatever that means) I added RAM for a total of 224MB. The hard
drive is 13GB with only 2.97 GB used. OS is Windows 98SE My computer
is very slow: takes forever to boot up, takes forever to launch apps,
sometimes mouse is slow and jerky, sometimes hard drive runs alot. I
defrag and run scandisk regularly/empty recycle bin/delete temp file.
I've used regclean; deleted stuff from startup; played with virtual
memory; scanned for viruses/adware/spyware (have McAfee); changed to
network server setting, etc. Tried all the tweaks that I dare relating
to Win 98. I've physically cleaned out all the dust in the CPU and
tried to blow out all the dust around the exhaust fan. All to no
avail. Is it time to buy a new computer? Is the thing just wearing
out? It has been hot & humid here - any connection?

Thanks for any advice.

Do a ctrl-alt-del and look at all the programs running at startup.
You may be surprised!
It shouldn't be slow booting up or run slow unless, perhaps your cpu fan is not
running fast enough and the cpu is overheating.

"Mary" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a Dell Dimension XPS T450MHz computer with a Pentium III (512K
Cache, whatever that means) I added RAM for a total of 224MB. The hard
drive is 13GB with only 2.97 GB used. OS is Windows 98SE My computer
is very slow: takes forever to boot up, takes forever to launch apps,
sometimes mouse is slow and jerky, sometimes hard drive runs alot. I
defrag and run scandisk regularly/empty recycle bin/delete temp file.
I've used regclean; deleted stuff from startup; played with virtual
memory; scanned for viruses/adware/spyware (have McAfee); changed to
network server setting, etc. Tried all the tweaks that I dare relating
to Win 98. I've physically cleaned out all the dust in the CPU and
tried to blow out all the dust around the exhaust fan. All to no
avail. Is it time to buy a new computer? Is the thing just wearing
out? It has been hot & humid here - any connection?

Thanks for any advice.

See my articles on maintenance and security:
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

I like McAfee only slightly more than Norton (and I *hate* Norton.) The
older versions of those apps were supposedly built to run on Win9x systems,
and even then they were bloatware, always bogging systems down. The newer
versions of these apps aren't even really designed for Win9x anymore. I
recommend ETrust AV or you can try AVG or AVAST, both free, both with their
own problems, but none of them are such huge, bloated monsters like McAfee
and Norton.

Dirt in the machine will primarily cause overheating, resulting in
spontaneous reboots. If you're having any of those, then you need to clean
even more. But mostly, it sounds to me like you may have apps in the
background (starting with McAfee) causing the problems, and the symptoms
also point to possible malware (virus, spyware, adware, etc.) Follow ALL of
the advice in my articles, clean up the system as advised, do a cleanboot
scandisk and defrag, consider switching AV apps, and then post the list of
background apps back here for comment. Here's how you do that:

Run MSINFO32 from the Start\Run box. Expand the Software Environment
section, click on Startup Programs. Now click anywhere in the right-hand
pane. Press Ctrl-A to Select All, then Ctrl-C to copy. Now open a reply to
this message and use Ctrl-V to paste in the list and send it off.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

Mr. Terhune: I checked for viruses/malware and all was clear. Followed
the Clean Boot instructions, then did scandisk & defrag. Didn't dare
to change AV apps just yet. Here's the list of background apps:

Microsoft Office Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\OSA9.EXE" -b -l
Logitech Desktop Messenger Agent Startup Group "C:\Program
Files\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LDMConf.exe" /start
run Win.ini hpfsched
LDM Registry (Per-User Run) C:\Program Files\Desktop
Messenger\8876480\Program\BackWeb-8876480.exe
Tau Monitor Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRAM FILES\AGNITUM\TAUSCAN
1.6\TAUMON.EXE
VsEcomrEXE Registry (Machine Run) C:\Program Files\Network
Associates\McAfee VirusScan\vsecomr.exe
CriticalUpdate Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\SYSTEM\wucrtupd.exe
-startup
ScanRegistry Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
SystemTray Registry (Machine Run) SysTray.Exe
MCAgentExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mcagent.exe
files\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
MCUpdateExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCUPDATE.EXE
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Run) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
VSOCheckTask Registry (Machine
Run) "C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\MCMNHDLR.EXE" /checktask
VirusScan Online Registry (Machine
Run) "C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsshld.exe"
MPFExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
EM_EXEC Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\LOGITECH\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE
mdac_runonce Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\runonce.exe
TaskMonitor Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\taskmon.exe
SchedulingAgent Registry (Machine Service) mstask.exe
McVsRte Registry (Machine
Service) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsrte.exe /embedding
KB891711 Registry (Machine
Service) c:\windows\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Service) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

Your material stated that it's not a good solution to disable items in
msconfig so I need instruction on how to do it. I had played around
with unchecking boxes based on info from sysinfo.org site which may
have resulted in the unresponsive mouse problem. Most items on the
list relate to McAfee...maybe that's what's slowing things down. As
mentioned before I wondered about the computer overheating. I don't
live in an air-conditioned house and even though there are not too many
really hot days in Maine (2 seasons he winter & August)it does seem
like the computer runs better when it's cold.

