Windows ME Fixes...
Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 3:08 am
Windows Me Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Jack Gulley
(5917 messages posted)
It is time for an update to my old version of Windows ME Fixes so.....
By:
 Actually,
Windows ME is very stable (well can be)
if you remove a few default software modules from memory, clean up your disk drive,
remove any/all
Spyware_AD-ware, browser hijackers, virus, worms and trojans, then update
all device drivers, install all Windows Updates and make sure your hardware
is OK.
Memory hardware problems: 
First make sure your system memory (RAM) is OK.
For example: memory failures can cause random program hanging symptoms. Or if
you are overclocking and there is a random failure problem. This can be happening
without you realizing it on most system boards running Windows. So you must test
memory outside of Windows. Memory problems can also result in program files on the
disk being corrupted during a Defrag. A common memory problem from tweaking your
system is a BIOS setting of "CLK SDRAM Cycle Length" of CL=2 when you may have a
CL=3 rated SDRAM module added to the machine. Use the CMOS Setup function to set
memory values to default or standard settings, and the CL setting to 3 (unless you
know for a fact your memory is rated CL=2). Setting the memory DRAM Timings to "Turbo"
or "Fast" instead of the "Normal" setting can also cause problems.
Run a standalone memory test from a DOS boot diskette. Get both DocMemory_v2.0 and MemTest86_v3.0, and make their boot
diskettes. You should be able to run both for at least 12 hours without errors
to test your hardware, before you suspect Windows ME is the cause of problems.
 If a Windows
ME system has more than 512MB of RAM, then to work around a
bug in the vcache management, per MS_253912, you must add the following
to the [vcache] section of C:\Windows\SYSTEM.INI file:
[vcache]
MaxFileCache=524288
If more than 1024MB (1GB) RAM, then a second entry in SYSTEM.INI may
be required in the [386Enh] section per MS_304943 to limit Windows ME to using
just 1GB of physical RAM:
[386Enh]
MaxPhysPage=40000
See
Memory Resources and
Memory Management_vcache for
additional information.
Slowdown and hang problems: 
 Standard
approach to this type of problem is to clean up the disk drive, run a full up to
date virus scan, check for and remove Spyware - Ad-ware
- Browser Hijackers, update Windows ME with security fixes, and then remove
some unnecessary programs.
 First, run ScanDisk
to make sure the drive is OK. If problems running ScanDisk, then reboot the system
into SAFE MODE (hold Ctrl when rebooting, before the Windows splash
screen) and run Scandisk. In some cases it may be necessary to boot from a Windows
ME boot diskette and run from the DOS prompt: SCANDISK C: to clear
errors.
 To do a quick Disk
CleanUp and clean out temp files that you do not need, run (Start - Programs -
Accessories - System Tools -Disk CleanUp) on your C: drive. Run this every
week to keep system clean. The first time you run it, select the "Downloaded Program
Files" line, click View button, and manually removed all "objects" shown, in case
one of these plug-ins are back level and causing problems. They will download again
if required.
 Information on Spyware and Browser Hijack removal
tools, prevention tools, links and forums can be found at SpywareInfo. You can get help identifying
new hijackers, related programs and current news.
 A major
problem today is new and rapid changing Browser Hijackers. Check for and remove the
newest of these with the CoolWeb Browser Hijack removal tool. Downloaded and then
OPEN the program
CWshredder.exe . In some cases Browser Hijackers will prevent you from accessing
this download site and other SpywareInfo sites. In that case you can use any working
computer to download the small
CWshredder.exe program to a diskette and then run it from the diskette on the
infected system. Close all other Internet Explorer windows and then run it. When
done, reboot your system and run it again.
 Next, and
most important step, is to download and install the SpyBot Search_&_Destroy
tool to delete any Spyware/AD-ware/hijacker found. Read about this type of junk at
Spyware_etc.
These programs come hidden in "free" software, like KaZaA, and can corrupt or slow
down your system. Or can be installed by some hijack web sites that hijack your browser
settings. After installing SpyBot, use the ONLINE feature to update
the software and its reference lists, then run a scan and delete any checked items
found. Leave the un-checked items alone for now. Advanced users can do additional
cookie, history list and Registry deleting with SpyBot later by using the un-checked
items.
