Adaware killed my friend's computer (won't start windows) - need help soon!

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The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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Hey

My friend's computer is nearly 10 years old, and has about 64MB of RAM and he's running Windows 95. He told me the computer's been running sluggish so I suggested that he install AdAware to get rid of some spyware that he might have had.

However upon installation I beleive it prompted him to restart (this is windows 95). So when he DID restart, he could not load windows. It gave him an out of memory exception (I'm not exactly sure WHAT it told him, I'm still waiting for a clearer response).

Anyways - I suggested to him too boot up into safe mode and uninstall AdAware. Do you guys have any other suggestions/can you confirm that this is the right thing to do?

The reason I'm asking is that he is mad at me for screwing up his computer (it's understandable that he would get mad at me, becuase I was the one who suggested it) and I just need your thoughts as well before I mess things up even more.

Thanks for your help.
-The Pentium Guy
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
That's the problem. I'm not even sure if he's running DIMMS. Probably SIMMS or something so I can't put in memory. He did tell me that his computer takes nearly half an hour to load up Windows. I think you're right about too much stuff running in the background.

Does adaware automatically scan at StartUp? Does it automatically load at startup? (By default I mean)

Another thing I should suggest to him is to remove all the items from the startup folder and do an msconfig to get rid of the useless items in there. I did some searching for the msconfig for Windows 95 but it seems as though Windows 95 doesn't have it. So his only resort (to controlling what starts up in the beginning) is this: http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Thanks in advance.
-The Pentium Guy
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
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Heh. As much as I hate to say this.... only console-based linux would work on his machine. And also since his machine is a family PC I really don't think his parents would want to use linux ;).
 
Nocturnal

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
If he has access to another computer he could download and burn a Knoppix boot disc to a CD or a Barts PE disc to a CD and boot from that and uninstall the Ad-Aware from his hard drive. Or, he could just slave that hard drive and delete the Ad-Aware files although it would not remove the registry entries.
 
T

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
5,320
6
0
The spyware and programs were probably so bad and had taken over so many parts of windows and programs that when they were removed they took bits with them that were essential to his computer and OS to run. I've had that happen before too. Probably just need to reformat.
 
C

Cleaner

Senior member
Feb 11, 2002
887
1
0
I had the exact same thing happen to me on a windows 98 machine. My recommendation, and what I also did, was I installed xp on it. The machine was toast otherwise. Adaware works great on 2000 and later machine but I have personally seen it kill several really old machines. In all honesty those machines need to go out to pasture anyways.
 
jpeyton

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Tell your friend to quit being a cheap ass and buy a new computer.

Jesus H. Christ, does anybody else think its ridiculous to ask for tech support on a 10 year old machine?

I bet your "friend" would be singing a different tune if he had to pay someone $40/hr to fix his computer which is worth about $5 total.
 
B

Bozo Galora

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 1999
7,271
0
0
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Tell your friend to quit being a cheap ass and buy a new computer.

Jesus H. Christ, does anybody else think its ridiculous to ask for tech support on a 10 year old machine?

I bet your "friend" would be singing a different tune if he had to pay someone $40/hr to fix his computer which is worth about $5 total.
Click to expand...

(Post of the month - lol)

 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Heh. He's getting a new computer in 2 months (he's saving up some cash so he can get something decent). He just doesn't have one to use as of now. Anyways he's got a spare harddrive. If the safemode trick doesn't work then I'll ask him to install Windows 2000 on the spare and set it as Master.....then copy all of the files from the slave (his crapped out drive) if he needs to. Question is can his computer HANDLE Windows 2000?

Jesus H. Christ
Click to expand...
Haha. What the hell's the H supposed to stand for ;). I'd put an F instead of an H, but that's just me.

Thanks for all your help.
 
Leros

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Heh. He's getting a new computer in 2 months (he's saving up some cash so he can get something decent). He just doesn't have one to use as of now. Anyways he's got a spare harddrive. If the safemode trick doesn't work then I'll ask him to install Windows 2000 on the spare and set it as Master.....then copy all of the files from the slave (his crapped out drive) if he needs to. Question is can his computer HANDLE Windows 2000?

Jesus H. Christ
Click to expand...
Haha. What the hell's the H supposed to stand for ;). I'd put an F instead of an H, but that's just me.

Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...

Check out this site: Jesus H. Christ
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Originally posted by: JToxic
Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Heh. He's getting a new computer in 2 months (he's saving up some cash so he can get something decent). He just doesn't have one to use as of now. Anyways he's got a spare harddrive. If the safemode trick doesn't work then I'll ask him to install Windows 2000 on the spare and set it as Master.....then copy all of the files from the slave (his crapped out drive) if he needs to. Question is can his computer HANDLE Windows 2000?

Jesus H. Christ
Click to expand...
Haha. What the hell's the H supposed to stand for ;). I'd put an F instead of an H, but that's just me.

Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...

Check out this site: Jesus H. Christ
Click to expand...
Haha. That's great ;).

 
jpeyton

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Well the last time I had a PC that slow, I literally punched the chassis because it was taking too long to render web sites. Made a nice crack too.

I would rather go to the library and bum some net time over there. Even counting the time it takes your friend to get to the library and back, I bet he could get more "done" on the internet using a faster PC and faster internet access.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Take it, and see if you can manually salvage it (after a backup of the HDD, of course). If it only has to last until he can buy a new PC, and that's only a month or so, don't worry so much about getting it all perfect--just get it running.

Half the problem is that most of us don't remember what to do with the weird 95/98 error messages anymore!
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Well the last time I had a PC that slow, I literally punched the chassis because it was taking too long to render web sites. Made a nice crack too.
Click to expand...
Me too! Keep in mind this was 4 years ago and my computer crashed in the middle of a frag in Unreal Tournament. I kicked the living hell out of that POS (used computer, we bought it for $300, and I was playing on all low settings at 640x480). The computer shut off and when it rebooted it said "Operating System Not Found". I opened the side up (nervously, I knew nothign about comptuers) and found that the ATA cable was connected only to the motherboard. I frantically searched for where this thing plugged in....and found that it plugged in to the HDD. Finally the machine turned on......*gasp* that was my first lesson into computers.

If it only has to last until he can buy a new PC, and that's only a month or so, don't worry so much about getting it all perfect--just get it running.
Click to expand...
The only problem with that statement is that it hasn't been running perfectly. Very slow, crashes frequently, etc etc. Hopefully he can get this built soon.

I sort of feel bad for him if AdAware ripped away part of the OS. Last time I remember talking to him over IM was when I told him to do an AdAware scan, and the numbers kept going up and up....but then I had to go and I told him to report back how much crap he had. Then he coudln't boot up windows again. Sad sad tale. Nevertheless, it can be fixed.....

Half the problem is that most of us don't remember what to do with the weird 95/98 error messages anymore!
Click to expand...
Ugh, precisely. I remember when Windows 95 was the greatest thing when I was living on Windows 3.1. They all seem like crap now :p.

-The Pentium Guy
 
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