Cleaning up a notebook running Win 98 (2)

[Crispy]

Hi all, I've been asked to clean up a Compaq Presario for a relative who is having problems. It is running 98 which I have no experience of.

The machine has been running for five years with no maintenance, and has quite a bit of software added. The main problems were locking up at close time (Windows 98 is shutting down) but it didn't, it often just hung there - Also, it was becoming very sluggish.

The owner thought it was a virus, and as she had no virus protection, I wouldn't have been surprised.

So far, I have loaded and run NAV and that gives a clean bill of health. It took several times of starting and locking up before getting to that point. When it did finish, as soon as I clicked the Finish button, it performed an illegal and locked up the machine.

I have added a 128MB memory module, because I couldn't believe it could work properly on the standard fixed chip. I have run a defrag and that's about it for now. I'm sure the registry is pretty screwed, but I'm not familiar with programs to play with this area of the machine. Any recommendations please?

All the best,
Chris P

[mc2phat]

Honestly, I'd have her help you backup everything she wants saved and complete a clean install and start from scratch. If this isn't an option, download Spybot S&D, run it, run Disk Cleanup, download Reg Clean and run/fix errors have her help you delete/uninstall everything she doesn't want, go to Windows Update and download and install all the updates, install tweak UI, then finally scandisk/defrag it again.

[Crispy]

Thanks for the response, and the format wasn't an acceptable option. I have already downloaded the latest Spybot and run it, I forgot to mention that.

I've downloaded RegClean, EndItAll2, and Windows 98 Shutdown that I'm hoping will help get this sorted. We have gone through all the installed programs and decided which ones can go. I'll let you know how things go.

All the best,
Chris P

[glc]

5 years on Win98 without a reformat is gonna be pretty rough to get cleaned up. With a Compaq, an over the top install is probably not an option, because the restore disk is only capable of wiping it.

If this is what I think it is - a Presario notebook with an AMD K6 processor - they get very flaky when they get old - I think it's a processor heat issue. About all you can do is scan thoroughly for viruses and spyware with every tool you can get your hands on (and I recommend you get RID of Norton, it's got a HUGE footprint, AVG Free is a better choice), uninstall useless software, use msconfig to take crap out of the startup, delete temporary internet files, dump everything in c:\windows\temp, run a thorough scandisk and defrag, and run Microsoft Regclean till it comes up with no errors.

[Crispy]

Originally Posted by glc 5 years on Win98 without a reformat is gonna be pretty rough to get cleaned up..... If this is what I think it is - a Presario notebook with an AMD K6 processor - they get very flaky when they get old...... (and I recommend you get RID of Norton, it's got a HUGE footprint, AVG Free is a better choice)....

Thanks for that GLC, I'm working my way through it now. Flaky is certainly a good description of this beast. What you say about Norton is probably very true, and I checked out AVG Free. They make a big thing of getting a clean bill of 100% success in one month last year, but if you check the Virus Bulletin site, there is an awful lot of fail messages, and compared to NAV, it is way behind.

My problem at the moment is probably simple to solve, but I can't find an answer. The dial up tries to connect to the Internet every time the machine boots up, and some other times too. Any ideas on the problem please?

Thanks for your help,
Chris P

[glc]

That's something in the startup, very likely a Trojan or some spyware - or maybe Norton live update. You can stop it by setting your Internet Options - Connections - to "never dial a connection". If you do that, simply drag a shortcut to the dialup connection out to the desktop and use that to connect when desired before opening your browser or email software. Keep cleaning, and don't be afraid of AVG, it does a plenty good job.

[Crispy]

Thanks GLC, I tried that last night and it did seem to be NAV auto update that was causing the trouble, though why starting Word should generate multiple attempts at connecting, just confuses me more.

I have removed NAV now and downloaded AVG - so far I'm very impressed. It was AVG running a scan of the system that provoked my response, it seemed to be doing very well for upto 19000 files and then decided to crash on me. Only once did Norton ever get past that number of files, so that has to say something.

I'll keep you informed,
Chris P

[Crispy]

Having worked through all the obvious, and the suggested items, I was hoping for some improvement when the owner came to visit today.

