[tempusfugitive]

I take better-than-average care of my computer, and it's in decent shape for a 5-yr-old Dell. It isn't terribly slow, but I'd like it to run a bit faster, however, I don't understand enough to be able to decide if it's worth it to run and make changes with a registry cleaner. I understand how much trouble fiddling with the registry can cause, but I also know a bit about backing up and system restore. Although I'm not fluent in reading registry entries, I know to review any suggestions the software would make, as opposed of blindly deleting whatever it finds. It's just that I came across a discussion online that talked about editing the registry generally being unnecessary, and more likely to be harmful than helpful.

I'm running registry booster 2010 right now, and it tells me that I have about a thousand registry errors...I guess that's a lot? Is a clean install of Windows a good alternative?

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by tempusfugitive

..Is a clean install of Windows a good alternative?

In my opinion ... It's the only way.
Nothing tunes up a computer .. Or fixes what any ail it .. Better than a fresh install.
Messing in the registry will gain you nothing .. But possibly more problems

[Phantom010]

Read this to learn what we think about registry cleaners.

Please click here to download and install the HijackThis installer.

Run it and select Do a system scan and save a logfile.

The log will be saved in Notepad. Copy and paste the log in your next post.

Do not fix anything

[Jack Hackett]

It isn't terribly slow, but I'd like it to run a bit faster, however, I don't understand enough to be able to decide if it's worth it to run and make changes with a registry cleaner.

Using a reg cleaner will NOT make it any faster at all! Infact it may screw up your system beyond repair, DO NOT use these registry boosters/repairers/fixers, they are almostall Snake Oil.

[flavallee]

Uniblue Registry Booster 2010 is telling you there's a thousand "errors" to fix so it can entice you to buy the program.

If you buy it and then allow it to fix a thousand "errors", you're liable to wind up with a number of programs no longer working and damage to the operating system.

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Follow the instructions in post #3.

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How much RAM do you currently have in that Dell Dimension 2400?

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[tempusfugitive]

I only have half a gig.

[tempusfugitive]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 5:31:56 PM, on 11/1/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\netdde.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Modem Event Monitor\IntelMEM.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 9\cbService.exe
C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 9\cbInterface.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mdm.exe
H:\RegistryBooster 2010\registrybooster.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://g.msn.com/0SEENUS/SAOS10
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/.../www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - {0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: QFX Software KeyScrambler - {2B9F5787-88A5-4945-90E7-C4B18563BC5E} - C:\Program Files\KeyScrambler\KeyScramblerIE.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - {FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelMeM] C:\Program Files\Intel\Modem Event Monitor\IntelMEM.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Bart Station] C:\Program Files\ISP50\BIN\PPCOLink -STATION
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cobian Backup 9 interface] "C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 9\cbInterface.exe" -service
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [UniblueRegistryBooster] "H:\RegistryBooster 2010\launcher.exe" delay 20000
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [KeyScrambler] C:\Program Files\KeyScrambler\getting_started.html (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [KeyScrambler] C:\Program Files\KeyScrambler\getting_started.html (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: Trillian.lnk = C:\Program Files\Trillian\trillian.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {5C106A59-CC3C-4caa-81A4-6D909B5ACE23} - C:\Program Files\KeyScrambler\KeyScramblerIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &KeyScrambler Options - {5C106A59-CC3C-4caa-81A4-6D909B5ACE23} - C:\Program Files\KeyScrambler\KeyScramblerIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: HP Smart Select - {DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O10 - Broken Internet access because of LSP provider 'c:\windows\system32\nutafun4.dll' missing
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/S...in/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {483912CF-8995-4434-AD61-6163756E05DF} (AXTNS Control) - http://download.livemath.com/activex/AXTNS.ocx
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/S.../bin/cabsa.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Cobian Backup 9 service (CobianBackupAmanita) - Luis Cobian - C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 9\cbService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: Windows Defender (WinDefend) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 8855 bytes

[Phantom010]

Because of this line, you'll need to download and run LSP-Fix:

O10 - Broken Internet access because of LSP provider 'c:\windows\system32\nutafun4.dll' missing

Do you have Internet access with IE8?

512 MB of RAM for XP is a minimum. I would recommend 1 GB.

You also have traces of McAfee you could remove with the McAfee Removal Tool.

You can uncheck a few unnecessary entries from your Startup list. To do so, click on Start > Run > type msconfig. Click on the Startup tab.

[tempusfugitive]

Yes, I have Internet access (although it was out for about two minutes) and IE8.

As for my startup list, besides my anti-virus, firewall and an instant messaging program, I have it as lean as I dare have it now because I don't know what most of the entries are, such as

system32\igfxtray
system32\hkcmd
system32\dumprep 0 -k

EDIT: Well, I could always look them up, duh.

I will download the other things you mentioned. Thanks for the help.

[Phantom010]

As for my startup list, besides my anti-virus, firewall and an instant messaging program, I have it as lean as I dare have it now because I don't know what most of the entries are, such as

system32\igfxtray
system32\hkcmd
system32\dumprep 0 -k

Those 3 entries can be unchecked.

Other than your security software, very few applications need to load with Windows at startup.

Click on Start > Run > and type msconfig.

Under the Startup tab, uncheck all unnecessary applications. Use these three websites to help you decide which items to uncheck:

Simply copy and paste the .exe files you see at the end of your HijackThis log's 04 (Startup) entries one by one.

1- System Lookup (my favorite - for this one, you can paste the whole 04 entry)

2- PC Review - Startup Files Database

3- Startup Applications List

Remember, a lot of applications can be started manually when needed.

A list of names and files will appear. At the end of each entry, you'll notice a symbol:

Y = Normally leave to run at start-up

N = Not required - often infrequently used tasks that can be started manually, if necessary

U = User's choice - depends whether a user deems it necessary

X = Malware, spyware, adware, or other potentially unwanted items

? = Currently unknown status

Make sure to choose the correct information in the list, relating to the actual programs installed on your computer. Do not be alarmed by red "Xs" pointing to malware, especially if I haven't seen any in your HijackThis log. I do check before recommending this trimming.

Example:

Copy the following entry from your HijackThis log:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime

Paste it in this website: 1- System Lookup

Now here is what you get. On line #7, you'll see the Name (QuickTime Task), the Filename (Qttask.exe), the Description and at the end of the line, you'll see a N, meaning Not required - often infrequently used tasks that can be started manually, if necessary.So, you can without a doubt uncheck it from your Startup list.

After rebooting, when the small System Configuration Utility window appears, ignore the message. Put a check mark in that window, then click OK.