Thanks, Mary

P. S. What is "MS-MVP"?

Thanks to all who have responded to my question

On simple way to find out if it is McAfee, is to temporarily disable ALL McAfee
startup items, and restart. Be sure to stay OFFLINE while you have the A-V disabled
(unplug the cable if you have to, for broadband). See if the problems still
exist....that may tell you if McAfee is involved.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Mary" wrote in message
ups.com...
Mr. Terhune: I checked for viruses/malware and all was clear. Followed
the Clean Boot instructions, then did scandisk & defrag. Didn't dare
to change AV apps just yet. Here's the list of background apps:

Microsoft Office Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\OSA9.EXE" -b -l
Logitech Desktop Messenger Agent Startup Group "C:\Program
Files\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LDMConf.exe" /start
run Win.ini hpfsched
LDM Registry (Per-User Run) C:\Program Files\Desktop
Messenger\8876480\Program\BackWeb-8876480.exe
Tau Monitor Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRAM FILES\AGNITUM\TAUSCAN
1.6\TAUMON.EXE
VsEcomrEXE Registry (Machine Run) C:\Program Files\Network
Associates\McAfee VirusScan\vsecomr.exe
CriticalUpdate Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\SYSTEM\wucrtupd.exe
-startup
ScanRegistry Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
SystemTray Registry (Machine Run) SysTray.Exe
MCAgentExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mcagent.exe
files\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
MCUpdateExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCUPDATE.EXE
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Run) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
VSOCheckTask Registry (Machine
Run) "C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\MCMNHDLR.EXE" /checktask
VirusScan Online Registry (Machine
Run) "C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsshld.exe"
MPFExe Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
EM_EXEC Registry (Machine
Run) C:\PROGRA~1\LOGITECH\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE
mdac_runonce Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\runonce.exe
TaskMonitor Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\taskmon.exe
SchedulingAgent Registry (Machine Service) mstask.exe
McVsRte Registry (Machine
Service) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsrte.exe /embedding
KB891711 Registry (Machine
Service) c:\windows\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Service) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

Your material stated that it's not a good solution to disable items in
msconfig so I need instruction on how to do it. I had played around
with unchecking boxes based on info from sysinfo.org site which may
have resulted in the unresponsive mouse problem. Most items on the
list relate to McAfee...maybe that's what's slowing things down. As
mentioned before I wondered about the computer overheating. I don't
live in an air-conditioned house and even though there are not too many
really hot days in Maine (2 seasons he winter & August)it does seem
like the computer runs better when it's cold.

Thanks, Mary

P. S. What is "MS-MVP"?

Thanks to all who have responded to my question

(sent using MIME-Quoted Printable to avoid wrap--I hope...)

"Mary" wrote in message=20
ups.com...
Mr. Terhune: I checked for viruses/malware and all was clear. =
Followed
the Clean Boot instructions, then did scandisk & defrag. Didn't dare
to change AV apps just yet. Here's the list of background apps:

I'll comment on your background apps below, but first, some additional =
comments on your original post. I didn't say anything about some of the =
other things you mentioned in your original post, like "messing with =
virtual memory", which is almost always a bad thing to do. Please go =
back in there and reset it to "Let Windows Manage..." Also, I forget =
where the setting is that you probably changed where you choose between =
best performance for Server or Programs, but be sure to change it back =
to Programs. In fact, any of that tweaking you mentioned, it would be =
wise to undo whatever you did.

Do you notice any difference in performance after doing basic =
maintenance? I doubt it was much, but we needed a baseline, which is why =
I started with that. What is almost certainly a major part of the =
problem is Adware/Spyware. Most of the tools I recommended in my article =
on Security deal with those kinds of problems, and you need to use *all* =
of them, since they all look for or protect against slightly different =
things. Another good resource for issues involving Spyware/Adware is =
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

Note: Before uninstalling applications, make sure to reenable any =
disabled items in the MSCONFIG panels, since the uninstaller won't be =
able to find these entries if they are disabled. As mentioned in my =
Clean Boot article, you may want to disable the startup groups in =
MSCONFIG and then restart, in order to get them unloaded, but then go =
back and re-enable everything, click OK, but DO NOT restart when =
prompted. Then do your uninstall procedures.