Having put in the extra memory module, and drastically reduced the running programs, I can tell you that things are, if anything, worse than before I got my hands on it. The thing still locks up at regular intervals, has blue death screens, and programs take for ever to load.

If only I could have persuaded her to go for the fresh install option. I'll keep at it a bit longer and hope for a miracle. Still, at least I know there are no viruses on it now.

Chris P

[GaryRouth]

Crispy - don't forget to run a dedicated antispyware program on that system, along with the regular antivirus. It doesn't have to run all the time, especially if system performance is a problem. Try AdAware http://www.lavasoft.com or SpyBot http://www.safer-networking.org - they are recommended a lot.

Also, when you added the 128mb module, was it an exact-match, single-sided module? Compaqs are notoriously finicky about memory timings. How much system memory is there altogether? You mention the standard "fixed chip" - are you referring to a system memory module, or one for the onboard video? At any rate, you could test things with/without the new module - and if you try the over-the-top mentioned below, start with the older module only - for maximum stability.

And you checked the system temps? - - - it won't hurt to blow any accumulated dust out (taking the usual anti-static precautions).

. . . and, while you probably can't do an over-the-top reinstall with the Compaq disk, you might be able to do one with a Win98 CD (of the same version as the currently installed 98), as long as you keep the license number of the original intact [copy it down beforehand]. Full details for over-the-top reinstalls are here http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846
- - - > and, make sure to try any of the reinstall/cleaning-up procedures while running from the AC adapter rather than the battery. If I remember, not only did the Amd chips run hot in those, the batteries got fairly warm too. And certainly heat can cause lockups.

Who knows, maybe the laptop will calm down and behave itself from all the attention it's getting.
. . . Gary

[LocoCoyote]

In addition to all the good advice above, I suggest you go to www.tufftest.com and download thier TuffTest tool. It will allow you to test your hardware; independant of any OS. This tool we enable you to check your memory, drives, etc. You can even run a burn-in test. Do all this and you can eliminate/identify and hardware problems.
Next suggestion is to (if you have the capability to burn a cd somewhere) go to www.linuxiso.org and download Knoppix. This is a very good CD based (runs from the CD without having to install anything) OS that will allow you to bring the system up and see how the hardware componants are interacting. If there is a overheating, or possably some hidden ESH damage, you may see symptoms while running this OS.
Last part of my 2 cents is that I suggest you try System Mechanic (www.iolo.com/sm). This is a all-around tool that will help you with your registry problems, useless files, start-up, and many more things.

Good Luck!

[Crispy]

Hi Gary, thanks for the input on this one.

I've already run SpyBot, and I've spent hours on the Web checking programs and tools that might help with the problems. I couldn't really answer your question about the memory module being a match, only to say that it was sold as being for the Compaq model specified. The original module was 32Mb and not removable, the new 128 module took it upto the 160Mb maximum.

it won't hurt to blow any accumulated dust out ...

That would seem to be a good idea, but I haven't ever played about with a notebook before, perhaps I'll give it a try. At least with the memory it has an easy access hatch, as with the battery, that's as far as I went.

Who knows, maybe the laptop will calm down and behave itself from all the attention it's getting.

That sounds like the miracle I've been hoping for.

All the best,
Chris P

[Crispy]

Hi LocoCoyote,

Thanks for all your suggestions, I've spent a lot of time today reading reviews for various software packages. I did download System Mechanic and tried a system scan on my own machine, but in the end decided on Advanced System Optimizer. That seems to have a wide number of tools and numerous awards, but I haven't had the chance to get into it yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

All the best,
Chris P

[Crispy]

Apart from running through a list of regular tasks for her to carry out, and handing the beast back to her, I think the task is done, at least as well as I can.

All excess stuff has been removed from the laptop, all the usual cleanup operations carried out, and a virus scanner added (thanks glc for the AVG Free suggestion), maximum RAM installed, and the Registry tweaked a bit. I was surprised to find less than twenty errors in there after five years, but I guess she doesn't use it much. It seems to respond quite well now, so I'm hoping all will be well when she comes tomorrow.

Thanks to all those who contributed on this one - if nothing else, I have at least learnt lots about the registry, and about a new virus app.

All the best,
Chris P