 Another good
free and easy to use Spyware-Adware remover is Lavasoft's_Ad-Aware. It finds and removes a large number
of ADWare programs and Porn Dialers. Purchase version includes real-time detecting
and blocking of Spyware-Adware. Download the free version at Ad-Aware_6 to scan for and remove
Spyware-Adware. Be sure to check for updates before using. The first time you run
it, you should select the Custom mode and enable all checks that you can. If any
items are found, check them to remove them and be sure to reboot the system afterwords.
 If you
do not have a good up to date virus scan utility installed or there
are problems with it, do a free online AV scan at HouseCall_AV by TrendMicro.
This will take a while to run but worth it to know that you do not have a virus or
common Trojan. If any are found and not removed, go to either PC-cillin or Symantec Removal Tools or McAfee_AV sites for information on
the specific virus and removal tools and instructions. If HouseCall does not download
and run, try getting the Klez removal tool at Symantec Removal Tools and make sure this virus is not on the
system. Or try the Panda On-Line virus scan.
A quick check for Internet Explorer browser HiJack'ers can be done at DoxDesk.com web site. If any are detected, then Ad-Aware or
SpyBot should be used to remove them.
 To understand
what tasks and programs are running on your machine, may be causing problems and
taking up the processor bandwidth, download WinTop, one of the free Micro$oft Kernel Toys. It gives accurate
%CPU usage by program. You can also use the Windows ME System Tools - System
Information utility, expand "Software Environment" and look at the "Running Tasks"
and the "Loaded Modules", to find all programs running and all programs, DLLs and
Drivers loaded into memory.
 To help
make yourself aware of background processes ending or aborting, go to Control Panel
- Sounds and Multimedia Properties - Sounds tab and select the "Program Close"
event and enable one of the program close sounds, and Apply it. Now every time a
program closes or aborts you will hear the sound, and alert you to possible problems
you were not aware of.
There is also a recommended update (patch) on the Windows UpDate for the Internet
Explorer navigation sound (click) that is needed to avoid random hangs when using
IE.
 To make
Windows ME stable and allow ScanDisk and Defrag to run without restarts, it
is important to remove two Windows ME Startup tasks that often cause performance
problems, hangs and restarts of ScanDisk and Defrag. Use (Start - RUN - msconfig
- OK, Startup tab) to un-check and remove PCHealth and TaskMonitor
from your Windows ME startup list. They are not needed and if their data files are
corrupted, they can slow down your system. PCHealth collects system configuration
changes for use in remote problem analysis by Enterprise Network $upport desks. Are you paying for that kind of online support? TaskMonitor collects
information on what parts of programs are being loaded and Tune-UP uses it to tell
Defrag which 10 programs to leave fragmented. Drives are fast and
you do not need this minor tweak for loading a select few programs, one time.
Un-check the "show message box" when the system boots. Once this is done, reboot
and go to System Tools - Scheduled Tasks and delete the icons for PCHealth
and Tune-UP applications, the second part of these programs, again unneeded.
Defrag will now run a little faster.
Be aware that if you have a software FireWall, that it logs hits to a log file,
and will be doing writes to the disk drive. This may cause ScanDisk and Defrag to
restart. To get around this problem you either have to disable the firewall logging,
disable the firewall during scans, unplug the internet connection, or do the scans
in Safe Mode.
 The LexMark
Z, A & P series printer drivers cause random program and shutdown hangs.
If not sharing Lexmark printer to the network, one of it's problem drivers can be
removed without effecting normal operation. Rename or delete the file \Windows\System\Lexpps.exe
using Safe Mode or a boot diskette DOS prompt. The file, Lexpps.exe, may also
exist with some low end HP and Compaq printers that were OEM'ed by Lexmark, so search
for it and rename. See AnswersThatWork - Lexpps.exe. Reboot
and test. In addition, for most LexMark printers, like the Z42, you can also remove
Lexstart.exe from the Startup tab list with RUN - MSCONFIG utility, (keep
LexmarkPrintTray). Test to see that removing it does not cause printer problems with
your model, other than slowing down initial printing of the first page.
