My Compy's Acting Wonky!

[Moaku Hyena]

My computer started to act weird for some reason. Let me tell you the story.

You know what happens if you let your sister go to MySpace? Well, that day my computer started to go wild. I was getting a Winsocks initialization failure, some abnormal C++ terminations (MotiveSB.exe and DSAgnt.exe), and my graphics tablet driver gave me a window saying "The tablet driver is not running".

Did a System Restore. Got the same stuff. WTF.

So I scanned for Viruses. Nothing.

Scanned for Spyware. 279 counts of different spyware/adware. :O So, I cleaned it all out and was pretty much done with the spyware. I have three user accounts on my PC. One is me (Moaku Pudgecoon), since I am the owner, another is my mother's (named mommy) and the other is my sisters' (the kids). My account was clean of spyware/adware. My mother's account was clean of it also. But the kids' account was full of it.

Zango, adware.
MyWay Toolbar. Adware/Spyware.
NuPoint. Spyware.

A bunch of other tracking cookies for those guys.

Alas, there is some damage that I cannot seem to remove.

1: My sound driver, SoundMAX, randomly stops working. So I lose sound.
2: I sometimes get a "Win32 Generic Host Processes" error. That disables my Task Manager to some extent, and it kills my ability to switch users. So...

Computer Specs:
Windows XP Home Edition SP1
2.1Ghz Pentium 4 Processor
1024MB SDRAM
128MB NVIDIA Geforce 5200 PCI
40 GB HD
Onboard Graphics Sound

Anyone encounter this problem and know how to fix it?

[neighbortaru]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

why are you still on SP1? my god man, when was the last time you patched your windows?

my recommendation (and you are not gonna like it) is to backup your user data and reformat your machine. install windows, install drivers, install virus scan and install the critical windows updates starting with SP2 first. then install the rest of your stuff, games, programs, etc.

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

why are you still on SP1? my god man, when was the last time you patched your windows?

my recommendation (and you are not gonna like it) is to backup your user data and reformat your machine. install windows, install drivers, install virus scan and install the critical windows updates starting with SP2 first. then install the rest of your stuff, games, programs, etc.

I was actually WARNED not to install SP2 because it stopped a lot of computers from working. I did take every other update. ^.^

And a reformat? Wouldn't that make WGA mad at me? O.O;

[neighbortaru]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

I was actually WARNED not to install SP2 because it stopped a lot of computers from working. I did take every other update. ^.^

that's absurd. maybe when it first came out there were compatibility problems with certain software because they changed some things around, but it's been over 2 years now. install SP2.

And a reformat? Wouldn't that make WGA mad at me? O.O;

you mean product activation? iirc, MS relaxed it so a reformat shouldn't be a problem

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

Well, I'll use a reformat as a last resort. I'm pretty sure that it could have been a settings change and I probably just need to reinstall drivers.
Also, if I recall correctly, WGA does its revalidation thingy everytime you change anything on your computer.

[neighbortaru]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

only for major hardware changes like new MB+CPU+memory. if you reformat, since none of your hardware is changing, it should be able to give you the same key without any hassles.

but the keyword is should, your experiences may vary.

[DakAttack]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

How would you have WGA if you havn't updated in forever?

Did you get backdoored by Microsoft?

[Feba]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

there's an easy crack to get around that buggered windows activation "WE'RE PROTECTING YOU, RLY" crap, PM me.

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

there's an easy crack to get around that buggered windows activation "WE'RE PROTECTING YOU, RLY" crap, PM me.

*nods* But the kicker is that you have to be running it (also known as Genuine Windows) to get the updates, like DirectX.

Oh, and my sound dies with Win32 Generic Host Processes. I have stumbled onto a Hotfix for it, but I need to know how I determine my Windows version (32-bit or 64 bit? That is what my System Information is failing to tell me). I know that I am on x86 hardware.

[Feba]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

It gives you geniune windows. I needed to download directx, trust me, it works.

[neighbortaru]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

you are using 32 bit (home doesn't come in 64-bit).

seriously, with so many things failing on you everyday, do reconsider reformatting.

and Feba, no more pirating windows talk please.

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

you are using 32 bit (home doesn't come in 64-bit).

seriously, with so many things failing on you everyday, do reconsider reformatting.

and Feba, no more pirating windows talk please.

Thanks, neighbortaru. If this doesn't work, I'll consider a reformat. I have to find my CDs though. ; ;

[Feba]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

It's not pirating windows if you bought it legally, but never got the codes because your manufacturer only gave you a recovery disk.

[neighbortaru]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

It's not pirating windows if you bought it legally, but never got the codes because your manufacturer only gave you a recovery disk.

that might be, but it's close to the edge

[Omniblast]

Re: My Compy's Acting Wonky!

lol, first he hacks ffxi, then claims it's for learning purpose, now he hacks windows, and claims it's manufacturing defect.

time to learn to build your own pc's and buy your own copy of windows.

Windows XP Professional student version is only $5.00, and they mail you the CD...