Welcome in Windows XP

[dvdx_925]

A few days ago, I reformatted my computer just to get it "fresh". Anywayz later on, I got some ad-ware which i obtained from installing some download software, and it was really difficult to remove. Anywayz, so I decided to reformat again. I installed another software, and it also had spyware, but that was successfully removed.

However, I don't think that is the problem, but when I start my computer, and the welcome screen appear's, the floppy disk drive makes a sound (I'm not sure if it did it before, maybe it's the anti-virus scan?), anywayz....usually after a few second's of the welcome screen showing the desktop appear's, however now it stays there, and it's not busy, but appear's for like 15-20 seconds before going to the desktop.

Does anyone know why? I don't think it's any spyware/virus cos i did a full scan with latest definitions. Could it be some setting i might have done, which makes the welcome screen appear longer? Thanks. BTW, sorry for the long thread.

[MJA]

did u install

1-windows
2-SP2+ ALL of windows updates
3-hardware drivers A-chipset B-sound ,video,,,,etc
4-Anti-virus+ firewall
5-other software
................................................

[CrayonEater]

And, in addition to that, did you determine wht kind of spyware/adware it was this time around? I suggest reformatting again, following 1-4 of MJA's suggestions, and then being absolutely sure not to install any spyware in the future. That also means not using Internet Explorer as a web browser 'cause it's impossible to harden it enough to where it's even moderately safe.

If you are curious, run MSCONFIG. It's in c:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
Look mainly at the Startup tab. Look for any apparent spyware components or anti-virus/anti-spyware tools (a lot of "anti-spyware" tools are the nastiest kind of spyware e.g. Spy-Sheriff). I still think you should reformat at this early date though and start fresh.

[JerryB]

A few days ago, I reformatted my computer just to get it "fresh". Anywayz later on, I got some ad-ware which i obtained from installing some download software, and it was really difficult to remove. Anywayz, so I decided to reformat again. I installed another software, and it also had spyware, but that was successfully removed.

However, I don't think that is the problem, but when I start my computer, and the welcome screen appear's, the floppy disk drive makes a sound (I'm not sure if it did it before, maybe it's the anti-virus scan?), anywayz....usually after a few second's of the welcome screen showing the desktop appear's, however now it stays there, and it's not busy, but appear's for like 15-20 seconds before going to the desktop.

Does anyone know why? I don't think it's any spyware/virus cos i did a full scan with latest definitions. Could it be some setting i might have done, which makes the welcome screen appear longer? Thanks. BTW, sorry for the long thread.

hi,
First my opinion...if something working fine... why fix it.... although I know friends who like to reinstall there system every 6 month to a year... myself.... I can only see that if it been a long time and the system has accumulated a lot of garbage in the registry to effect efficency....

HOwever.... I would look at your startup programs...... too many of those can slow everything down...... so disable all needless startup programs....
1. first place to look is your msconfig>startup tab ...... use these link to help decide what you want to keep....
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
2. then afterwards you may want to take a look at services..... and see if there anything there you don't need.... service.msc ... use these link to help
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12
http://www.yellowhead.com/xpcfg3.htm

disabling needless startup programs willl generally result in..
faster boots
and overall faster performance....
and frees up ram...

[MOVIEGEEK]

Is "Boot Up Floppy Seek" enabled in your BIOS?If so disable it.
Also untick "Automatically search for....":

[GKar]

Go into all your antivirus and antispyware programs setups and manually diasable all the stuff that automatically run at startup (scans, checking floppy, autoupdates, etc).

You can check here to see if you are using any rogue or suspect antispyware (you didn't specify what you were using):

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#trustworthy

(I use Grisoft AVG Free, AdAware Free and Spybot S/D Free)

Also get a program like Norton Ghost and image your clean, activated install to a seperate partition so you don't have to go through the full install process over and over. (I put Ghost on a dos bootup cd and keep one partition FAT32 for images so I can access it even if Windows becomes inaccessible)

[MJA]

I think he installed another nasty cheapo software again?whatever u did try the tricks the guys talked about here,and if none of this work, format and install only windows,SP2+updates,chipset driver,hardware drivers and stop if everything is working fine install the AV and firewall .

BTW.since you are a "risky internet surfer" try to use a good firewall and anti-virus software

people here like AVG,but since u are risky surfer try Kaspersky, NOD32,Avast, or BitDefender Internet Security

[dvdx_925]

Thanks guys. I have ZoneAlarmPro, Ad-Aware SE, and NOD32 installed. I might consider reformatting again, very annoying..lol..it takes me like hours to get everything back to normal. But yea, i checked and everything looked clean, but anywayz i deleted that software, and will definitely will only install the software's which i had on my computer when it was fine.

[CrayonEater]

Sounds like you have two resident AV installed - that's often a cause of problems. I'd dump Norton's and stick with NOD32. Check also that you don't have Windows' firewall running in addition to whatever you have - that can create screwy results too. And use SpyBot (the REAL from www.safer-networking.net) in additon to AAW. Make sure your memory-resident anti-virus doesn't scan the floppy at boot. Frankly, I wouldn't bother with any kind of boot-time AV scan.

[dvdx_925]

Nah, I don't have Norton installed. Anywayz I reformatted my computer, and man i forgot to see if that pausing still happened before i furiously installed all my software. lol...it still happens, but you guys probably don't think it's any virus or adware causing that pause if i have checked it with latest definitions with NOD32 and ad-aware pro?

anywayz one of my software has adware and i don't know which one, but yea..ad-ware removed it (CnsMin). it supposedly replaces internet explore with chinese sites or something, but i don't use firefox anywayz. i might spybot as you suggested in addition. but there shouldn't be anything i should be concerned of right?

and btw, that floopy seek i was mentioning when the welcome screen comes up, i don't think it's the antivirus scanner, cos i disabled it and it still happened, so i don't know what is and yes, i checked the bios, and the floopy seek is disabled.