OT-- On line computer cleaning services

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: OT-- On line computer cleaning services
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:35 am:

My computer is having issues and I look at all those on line services that offer to clean up all your computer problems and make it run faster.

Are these for real or are they a shuck and jive job?

When you go to their web site to see what they offer and have them review your problem almost every site has a little counter that counts all the issues that you have and asks that you push the clean now button. They all advertise free cleaning but then they want an annual cleaning fee. I have no trouble paying a one time fee to see what it does but I don't want to be hooked by some service that doesn't work. I could unhook my computer and take it to a local computer guy but they always take a week or more to service the computer.

Has anyone used these on line cleaners? If so who do you use and are you happy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Daron - Brownsburg IN on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:45 am:

I use geek squad live. They seem to know what the're doing.Kinda pricey.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:53 am:

Son-in-law is in computer businesses. He says don't do on-line unless you know what registry corrections are needed. Determining valid corrective action is best done by expert or if you have safe backups of your data, then you could try the online,but you will still need to know what fixes you will select, as the on-line clean programs only run 80% of the common ones.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:54 am:

Fortunately, two of my sons know more about computers than I. One actually has a job for a county and is their computer tech. The other lives here and learns from his brother. When we have a problem we refer to our sons.

Looking on line could get you into trouble like identity theft. Important to know who you are dealing with.

Try to find someone you know personally and trust and ask them for help.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:57 am:

I used Iyogi and was happy with the service provided. I needed something fixed and they were able to get it done.

For the price (can't remember how much but it wasn't bad) I ended up with a one year maintenance contract where they periodically contacted me for routine maintenance.

The only real down side is I had to be rude to discontinue the contract at it's end. They just didn't want to take no for an answer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 11:03 am:

A couple of things you can do to make it run faster is cleaning out your cache in your internet browser and deleting cookies.

More RAM is also a cheap and easy fix for slow computers. That requires purchasing a stick of RAM and physically installing it in your PC.

A lot of downloading off the internet will slow your PC. My wife likes to download stuff off the internet and now has so much crap on her PC that it runs slower than molasses in the winter time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 11:08 am:

I use U.S. Tech support (formally Cyberdefender). They used to offer 1, 2,and 3 year contracts, but now it is month to month. still am happy with their service.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 11:08 am:

Dennis,

You need to get an anti malware program. The one I have been using for several years is from Malwarebytes. You can try it free, it will make a big difference. I recommend it highly:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 11:52 am:

I'll second the malwarebytes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 12:30 pm:

Here's what has been happening here in my home town or to me! In the last few months I get this call from a guy whom has some kind of accent, have not figured out which kind, and his story is the following

Hello this is (xxx) from the Tech Department of Microsoft Windows and you have a computer problem- You have an illegal program on your computer and we will have to repair or service it. So the first time I told him it was working o.k. and I hung up.
Some time later (week or so) he calls again (same person) and give me the same old B. S. and I told him I don't have a computer (CLICK) and he is gone. Some time later I get this same SOB and I really tore into him, I call him everything in the book, and hung up. So I bought one of those coach's whistle,(basketball whistle) and blew that and he kept right on talking, so I hung up.
Just waiting for another call so I can be a whistle blower.
bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:14 pm:

Just yesterday a woman told me she fell for that this week. They disabled her computer, so they had to cancel all their various accounts.

We have rule in our house: Don't do business with a caller.

After the Haiti earthquake a few years ago, I pledged a modest amount to OxFam America to be charged to my credit card. A couple of weeks ago they started calling for more money. I finally answered about the tenth call, and had them transfer me so I could terminate my donations, due to telephone solicitations. I hope they got the message.

I've been using malwarebytes for a few years, and it never finds anything. I am careful about sites and cookies, however.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:26 pm:

If you use malwarebytes for any length of time you won't get anything. It won't allow your computer to collect any malware if you install it and keep it updated.

So many times I have run system scans and since the first time Malwarebytes was installed, I have never had another computer virus.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:30 pm:

Dennis - I use Norton 360 with a 10 year old Dell PC, and a 14 year old IMB Thinkpad (laptop). Not too expensive, and they seem to keep their protection up to date pretty well. You can get a one year subscription for three computers (if I recall correctly) for the base price. It has several tools for "tuning-up" your PC, as well as identity protection, firewall security, etc. They are also still supporting Windows XP operating system. My experience has been pretty good verses a few others I've tried in the past.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:57 pm:

I have been working on computer systems since 1977 in the navy

What I can say is that most computers become "cluttered" with many old bad commands, blind alleys commanded to go down, and memory hogs.

Basically your computer on start up is commanded to complete a series of functions. Picture a train going from "A" to "B" Along the way is pulls onto many side tracks to check on starting programs If the program or function is no longer there the train must back up on to the main track and begin its journey again wasting time.

I DO NOT recommend on line cleaners. Two web sites Kim Kommando and CNET downloads are safe sites to down load free or cheap programs.

