Help with PC Registry griref.

[combatcolin]

Anyway, i am now getting constant bloody warnings about the registry, these are coming from Messenger, which i thought was MSN, a program i was loathed to install but girlfriend wanted it.

Uninstalled MSN and still not luck, ran multiple registry clean up programs from www.download.com but not much luck.

Anyone reccomend a good free program that will sort this mess out?

PS We could do with just a "PC problem area" in the forums, seperate from "Windows on the Mac".

[ChrisBrightwell]

The registry is an absolute pain to clean up. Without any more of a diagnosis, the only suggestion I can give you is to reinstall Windows ... assuming that the Registry is actually the problem.

The fact that you're getting these errors from the Messenger service is interesting. Is the machine plugged directly into the 'net (no firewall), by chance?

[j26]

Mesenger Service is not he same as MSN

Here's how to disable it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx


PS wqait till the registry becomes corrupt!!!

[combatcolin]

Thanks, Firewall is a bit funny, im running XP Pro, but under Control Panels i have no Firewall icon, but WOW keeps moaning that my Pc is behind a Firewall when its updating.

Any ideas?

This Messanger lark has only started yesterday, before that i had a pretty tight run ship, well i thought i had.

[iCeQuBe]

Thanks, Firewall is a bit funny, im running XP Pro, but under Control Panels i have no Firewall icon, but WOW keeps moaning that my Pc is behind a Firewall when its updating.

Any ideas?

This Messanger lark has only started yesterday, before that i had a pretty tight run ship, well i thought i had.

You may have some sort of virus or spyware that ses the messaging service. You may want to download and run ad-aware, Stinger AV, and a regular AV program. Welcome to the windows world!!!!

[balamw]

Have you tried disabling the Messenger service? It's a known annoyance that users who are on your same network (including spyware) can use it to send you messages. Disable it unless your in a company where IT actually uses it.

Contorl Panel -> Admin Tools -> Services -> Messenger -> Disable.

B

[combatcolin]

I run Firefox, Ad Ware, AVG and common sense, and everything was (and still is) nice and stable.

Annoying messages and the knowledge that something may be wrong but probably isn't.

Isn't Windows fun!

[Considering]

Just a thought for the Firewall issue - have you tried switching the Control Panel to the classic view rather than that crappy category view that's installed by default? That might reveal your firewall icon - it's definitely installed if you're using XP SP2.

Good luck.

[balamw]

Just a thought for the Firewall issue - have you tried switching the Control Panel to the classic view rather than that crappy category view that's installed by default? That might reveal your firewall icon - it's definitely installed if you're using XP SP2.

And it's called "Windows Firewall" so it's down near the bottom in the Control Panel Classic View.

The "Security Center" icon in the Control Panel of XPSP2 is anotehr way to access the Windows Fireall settings page.

B

[combatcolin]

Nope, no luck there either.

If XP Pro dosn't have SP2 as standard when its installed then i don't have Service pack 2.

Kept hearing too many horror stories about it and, cough cough, slightly naughty version of Windows so didn't want to try my luck in case i got caught out.

Downloaded Zone Alrm 2 so i'll try that out soon.

[4JNA]

Anyone reccomend a good free program that will sort this mess out?

free? umm, Linux

not free? umm, OS X

[combatcolin]

If WOW and iTunes were combatible i would be very, very tempted.

[balamw]

Nope, no luck there either.

If XP Pro dosn't have SP2 as standard when its installed then i don't have Service pack 2.

Kept hearing too many horror stories about it and, cough cough, slightly naughty version of Windows so didn't want to try my luck in case i got caught out.

Downloaded Zone Alrm 2 so i'll try that out soon.
XP will have SP2 by default if it is installed from recent media, not if it's older...

SP2 fixes so many XP annoyances that I really don't understand why anyone would put up with those annoyances, even if it meant spending ~US$80 on a new license of XP Home SP2. Of all the programs to use a "naughty" copy of the OS you depend on is the absolute last one that comes to mind for me....

B

[combatcolin]

The thing is that XP has been a rock for me, if it wasn't for the damn Messenger warnings i would be happy as a bunny.

Downloaded one registry clean up program but thats limited to only 50 items, so got somewhere.


However, unless im doing it wrong Messanger keeps switching itself back on after i switch it off - any ideas?

[kouljackson]

The thing is that XP has been a rock for me, if it wasn't for the damn Messenger warnings i would be happy as a bunny.

Downloaded one registry clean up program but thats limited to only 50 items, so got somewhere.


However, unless im doing it wrong Messanger keeps switching itself back on after i switch it off - any ideas?
What program did you're girl have you install?
:confused:

[combatcolin]

You've Confused me.

My girlfriend has MSN, well did as i un-installed thinking it was that was causing the problems until i found out from the above posters that Messenger is an in built program in XP and seperate from MSN messenger - sort of easy to arive at that conculsion.

Microsoft even state that on their web page about the Messenger program.

Anyway, once i turn Messenger off, which is quite easy, it will turn back on after the next boot.

Annoying.

[balamw]

Anyway, once i turn Messenger off, which is quite easy, it will turn back on after the next boot.

If you disable (instead of stop) the Messenger service it shouldn't start the next time at all, unless you have a virus/spyware that turns it on.

B

[Dopeyman]

My 2 cents in this registry topic.......

I personally use Registry Mechanic (http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/) to clean my registry... I love it...

And for all that spyware..... Spyware Doctor (http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/) is also good....

[kouljackson]

anytime i needs to fudge with my damn registery i just install windows. I spend alot of time Reformatting.

[combatcolin]

I don't seem to have the option of Disabling a service, only Stopping.
So i've made a shortcut of the Service icon on my desktop, not fantastic but a bit quicker and easier.

Installed Zone Alarm, quite painless and easy.

[balamw]

I don't seem to have the option of Disabling a service, only Stopping.
Right Click on the service, select Properties, set "Startup type" to "Disabled".

Typical Microsoft simplicity.

B

[combatcolin]

Thanks, now why didn't Microsoft simply not give that as an option?

[jeremy.king]

Thanks, now why didn't Microsoft simply not give that as an option?

They do document it...Use google next time.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx

[balamw]

They do document it...Use google next time.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx
Which was the URL given by j26 in post #3, and so we come full circle. ;)

Thanks, now why didn't Microsoft simply not give that as an option?
You have to think like them. Start/Stop are immediate actions that determine the state of th service now. You might want to stop it now and still have it start up again next time the system boots. So, the startup options are completely separate from that, but aren't readily accessible from the right click menu.

B

[combatcolin]

Which was the URL given by j26 in post #3, and so we come full circle. ;)


You have to think like them. Start/Stop are immediate actions that determine the state of th service now. You might want to stop it now and still have it start up again next time the system boots. So, the startup options are completely separate from that, but aren't readily accessible from the right click menu.

B

Nah, still think it would be easier to give all the options on a right click, then you can simply right click again to re-enable.

[ReanimationLP]

Update to Service Pack 2, you'll be fine.

It only phones home when you have the CD key that starts with FCKGW.

At that point you're SOL.