I'm going to reorganize this list to group them more appropriately

ScanRegistry Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
SystemTray Registry (Machine Run) SysTray.Exe
TaskMonitor Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\taskmon.exe =
SchedulingAgent Registry (Machine Service) mstask.exe
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Run) Rundll32.exe =
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Service) Rundll32.exe =
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

The above five items are Windows standard. Except in Cleanboot mode, =
leave these items enabled. Yes, there are two LoadPowerProfile items, =
but they load at different times and experience has taught us that if =
you disable one or both, weird things may happen. Scan Registry checks =
the Registry's integrity and makes a backup if none already exists for =
"today". Task Monitor logs the usage of applications and provides this =
info to Defrag for the purpose of optimizing file placement. System Tray =
provides a place for a few things like the Volume Control in the system =
tray.

KB891711 Registry (Machine Service) =
c:\windows\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE

This is part of a recent Windows Update and should be left intact.

CriticalUpdate Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\SYSTEM\wucrtupd.exe =
-startup

A scheduled task that checks for new Updates from Microsoft. Best leave =
this one intact.

Microsoft Office Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Microsoft =
Office\Office\OSA9.EXE" -b -l

This one usually doesn't cause problems, either. It helps Office =
programs launch more quickly and provides other benefits, and it will =
get re-enabled when you use Office, anyway.

run Win.ini hpfsched

Part of your HP printer installation and no big deal. Leave it alone

Logitech Desktop Messenger Agent Startup Group "C:\Program =
Files\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LDMConf.exe" /start
LDM Registry (Per-User Run) C:\Program Files\Desktop =
Messenger\8876480\Program\BackWeb-8876480.exe

Both of the above are useless for the most part (see =
http://tinyurl.com/7z3zo) It also uses the well-known BackWeb, a tool =
that is often considered Spyware and can be used to distribute =
adware/spyware. However, many companies use BackWeb to provide similar =
services as those Logitech is offering and in some few cases it is =
actually wise to leave it in place, in order to allow tech support =
access to your system. I never leave anything like this installed, and =
in this case, it's potentially causing problems for what I think you'll =
agree is no benefit. I'd uninstall this using Add/Remove Programs. My =
guess is that the item is titled "Logitech Desktop Messenger.

Tau Monitor Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRAM FILES\AGNITUM\TAUSCAN =
1.6\TAUMON.EXE

This is a trojan detection/removal tool. Not one that I would use, but =
if the documentation is correct, it only runs at startup and while it =
might slow down your startup, if it makes you feel safer, by all means =
leave it.

EM_EXEC Registry (Machine Run) =
C:\PROGRA~1\LOGITECH\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE

This program supports special functions for your Logitech mouse (you =
still have a Logitech mouse, right?) If you actually use those special =
functions, fine. Otherwise, most machines get along without this =
application just fine. Uninstallation is optional.

mdac_runonce Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\runonce.exe

This is leftover garbage from the installation of MDAC (Microsoft Data =
Access Components) You DO NOT want to delete the file Runonce.exe, but =
you do want to get rid of this startup command. Instruction for that to =
follow.

VsEcomrEXE Registry (Machine Run) C:\Program Files\Network =
Associates\McAfee VirusScan\vsecomr.exe
MCAgentExe Registry (Machine Run) =
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mcagent.exe
files\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
MCUpdateExe Registry (Machine Run) =
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCUPDATE.EXE
VSOCheckTask Registry (Machine Run) =
"C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\MCMNHDLR.EXE" /checktask
VirusScan Online Registry (Machine Run) =
"C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsshld.exe"
MPFExe Registry (Machine Run) =
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
McVsRte Registry (Machine Service) =
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsrte.exe /embedding

*All* of the above are part of the McAfee Suite you're using. As Glen =
notes, you can test to see if it's causing problems by turning it off =
(after physically disconnecting from the internet), but I personally =
can't see how it *wouldn't* cause problems at one time or another. But =
I've already commented on what I think of this stuff.