I recommend down load 2 programs today

cc cleaner run scan then go down to tools and run registry cleaner

then down load glarey utilities (spelling) fantastic program I have run it on guys computers eliminating over 2,000 found start up errors speeding up their computers

glarey utilities stops programs from down loading programs on your computer

I will list the malware and other sites later


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 02:16 pm:

Royce's recommendation on malwarebytes is right on great program Let us know how many megs of junk and registry errors you find !!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 02:20 pm:

Here are the two downloads to cut and paste for free downloads from a SAFE download site



let us know how many errors you find !

http://download.cnet.com/CCleaner/

http://download.cnet.com/Glary-Utilities/3001-2094_4-10508531.html?hlndr=1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 02:28 pm:

David - Can the cc cleaner and glary utilities you recommend be run on a PC that already has Norton 360 (as I noted above) without problems? Thanks for the info.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 04:12 pm:

Thanks Royce and David. I ran the programs suggested...Malwarebytes, CCcleaner, and Glary-Utilites and my computer is much faster then it was.

I still have issues with receiving photos in an e-mail. All it shows is an outline of a box with an "X" in the corner. But everything else is faster.

The programs showed 786 issues before running the repair on Glary-Utilites.

Thanks again.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 04:35 pm:

RE: the Windows phone scam. I posted last month or in June about this. DO NOT FALL for it. Windows or Microsoft will never contact you by phone!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 07:02 pm:

786 issues? Holly smoke! You gotta stop visiting those porn sites. :-)

Emsisoft Emergency Kit is a good one for checking Registry hacks. It will find entries the others won't. And some of the new viruses hide in the Registry.
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 08:53 pm:

Ken I cleaned a slow computer once that took 8 minutes to start up It had over 3000 registry errors and so many spy tracking programs running it would scare you

Dennis if you can not open a photo in email which email program are you using ? Need to free up some memory not hard to do


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 09:31 pm:

David,

Well if it's my memory we need to free up then we're in trouble. If it's the computers then we may have a chance.

I have Microsoft Outlook.

I am not computer literate but if it is simple I will try.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 12:55 am:

Dennis

I do computer repair for a living (31 years now). Remote access repair CAN work IF:

1. Its a certain type of problem

and

2. If you can find an honest company ... some will leave your machine in worse shape or hold you up for ransom.

... but I wouldn't recommend it.

Suggest you try to find a local older guy who does this and discuss a "no fix, no fee" agreement. Any honorable shop should not accept a fee unless your satisfied with the results. He should also be able to discuss what caused the problem and if you can take steps to avoid in the future.

The younger set (in my opinion) often treat the customer like he's an idiot (but that's great for MY business :-) )


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 01:27 am:

You really want to speed up your online experience? Be sure to clean out the Windows Prefetch folder about once a month. If you've never done that you should see a very noticeable jump in web site loading speeds.

CNET didn't use to do a very good job in weeding out the shareware that came with hidden adware and other junk. I quit using them as a source years ago because of that. Maybe they've changed, I don't know.

I have been using the free Windows Defender/Security Essentials for years now, in conjunction with Spybot Search and Destroy (also free) and haven't had single issue on any of my computers since. I like them because they work well AND have the added benefit of not being bloatware like Norton or MB.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 09:56 am:

I am concerned that a online computer cleaning service would operate kinda like the carpet cleaners my neighbors hired a few years ago.
They cleaned the carpet alright. But it seems they forgot to put the guns and jewelry boxes back where they were :-(

Were caught in the act and fled from cops. Turns out it was a big scam and had about 40 thefts to their names.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 10:40 am:

Danial, where do I find the prefetch folder in XP running Firefox?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 11:35 am:

I used to work for AOL I will say this and nothing else about the online services. To allow an online service to do what you are asking it to do you must give them permission to access all of your computer Password files,digital wallet, temp files, you are basically opening up your entire computer life for them to browse. Never a good idea for someone not there that you can look over their shoulder and monitor their activities. think about what access you are giving them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 11:42 am:

Dennis and all who can not open pictures in email here is some good info

When you open an e-mail message in Microsoft Outlook Express on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the areas in the e-mail message that are supposed to contain images are blocked. These areas display a red X placeholder. Additionally, you are prompted with the following message just above the content window of the e-mail message:
This behavior occurs because of the new Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail security option. By default, this option is turned on in Outlook Express after you install Windows XP SP2.
This option helps you avoid viewing potentially offensive material, enables you to decide which images that you want to download, and helps reduce the junk e-mail messages that you receive. We recommend that you leave this option turn on and that you download images for trusted messages only. To do this, click the Infobar to download the images for each message. The Infobar is the banner that is near the top of a trusted e-mail message.
To work around this behavior, turn off the Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail option.
How to enable Internet images in Outlook Express
To manually work around this behavior, turn off the Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail option. To do this, follow these steps.
Warning The Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail option is a security feature that has been included in Windows XP SP2 to protect your computer against junk e-mail (spam). We recommend that you do not turn off this option.
Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Outlook Express.
On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Security tab.
Click to clear the Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail check box.
Click OK.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darel J. Leipold on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 11:50 am:

I have two Apple IMACs. I transfer over to an external hard drive old stuff. I know that each IMAC is full of unnecessary files, but I have such capacity that I have not done a clean up. There are several free ones for an IMAC. One has to back up clean files. Maybe someday I will.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 04:28 pm:

Rick, I'm at work running Win7 but I think it's the same on probably all the versions of Windows, at least since Win98 I think.

