[Speedbird1]

My friend insisted on giving me his used HP Computer. It seems Ok but I see that the only antivirus program installed is "Spyware Doctor". Would you suggest that I delete that program and install Avast instead or leave it alone? I think that "Spyware Doctor" only detects a virus but doesn't destroy it. Any suggestions? The PC only has a small memory 1.30 GHz and 256 MB RAM.

[extons]

Uninstall Spyware Doctor

Download Avast Home Edition 4.8

Download and run a quick scan of both:

Malwarebytes
SUPER Anti-Spyware

And clean any infected files.

[etaf]

if it was mine

i would use avast and
malwarebytes
superantispyware

also if i was given a new machine I would probably wipe it clean and reinstall all the software I wanted - using the recover CD which should have come/crreated with the machine
If its HP - you may be able to create the recovery DVD/CD using the HP recovery manager

the machine will be slow on XP with 256MB of memory - I have had one of these years ago and the trick was to try and keep all startups to a minimum

[Speedbird1]

The PC was loaded with XP 2002 version. I deleted the old spyware and loaded Avast. After downloading, it scanned for viruses. This took over 1 hour. Is that how long it takes? It also said to register with Avast but it doesn't tell how to do so. Also, I have been getting a strange message when starting-up. The screen turns blue and a message appears saying "One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency". I did so but next time I turned-on, the same message appears. What's this mean?

[flavallee]

Speedbird1:

Is that HP desktop a Pavilion or some other model name?

Can you advise what the model number is?

----------------------------------------------------------------

[etaf]

After downloading, it scanned for viruses. This took over 1 hour. Is that how long it takes?

yes

It also said to register with Avast but it doesn't tell how to do so.

you can register here - scroll down for the full form
http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php

I have been getting a strange message when starting-up. The screen turns blue and a message appears saying "One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency"

sounds like something is not shuting down correctly

When the PC starts tap F8 - that should give you a menu - choose safe mode and let the PC bootup
Once it has booted up
shutdown the PC
See if that works OK and reboots without the message
This willl mean its something that is run in normal mode and we can work on that

[Speedbird1]

It is an HP Pavilion. Again, it took over half hour to get on-line. A blue screen appears advising that it's checking for disc consistency and it's checking file system on C FAT32. I'll try what you advised but I might switch-back to my other used PC, a Micron PCV, which seems faster.

[Speedbird1]

New problem. No matter what I type-in I am taken directly to "Windows Marketplace" or to "Yahoo Personals". Why is this happening and what can I do about this? It's very annoying. I just registered with Avast, The procedure to get rid of blue screen seems complicated but I will try or just switch-back to Micron PC which had none of these problems.

[etaf]

post a new post with you HJT log in the malware forum, Include Make and model of PC and info on what is happening

the link to the program is in my signature

[Speedbird1]

Thanks but I probably will switch back to the other PC that had the corrupted video drive. This HP Pavilion PC is too slow. It takes 20 minutes to get on-line. I was battle-testing the 2 and the Micron PC has less problems. The lesson I learned is not to use an old PC. While removing programs from the HP Pavilion, I somehow removed Internet Explorer.

[flavallee]

If you advise what the model number is of that HP Pavilion, we can detemine the hardware specs and how much RAM it supports and if more RAM can be added.

Posting a HijackThis log will show us what's installed and running in the background and what can be eliminated from doing so.

There's nothing wrong with using an old desktop. 2 of my 3 desktops are 7 - 8 years old and run Windows XP just fine.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Speedbird1]

I think the HP Pavilion only supports 256 MB of RAM. As I plan to purchase a laptop early next year when I get my back-pay, it's silly for me to invest in adding hardware now, don't you think? That blue screen appearing whenever I turned-on disappeared. I was turning-off the PC by killing the power supply. I did that because it takes 10 minutes to shut-off the regular way and I was in a rush.. I logged-off now by clicking and no blue screen.

[etaf]

it should not take 10mins to switch off ...... was it loading any wondows updates ?

HJT log my help as posted before

[flavallee]

You didn't mention the model number, so we don't know for sure how much RAM it supports. If it does support only 256 MB of RAM, it's probably a 1997 - 1998 era model.

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Last year, I inherited a HP Pavilion 8565C with a 500 MHz processor and which I maxed out with 384 MB of RAM. For basic computing(email, internet surfing, etc.), it ran halfway decently with Windows XP. I wound up donating it for use in a church office.

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[Speedbird1]

Yes it only has 256 MB of RAM. I don't believe that any of todays' processors only support that little memory. Incidentally, this is weird. I went back to using the Micron PC with the same RAM and it works better now. It's sluggish when powering-up but then it gets faster and faster. Usually, when visiting cafes, the PCs work fast at first and then get sluggish. This PC works the opposite. Early next year when I get my settlement, I will purchase a new model. I needed help now with the older PCs and you guys gave me that help. I am grateful. Thanks again.