Vista - Errors, lots and Anti-Virus Programs

I was called over by a friend to check out his machine which had
become almost unusable, boot up time was around 20+ minutes and tons
of errors reported in the event viewer. AFter the boot up the system
was slow as molasses.

The first thing I nodticed was that several "free" anti-virus programs
were runnng as well as some fix it type utilities running in the back
ground. I uninstalled all of them and installed a Norton 2009 trial.
Re-boot times went very fast.

When I checked the event viewer I noticed errors reported that
mentioned F-Secure and Panda Protection. The Panda Protection service
is stopped and I have forgotten what the errors were with F-Secure.

The question I have, is there a way to get rid of them without doing a
clean install?

Al

Alfred Kaufmann wrote:
If you installed Norton when Panda and F-Secure were still installed - and
that's certainly what the errors indicate - you probably messed up the
system still more.

You can try uninstalling Panda and F-Secure properly. Check on their
websites for uninstaller tools, too.

I can't answer whether you should just back up his data and do a clean
install since I can't see the machine for myself. In most cases, doing a
clean install - including doing all updates and installing programs and
optimizing - will only take 2-3 hrs. and produce a perfectly-running
system. You need to balance that against how much work needs to be done now
and make your own choice.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

On Sun, 17 May 2009 09:07:34 -0700, Malke <malke@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Malke

I did not uninstall Panda or F-Secure because there was nothing about
them in the Programs and Features section. I did uninstall two other
anti-virus programs and then I installed Norton 2009. :-| His system
runs much better now and with the main concern being that Check Disk
runs everytime he restarts the system.

If it were my system, I would have done a clean install instantly. He
is only concerned about his pictures, so I will make sure he has a
backup of those and then he can take it back to the store for a
complete restore to its original state.

Thanks for the reply,
Al

From: "Alfred Kaufmann" <al_kaufmann@xxxxxx>



| Hi Malke

| I did not uninstall Panda or F-Secure because there was nothing about
| them in the Programs and Features section. I did uninstall two other
| anti-virus programs and then I installed Norton 2009. :-| His system
| runs much better now and with the main concern being that Check Disk
| runs everytime he restarts the system.

| If it were my system, I would have done a clean install instantly. He
| is only concerned about his pictures, so I will make sure he has a
| backup of those and then he can take it back to the store for a
| complete restore to its original state.

| Thanks for the reply,
| Al


If "...Check Disk runs everytime he restarts the system."
Then that could be indicative of a failing hard disk.

Download the manufacturers diagnostic software.

Examples:
IBM/Hitachi - Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
Western Digital - WD Diagnostics
SeaGate - SeaTools.


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

Alfred Kaufmann wrote:
You made another post and got an answer similar to mine. In that thread, you
said that you would suggest that your friend have his machine taken back to
factory install, so there really is no point in continuing this thread.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

On Sun, 17 May 2009 16:06:24 -0400, "David H. Lipman"
<DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote:
Good suggestion, I'm sitting here with a couple of boot-up DVDs that
will allow me to test his hardware and make no changes to his system.

It seems I've done enough to make him happy for now and wants to wait
until the Fall and then buy a new tower. Its NOT THE HARDWARE... !

Al