XP pro startup question

[911paramedic]

My system decided not to work this morning after removing RealPlayer (that POS $@!!$# program, even causing problems after removal).

It will boot up and allow me to log on, then get a pop-up about not being able to start up some RealPlayer file (still in the reg somewhere). Then system freezes, no mouse, keyboard, nothing... have to hit the reset button.

Question: Is there a step-by-step startup like win98 allows? If so, what @#$!@$% key is it... I tried my F8 and F10 without any success.

HELP!!

Thanks

 

[johnlog]

If you have Symantec's System Works 2002 installed then you can run its WinDoctor program. Usually it will find all the errant entries in your Registry and offer to clean them for you. You can select to have WD auto repair those problems or you can spend a lot of time removing them manually from the Registry. Your choice.

I have that @#$%&* real player installed also but I will not uninstall it because I have heard once it is gone you can still have problems with it. Plus!! Real Player installed a roBOT on your computer to track your computer usage. Get a copy of LavaSoft's Ad-aware program and it should clean out most of the roBOTs on your system. Ad-ware is free for non commercial usage.

If you do not have XP installed then you can install Symantec's older version of Norton System works version 2001. Version 2002 is the only version that works with XP.

Note that MP8 that comes with Win XP is a superior product than RealPlayer is. MP8 has been improved dramatically over version 7x.

 

[911paramedic]

I finally got in through F8 and entered the directory recovery (something like that) mode, all the others, including safe mode, still locked up. I have spent a while making sure my latest backups cover everything I need, 'cause I am FDISKing that mofo!

I even tried rebooting with the last known successful boot option, nothing. Tried to revert to system settings from a week prior, nothing.

I know it is not hardware related because I have removable hard drive trays for swapping, and I put in my 98 drive and everything works fine.

Regarding the spyware, I know about those a-holes with that crapola. I use adaware on a pretty regular basis. Have you gotten the lastest patch (5.71 I think) ? It caught about 15 files that the previous version missed, including that networking software that Kazaa put in to use your computer for distributed networking for their profit. I had Kazaa uninstalled for many months too, but their software was still there.

Thanks anyways. Good old FDISK is my friend

 

[johnlog]

911 <FONT size=1>Regarding the spyware, I know about those a-holes with that crapola. I use adaware on a pretty regular basis. Have you gotten the lastest patch (5.71 I think) ? It caught about 15 files that the previous version missed, including that networking software that Kazaa put in to use your computer for distributed networking for their profit. I had Kazaa uninstalled for many months too, but their software was still there. </FONT>


Yes, I have the 5.71 version of Ad-aware. On my backup system when I ran Ad-aware the first time it found 17 BOTs in the Registry and 33 BOTs on various HD partitions. Happy to get rid of them. That was the scam part is even if you uninstaled Kazaa its BOT stayed on your computer reporting your computer usage on the sly.

I get DOUBLECLICK BOTs almost on a daily basis. I was using Ad-ware to get rid of them but now I simply run XP's Search and it finds them with just entering "doubleclick." When Search finds them I right click on the name and select to delete them. BUT you can only delete one at a time that way. Wouldn't let me delete two at a time.

I am surprised how many fell for the Kazaa scam. I saw it but had a funny feeling about the program and refused to install it. Now I know I made the correct decision. (s)