Your material stated that it's not a good solution to disable items in
msconfig so I need instruction on how to do it. I had played around
with unchecking boxes based on info from sysinfo.org site which may
have resulted in the unresponsive mouse problem. Most items on the
list relate to McAfee...maybe that's what's slowing things down.=20

The proper statement is taht it's not wise to *permanently* disable =
items using MSCONFIG. It's intended to be used for trouble-shooting, and =
if you have a mess of permanently disabled items there, it makes life =
difficult, to say the least. Each of those items above has a notation =
next to it referring to where the command resides in the system, as =
follows:

"Startup Group" refers to a shortcut in the StartProgramsStartup =
folder. To get rid of it, simply right-click and delete the shortcut.
"run Win.ini" and another that you don't have, "load Win.ini", refer to =
lines in the Win.ini file, Example: "Run=3Dhpfsched", and you get rid of =
them by simply deleting the appropriate line.

The rest are Registry commands located in the following Registry keys:
"Per-User Run" =3D =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
"Per-User Service" =3D =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServices
"Machine Run" =3D =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
"Machine Service" =3D =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServices

To permanently get rid of such commands, you need to edit the Registry. =
That's a potentially dangerous place to play around, and it usually =
isn't necessary anyway if you properly uninstall the related =
applications. If you *do* get into the Registry, be sure you have a =
current Registry backup by running Scanreg /backup from the Start\Run =
box, and then back up the Key you're editing by opening the appropriate =
key and then using FileExport to save a copy of that key in a REG file. =
Unfortunately, you do have one such item that needs to be deleted =
manually, "mdac_runonce", though it isn't really a big deal if you want =
to leave it. It will potentially cause some delay during Startup is all. =
The rest of the items above should disappear if they uninstall properly, =
but that isn't always a given--sometimes yu have to clean up after these =
things.

As mentioned before I wondered about the computer overheating. I don't
live in an air-conditioned house and even though there are not too =
many
really hot days in Maine (2 seasons he winter & August)it does seem
like the computer runs better when it's cold.

It's possible that heat would cause a bit of a slowdown, I suppose, but =
it's generally assumed that the only time to worry is if the machine =
starts spontaneously rebooting itself.
=20
Thanks, Mary

You're welcome, Mary! Feel free to ask further clarifying questions. =
Personally, I think that besides the probability that McAfee and that =
Logitech Desktop thingy are very likey to be causing your system to bog =
down some, it's also likely that you have other adware/spyware problems. =
I strongly recommend you follow up with those tools I recommended and =
the Aumha.org site. No one anti-spyware/adware tool catches all of them. =
You want to run at least Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy on a =
regular basis, and to keep the stuff from getting into your system in =
the first place use HOSTS Manager and SpywareBlaster.
=20
P. S. What is "MS-MVP"?

"Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" is an award given my MS to people =
in the public sphere who provide support for Microsoft products.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

Here's my MVP Profile:
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...59-8c6f-9415e=
eb3201a

--=20
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

I find it better to drop OSA9 from the startup group. And, if its running,
kill findfast in the control panel under its own icon.

The user should run IE for internet address, any safe known website is okay.
Then check if mdm.exe is running via ctrl-alt-del. This comes from the
Office 2k install. You can prevent mdm.exe from running in IE's internet
options/advanced, select disable script debugging.
Also check for 0 byte files in the windows folder, there may be a boatload.
That will slow the PC to a crawl.
..
"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
(sent using MIME-Quoted Printable to avoid wrap--I hope...)

"Mary" wrote in message
ups.com...
Mr. Terhune: I checked for viruses/malware and all was clear. Followed
the Clean Boot instructions, then did scandisk & defrag. Didn't dare
to change AV apps just yet. Here's the list of background apps:

I'll comment on your background apps below, but first, some additional
comments on your original post. I didn't say anything about some of the
other things you mentioned in your original post, like "messing with virtual
memory", which is almost always a bad thing to do. Please go back in there
and reset it to "Let Windows Manage..." Also, I forget where the setting is
that you probably changed where you choose between best performance for
Server or Programs, but be sure to change it back to Programs. In fact, any
of that tweaking you mentioned, it would be wise to undo whatever you did.

Do you notice any difference in performance after doing basic maintenance? I
doubt it was much, but we needed a baseline, which is why I started with
that. What is almost certainly a major part of the problem is
Adware/Spyware. Most of the tools I recommended in my article on Security
deal with those kinds of problems, and you need to use *all* of them, since
they all look for or protect against slightly different things. Another good
resource for issues involving Spyware/Adware is
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

Note: Before uninstalling applications, make sure to reenable any disabled
items in the MSCONFIG panels, since the uninstaller won't be able to find
these entries if they are disabled. As mentioned in my Clean Boot article,
you may want to disable the startup groups in MSCONFIG and then restart, in
order to get them unloaded, but then go back and re-enable everything, click
OK, but DO NOT restart when prompted. Then do your uninstall procedures.

