Solved: Balky windows 98 2ed

[jamaica jim]

I run Windows 98 2nd ed. I am having a few problems. I can't run my Scan disc and defragmenter utilities because it advises me that another program is writing to the hard drive. so far as I can tell everything but the utility is shut down. Can anyone tell me how to find what is causing this problem and how to remedy same?
I also note that I have a program loaded in my system "p2pnetworks" that appears in the list in my "add/remove" thing. I noted in reading around that p2p is a bad thing and is not supported by the Tech Guy. Can anyone tell me what it is, what it's for? As far as I know I don't use it. Can I safely remove it without causing someother problem? Thaks for any advise , jamaica jim

 

[flavallee]

Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to open the Close Programs window. Highlight and end task everything, except Explorer and Systray. You should be able to run them now.

If that doesn't work and you still get the same warning, restart your computer in safe mode, then run them.

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Uninstall p2pnetworks in the Add/Remove Programs list, then go into C:\Program Files and delete its leftover folder, if it's still there.

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[jamaica jim]

Thank you so much for fast and effective help. Utilities work fine now. p2p removed. One question remains. How do I tell which if any folders in c:\programs are leftover from p2p?I used the "find now" button to look for p2p in c:\program files and no items were named. Is that the end of it? Thanks once more. jamaica jim

 

[flavallee]

If you followed my instructions to uninstall it and delete its leftover folder, it should be pretty gone from your computer.

Be real careful using "Find - All Files And Folders" with a partial file name like p2p because you can easily delete files that are associated with other programs and then render those programs inoperable.

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I'd like to see what programs you have running in the background.

Click Start - Run, type in MSCONFIG and then click OK - "Startup" tab.

Besides ScanRegistry and SystemTray and antivirus program entries, what other entries are listed there with a checkmark next to them?

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[jamaica jim]

Hi Flavallee, Thanks for your continued attention. I think I followed instructions. I removed p2pnetworks from add/delete. I looked for more p2p folders using the find button behind the start button. I did not find any that said p2p so I removed nothing more.
Here is the list you requested to have a look at.
ctfmon.exe
OfotoNow USD Detection
Spam Bully for Outlook Express
Epson Stylus CX5800FServer
Spybot Tea Timer
Scan Registry
Tack Monitor
Cookie Patrol control center
Key Patrol
quick Time Tasc
Kodak CCS
msnappau
Load Power Profile
Stillmagc Monitor
Critical Update
Coupons and offers
Epson Stylus CX5800F
Load Power Profile
KB891711
Scheduling Agent
KB918547
Epson Background Monitor
Kodak Easyshare Software
Kodak Live Update
Win Pop True Switch

Is there someplace where I can get an idea of what p2p is all about without pulling it back into my computer? Thanks. Jamaica Jim

 

[flavallee]

Thanks for posting that list. Many of them don't need to be checked and running in the background.

Before I advise you which ones to uncheck and disable from running in the background, I need a list of the peripherals(printer, scanner, camera, webcam, iPod, etc.) that you use or have connected to that computer.

Also, confirm the spelling of the list of startup entries that you posted. I can tell that some of them are misspelled.

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[jamaica jim]

Hi flavallee, Thanks again and sorry about the poor spelling. I was looking for a way to copy and paste the list into my post but could not figure out how to do it. Typing from my hand copy was not so good since my handwriting stinks. Here is a corrected list.Thank you. Jamaica Jim

ctfmon.exe
OfotoNow USB Detection
Spam Bully for Outlook Express
Epson Stylus CX5800FServer
SpybotSD Tea Timer
TaskMonitor
CookiePatrol
PestPatrolCL
PPMemCheck
PestPatrol Control Center
KeyPatrol
Quick Time Tasc
KodakCCS
msnappau
LoadPowerProfile
StilllmageMonitor
CriticalUpdate
Couponsandoffers
Epson Stylus CX5800F Series
LoadPowerProfile
KB891711
SchedulingAgent
KB18547
Epson Background Monitor
Kodak EasyShare software
Kodak Live Update
WinPopup
TrueSwitch

 

[jamaica jim]

Sorry, I forgot the second question. I have only two peripherals. Two printers. One is an Epson Stylus Color 740I, It's just a printer. The second is an Epson Stylus CX5800F. It's an all in one printer, copier, scanner and fax. The fax is not hooked up yet. Haven't used it at all yet except to run a test copy when I connected it to the computer.
Jamaica Jim

 

[flavallee]

OK, thanks for both messages.

You have an Epson printer and an Epson all-in-one, but you have no Kodak peripheral(printer, camera, etc.), correct? If that's the case, we're going to disable all entries that are associated with a Kodak peripheral because they're not needed. If you do use a Kodak peripheral, then leave them checked.