 If your System
_RESTORE files are corrupted, contain a virus or have grown too large, it can cause
system slowdown problems. Often the STMGR.exe task will start running at 50% or more
in the background. This can be corrected by Disabling System Restore and then
re-enabling System Restore, to delete all the old restore points. Go to (Start
- Settings - Control Panel - System - Performance tab - File System - Troubleshooting
tab), and check the box for "Disable System Restore", click Apply and
exit. System will reboot. Allow STMGR time to delete all the old system restore files,
wait for no disk activity for at least a minute. Then run DEFRAG on the drive. Next
go back into the Troubleshooting tab and un-check the box to enable System
Restore again. Then use the Hard Disk tab to set the "System Restore disk space
use:" slide bar to only use about 1000MB (or less) of disk space to limit how
much of the drive it might use. Then change the "Typical role of this computer:"
to the Network Server option for better performance. - - Also, make sure system
is up to date on the Windows UpDate site, as there is a year old fix for
System Restore not working correctly.
 If system slowdowns only start after
logging on to the Internet, then disable Automatic Windows and IE updates.
Again, if their files are corrupted it can cause system slowdowns, hangs, or the
mouse to freeze for 3 seconds every five minutes. Go to Control Panel - Automatic
Updates and under Options, set "Turn off automatic updating. I will update
my computer manually." Check this every so often as Windows will turn it back on
sometimes. Then in Internet Explorer, click Tools - Internet Options line - Advanced
tab, and un-check the box "Automatically Check for IE updates" and then click
Apply.
 Next go to Control
Panel - Add/Remove Programs and look for "Critical Update Notification". If
found, Remove it. See AnswersThatWork - WUCrtUpd.exe. It
can cause your system to check the Windows Update site every five minutes when online.
Then use the Windows UpDate site to update manually. On the Windows
Update site, there is an update for the Automatic Update program. Make sure you install
this update, and then go back to the Control Panel and Turn off automatic updating
again. Trying to do automatic updates in the background can kill Dialup performance,
so you have to disable automatic updates in both places.
 Slow system performance
just after booting up and/or just after connecting to the Internet or a Network can
be caused by the default setting for NetCrawl. NetCrawl is a Windows ME feature
that searches for Network Shares of servers and printers. See MS_Q256248 . If not connected to
a network or if you never connect to a network server or printer, this function can
be disabled. See MS_276322 or in "My Network Place",
Tools, Folder Options, View tab, un-check the "Automatically search for network folders
and printers" and click "Apply". This setting can require you to manually connect
to local network resources.
 If you have MicroSoft's
Office installed and have slow disk access problems, use Kill Fast Find MS_158704 procedure to disable the problem causing
Fast Find function, and leave it that way.
 If your system
hangs while you are a way from it, it could be due to default Power Management
settings, which are a problem with Windows ME. To disable Hibernate, in Control
Panel - Power Options - Hibernate tab, uncheck the "Enable hibernate support" option.
Then on the Power Schemes tab, make sure the "System Stand by" option is set to Never.
It is also recommended that you go into the systems BIOS CMOS Settings and under
Power Management Setup disable "ACPI function" and "PM control by APM".
 If you still have
random hangs and shutdown problems, and all else has failed to help, try using Micro$ofts
procedures for trouble shooting Windows ME Shutdown Problems.
Security: 
 To really clean out unneeded Windows
ME temp files, the IE temp files, cookies and index files (which have a history
of every web site you have visited), and corrupted work files, get a copy of the
DELINDEX.BAT file and place it on your C:\ drive. Then boot from a Windows
ME Startup boot diskette and run the batch file per its instructions. It will
clear out INDEX.DAT files junk and free up disk space, so that the system and IE
can run better. Make a Windows ME Start up diskette in Control Panel, Add/Remove
Programs icon, Startup Disk tab.
 To improve
Security and help protect your system from Trojans and Worms, first remove SSDPSRV
which leaves port 1900 and 5000 open, as part of Universal Plug and Play. Go to Start
- Settings - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs - Widows Setup tab - select Communications
- Details - and un-check "Universal Plug and Play". Click OK, OK
and reboot system.
- Next go to the Windows UpDate site and download
the Security updates for Windows ME and your version of IE.
- Then go to
GRC.com and run Shields UP tests. Read about security there and try to
follow advice on closing
your ports.
- Additional advanced
security testing, worm and trojan information and Firewall testing can be found at
PC Flank.com.
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