[Anti Abuse software]

I think McAfee is just trying to sell you something listed on this page:

http://us.mcafee.com/root/catalog.asp

[Something I found]

I had disabled the Task Scheduler on my previous factory install of WinXP and noticed that Prefetch stopped working, however I had to not only re-enable the Task Scheduler I also had to rebuild the registry entry for Layout.ini.

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Edit 1:

Forgot to mention, also to get Prefetch to working again I had to do this:

1. Start->Run:

%windir%\system32\Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

2. Restart Windows

3. Defrag hard disk

 

Note: No prompts will show for "%windir%\system32\Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks" however the hard disk light will become active. It optimizes an already existing Prefetch data Layout.ini file. It can also rebuild/create a missing Layout.ini file.

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Edit 2:

To answer your question CaPMan about the registry file I posted a few posts above. Save it as a .reg file, such as Enable_XP_Prefetch.reg.

 

You'd only need it if re-enabling the Task Scheduler doesn't re-enable Prefetch. However in most cases the .reg file isn't needed at all, however in my situation I had to use it because a registry cleaning program (don't remember which one) had already removed the Layout.ini reference from the registry.

[Easy Cleaner by ToniArts]

I also use EasyCleaner and have been for many years since the 1.x versions.

 

Like what has already been warned about don't use the Duplicates. Ignoring that button can save you from having to reinstall everything including Windows.

 

To make the EasyCleaner registry cleaner a bit "safer" than it already is input these entries to skip:

CCleaner, layout.ini, ntevt.log, servicepackcache, servicepackfiles, wbemsnmp.log, wmdm.log

[Arovax AntiSpyware 1.0 Alpha is available!]

I agree with the statements Tarun made a few posts up from mine.

 

Although I haven't tried it and most like won't in the Alpha phase one thing that I did notice via the website info is the availability for Win9X and up users to use it, that's something that'll help compete against MSAS as you can get the Win9x/NT crowd that MSAS doesn't support. From the screenshot it at least looks very easy to use.

 

One thing I don't get is why don't Arovax programs use WinXP themes?

 

Edit:

I love the bug design, whoever created it let him/her know they did well!

[Get more fuel for your money?]

Good points. We may also have to take into consideration the fuel that's already in our automobile fuel tank.

[Something I found]

If CCleaner isn't offering the cleaning of Old Prefetch Data I assume it means it can't find this key:

Detect=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout

 

To rebuild the key if it's missing:

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout]"LayoutFilePath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Prefetch\\Layout.ini"

 

[bombed w/ temp files! how to remove]

Question: If one is going to use Dos batch commands on an XP, does one do so from Safe Boot with Command Prompt or just from Regular Safe Mode-- or even w/o safe mode--going into the "Command Prompt" "program" under Start then Accessories?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

The commands can be ran in either regular Windows mode, or safe mode. It really isn't MS-DOS since in WinXP it's using CMD.exe to run command line utilities. It just looks like an old MS-DOS window, however many of the commands/parameters we grew used to from the Win9x/DOS era still work with XP.

 

I agree with you I do miss MS-DOS a little, and I still use it on my old Win98 system.

 

As for the HijackThis log one of the HijackThis log experts such as rridgely, Tarun, or Capman will analysis it for you.

[winsys.ini]

1. Reinstall Microsoft VB Runtime 6.0 SP6.

2. Restart Windows, even if you aren't prompted to do so.

[Something I found]

MrG the CCleaner author has already given a statement about CCleaner and the cleaning of the Prefetch folder. Therefore those who keep complaining about it, and those who keep quoting the same person over and over need to give up.

 

To stop the bickering, and complaining about the Prefetch "issue" paranoid users can open CCleaner and simple uncheck Old Prefetch Data.

[What is this?]

I'm trying to figure out how out of nowhere a file without an extension named "TempFile" appeared in the Windows XP SP2 C:\Windows directory. It gets recreated everytime I delete it with Unlocker and with HijackThis. A malware and virus scan in Safe Mode turned up nothing, the system was deemed clean.

 

Some info on the file:

Location: C:\Windows\TempFile

Size: 8.01 MB (8,405,015 bytes)

Status: Locked/In-use by the system

 

Info I was able to grab from the file:

* RajuRam

* xV4 RamDisk FAT32

* MS-HORDRIVE

 

A "RamDisk for FAT32" makes no sense to me since my file system is NTFS. Also the file first appeared on Oct 1st, and on that date I didn't install or remove anything whatsoever.

 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

Edit:

Disabling programs that startup with the system didn't solve the issue, therefore I'm leaning towards Windows itself as creating the file and not some installed application, however I could be completely off base with that assumption.

[bombed w/ temp files! how to remove]

The only explaination I can think of is some program on your system is creating the files, or Windows itself is the culprit. At least they're removable! For some reason out of nowhere WinXP has started creating an 8MB locked/in-use by the System file named TempFile in C:\Windows on my system, I can delete it with Unlocker or HijackThis however it returns on the next startup so I just ignore it.