I'm going to reorganize this list to group them more appropriately

ScanRegistry Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
SystemTray Registry (Machine Run) SysTray.Exe
TaskMonitor Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\taskmon.exe SchedulingAgent
Registry (Machine Service) mstask.exe
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Run) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Service) Rundll32.exe
powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

The above five items are Windows standard. Except in Cleanboot mode, leave
these items enabled. Yes, there are two LoadPowerProfile items, but they
load at different times and experience has taught us that if you disable one
or both, weird things may happen. Scan Registry checks the Registry's
integrity and makes a backup if none already exists for "today". Task
Monitor logs the usage of applications and provides this info to Defrag for
the purpose of optimizing file placement. System Tray provides a place for a
few things like the Volume Control in the system tray.

KB891711 Registry (Machine Service)
c:\windows\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE

This is part of a recent Windows Update and should be left intact.

CriticalUpdate Registry (Machine Run)
c:\windows\SYSTEM\wucrtupd.exe -startup

A scheduled task that checks for new Updates from Microsoft. Best leave this
one intact.

Microsoft Office Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\OSA9.EXE" -b -l

This one usually doesn't cause problems, either. It helps Office programs
launch more quickly and provides other benefits, and it will get re-enabled
when you use Office, anyway.

run Win.ini hpfsched

Part of your HP printer installation and no big deal. Leave it alone

Logitech Desktop Messenger Agent Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Desktop
Messenger\8876480\Program\LDMConf.exe" /start
LDM Registry (Per-User Run) C:\Program Files\Desktop
Messenger\8876480\Program\BackWeb-8876480.exe

Both of the above are useless for the most part (see
http://tinyurl.com/7z3zo) It also uses the well-known BackWeb, a tool that
is often considered Spyware and can be used to distribute adware/spyware.
However, many companies use BackWeb to provide similar services as those
Logitech is offering and in some few cases it is actually wise to leave it
in place, in order to allow tech support access to your system. I never
leave anything like this installed, and in this case, it's potentially
causing problems for what I think you'll agree is no benefit. I'd uninstall
this using Add/Remove Programs. My guess is that the item is titled
"Logitech Desktop Messenger.

Tau Monitor Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRAM FILES\AGNITUM\TAUSCAN
1.6\TAUMON.EXE

This is a trojan detection/removal tool. Not one that I would use, but if
the documentation is correct, it only runs at startup and while it might
slow down your startup, if it makes you feel safer, by all means leave it.

EM_EXEC Registry (Machine Run)
C:\PROGRA~1\LOGITECH\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE

This program supports special functions for your Logitech mouse (you still
have a Logitech mouse, right?) If you actually use those special functions,
fine. Otherwise, most machines get along without this application just fine.
Uninstallation is optional.

mdac_runonce Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\runonce.exe

This is leftover garbage from the installation of MDAC (Microsoft Data
Access Components) You DO NOT want to delete the file Runonce.exe, but you
do want to get rid of this startup command. Instruction for that to follow.

VsEcomrEXE Registry (Machine Run) C:\Program Files\Network
Associates\McAfee VirusScan\vsecomr.exe
MCAgentExe Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mcagent.exe
files\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
MCUpdateExe Registry (Machine Run)
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCUPDATE.EXE
VSOCheckTask Registry (Machine Run)
"C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\MCMNHDLR.EXE" /checktask
VirusScan Online Registry (Machine Run)
"C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsshld.exe"
MPFExe Registry (Machine Run) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
McVsRte Registry (Machine Service) C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\VSO\mcvsrte.exe
/embedding

*All* of the above are part of the McAfee Suite you're using. As Glen notes,
you can test to see if it's causing problems by turning it off (after
physically disconnecting from the internet), but I personally can't see how
it *wouldn't* cause problems at one time or another. But I've already
commented on what I think of this stuff.

Your material stated that it's not a good solution to disable items in
msconfig so I need instruction on how to do it. I had played around
with unchecking boxes based on info from sysinfo.org site which may
have resulted in the unresponsive mouse problem. Most items on the
list relate to McAfee...maybe that's what's slowing things down.

