Windows XP Disc Clean-up

[Arkadi]

Hi, everybody:

The Disc Clean-up on my home computer does not work. It says it is "calculating how much space you will be able to free on C:; Scanning: Compress old files", but actually it stays idle.

I wait for hours: no new blue rectangles that would indicate the progress appear (except for the two that appear immediately as I start the Clean-up).

After I quit it by clicking "cancel" my computer most often freezes, so that I have to turn the power off manually.

I did de-fragmenting and error checking (=checking file system); both completed succesfully.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Arkadi

p.s.

Also, any time I attempt to post to this forum from my home computer I am getting the message "Internet Explorer encountered a problem and needs to be closed" as soon as this window, in which I am now typing my message, opens.

[Irene]

Whilst you are waiting for any further help, perhaps you could try using CCleaner.

:) It's free and very effective....

CCleaner

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

These are unusual symptoms; have you recently checked your computer for malware?

[Arkadi]

Yes, I did check it with Lavasoft AdAware 2007.

I also checked it for viruses and found two; but I do not believe these could possibly cause this problem, as they cause no others:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\PreUninstallQL.exe is infected with Adware.LinkMaker

C:\WINDOWS\bundles\bs5-goodyr1.exe is infected with Adware.Bookedspace

I discovered the problem after I had downloaded and tried to use ExpressBurner:

http://www.nch.com.au/burn/

This is why I needed to clean my memory in the first place--because ExpressBurner did not clean up the temporary files that it created.

However, I am not sure that it was the ExpressBurner that caused the problem, since I had not been using Disc Clean-up for months before that.

[Arkadi]

Whilst you are waiting for any further help, perhaps you could try using CCleaner.

:) It's free and very effective....

CCleaner

Worked fine, thanks!

I am still worried, though, as to what is going on with my own Disc-Clean-up program....

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

And did you clean up your viruses?

Also, Lavasoft is no longer in my trusted list; they had (in the past) randomly allowed certain spywares. You should anyway always use at least one more anti-spyware program. My personal suggestion: Spybot Search & Destroy.

You can also run an online scan at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/; use v6.6 - it is easier and faster than v6.5.

[Arkadi]

And did you clean up your viruses?

No, I did not, as I had no idea how to do it at a minimum cost

Do you think Spybot can clean them up?

Is it a freeware?

Would you be so kind as to include a link to a trustworthy site from where I could download it?

Thanks!

[Alan2273]

Spybot Search & Destroy.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Spybot Search & Destroy does not remove viruses. You wrote that you checked for viruses - with what program? Did that not offer removal?

Did you run Housecall? Did it find and remove anything?

[Arkadi]

Spybot Search & Destroy does not remove viruses. You wrote that you checked for viruses - with what program? Did that not offer removal?

Did you run Housecall? Did it find and remove anything?

The first program I used for virus check was Symantec Security Check scan; it does not offer removal (one has to invite their consultant and pay).

Then I ran the Spybot and the HouseCall, as you suggested.

Spybot found a lot and removed everything.

HouseCall found some spyware infections and some "vulnerabilities" (about which I have no clue as to how critical they are).

It did not fix all the infections though.

Here are the two it said that it cannot fix:

SPYWARE_KEYL_FAMILYKEY

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CTF\ctfmon.txt

ADWARE_ABETTERINTERNET

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PROGRAMS\StartUp\Verizon DSL.Ink\

Surprisingly, none of the infections found by the HouseCall was identical with any of the two found by the Symantec.

The problem with my Disc Clean-up remains.

What worries me even more, after Spybot's and HouseCall's performances the amount of free space on C: substantially diminished, although I tried as best as I could to remove all traces of their presence from my computer.

Could it be that they left some hidden files behind?

[andsome]

Do you not have a permanent Anti Virus program and firewall on the computer? :D

[Arkadi]

Yes, I do have Norton Anti-Virus.

Yet I had at least one situation in the past when Norton missed viruses (which were then detected for me by Symantec online scan and fixed by their specialists manually).

As to Firewall, I am not sure, whether I have it. My PC was configured long ago by my son.

I have been using it for about five years, and problems occurred only when I myself downloaded something unsafe.

[andsome]

Yes, I do have Norton Anti-Virus.

Yet I had at least one situation in the past when Norton missed viruses (which were then detected for me by Symantec online scan and fixed by their specialists manually).

As to Firewall, I am not sure, whether I have it. My PC was configured long ago by my son.

I have been using it for about five years, and problems occurred only when I myself downloaded something unsafe.

Anything to do with Norton is not well liked on this forum. Having said that, is it regularly updated? It is possible that you have Windows firewall operational, but this is poor and is one way only. Better to replace it with one of the free third party firewalls. Some of them will deactivate the Windows firewall for you when they are installed. I forget now which one will do this, someone else will let you know. :D

[Arkadi]

Anything to do with Norton is not well liked on this forum.

Thanks for alerting me. I will definitely look into this (the only reason I used Norton is that with it I have been, at least, sure that it does not itself spread infection ).

At the moment, though, I am understandably concerned primarily with fixing the problem that I already have, rather than with preventing those I may have in the future.

[-pops-]

I have not used Windows own Disk Cleanup since I had a disastrous experience with it on W98. Can't remember the detail but I ended up re-installing the whole of my operating system because of its failure to do its job properly.

Like a lot of other members here, I'm a fan of Ccleaner. It does its job efficiently and well.

[Arkadi]

I have not used Windows own Disk Cleanup since I had a disastrous experience with it on W98. Can't remember the detail but I ended up re-installing the whole of my operating system because of its failure to do its job properly.

Like a lot of other members here, I'm a fan of Ccleaner. It does its job efficiently and well.

I liked Ccleaner very much, as I have tried it out. My only worry is that this somewhat sudden change in the mode of operation of my Disc Cleanup (after years of doing perfect job) might be an indication of a bigger problem.

And the "stealing" of my memory space by Spybot and HouseCall points in the same direction.

[Sbrideau]

As for the programs, I'm pretty sure they will only be removable by technicians since the programs infected are needed. Cftmon, if I remember right, is needed for the computer to work, and the other one is a part of your internet connection program.

Although I do not know Windows as the other guys here. I would tell you to wait and see if someone else agrees with me before doing anything.

As for Firewalls, I personally think that Comodo Firewall and ZoneAlarm Firewall are very good firewalls. For antiviruses, I think Kaspersky Internet Security, and NOD32, are currently the best. I also would still scan using housecall though, better to go with more than one system. For antispyware, Spybot S&D is the way to go.

I personally have Kaspersky and am very pleased with it. You will notice a huge performance increase from you computer when you remove Norton.