Startup items

[mike12]

There are three items in my startup that I need help with.

1) PCTSPK.EXE I found this on that Pac-Portal site. It has something to do with the original PC-Tel modem that came with my computer. I have since removed it and installed a US Robotics real modem. I believe that I can remove this from my startup items. Do you agree ??

2) TSADBOT This item is not listed on that site. Is it required, or can I remove it from my startup items. It sounds like some kind of advertising to me.

3) S3TRAY2.EXE This item is also NOT on that Pac-Portal site. Is this required, r can I remove it from the startup items ?

I am running Windows XP Pro.

Thanks for your help and opinions, Mike

[DrZaius]

Hi Mike,

The first is from your old modem as you already said, so you can remove it. The second is a spyware program, so definitely remove it, and the third is the system tray app for an S3 video card, so it's up to you if you want to leave it (if you are using an S3 video card that is). Also, download and install Ad-Aware to remove any other spyware programs that might be on your system.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Hope that helps.

[mike12]

Thanks DrZaius for your answer. I removed that first item from startup, and ran that Ad aware. It found 28 items that I told it to remove. Not sure of the sound card. The specs on my computer just say "3D Integrated Sound system" I bought it from E-Bay, not a name brand. Mike

[DrZaius]

My mistake, I meant S3 video card, not sound card.

[mike12]

Not sure of the video either. The motherboard is a PC Chips M925LMR It talks about Embeded 3D AGP Graphics Accelerator in Noth bridge ?? Mike

[Cricket]

Hi mike12,

The S3 video is probably that Embedded 3D AGP Graphics Accelerator in North bridge. You don't need the S3 video systray application to run in background, it's just there to make video changes more convenient.

:) Cricket

[Desert Fox]

Advertising Spyware: TSADBOT

http://www.cexx.org/tsadbot.htm

[mike12]

Cricket--- Thanks for the video info. I think I will remove it from the startup items.
Desert Fox---I followed that link you you furnished. It seems like that TSADBOT could be pretty hard to permanently remove. I did download that Ad-Aware program that Dr. Zaius mentioned. It found 28 items, and I removed them all. (I hope). The last time I started the computer I checked the startup items, and TSADBOT was NOT checked as loading at startup. I will continue to check, to see if it comes back. Thanks for the info. Mike