The proper statement is taht it's not wise to *permanently* disable items
using MSCONFIG. It's intended to be used for trouble-shooting, and if you
have a mess of permanently disabled items there, it makes life difficult, to
say the least. Each of those items above has a notation next to it referring
to where the command resides in the system, as follows:

"Startup Group" refers to a shortcut in the StartProgramsStartup folder.
To get rid of it, simply right-click and delete the shortcut.
"run Win.ini" and another that you don't have, "load Win.ini", refer to
lines in the Win.ini file, Example: "Run=hpfsched", and you get rid of them
by simply deleting the appropriate line.

The rest are Registry commands located in the following Registry keys:
"Per-User Run" =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
"Per-User Service" =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServices
"Machine Run" =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
"Machine Service" =
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServices

To permanently get rid of such commands, you need to edit the Registry.
That's a potentially dangerous place to play around, and it usually isn't
necessary anyway if you properly uninstall the related applications. If you
*do* get into the Registry, be sure you have a current Registry backup by
running Scanreg /backup from the Start\Run box, and then back up the Key
you're editing by opening the appropriate key and then using FileExport to
save a copy of that key in a REG file. Unfortunately, you do have one such
item that needs to be deleted manually, "mdac_runonce", though it isn't
really a big deal if you want to leave it. It will potentially cause some
delay during Startup is all. The rest of the items above should disappear if
they uninstall properly, but that isn't always a given--sometimes yu have to
clean up after these things.

As mentioned before I wondered about the computer overheating. I don't
live in an air-conditioned house and even though there are not too many
really hot days in Maine (2 seasons he winter & August)it does seem
like the computer runs better when it's cold.

It's possible that heat would cause a bit of a slowdown, I suppose, but it's
generally assumed that the only time to worry is if the machine starts
spontaneously rebooting itself.

Thanks, Mary

You're welcome, Mary! Feel free to ask further clarifying questions.
Personally, I think that besides the probability that McAfee and that
Logitech Desktop thingy are very likey to be causing your system to bog down
some, it's also likely that you have other adware/spyware problems. I
strongly recommend you follow up with those tools I recommended and the
Aumha.org site. No one anti-spyware/adware tool catches all of them. You
want to run at least Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy on a regular
basis, and to keep the stuff from getting into your system in the first
place use HOSTS Manager and SpywareBlaster.

P. S. What is "MS-MVP"?

"Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" is an award given my MS to people in
the public sphere who provide support for Microsoft products.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

Here's my MVP Profile:
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...f-9415eeb3201a

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
[snip]
Also, I forget where the setting is
that you probably changed where you choose between best performance for
Server or Programs, but be sure to change it back to Programs.
[snip]

If what you're talking about is located in the Performance (My
Computer,Properties), File System tab and lableled Hard Disks, why would you
want "Typical role of computer" set to Desktop rather than Network Server?
It used to be highly recommended to set it to Network Server. Has this changed?
Thanks

Well, I reversed all the tweaks that I made to my computer: back to
normal startup; selected home computer instead of network server; back
to the default virtual memory. I also download Ad-aware and SpyBot
and ran both and did discover some stuff from both, which I deleted.

Based on your comments startup list there really wasn't much to
delete. I didn't remove the mdac_runonce because I don't want to
inadvertantly screw up the Registry and since you said it wasn't any
big deal to leave it, I decided to leave it.

After scandisk/defrag my computer is still exhibiting the intermittent
slowness/hesitation. Mouse goes along then stalls then starts;
sometimes I type text and it doesn't appear for a few seconds;
sometimes computer won't shut down (gets stuck at "windows is shutting
down") - this happens on average about once a week. Could the hard
drive be failing? How would I know?

Also I've noticed that when I start my computer the system resources
are generally between 70-78% and now in IE it's at 64%. Does this mean
anything?

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
I find it better to drop OSA9 from the startup group. And, if its
running,
kill findfast in the control panel under its own icon.

The user should run IE for internet address, any safe known website is
okay.
Then check if mdm.exe is running via ctrl-alt-del. This comes from the
Office 2k install. You can prevent mdm.exe from running in IE's internet
options/advanced, select disable script debugging.
Also check for 0 byte files in the windows folder, there may be a
boatload.
That will slow the PC to a crawl.

There may be a lot of 0 byte files in the windows folder, but you shouldn't
tell anyone to simply delete them! You should be more specific as to the
file names which are safe to be deleted. There may be some applications
which create 0 byte files in the windows folder which may cause problems if
they are simply deleted. So, unless you are sure that any 0 byte file is no
longer required by windows or any other application, I wouldn't delete any
of them!