re: Windows ME Fixes... Test fixed links
Wednesday, January 7, 2004 at 7:10 am
Windows Me Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Nathan
(2 messages posted)
Hello Jack,
Thank you very much for the reference to your incredibly detailed and hope-injecting
writings on the problem I am having. If I am able to put this to the good use that
it strongly makes me believe...I will be thrilled...thanks for giving me sound steps
to follow.
On Monday, January 5, 2004 at 2:14 pm, Jack Gulley wrote:
>
> name="Intro - Windows ME" >
>
> 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: 
>
> name="Memory Tests" >
>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 happen 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 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
>target="_blank"> DocMemory_v2.0 and
>target="_blank"> 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.
>
> name="512 MB" >
> If a Windows
>ME system has more than 512MB of RAM, then to work around a
>bug in the vcache management, per
>target="_blank">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
>target="_blank">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.
>
> name="Standard Intro" >
>
>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.
>
> name="SCANDISK" >
> 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.
>target="_blank"> MS Info.
>
> name="Disk CleanUp" >
> 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.
>
> name="Spywareinfo" >
> Information on
>target="_blank"> Spyware and Browser Hijack removal
>tools, prevention tools, links and forums can be found at
>target="_blank"> SpywareInfo. You can get help identifying
>new hijackers, related programs and current news.
>
> name="CWShredder" >
> A major
>problem today is new and rapid changing Browser Hijackers. Check for and remove
the
>newest of these with the CoolWebSearch Browser Hijack removal tool. Downloaded and
>OPEN CWshredder.exe
>by
Merijin.
>Some Browser Hijackers prevent you from accessing these SpywareInfo sites. In that
>case, use a working system 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 click Fix.
>to run it. When done, reboot your system and run it again.
>
> name="Spyware-SpyBot" >
> Next,
>and most important step, is to download and install the
>target="_blank">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
>target="_blank">SpyBot later by using the
un-checked
>items.
>
> name="Ad-Aware-Lavasoft" >
> Another
>good free and easy to use Spyware-Adware remover is
>target="_blank">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.
>
> name="Virus Scan" >
> 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
>target="_blank"> 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
>target="_blank"> PC-cillin or
>target="_blank"> Symantec Removal Tools or
>target="_blank"> 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
>target="_blank"> Symantec Removal Tools and make sure this virus is not on the
>system. Or try the
>color=#111188> Panda On-Line virus scan.
>
> name="DoxDisk" >
>A quick check for Internet Explorer browser HiJack'ers can be done at
>target="_blank"> DoxDesk.com web site. If any are detected, then Ad-Aware or
>SpyBot should be used to remove them.
>
> name="WINTOP tool" >
> To understand
>what tasks and programs are running on your machine, may be causing problems and
>taking up the processor bandwidth, download
>target="_blank"> 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.
>
> Program Close Sound >
>
>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
>target="_blank">Windows UpDate for the Internet
>Explorer navigation sound (click) that is needed to avoid random hangs when using
>IE.
>
> name="PCHealth-TaskMonitor" >
> 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.
>size="-2">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.
>
> name=Firewall-Defrag >
>Be aware, when a software FireWall logs hits it will do writes to the disk drive.
>This will 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, or do the scans after booting the system into Safe Mode.
>
> name="LexMark Lexpps" >
> 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
>target="_blank"> 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.
>
> name="System_RESTORE" >
> 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
>target="_blank"> 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
>color=#0000BB>Windows UpDate site, as there is a year old fix
for
>System Restore not working correctly.
>
> name="Automatic Updates" >
> If system slowdowns 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
>target="_blank"> AnswersThatWork - WUCrtUpd.exe.
It
>can cause your system to check the Windows Update site every five minutes when online.
>Then use the
>color=#0000BB>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.
>
> name="NetCrawl" >
>
>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
>
>color=#0000BB> 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.
>
> name="Fast Find" >
>
>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.
>
> name="WinMgMt" >
> If system slows down and System Resources drop after running System Information,
>check Task Manger (Alt-Ctrl-Del) for WinMGMT running. Use Task Manager or
>WINTOP to End Task, or RUN C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WBEM\WINMGMT.EXE
>/kill to kill WinMGMT.exe. It does not always exit when it should.
>
> name="Update Drivers" >
>It is important to update all device drivers for you hardware (System board chip
>set, Video adapter, Ethernet card, modem, sound, Printer, etc.)
>target="_blank"> Reaktek has released an update for its Network adapters that
>fixes a shutdown hang problem.
>VIA Tech provides its Hyperion 4in1 system board drivers and sound driver updates
>for system boards with VIA chip sets. As does
>target="_blank"> INTEL for INTEL chip set boards.
>target="_blank"> nVidia for their graphics adapter drivers.
>
> name="Power Management" >
>
>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".
>
> name="Shutdown Problems" >
> If you still
have
>random hangs and shutdown problems, and all else has failed to help, try using Micro$ofts
>procedures for trouble shooting
>target="_blank"> Windows ME Shutdown Problems.
>
> name="DELINDEX" >
>
>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.
>
> name="Security" >
>
To
>improve Security and help protect your system from Trojans and Worms;
>
>- 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, then Restart system.
> - Go to the
>color=#0000BB>Windows UpDate site and download the Security updates
>for Windows ME and IE.
> - Go to GRC.com and
run
> Shields UP
>tests. Read about security there and try to follow advice on
>target="_blank">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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