Windows ME Fixes... 2004/1/16
Friday, January 16, 2004 at 12:44 am
Windows Me Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Jack Gulley
(5917 messages posted)
 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 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. Use the system board BIOS CMOS Setup function to set memory values
to default settings, and the CL setting to 3 (unless you know for a fact all 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
design 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
You do NOT need any memory managers or Optimizers with Windows ME. See
Memory
Resources and Memory Management_vcache for additional
information on Windows ME memory and vcache management.
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. MS Info.
 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 CoolWebSearch Browser Hijack removal tool. OPEN
CWshredder.exe by Merijin. Close all Internet Explorer windows and then click
Fix. When done, reboot your system and run it again.
- This program has
updates almost every week.
- VBRun60 required on older versions of Windows.
- Some Browser
Hijackers prevent you from accessing SpywareInfo sites through additions to the Windows\HOSTS
file. In that case, use different browser, or a working system to download the small
CWshredder.exe
program to a diskette and run it on the infected system.
 Next,
and most important step, is to install the SpyBot Search_&_Destroy
tool for deleting Spyware/AD-ware and Browser hijackers. Read about this type of
Malware at Spyware_etc.
Malware comes hidden in "free" software, like KaZaA and Internet Accelerators, and
can corrupt or slow down your system. Or can be installed by some hijack web pages
that hijack your browser settings. After installing SpyBot S&D, use Search for
updates to update the program and its file list, check items found. Change the
UniDo(Europe) download site to USA or Australia, then click Download update.
Click Check for problems to scan and when done, delete all items in red
found. Leave the non-red items for later. Advanced users can do additional cookie,
history list and Registry deleting with SpyBot later by using the other items. Be aware that
the Immunize function of SpyBot S&D can block your access to some Control
Panel functions in Windows.
 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 now before using every week. The first time you run it, you should
select the Custom scanning options and enable all checks that you can. If
any items are found, check them to remove them. Be sure to reboot when done if problems
were found.
A quick check for Internet Explorer browser Hijackers can be done at DoxDesk.com web site. If any are detected, then Ad-Aware or
SpyBot should be used to remove them.
 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 or Stinger and make sure this virus is not on the system. Or try
the
Panda On-Line virus scan.
 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 idle time and 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 more stable and allow ScanDisk and Defrag to run without restarts,
it is important to remove two Windows ME Startup tasks that often cause system
performance problems, hangs and restarts. 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 only collects system configuration
change information, for use in remote problem analysis by Enterprise Network $upport
desks. Is your company paying for that kind of remote 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. Programs will load a little faster, the disk drive
has to work less and Defrag and ScanDisk will not restart as often.
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 run them after booting into 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 900MB (or less) of disk space to limit how
much of the drive it might use. Also change the "Typical role of this computer:"
to the Network Server option for better performance. - - Make sure system
is up to date on the Windows UpDate site, as there is an old fix for System
Restore not working.
 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. 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 Dial-up performance,
so you have to disable automatic updates in both places.
 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.
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 system slows down and System Resources drop after running System Information
or HELP, check Task Manger (Alt-Ctrl-Del) for WinMGMT running. Or if you use
Adobe Reader to view a PDF document from inside IE and exit, check for ACCORD32.exe
still running. Use Task Manager or WINTOP to select Winmgmt or ACCORD32 and End Task.
They do not always exit when they should.
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".
 It
is important to update all your hardware device drivers with the newest Windows ME
specific drivers. (System board chip set, Video adapter, Ethernet card, modem, sound,
Printer, etc.) The default Windows ME drivers are too old and do not work with new
adapters. Often the drivers that come with older adapters or system boards have bugs
and are not Windows ME specific. Use Device Manager and System Information tool to
help identify chip sets used and their ID numbers.
- Reaktek has released
updates for their Ethernet Network adapters that fix a random shutdown hang problem.
- VIA Tech provides
its Hyperion 4in1 system board drivers and AC'97 sound driver updates for system
boards with VIA chip sets.
-
INTEL for INTEL chip set boards.
- System board vendor for SIS chip set systems.
- nVidia
or ATI for their
video graphics adapter drivers.
- ROXIO
ECDC/Direct-CD or NERO for
CD-RW burner updates.
- Agere Systems for latest Lucent/Agere LT WinModem driver.
 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. Be aware that recent versions of McAfee AV will
automatically delete the DELINDEX.BAT file!
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 Windows UpDate site and download the Security updates
for Windows ME and IE.
- When upgrading to Internet Explorer 6 SP1 or Direct-X 9.0b with Dial-Up, download
package from Download Center first to a work folder, then reboot into Safe
Mode and do the install to avoid problems.
- Go to GRC.com and run
Shields UP
tests. Read about security there and try to follow advice on closing your ports.
- After closing ports, if broadband Internet connection, consider getting a router
with Firewall or a software firewall program like ZoneAlarm.
- Remember to update your Anti Virus and Spyware programs every week!
- Additional security and Firewall testing, worm and trojan information can be
found at PC Flank.com.
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