Name: Nick Ritchie Date: February 24, 2008 at 06:24:44 Pacific Subject: How to run SFC in WinMe ? OS: WinME CPU/Ram: P3 750MHz 256M.B. SDRAM Model/Manufacturer: Northgate
Comment:
For years the PC running WindowsME was my only conputer and I always kept it running at optimal performance ,however when I purchased a new Dell XPS400 2.8Gig Dual Core proccessor ,I let my two kids take over the WindowsME PC ,needless to say its a mess now frezzes up often and must be reset ,the icons on the left side of the taskbar (quich launch icons ) are all wrong ,for show desktop there is a picture of a hammer with a folder ? I opened Window Explorer and instead of folder icons the folders are all clipboard icons and when you click on one it shows a Disk Space 3 icon ? Iam curious if running the SFC in Windows Me might help correct some of the problems with this PC if yes does anyone have directions for running SFC in WinMe ? I have Norton Utilities installed on it and the Win Dr. reports no problems with Windows ,well thats wrong. I also installed a copy of system Mecanic that worked very well on my new PC ,however I think that it messed up the registry on WindowME and thats part of the problem with WindowsMe .Most of the problems come from the web sites my 13 year old daughter uses My Space being the biggest offender .I actually barred her from going to My Space how ever my wife lets her go to it when Iam not home (bad mommy)! Whenever she has used the PC ,I boot it up an run Disk Clean Up utiltiy and I cannot believe how much junk has been placed on the PC by the web sites designed towards the younger user of the internet .this PC is probably due for a re-install of the O/S ,however I rather run SFC and replace any missing system files ,also I use to have directions on how to do a non-distructive re-install ,where you do not loose any of your documents or settings ? Perhaps that may be a option .Any advice or links provided to help me straighten out the 8 year old PC would be great. Please dont say throw it away, when its configured properly it was a very good work horse ! Thanks to all in advance ! Take Care Nick
Nick, Start your computer in SAFE mode then restart it in Normal mode. This will rebuild the ShellIconCache file and should correct the problem. If it doesn't go to the link below and download & install Tweak UI(version 1.33) for Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Windows 95which has a Repair/Rebuild Icons option.
It doesn't help that you rely on crap programs like Norton Utilities & System Mechanic. If your system was properly protected in the 1st place, this probably wouldn't have happened. BTW, I doubt MySpace had anything to do with the problems. More likely it's online gaming, P2P file sharing, or possibly porn sites causing the infections.
There is no System File Checker (SFC) in WinME. WinME uses System File Protection (SFP).
"There is no need for the Sfc.exe tool in Windows Me because SFP is always actively scanning the computer for file changes. Because of this activity, and because the files monitored by Sfc.exe and SFP are similar, the Sfc.exe tool is not necessary in Windows Me, nor does the option to run this tool exist."
Clean up as much garbage as you can...use CCleaner, scan for viruses & spyware, run MSCONFIG to disable any unnecessary programs from loading, if you feel it's necessary, run HiJackThis.
Sounds like your only alternative (after you clean up the mess as best you can) is to do an "over the top" reinstall. Then you'll have to re-run Windows Update.
You may also benefit from an on-line (freebie) scan via Trend. It will take a while and may occasionally be useful to observe and intervene if prompted so.
Once it has done all it can... ensure you have:
AdAware (freebie util); SpyBot Search and Destroy (freebie util); a decent non-resource hogging anti-virus util. Avast, AVG are two that come to mind. Note that AVG wasnt't happy with ME when I tried it; whereas Avast went in like a charm.
CCleaner is a useful clean-up tool but ideal to avoid the arrival/deposit of such "junk" in the first place...
Even with Avast or similar active, still useful/wise to run a Trend Housecall scan occasionally. No single util will catch everything every time; but most will find them all (or most) in time; thus one resident and one on-line is useful safeguard at any time? I do a Trend scan occasionally - and I do keep my system(s) as well protected etc. as is possible...
If you go the repair install option (an overwrite of current installation) - first run a Trend and may be a resident/local virus scan; and also Adaware/Spybot. Repeat it/them after you have repaired the installation too...; and set a "Known to be Good" Restore Point thereafter.
Possibly the ME Restore Point system may also be a way to restore "sanity" occasionally... Set up a secure "it is/was" safe here... and go back to that each time? Perhaps before you scan etc. in the future when at all in doubt about recently acquited "junk"?..
