[PyroTails]

I know how to change the operating system on an 98 desktop computer. Is there any difference if I try to reboot an XP laptop?

[evilfantasy]

You say reboot an XP laptop.

What are you trying to do?

[PyroTails]

My friends laptop is screwed basically. The internet doesn't work and it runs horribly slowly. With their permission I was planning to reset the OS in the same way as I have done with my 98 machine.

[evilfantasy]

As long as you have the Windows disk(s) then a reinstall is certainly possible.

Have you thought of trying to clean it up manually, instead of a reinstall?

If they have a bunch of stuff they would rather not loose it is worth a shot. We can help if needed.

[mpenney]

Originally Posted by evilfantasy

As long as you have the Windows disk(s) then a reinstall is certainly possible.

Have you thought of trying to clean it up manually, instead of a reinstall?

If they have a bunch of stuff they would rather not loose it is worth a shot. We can help if needed.

How would you clean it up manually?

Thanks in advance,

[evilfantasy]

Sometimes just basic cleanup steps will work wonders. Uninstall useless programs, a good disk clean and a defrag would be a good start. Services, running processes/startup....

[mpenney]

I have done those disk clean up, defrag, uninstalled usless software. I have everything I need backed up on a portable hard drive. I'm having problems loging in; it will just freeze, the IE icon on the start menu doesn't appear right; Looks like it's a different logo. I got lucky just now by uninstalling AVG and it started letting me access websites when earlier if I would go to a fav it would open a new window and not respond and even odder than that it downgraded me to IE 6 and I just finished installing IE 7.

I have a lot of the start up items turned off and not to sure about the processes (noobie) to that field.

Anymore advice would be greatly appreiciated.

Thanks evilfantasy

[evilfantasy]

Post a HT log and I will take a look and see what all can be done. I won't be able to look at it until later, but you can go ahead and post it now.

Download TrendMicro HijackThis™.exe (HJT)

• Double-click on HJTInstall.
• Click on the Install button.
• It will automatically place HJT in C:\Program Files\TrendMicro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
• Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.
• Click on Do a system scan and save a log file
• HijackThis will scan and then a log will open in notepad.
• Copy & Paste the entire contents of the log in your post.
  • Do not have HijackThis fix anything yet. Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.