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You can remove the checkmark from:

OfotoNow USB Detection

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=OfotoNow

SpybotSD Tea Timer

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=SpybotSD

(I recommend disabling this one because it's known to cause problems and display error messages)

QuickTime Task

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=QuickTime+Task

KodakCCS

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=KodakCCS

msnappau

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=msnappau

LoadPowerProfile (Uncheck both entries with this same name)

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=LoadPowerProfile

CriticalUpdate

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=CriticalUpdate

Couponsandoffers

SchedulingAgent

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=SchedulingAgent

Kodak EasyShare Software

Kodak Live Update

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Kodak

WinPopup

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=WinPopup

After you're done, click Apply - OK, then restart your computer.

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Post a new list here with the entries that are still checked. I want to make sure that you didn't miss any, and also want to see if we can disable more entries.

I don't know what processor type and speed and the amount of RAM is in your computer, but you should notice a shorter startup time and a bit more performance with not so many programs running in the background.

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[jamaica jim]

Hello again, Ok I did as you said. The list of what is still checked is below. My computer is an A Open, has 120 MB of Ram, System is 71% free, file system is 32 bit, virtual memory is 32 bit and the Disc Compression is not installed.It's got a floppy and a CD player. No CD writer. When restarting the computer opens cleaner now, got rid of a bunch of warnings and stuff that I never paid much attention to, just clicked them off and they didn't bother anything that I could tell. Now I get a new notice, one I didn't get before, from "Truewizzard" advising of an illegal operation and system will be shut down. I just delete it and it does not shut off and has no apparant effect. This is fun. Jamaica Jim

ctfmon.exe
Spam Bully for Outlook Express
Epson Stylus CX5800F Series
ScanRegister
TaskMonitor
SystemTray
CookiePatrol
PestControlCL
PPMemCheck
PestPatrolControlCenter
KeyPatrol
StilllmageMonitor
Epson Stylus CX5800F Series
KB891711
KB918547
Epson Background Monitor
TrueSwitch

 

[flavallee]

I was getting ready to tell you that you forgot to uncheck:

TaskMonitor

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=TaskMonitor

but then I realized that I didn't include it in the list that I advised you to uncheck, so that's MY fault. Go ahead and uncheck it because it's not needed.

The "Truewizzard" error message is probably coming from this startup entry:

TrueSwitch

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=TrueSwitch

From what I've read about it, it doesn't need to run in the background if you're not changing ISP's, so uncheck it.

Uncheck:

Epson Background Monitor

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Epson+Background+Monitor

From what I've read about it, your Epson printer should be fine without it running in the background. You can check your printer afterwards, and if it appears to need it, recheck it.

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Just to make sure that:

ctfmon.exe

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=ctfmon.exe

is the legitimate file that's associated with Microsoft Office, and that it isn't a virus or trojan with the same file name, click Start - Find - All Files And Folders, do a search for ctfmon.exe, then let me know what file path it appears in.

Is Microsoft Office installed in your computer?

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[jamaica jim]

Hi, It's me again. OK, I unchesked TaskMonitor, TrueSwitch,and Epson Background Monitor. the warning disappeared on restart.
As to ctfmon.exe, find informs me that it is in "c:\Windows\system" folder.
Add/remove lists Microsoft Office XP Professional with front page.
Start /Programs lists Microsoft Office Tools and the sub set includes:
Activate Product, MS Clip Organizer, MSApplication Recovery, MS Document Imaging, MS Scanning,MS Shortcut Bar, MS XP Langusge Settings,MS Photo Editor, Save My Settings. I have never used MS Office and did not realize it was there. Maybe I should learn more about it. Jamaica Jim

 

[flavallee]

OK, good. The ctfmon.exe file is valid and in the correct location. If you're not using Office, you can uncheck it.

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I'm surprised that you have Office XP Pro installed in a computer with Windows 98SE. It may not even be a fully-functional version. Does the sub-menu for Office have a list for its normal programs - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook?

I'm guessing the "Activate Product" sub-menu link is going to ask you to enter a serial number or product code to activate it and make it fully-functional. If it does and you don't have a number or code, you might as well uninstall it.

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Double-click MY COMPUTER, right-click the C drive icon, then click Properties. A window with a colored pie chart will appear.

How large is the hard drive and how much used space and free space does it show?

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[jamaica jim]

Hi flavallee, i forgot to mention that I seem to have "Epson Stylus CX5800F' listed and checked twice in the Start up List. Isuppose i could uncheck the second entry?
Jamaica Jim

 

[jamaica jim]

Hi, Hitting the "activate button" in the MS Office group bring forth a notification that it has already been activated. I'll play with it a bit and if its not operating I'll delete it.
There are no listings for Word, Excel, Power Point, or Outlook.
My whole system is running much better, and faster. Thank you.
Janaica Jim