Hp xp pro notebook confusion.

Pixero

Can't you format the Hard Drive and make a clean install with just Windows XP and then add what you want after that?
Surely there is a Windows CD that came with the computer.
It'll take a while to get all the extras, drivers and updates installed but you would get rid of all the crap.
Thats what I did with my Dell laptop.
(By the way I use Nod32 antivirus and it's great.)

baz

Yes, I have an HP xp recovery disc, also a vista install disk.
it all sounds very complicated, there must be an easier way than a complete reinstall?

I do update drivers when absolutely necessary, but are you suggesting that I start from scratch?
don't wanna!

baz
ps: thank you for replying, I must do more myself
pps: been using avg for 3/4 years now, easy to use and always on the case. Must start paying for it soon to stop feeling guilty.
ppps: have been inspired every now and then to chuck a bit in to some other free apps. Maybe should start a thread of worthy causes?

just got a fingerprint request! it never stops!

remus

If you go control panel->add remove programs then just get rid of everything. DOnt worry too much about getting rid of anything important, you cant do too much damage form add remove programs.

Once youve gotten rid of everything, the real basic things you need to install are an antivirus program, a fiewall, a PDF reader and a codec pack (and drivers of course.)

My personal prefernce for each of the above is:
Avira Antivirus
Comodo firewall
Foxit
K lite

Theyre probably not the best for everyone, but theyre a good starting point.

baz

thanks remus, I have started to tentatively remove some HP bits and pieces, with a necessary restart each time. It wont let me uninstall some things, which i assume is what you meant by not being able not being able to do much damage.
baz.

remus

Cool, that sounds like a good start. Quick tip: you dont have to restart your computer when it tells you to, you just need to restart it for the changes to take effect. What this means is you can uninstal lots of stuff then just restart when youve finished, a lot faster than lots of seperate restarts

baz

copy that, thanks.
baz

remus

And just out of interest, which programs is it stopping you from installing?

baz

remus, while you're there, could you tell me something about codecs?
Something to do with media players is all I know.
I just had a look at jan's site and tried to view his spider animation but 'wrong codec'.
baz

baz

if you meant 'un'installing, I just went and had a look and this time i was able to uninstall the hp security protect paranoia thingy sucessfully.

remus

A codec is basically what tells your computer how to interpret video and audio files. This is useful because video/audio formats are updated pretty frequently so its good to be able to upgrade just that piece of the software rather than having to install a new media player every time.

And yeah, i did mean uninstall.

baz

So a codec pack would be something which covered all bases or does one have to find them all individually?

JuanV.Soler

TRY THIS LINK TO GET mEDIApLAYERcLASSIC
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303&package_id=84486

THERE IS NEITHER SPANISH OR ENGLISH VERSION
WILL HAVE TO GUESS EVERYTHING

remus

There are plenty of codec packs that cover everything. Heres the one i use, i havent had any problems so far.

K-lite codec pack

Pixero

@baz said:

remus, while you're there, could you tell me something about codecs?
Something to do with media players is all I know.
I just had a look at jan's site and tried to view his spider animation but 'wrong codec'.
baz

Well, to watch the spider animation you need to install the free DivX codec. http://www.divx.com
There is also several codec packs that includes support for DivX movies.

baz

I just then wrote a huge rave, and then I must have wrongly touched the very sensitive touch pad the wrong way, cos it deleted it!
but no mind, thanks for input.

are there any hp users out there?

baz

JuanV.Soler

take symantec out, or norton.
take MSN out. immediatly.
take windows defender out.
take the gadgets out if you are in vista thing.
as well as all the crap on the right hand vertical size.
once done :
download AVG 8 FREE,
SPYWAREBLASTER
LAVASOFT AD AWARE
SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY.

keep them in one folder you can remember easiy.

Shut off the laptop or whatevver, wait 10 seconds, and run it again.
Then install all the softwares of that remindful folder.
do as they claim except allowing them to get in the internet browser.

once done, run first the Spywareblaster, then the AVG 8, then Lavasoft and then the Spybot..___________________

after that go and get TUNEUP UTILITIES, get it, you have 30 days to trial. Clean your registry, clean your pc of excceded things,allows you to order wich programs get in on the run of windows.

It works.

use them regularly
and everyday exterminate the cookies and the temporal files and so from the internet options in the control panel, or directly from the browser, tools, eliminate.

that´s it

finally :
get a real pad_note .
i mean a paged_one with leafs you can touch and pass in a marketplace at the zoco.

baz

Thanks Juan.
I have avg free, also a licenced version of tune up utilities, its really useful.
I cant find anything called 'windows defender'
Wouldnt removing msn mess with my network settings, file sharing etc?

Whats the story with the 'Zoco"?

baz

JuanV.Soler

sorry,it was an unfortunate joke

baz

zo·co Masculine - Noun - Singular

souk, Arab marketplace, suk, suq; Synonyms: mercado árabe, bazar tradicional árabe; An open-air market in an Arabian city.
zoco Adjective
left-handed, cack-handed, sinistromanual; Synonyms: zurdo, zocato, manieto, sinistrómano

I get it.
baz, (ambidexterous)

JuanV.Soler

you are a genius Baz

i have taken msn it off and have no problems
but i dont know about the network file sharing thing,
the thing you have to do about the defender is to go to Control Panel and click Security and then ... you find those icons and desactivate them untill the others softwares are installed. then if you want you can activate afterwards. i do and ok yet