Here's the path:

Open My Computer

Open (C) Drive (likely location of your hard drive; if not, click on letter of main drive)

Open Windows Folder

Open Prefetch Folder

If there is a lot of stuff, then this will definitely slow your computer down as every time you open a new folder, file or website, your pointer goes here first to look for it.

Prefetch works great in theory, but as it fills up it actually slows your system down instead of speeding things up which is what it was intended for originally.

There's no harm in deleting everything in that folder, as it will eventually fill up again. But the first time or two you go in there, you might want to do a quick visual scan of what's there just for grins. You may be surprised at what you find...especially if you're on a shared syatem....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 04:29 pm:

Blast -it seriously multi-tasking here.

"Ralph" not "Rick"....sigh....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 04:32 pm:

I just cleared my Prefetch folder here at work for the first time in a few months and deleted 105 items.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 04:38 pm:

I forgot to mention, to do a mass delete (with Win7)
Once you're in the Pretch folder,

Left click on "Organize" tab in upper left.

Scroll down to "Select All". Left Click.

All of the prefetched file names will be highlighted in blue.

Right click anywhere on the blue area.

Menu opens - scroll down to "Delete". Left Click.

Window will open asking if you want to delete all "X" number of items. Click yes.

A couple items may reappear right away after the mass deletion. That's your system already throwing stuff back into the Prefetch folder for future reference.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 04:50 pm:

Thanks, Veneta. :-)

I'm just one of those guys who has two first names.

Prefetch had never been emptied, and had 82 items. Yes, it's definitely faster now.

Thanks again, Danial.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 05:13 pm:

Glad it helped, Ralph!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eugene Adams on Sunday, October 19, 2014 - 10:50 pm:

scratch I am confused about the discussion about emptying the Prefetch folder.

Microsoft seems to say the opposite.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/what-is-the-prefetch-folder

Gene


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, October 19, 2014 - 11:07 pm:

Reading all this again reminds me how glad I am I dumped that treacherous HP piece of bovine exhaust matter. No more Windows for me. We just don't get along.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 08:11 am:

Steve, I'm glad something made me open this post too, 'cause after reading Eugene's posting above, I just learned something new! And I agree with you, altho I still am stuck with a stupid windows PC and probably always will be, as a nice MAC just doesn't seem to ever make it in the budget listing. Always something more urgent for one of the T's!! Maybe someday the cars will be "caught up" and then we can get a "real" computer!! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 08:40 am:

Tim, think eBay. After suffering repeated betrayals by my former HP atrocity, I dumped it and moved up. I bought the HP laptop to take with me when traveling. Unfortunately I let a friend talk me into a Windows machine. I don't think I ever took it on a trip when it didn't fail me in one way or another. The final straw came last March. A couple of days before Chickasha I tried to start the thing and got nothing but a black screen. Nothing I tried would get it started. So the computer went to the repair shop and I went to Chickasha computerless. In Chickasha I got a phone call from the repair shop. The guy said the computer was fine. He couldn't find anything wrong with it. So I sold it to him for $100. Then I went on eBay and bought a used Macbook Pro for $300. Now when I go on a trip I can maintain my website, post on the forums, look up maps, weather, etc. I can even download pictures from my camera, which I usually couldn't do with the HP because "the parameter was not correct", whatever the hell that meant. Now when I'm on the road I just go into the local McDonald's, connect to the free wi-fi, and enjoy a nice cup of tea while I do my online business.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 09:29 am:

So the PC shop said there was nothing wrong?

This is referred to as PICNIC* by most PC techs.

*(Problem in chair not in computer)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 09:58 am:

Eugene -- And you trust Microsoft to tell you the right thing to do?

They are the guys that bring out a new operating system every few years and then do 5 to 25 plus updates every week to fix problems. When they are finally close to getting it fixed they come out with a new operating system that requires new programs and new computers.

I have stayed with XP on my home computer I just added disk space and memory because it will cost me thousands of dollars to upgrade to Windows 7 etc. In fact I downgraded it from Vista because most of my programs would not work with it unless I paid for upgrades.

My work laptop is Windows 7 and I'm happy I don't have to pay for a version of Microsoft office that works on it, but still use my home computer for some work things because of the upgrade cost.

Now days they want you to lease the programs so you get to pay for them but you never actually own them.

It is getting to be like Comcast and Real estate taxes - you pay to watch a movie but it never becomes yours and you never truly own your home because you have to pay the government a yearly fee to live in it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 03:44 pm:

Steve...never thought of that!! Great advice! I'll be on the lookout. Thanks a bunch. Tim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Monday, October 20, 2014 - 08:04 pm:

Danial, thanks for the info, really speeded me up! KGB


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