Windows 98 at Start-up

Can anyone tell me why my computer "searches" for various programs at start-up? 22 different programs - like f8mn0cly.exe or morzel.exe etc. I "cancel" each one, but it's anoying to have to do that each time. I have no firewall or anti-virous software - yet. Any suggestions which one to buy and how or where? All the attempted to load programs have "exe" extentions.
Thanks!

 

The first thing I'd check is go to start> run> then type "msconfig" (without the quotes)> startup tab> and uncheck any program you don't want starting up at boot up. I usually keep just keep four things checked: my firewall, (free zone alarm), my antivirus, (free AVG), scanreg (which backs up your registry each time you restart), and systray (which puts the little icons and clock down in the right side of your task bar).

I would also download and run both Spybot and Ad Aware to check for spyware.

Rollin Rog posted:

Both Ad-Aware and Spybot are also Win98/ME/XP compatible.

Installing and Running Ad-Aware

1. Download to a convenient folder the installation file:


http://www.lavasoft.nu/


2. Run the Ad-Aware setup file (aaw.exe) to install Ad-aware and reboot.

3. Check for updates. It will want a connection to the internet to check and update the current signature file. When that is complete. Run Ad-aware itself.

4. Configure Ad-aware to scan all drives on which you have installed programs, memory and registry. When the scan is complete, check all entries it finds (do not select "Exclude" unless you specifically want something to be ignored!), click "Backup", to name and backup the items to be removed, and then continue to remove the selected items. Reboot afterwards.


====================

Installing and running Spybot:

http://security.kolla.de/index.php?...n&page=download

1 -- create a new, 'host' folder in a convenient location (not on the desktop)

2 -- download the spybot "self-installer" program to it and run the setup file.

3 -- go to the Start Menu, find the program and run it. Click the "online" tab and "Search for Updates", then make your selection and click "Download Updates". You will not need to update the "main" program and can probably ignore the language and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) updates.

4 -- run the scan (click "check all"). You will see some boxes checked and others not. Remove the pre-selected items. The others are mainly "cleanup" options (you can disable this feature by clicking Settings > FileSets, and unchecking "Usage Tracking". "System Internals" should be unchecked as well unless you are confident you know what it deals with).

5 -- it is a good practice to reboot afterwards, even if not prompted.

Last edited by Rollin' Rog on 10-12-2002 at 03:50 PM
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http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?lid=db2_free

For free zone alarm firewall.


http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php For free AVG


http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/ For other free choices

Hope this helps you.

WELCOME TO TSG!!!