[irish_eyes]

Just bought a new computer and it's a Dell - oh no . I am an HP girl from way back so I'm not sure about the new one yet.
I know there is a lot of junk on this from the place we bought it from, but don't know what I can get rid of safely. Here is the HJT logfile. Please advise what can be taken off.
I'd also appreciate any words of wisdom about Dell as a general rule - or should I just throw in the towel now and go back for an HP??


[attachment=16253:hjt.txt]

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Hi there,

My name is RatHat, and I will try to answer your questions for you.

Firstly I will need to see an uninstall list so that I can advise you on what is OK to get rid of:

To get an Uninstall List from HijackThis:

• Re-Open HijackThis, click Config, click Misc Tools
• Click "Open Uninstall Manager"
• Click "Save List" (generates uninstall_list.txt)
• Click Save, copy and paste the results in your next post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd also appreciate any words of wisdom about Dell as a general rule - or should I just throw in the towel now and go back for an HP??

Now it just so happens that I am on my second Dell at the moment, and so far I have been very happy with them (Thank you Dell, you can send me the check now )
I have had HP's and find that I now prefer the Dell's, so I guess it is what you get used to!

The only machines I don't like are Compaq (Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é), but as I said it is really down to what you are used to.

Now I will add a few recommendation's for additional software that you can add to help keep you free from malware in the future:

Firstly, it is essential to keep your computer updated with the latest operating system patches and security fixes. Windows Updates are constantly being revised to combat the newest hacks and threats, Microsoft releases security updates that help your computer from becoming vunerable. It is best if you have these set to download automatically.

Automatic Updates for Windows

• Click Start.
• Select Settings and then Control Panel.
• Select Automatic Updates.
• Click Automatic (recommended)
• Choose a day and a time when you know the computer will be on and connected to the internet.
• Click Apply then OK.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In addition to Windows updates, you also need to ensure that your version of Java is the latest.Click here to download the latest version (Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 3). Once downloaded, install it and then Reboot your computer.

It is most important that you also uninstall older versions of Java.

• Click Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
• Delete all Java updates except Java ™ 6 Update 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next lets check the security of important software to see whether you need to download any additional updates.

Program Updates

• Go to the Secunia Software Inspector website
• Click the Start Now button, allow the Java applet to load, and open to the scan page
• Make sure you check the Enable thorough system inspection located under the Start button
• Click the Start button to run the scan (this will take about five minutes)
• When the scan has completed, read the report and update your programs as shown

Note: Links to the program updates are included in the report

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


OK, now lets download some preventative programs that will help to keep the nasties away! We will start with Anti Spyware programs. You can run all of these at the same time without any problem or conflicts, so get a couple of the following at the very least.

Anti Spyware

• AVG Anti Spyware to remove any spyware infecting your computer.
• SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
• SpywareGuard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.
• IESpy-Ad to block access to malicious websites so you cannot be redirected to them from an infected site or email.
• Spybot Search & Destroy a powerful tool which can "search and destroy" nasties that make it onto your system. Now with an Immunize section that will help prevent future infections.
• AdAware another very powerful tool which searches and kills nasties that infect your system. AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy compliment each other very well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


If you like to use chat, MSN and Yahoo have vunerabilities that can leave you open to infections. There are however a couple of very good, Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN):

Instant Messengers

• Trillian or,
• Miranda-IM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Lastly, it is a good idea to clear out all your temp files every now and again. This will help your computer from bogging down and slowing. It also can assist in getting rid of files that may contain malicious code that could re-infect your computer.

Temp File Cleaners

• CleanUP! - Cleans temporary files from IE and Windows, empties the recycle bin and more. Note: Do NOT run this program if you have XP Professional 64 bit edition.
• ATF Cleaner A very powerful cleaning program for XP and Windows 2000 only.

Regards,
RatHat

[RatHat]

Hi there,

My name is RatHat, and I will try to answer your questions for you.

Firstly I will need to see an uninstall list so that I can advise you on what is OK to get rid of:

To get an Uninstall List from HijackThis:

• Re-Open HijackThis, click Config, click Misc Tools
• Click "Open Uninstall Manager"
• Click "Save List" (generates uninstall_list.txt)
• Click Save, copy and paste the results in your next post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd also appreciate any words of wisdom about Dell as a general rule - or should I just throw in the towel now and go back for an HP??

Now it just so happens that I am on my second Dell at the moment, and so far I have been very happy with them (Thank you Dell, you can send me the check now )
I have had HP's and find that I now prefer the Dell's, so I guess it is what you get used to!

The only machines I don't like are Compaq (Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é), but as I said it is really down to what you are used to.