 

As for what the parameters such as the quotations (") and percentage (%) around the batch file commands it's real simple, as I'll explain:

 

Quotations (") around a path is nothing more than an old DOS trick that allows for a file or files to be resolved without error messages such as "file not found"

 

As for command prompt parameters the percentages (%) are just mapped out locations in Windows since not all people will for example install Windows into C:\Windows, someone may choose C:\WinXP, C:\OS, and so forth. In Windows certain directories can be found using the percentages, eg.;

 

%ProgramFiles% = The path where the Program Files are installed.

%Windir% = The path where Windows is installed.

%Temp% = The path of the system default temp directory.

%UserProfile% = The path of your WinXP profile.

%AppData% = The path of the Application Data folder of your WinXP profile.

 

The reason to use such parameters is because a batch file, or install script can be used to install files into the correct location on most Windows OSes.

[Firewall Info]

Hmm so KPF is going bye bye. I have fond memories of the 2.x versions.

[bombed w/ temp files! how to remove]

In its current state CCleaner doesn't scan a whole hard disk for *.tmp files, however you could make your own CCleaner winapp2.ini file to deal with the *.tmp files, and you could also make a batch file (.bat) to deal with them. If you wish to make your own winapp2.ini entry look at this thread for examples. Another freeware program does seek out *.tmp files on a whole hard disk, it's called EasyCleaner.

 

For making your own batch file to deal with them open a Command Prompt and use the delete help file for the parameters you'll need, to see the help file type into the command prompt window:

del /?

 

Of course if they're hidden *.tmp files you may have to use attrib to change the attributes by removing the hidden attribute, to see the attrib help file type into the command prompt window:

attrib /?

 

Example batch file (based upon what you've stated):

attrib -h "%windir%\system32\*.tmp"

del "%windir%\system32\*.tmp"

[What Icons do you have on your desktop?]

I used that theme for a short while, but I must admit I much prefer Luna Element 4 for now. Might post up a screen later.....

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

If M$ wants to give away a free theme it's fine with me since I don't like the original blue and green themes that're installed by default with WinXP. The theme I had been using for 22 1/2 months is the silver one which in reality is getting boring, therefore the Royale theme is a nice freebie.

[CCleaner freeware]

Nope, that doesn't make any sense to me because I've never know CCleaner to force a restart. The only thing CCleaner displays about files that will be deleted on a restart are Internet Explorer's index.dat files.

[What Icons do you have on your desktop?]

For now:

 

The Royale theme is available for free from Microsoft. Requires the usage of Internet Explorer and Windows Genuine Advantage to download.

[Best Internet Security Suite]

Zone Alarm is easier to use and sygate has been know to just stop working randomly. Outpost is good but not the free version.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I completely agree!

 

With Sygate I used to praise it, however it has the ability to self-destruct and flat out refuse to allow some applications to use their integrated updater, and it can refuse a web browser from visiting a website such as www.apple.com

[False Reporting on Unused Extensions]

They more than likely won't be effected in any way.

 

For example, I update ClamWin Free Antivirus everyday and archive the newly downloaded .cvd definition file into a backup .zip archive. Now when I run CCleaner->Issues it will find the unused .cvd file extension. Whatsmore in the Issues scanner you can right click to de-select items you wish to leave intact and CCleaner will leave them alone.

 

As with all programs that contain a registry cleaner there "may" be some user decision involved of what to leave intact and what to remove.

[Is there a way to NOT Clean a folder]

Syphus I'd recommend that you post what you want included into CCleaner in the Suggestions thread.

 

And to add my 2 cents I also wish there was an exclusion ability because the Issues scanner constantly finds some Start Menu2 folders that are seen as "old" when in fact they have everyday used shortcuts in them.

[Registry Compacter]

I have done some research on scanreg and have found that it has a size limit of about 8.5Mb for system.dat.

I learn something new everyday! Some good researching you did! Perhaps I never got to the 8.5MB limit because I've used scanreg /fix each day on my Win98 system.

[Buzzsaw]

Sounds like a nuisance, this was taken from the website:

The free versions have limited functionality and must be re-registered on the DIRMS website every 30 days.

[Get more fuel for your money?]

According to Jeremy Clarkson from what he stated on the automotive T.V. show Top Gear if a vehicle is fueled in the morning hours when the temperature isn't as hot you'll get "more fuel for your money" because at a lower temperature the fuel is more condensed.

 

I absolutely didn't know that, and with the current worldwide fuel prices it may very well be worth a try.

[Bush bald head fetisch?]

Shhh, he's conducting a top secret mission called: Operation what's the size of your noggin. The turkey is just there so he figure out what will go good with it; mashed potatos, or wild rice - mmm delicious.

[CCleaner freeware]

So, although, say, I've cleaned with IE6 tools and Norton Clean Sweep it's still likely that CCleaner would find a big chunk? And it's quite safe to delete it?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

With Internet Explorer that would be the index.dat files, they'll grow unless you use CCleaner to delete them on the next system startup. As for what Norton Clean Sweep cleans I don't know, hence I've never used it, however with most cleaning programs one may find some junk another doesn't, which is the reason to use several freeware ones, the same goes for registry cleaners. However CCleaner is safe -- not every cleaning program has that status.

[History]

Hmm.

Does anyone believe in reincarnation? Or is it just a plain weird coincidence!