I want to thank everyone for the suggestions .I will try using booting up in safe mode and then a regular bootup ,see if that corrects the problem .I actually already have TweakUI installed on that PC,I just have to check ver ! I forgot all about the Rebuild Icons option in TweakUI. Also my kids do not play online games ,nor does anyone in the home go to porn web sites .I always look at the TIF ,B/4 I empty that folder and I also empty the Windows temp folder,run Dick Cleanup after each session. My son who is the only one who plays video games and he has a Playstation 2 and a Xbox360 ,PSP and alot of games ,he really likes playing the basketball, baseball and football games and has every year of Madden's football games ! I seem to think more needs to be doe to get this PC back in shape ,I believe I have the instructions on performing a non-distructive re-install of the O/S just to insure that the O/S WinMe has all the correct files it needs to run properly ,I have all the originial disk that came with the PC in a large CD case ! Thanks again for the input as always greatly appreciated ! Nick
Why ask again? Did you think something might have changed?? Hey, maybe one of your neighbors who are programmers can write a special WinME compatible SFC program just for you...lol
OMG! Nick never got a firm grasp on WinME even after 6+ years of using it...& he's been struggling with WinXP Media Center for close to a year, maybe longer. The last thing we need is for him to attempt to learn Linux!
Hi Nick, old friend - I love when they start havin' a go at you :}
It's hard to keep an ME installation going with kids using everything going today and they will change all the icons and try to download themes etc.
If you do manage to sort it out (and a total wipe and clean install using the age old guidance page might be the best way) keep a clone of the hard drive, and then you can just copy it back any time.
Auther option... - a second drive - ready to go at any time - installed as Slave and prepared as below.
Install this second drive inside case; set as Slave to current Master. Copy/clone working Master to the Slave; then leave it be... Perhaps disconnect power cable to it - so as to keep it pristine and pure... until required.
When time to sort out a mucky drive arrives... set Slave as Master and current Master as Slave. Reset jumpers accordingly.
Run the usual " sys c: " routine to make former Slave (now Master) bootable.
Then reformat former Master - now Slave; after-which copy/clone current Master to it and so on and so on and so on and...
Either that or get the munchkins their own PC...; and let them live the consequences of their predations...
Kids will trash all computer systems, so do a clean install without repairing anything, them IMMEDIATELY make a Norton Ghost bootable CD to restore the thing when it dies. You could also buy a copy of Deep Freeze: http://www.faronics.com/html/deepfr...
Why ask again? Did you think something might have changed?? Hey, maybe one of your neighbors who are programmers can write a special WinME compatible SFC program just for you...lol
I want to thank Trev for his kind words and for actually along with a couple of others replying with some helful information .I wish I had so little going on in my life that I would have time to keep a journal on what other members posted a couple of yers ago or even take the time to bother with it (not really) ! See I work six days a week take care of my two young kids in the evening ,and between softball practice and football for my young son ,well you know what I mean and negative replies are on ignore ,soon as I see the name ,skip it ! Thank Again Nick
Most of us have full-time jobs, kids, etc. But most of us learn stuff & retain it, not ask the same question(s) over & over again. And I have no need to keep a journal about posts...CN does it for me. As for remembering your posts, some of them are just too classic to forget. As for the other ones, that's why there's a search box (or google).
Another informative reply from Jam the Felix Unger of Computing.net ! FYI ,I have not posted in the WinMe forum for some time and if I have Iam sure you will look for it and let me know ,you would make a really good secratary for someone. Iam not going to let your constant harrasment of my post stop me from coming to this site I've been using for at least 8 years now ! So go on continue to waste my time with your uinformative and anal retentive post. I find it hard to believe you are married ? I find it hard to belive you could even live with another person ,your arrogance is spewing all over the place. I asked you nicely and I will try one more attempt at civility ,please dont post any replies in my topics ,you never have anything to say that actually helps me ,I wish they had an ignore button on this site ! You are a real piece of work a$$hole ! Have a Miserable Day Nick
I've been a contributor to CN for at least as long as you've been lurking about. And the keyword is "contributor"...I rarely ask questions. You, on the other hand, rarely contribute. That's probably not entirely true because in a sense, you do contribute...when others read your posts, they learn what NOT to do!
I've tried to help you plenty of times over the years but you seem to be in your own world when it comes to many issues. And more than a few times you've been given the correct advice (whether by myself, jboy, Trev, street1, Viking, Sabertooth, Derek...to name a few of the many) but you ignore it & do it your own way, then post back later about the mess you created. I won't post examples because I don't wanna be called a "secratary" again, but there are plenty of them out there.
Regardless, I will continue to try to help you when I can, but I will also include commentary when warranted. I'm not trying to discourage from posting, I'm trying to encourage you to get a clue. And notice that I didn't have to resort to personal attacks on you, your wife or family in my rebuttal.
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