Now I will add a few recommendation's for additional software that you can add to help keep you free from malware in the future:

Firstly, it is essential to keep your computer updated with the latest operating system patches and security fixes. Windows Updates are constantly being revised to combat the newest hacks and threats, Microsoft releases security updates that help your computer from becoming vunerable. It is best if you have these set to download automatically.

Automatic Updates for Windows

• Click Start.
• Select Settings and then Control Panel.
• Select Automatic Updates.
• Click Automatic (recommended)
• Choose a day and a time when you know the computer will be on and connected to the internet.
• Click Apply then OK.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In addition to Windows updates, you also need to ensure that your version of Java is the latest.Click here to download the latest version (Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 3). Once downloaded, install it and then Reboot your computer.

It is most important that you also uninstall older versions of Java.

• Click Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
• Delete all Java updates except Java ™ 6 Update 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next lets check the security of important software to see whether you need to download any additional updates.

Program Updates

• Go to the Secunia Software Inspector website
• Click the Start Now button, allow the Java applet to load, and open to the scan page
• Make sure you check the Enable thorough system inspection located under the Start button
• Click the Start button to run the scan (this will take about five minutes)
• When the scan has completed, read the report and update your programs as shown

Note: Links to the program updates are included in the report

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


OK, now lets download some preventative programs that will help to keep the nasties away! We will start with Anti Spyware programs. You can run all of these at the same time without any problem or conflicts, so get a couple of the following at the very least.

Anti Spyware

• AVG Anti Spyware to remove any spyware infecting your computer.
• SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
• SpywareGuard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.
• IESpy-Ad to block access to malicious websites so you cannot be redirected to them from an infected site or email.
• Spybot Search & Destroy a powerful tool which can "search and destroy" nasties that make it onto your system. Now with an Immunize section that will help prevent future infections.
• AdAware another very powerful tool which searches and kills nasties that infect your system. AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy compliment each other very well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


If you like to use chat, MSN and Yahoo have vunerabilities that can leave you open to infections. There are however a couple of very good, Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN):

Instant Messengers

• Trillian or,
• Miranda-IM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Lastly, it is a good idea to clear out all your temp files every now and again. This will help your computer from bogging down and slowing. It also can assist in getting rid of files that may contain malicious code that could re-infect your computer.

Temp File Cleaners

• CleanUP! - Cleans temporary files from IE and Windows, empties the recycle bin and more. Note: Do NOT run this program if you have XP Professional 64 bit edition.
• ATF Cleaner A very powerful cleaning program for XP and Windows 2000 only.

Regards,
RatHat

[irish_eyes]

OK - I swear I won't get a Compaq

Here is the uninstall list. I will get on some of the rest of the stuff you recommended - some of it I tried on my other system and it either didn't work for me or I didn't care for the interface.

Another issue has reared it's ugly head and it is irritating me to no good end -- I cannot seem to get this system to load my printer. OK, maybe I am an idiot but it's an HP PSC 2100 all-in-one. I have the disk, but sat here for nearly 2 hours last night trying to get it to load and never got past 48%. What can I do to load the printer?

Here's the list:

