HELP!!

[mistletoe]

I have decided my slowing laptop is due to Windows Explorer malfunction. It keeps saying 'Not Responding' when I try to do things like empty the recycle bin or access Control Panel. I have found some free software to download which claims to fix the problem but I am wary to download in case its malware or something. It's from SpeedMaxPC. What should I do? I'm running on Vista.

The Microsoft help page was useless for techno amish like me.

Comments

[limone1.livejournal.com]

You've already had some very good advice.

I checked with my computer geek expert brother. He agrees with the previous speakers, save and re-format, a PC is never the same after problems like these.

He says that there are numerous programs that are either malware or spyware or worse that promise to fix your computer. He only trusts a few programs of the trojan/worm clearing variety and has never come across a program that has actually saved a PC.

There are quite a few things that could be the problem and the chance that even a benign (if they exist) "PC fixer" program could solve it, is maybe 0.1% if you want a figure... He has not heard of SpeedMaxPC, and he develops and tests software for a living So while it's not on his black list, it's not on his recommend list either.

If you happen to have Windows "restore points" you could try that too he says, but don't get your hopes up.

[a-mistletoe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for going to all that trouble. I feared it would be terminal as it is 6 months since it had its last meltdown. I've got Kaspersky anti virus running which hasn't spotted anything.

I haven't tried restore because I didn't think it would make much difference. It didn't last time. Looks like a clean slate again. Grrr.

[limone1.livejournal.com]

No trouble. My laptop had a meltdown, an automatic microsoft update messed up a graphics file, when it was just a few months old. Tried various repairs but ended up reformatting after moving everything I wanted to keep to the other HD on my laptop. I keep a portable HD for back-up too.

[a-mistletoe.livejournal.com]

I think an update was my source too, because I haven't found any viruses. However, I did manage to empty the recycle bin and Control Panel has partly reappeard. Maybe the automatic defrag at dinnertime helped

[limone1.livejournal.com]

If you haven't clicked on any hotpictureofbooth.exe in emails from strangers that's probably it.

I never use the microsoft browser and switched from Word to open source code years ago. Contemplating switching to Linux too, but have been too lazy so far.

[a-mistletoe.livejournal.com]

Oh I never talk to strangers, not even for hotbodBooth.