It's Busted, I think?

[GOAT]

Hey guys. FYI I don't know what is wrong with my desk top which used to be affectionatedly known as the Red Dragon. Last Mon I installed a new Linksys 300N router and went through knology and had everything set up and it worked great. After we got done playing Tuesday night I tried to install a new program called Professional System Suite 7 an all in one suite for PC security, anti-virus, anti spyware, maintenance & privacy. Then all hell broke loose. It didn't install correctly so I was advised to uninstall & reinstall: however, It would not let me uninstall it? After several hours that night and a few the next day I finally got it out of the computer completely {hopefully}. Then the damn computer wouldn't process, wouldn't show on the monitor? Finally got that working then I could not get on the internet. Called my server and worked with them (spake english) a couple of hours and found that I had a signal to the modem but when I hooked up direct to the modem it still would not connect to the internet. Turns out for some reason Zone alarm was blocking it? Needless to say Zone Alarm is no longer on the Red Dragon. I still can't get connected to the internet with the Red Dragon so I am keeping in touch by way of my lap top which is connected direct to my modem. I have had some trouble with my MOBO on previous occasions so I am getting a new MOBO before I get all set up again so it looks like I am going to be gone for a while?
The way I have this Lap Top set up I may be able to still admin for BF2 if you want me to. Just let me know. I don't know if I have to be set up for any of the others or not if you want me to admin them or not? Please let me know?

Please give me a holler if you need me for anything at all. My MSN is now working and my e-mail is oldgoat378@knology.net
Taked care Guys and shoot one for me!

[Ninja]

Time for re-install Goat. You can spend weeks trying to nail the problem or just take care of it and freshen your system in one fell swoop. Glad to hear you dumped Zone Alarm at least. It's no better than the built in Windows firewall anyway.

Not to sound all high and mighty but this is why I stay away from the all inclusive "security" suites. They've gotten a nasty reputation of causing more problems that preventing them. Might I suggest if you rebuild your PC, use it for gaming only? No e-mail, no web browsing. Just gaming and of course getting your Windows, game, and driver updates. Granted this only applies if you have a 2nd PC to do all your normal use with. I've been doing this for the last couple years now and it's the best thing I've ever done. My gaming machine is lean and mean and used only for gaming while my other box is for the normal day to day stuff.

[Comet241]

like ninja said, a chunk of the problem may be the program itself. unfortunately, those cheaper, all-in-one programs give you exactly what you pay (or dont give you what you dont pay) for. In my humble opinion, i think they are pretty worthless and, as ninja said, they tend to cause problems.

I would go with a stand-alone virus protection and a stand-alone spyware protection. Something like webroot spysweeper, and trend micro pc-cillian.

For performance i would do what i did: install those programs on an external HD that i use for backing up files, and when i game, i unplug the external and do a reboot. they have built in protection to never fully turn off unless you do something drastic like that, so even "shutting down" the program to game if it is installed on your internal wont really ever turn it off...

unfortunately i cant do what ninja does... everything on one machine for me: gaming, email, porn... I do it all and i try and work around as much as i can.

[GOAT]

Hey Guys thanks for the replies. I am waiting for a new MOBO as I think one of the ports on this one is broken due to operator error? (who me?). And I was slowly approaching what you are suggesting Ninja. At the present time I have all my games on a seperate drive but I am going to do a reinstall and it is going to be for gaming only as I do have another PC to use for domestic work. At the present time I have all of the Foundations Financial records on that PC any way so I might as well just put everything on that one and keep this one for gaming. You are both so right about these do it all programs! I knew better but was looking for a better maintenance program. I am just going to stay with PC pit Stop as I have never had any problem with them at all in the past 6 or 7 years? Boy I get to talking and don't know when to quit. Anyway thanks for the suggestions Guys and I am sure I am going to use them. Take care now!

[Balti]

Good luck with your computer problems Goat! That's got to be a pain in the rear. I've been having a few issues myself...

[Ninja]

unfortunately i cant do what ninja does... everything on one machine for me: gaming, email, porn... I do it all and i try and work around as much as i can.Have you ever considered dual booting? It's a good solution when only one box is available. The only drawback is the rebooting to switch between your two OS's but you're doing that now so it wouldn't be too bad I assume? Another solution would be to run the free VMWare server on your gaming system and install a virtual copy of XP or if you're comfortable with it, the free Linux distro Ubuntu. You'll lose a little bit of available resources from the vmware files loaded at boot but depending on your system should still allow your gaming to be as enjoyable but also give you quick access to your daily use pc as a virtual machine. The nice thing about that virtual machine is that you can pause it. You don't have to shut down so it's always up when you're ready for it PLUS it's sand boxed meaning even if you did get a virus or spyware on that virtual machine the chances of it infecting the host PC is very slim to none. Not saying it can't happen because some malware is aware it's in a virtual environment but the chances are very low.

EDIT: I completely forgot about Mojopac! You can run a completely sand boxed copy of XP on a USB thumb or external drive. It works amazingly well and the best part is, Mojopac doesn't install or change anything on the host PC when it's operating. This means you can basically carry your entire computer (depending on the size of your music library etc) in your pocket and use it on any XP machine that will allow you to plug in and use a USB drive.

[Ninja]

Hey Guys thanks for the replies. I am waiting for a new MOBO as I think one of the ports on this one is broken due to operator error? (who me?). And I was slowly approaching what you are suggesting Ninja. At the present time I have all my games on a seperate drive but I am going to do a reinstall and it is going to be for gaming only as I do have another PC to use for domestic work. At the present time I have all of the Foundations Financial records on that PC any way so I might as well just put everything on that one and keep this one for gaming. You are both so right about these do it all programs! I knew better but was looking for a better maintenance program. I am just going to stay with PC pit Stop as I have never had any problem with them at all in the past 6 or 7 years? Boy I get to talking and don't know when to quit. Anyway thanks for the suggestions Guys and I am sure I am going to use them. Take care now!
Good luck Goat! If you have any questions my PM box is always open.

[McFeely]

Ditto on the Suite All in One Bloatware. I don't want to cloud the water with my suggestions but all the recommended programs all good. After you figure this out Goat you might be able to take the A+ exam. Then you can certifiable Geeky Goat.

[Comet241]

Have you ever considered dual booting? It's a good solution when only one box is available. The only drawback is the rebooting to switch between your two OS's but you're doing that now so it wouldn't be too bad I assume? Another solution would be to run the free VMWare server on your gaming system and install a virtual copy of XP or if you're comfortable with it, the free Linux distro Ubuntu. You'll lose a little bit of available resources from the vmware files loaded at boot but depending on your system should still allow your gaming to be as enjoyable but also give you quick access to your daily use pc as a virtual machine. The nice thing about that virtual machine is that you can pause it. You don't have to shut down so it's always up when you're ready for it PLUS it's sand boxed meaning even if you did get a virus or spyware on that virtual machine the chances of it infecting the host PC is very slim to none. Not saying it can't happen because some malware is aware it's in a virtual environment but the chances are very low.

EDIT: I completely forgot about Mojopac! You can run a completely sand boxed copy of XP on a USB thumb or external drive. It works amazingly well and the best part is, Mojopac doesn't install or change anything on the host PC when it's operating. This means you can basically carry your entire computer (depending on the size of your music library etc) in your pocket and use it on any XP machine that will allow you to plug in and use a USB drive.

way more work than i would want to do with this piece of junk. hopefully after my poor period coming up here i will have some spare money at the end of the summer for a new pc. then ill clean this baby off and use this as my everything else machine and leave the gaming for the real one.