Ad-Aware 2007
Adobe Acrobat - Reader 6.0.2 Update
Adobe Flash Player 9 ActiveX
Adobe Reader 6.0.1
AOLIcon
CC_ccProxyExt
ccCommon
ccPxyCore
Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem
Corel Photo Album 6
Dell Digital Jukebox Driver
Dell Driver Reset Tool
Dell Support 3.1
Digital Content Portal
Digital Line Detect
ELIcon
Google Desktop
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Google Updater
Hijackthis 1.99.1
HijackThis 1.99.1
Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 Driver
Intel® PRO Network Adapters and Drivers
Intel® PROSet for Wired Connections
Java™ 6 Update 3
Learn2 Player (Uninstall Only)
LiveUpdate 3.0 (Symantec Corporation)
LiveUpdate Notice (Symantec Corporation)
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Hotfix (KB928366)
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition Installer
Microsoft Plus! Photo Story 2 LE
Modem Helper
MSRedist
Musicmatch® Jukebox
NetWaiting
Norton AntiSpam
Norton AntiSpam
Norton AntiVirus 2006
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security 2006 (Symantec Corporation)
Norton Protection Center
Norton WMI Update
Norton WMI Update
PowerDVD 5.5
RealPlayer Basic
Search Assist
Security Update for Step By Step Interactive Training (KB923723)
Security Update for Windows Media Player (KB911564)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB936782)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 6.4 (KB925398)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB890046)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB893756)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896428)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899587)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB900725)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901017)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905749)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB908519)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911562)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911927)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB914388)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB914389)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB917344)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB917953)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB918118)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB918439)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB919007)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920213)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920670)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920683)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920685)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB921503)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB922819)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923191)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923414)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923689)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923980)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924270)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924496)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924667)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB925902)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926255)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926436)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927779)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927802)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928255)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928843)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB929123)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB930178)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931261)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931784)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB932168)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB933729)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB935839)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB935840)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB936021)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB938127)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB938829)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB939653)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB941202)
Sonic DLA
Sonic MyDVD LE
Sonic RecordNow Audio
Sonic RecordNow Copy
Sonic RecordNow Data
Sonic Update Manager
SPBBC
Sun™ Download Manager 2.0
Update for Windows XP (KB894391)
Update for Windows XP (KB898461)
Update for Windows XP (KB900485)
Update for Windows XP (KB908531)
Update for Windows XP (KB910437)
Update for Windows XP (KB911280)
Update for Windows XP (KB916595)
Update for Windows XP (KB920872)
Update for Windows XP (KB922582)
Update for Windows XP (KB927891)
Update for Windows XP (KB930916)
Update for Windows XP (KB933360)
Update for Windows XP (KB936357)
Update for Windows XP (KB938828)
URL Assistant
Viewpoint Media Player
WebCyberCoach 3.2 Dell
Windows Media Format Runtime
Windows Media Player 10
Windows Media Player 10
Windows XP Hotfix - KB885836
Windows XP Hotfix - KB886185
Windows XP Hotfix - KB888302
Windows XP Hotfix - KB890859
WordBiz version 1.8
WordPerfect Office 12

I am taking off all these worthless 30, 60, 90 day trials and replacing them with my own stuff, so they are not long of this system. Please advise on the rest before I just blow this thing up - hehe hehe hehe

Edited by irish_eyes, 23 October 2007 - 12:28 AM.

[RatHat]

I would uninstall Viewpoint Media Player, and all the trials.

I would also look at replacing Norton AV with a free AV such as:

• AVG AntiVirus version 7.5 is free for personal use.
• avast! 4 Home Edition another very good free AV.
• Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition, yet another good free AV.

Remember that you only need ONE AV, otherwise you can get conflicts.

If you do decide to remove Norton, you may need an uninstaller, which can be found here.

I am going to move this topic to the Applications Forum, so others may feel frr to comment.

Regards,
RatHat

[irish_eyes]

Thanks a bunch, as usual! I am working on the trials as I find them. I got McAfee OAS for free through the university (ASU) where I used to go. IT left my profile on after I graduated as a thanks for webmastering a couple of the honor societies -

I am in your debt for all your help.

Thank you

[irish_eyes]

Sorry if this doesn't go here, and I will repost somewhere else if it doesn't, but it is really part of the previous post - response and more questions really.

Looking through the add/remove programs list I came up with many that I don't recognize and have no idea what they do. Would you please let me know what I can remove and what needs to stay put. I know it seems like I am obsessed with removing all these programs, but it seems to me that if I don't need it and didn't put it there then it is just taking up space and can be removed.

RatHat, I figured since you have a Dell too, you would know about this stuff too. Sorry to bother you so much!!

Here is the list:

Dell Digital Jukebox Driver
Digital Content Portal
Dell Driver Reset Tool
Learn2player
Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Driver
Intel Pro NetworkAdapters and Drivers
Intel Proset for wired connections
Modem Helper
Search Assist
MSXML 4.0 SP2
Power DVD 5.5
Sonic DLA
Sonic My DVDLe
Sonic Record Now Audio
Sonic Record Now Copy
Sonic Record Now Data
Sonic Update Manager
URL Assist
WebCyberCoach

Thank you

Edited by irish_eyes, 26 October 2007 - 07:28 PM.

[PsychPosse]

Hello Irish_Eyes,

I just want to add a comment. One of the reasons I don't like Dell is all of their software they like to add in. I don't like their picture programs either. Just my personal opinion though. It seems like Dell has the most "garbage" when comparing computers.

My comment is: I don't like my desktop cluttered, or my start menu cluttered. If that is what your after, to clean up all the clutter, keep in mind that most all desktop icons are shortcuts and can be deleted. Most start menu icons as well, are shortcuts. If you have a lot of storage space on your drive, then you might not want to delete too many things.
My desktop is completely bare. I also go through my start menu and pretty much clean house. (I know where my programs are - I don't need icons everywhere.) I personally don't like norton or mcAfee, and I tell anyone not to use the products. (due to bad experiences) AVG I do advise to use.

Just wanted to add my thoughts.

PsychPosse