irritable pc after downloading from ares and limewire

[toteskin73]

Hi, I'm having problems with my dell dimention e521 (with vista operating system). After a session of downloading files from Limewire (now un-installed), and now Ares and i go to shut down the pc, the windows and icons become non-responsive, and the Ares window plays hide and seek behind the start icon everytime you point a mouse over it. The pc can only be shut down by the power button, but the next time it fires up it is again non-responsive. I seem to have more sucess after checking the system in safe-mode and re-starting. This was also the same issue with Limewire and I'm guessing that as a pc novice I probably need to re-configure something. I have scanned my pc many times only to find there is nothing malicious present. I also purchased Registry Patrol to sort out activeX errors etc.. which reports that any errors have been fixed, but the next session on Ares results in the pc going loopy as described previously.
I am seriously perplexed. Has anyone resolved this matter themselves or if you have any tips I would be most grateful.

[DJFresh2121]

hahah this is crazy, because you just described my exact problem as of yesterday. i did a clean wipe and restore. basically put my computer to its original state of when i got the computer. it helps if you have a server (or external HDD) running where you have a backup of everything. total time 30 minutes to restore...and 2 hours to upload all material.

there is a fix for this i'm sure...but i just found it easier to have a clean computer anyway, it was bout time.

good luck and let me know what you do.

[Fireinthedawn]

No offense but I wouldn't let limewire touch my pc with a 30 foot pole. Try soulseek.

[willow1976]

Limewire has done the same to a friends computer, be safe and stay away, crawling with nasties in my opinion

[the_scarlet_pimpernel]

Sounds like you have some spyware hijackware lodged in your hard drive or registry.
I also purchased Registry Patrol to sort out activeX errors
I think this program will only clear out erroneous registry keys not any spyware issues

I have scanned my pc many times only to find there is nothing malicious present
What have you scanned your PC with?
I seem to have more sucess after checking the system in safe-mode and re-starting

Agreed, always test your PC in safe mode. But often there is a registry key that lays dormant when in safe mode and becomes active once in full mode which then 'calls-out' via the net the install little files (*.dll) which then corrupts your OS

I think you need a good anti-virus / spyware program. I am not familiar with Vista (only XP) but would suggest the usual SpyBot, Ad-Aware & AVG (anit-virus) scan. Also try a spyware program for a 30-day trial to test.

Sometimes even that doesn't work and another specialty cleaner will be needed to clean the registry key & *.dll

I am not an expert on this but have had to clean my PC many times and is due for a complete re-build :(

[StormNinja]

I am aware that the general consenus is that some type of malware is the cause of the trouble and it may be it but a Windows OS system hang can also be be caused by a failure to properly update the operating system. Sometimes your system requires certain critical updates and if they are not acquired the system will hang upon shutdown.

If you have determined that spyware is not the problem then go into the OS and manually configure the system to update itself. Allow the updates to download and install. This should solve the problem instantly. I am not familiar with Vista but I guess it should be very similar to XP.

Go to the Control panel>Permance and Maintance>See Basic Information About Your Computer>When the Properties BOx appears click on the Automatic Updates Tab

Then make set the updates at whatever time you prefer and see what happens. Good Luck.

[Music_Slicker]

Dear Toteskin73 And DJFresh2121

I was in the same boat as you guys "back in the day" when I experimented
with various software and screwed up my box constantly. I had to reload
my OS almost weekly at a cost of 3-4 hours each time.

Luckily, I found Norton Ghost and my computer has been MUCH easier to work
with since.

One quick example. I gave up on MSIE in favor of Mozilla FireFox. However,
I have a survey site that INSISTS I use MSIE every month to do my surveys.
I just UN-installed FireFox and installed the latest MSIE. I then made a
Ghost image of it to my Hard Drive. When the time comes to fill out the
surveys, all I do is pop in my "Surveys" floppy, do a restore, complete the
survey and then pop in my "Latest Ghost" floppy and restore to the way I like
it, without MSIE. My Windows 98SE, 1140 MB "C" Drive restores in under 3
minutes and I'm back in business. Sure as hell beats the time I'd need to
uninstall MSIE and reinstall FireFox.


Those floppies I spoke of are custom batch files I found to do my Making &
Restoring of my Ghost Images automatically.

Three BIG suggestions I make (from the mistakes I made) to you are:

1. Install as many programs OFF of your "C" Drive (to your "D" Drive??) as
you can to make the "C" Drive as small as possible, for the fastest time
"Making & Restoring" the Ghost Image.

2. NEVER save ANYTHING to your "C" Drive, since if you screw up royal and have
to do a restore, EVERYTHING on your "C" Drive goes up in smoke.

3. ALWAYS do a "CRC Check" of the Image you make IMMEDIATELY after you make it.
If it fails inspection, make another Image right away until it DOES pass
the CRC Check. A corrupt Image will NEVER restore and you're in for a few
days worth of reinstalling your OS.

The places to learn more about Norton Ghost are:

Norton Ghost Forum:
http://ghost.radified.com/

Norton Ghost FAQ's:
http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1176321672

Custom batch files I found to do my Making & Restoring of my Ghost Image.

http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1150190239/7#7

Good Deals On Ghost:
http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1175260773

Good Deals On Ghostng Gear:
http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1176791868

Hope this helps y'all out.


Music_Slicker

[sammysam]

My advice if would be download spybot search and destory and also ad-aware. Also start the computer in safe mode with networking. Update them then run the full scans if your computer is still messed and you have a little bit of money spysweeper is the best and it may save you from having to redoing your whole computer. Which could be a big mess if you don't have the drivers.

[lazyme]

Try registry mechanic and ccleaner alongwith Spybot

[gerb49]

THats why so many use torrents - most people started with limewire/ares but found so many problems - woulndn't let them near me now ----- However, you do realise that these systems dont shut down when you close them - constantly looking to re-connect - when your download is finished you have to move the files to another folder - and empty the 'download folder'. Also there are a great many people useing these who actually thinks its fun to infect your system - its not spyware or viruses so the normal things wont pick them up - you need a Malware package --- you will be shocked at how much it will find ----- then you will understand why experienced dwnlders wont go near limewire/ares