BeeCeeBee

Welcome to Fpch, Mara!!! Why do you think we're so busy?:)

. Have you checked for the above?

. Have you checked for the above?

I have tried my best to answer Mara's question without over complicating things. It seems, however, I have failed in that respect. The default view in XP is set to hide extensions on certain files. The setup files I referred to are in fact the .exe files for the specific drivers. However unless the member changes the settings in windows explorer she will only see the function(setup) and not the extension. Again for the Mara's benefit there are many .exe files throughout your computer. They may be saved or in temporary files until they are "opened." They are, for the most part, not related to drivers a all. None of this is really important though. The important thing is that if you are unsure, the safest thing to do is back up the containing folder (all the files.) Should it become necessary to install the drivers from it in the future you can seek instruction at that point.

There is a certain amount of logic in that so long as the videos etc are not from your backup. I would also suggest you try installing a game from a clean commercial disk and playing that for a while. Do not install any software that allows you to create virtual drives. Then see how it is working.

Good additions and suggestions Ken, Both of the programs suggested are part of Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help's disinfection process. The use of CCleaner will also speed up the defrag process. For Gavin's benefit, the reason I suggested using safemode is that there will be no processes running (screensavers, etc.) that can interfere with the defrag.

I am trying to look at this whole mess and still try to find a way to help you. The problem we are having is that it took 30 posts to get the whole picture and 17 before we even knew that you did a format and reinstall in order to solve the problem and it failed to do so. It took 30 posts to find out that the game you are using is a hacked version. According to an expert on system specs (DaloHarkin) your system is minimal at best for this game, real or not. We cannot help you with the game as it violates our rules. I have no idea whether this is the same hack as before on a different disk or a new hack altogether. I just don't see how to proceed. Is it a hardware problem or is it an infected system? Do you see my point? Are you prepared to start from scratch?

I wish now that I had not picked a chipset as an example instead of graphics or something else. The Chipset is hardware and it needs a driver that is specific to it. There are drivers for most, not all, of your hardware. Windows updates are usually security or performance related and have nothing to do with drivers since your drivers will be different than mine even though we may use the same version of XP. We will however get the same updates. I hope that makes things a bit clearer.

Nope a chipset is not a driver but it requires one!! :D

"exe" is the extension for an application and does not indicate a driver. If you find the file and look at one of the drivers (chipset for example) you should see a set up or install icon.

Or your problem lies right there. Are you suggesting that you went out and purchased a new version of the game?

Sorry fab perhaps it is just my day for it. It would seem that regardless of how fast a system you may have, it is close to if not impossible to type all those files into a search using windows XP home and get a result in the time frame that you indicated. The same holds true if you copy and paste. I have no idea how good that site may be but if you are going to give it a go you have to be prepared to put the time in. I have read the comments on there and note the hours and patience that is needed. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, did you use advanced search that looked for hidden files?

Sorry fab perhaps it is just my day for it. It would seem that regardless of how fast a system you may have, it is close to if not impossible to type all those files into a search using windows XP home and get a result in the time frame that you indicated. The same holds true if you copy and paste. I have no idea how good that site may be but if you are going to give it a go you have to be prepared to put the time in. I have read the comments on there and note the hours and patience that is needed. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, did you use advanced search that looked for hidden files?

I appreciate your frustration but I am still not convinced we are getting the full picture. I posted a suggestion at 5:31 and by 5:33 you began to write the reply that was posted at 5:36. To me that means that you either did not look carefully or you already knew the answer. I asked you how the pc performed immediately after your re-installation and before you added back any data. You did not answer. I am concerned once again that you may not be telling us everything and am particularly concerned about the OS you installed and what you may have introduced back into the system from before.

Right click on my computer and choose manage from the drop down box. Open your device manager (listed on the left) and open all the little pluses that you see and check for warning icons that may appear next to a device.

Hi Mara, If you left click and open My Computer and then do the same with your C drive you should see a group of folders on of them should contain the system drivers that were installed on manufacture. In my case it is listed as Toolscd and contains a number of Toshiba tools as well as the essential drivers. I am not sure whether it will have the same name in a non Toshiba but it should be there.

It will take hours to really go through all the files that are on that site. I cannot see how you could have checked them all. That being said, read the comments on the same page. There also seems to be a removal tool just above the instructions for manual removal. Have you tried it? I noticed that there is some mention of it showing up as a process in msconfig and that it would need to be stopped for any valid attempt at removal.

It will take hours to really go through all the files that are on that site. I cannot see how you could have checked them all. That being said, read the comments on the same page. There also seems to be a removal tool just above the instructions for manual removal. Have you tried it? I noticed that there is some mention of it showing up as a process in msconfig and that it would need to be stopped for any valid attempt at removal.

I am not a vista user Gavin however I am one of those people that believe that defragging does really help in tweaking performance. If you havn't done it lately at least let it analyze. If you are going to defrag, do it in safe mode.

I assume that you have not had the time to try the suggestions listed above by Tootech so it makes little sense to jump to conclusions until you do. But if you can no longer connect with both the PC and the Xbox it would seem that the issue is either with the router or a common settings error on both machines.

When and how was this "downgrade"accomplished? There are driver issues involved when you go from vista to XP. Where did the XP discs come from?

Have you looked at the posts above? DaloHarkin sent you to a possible fix but, again, you may have to go there on another PC. Once you have the exe file for malware bytes it should install. Finally, if you are wireless have you tried using the ethernet connection as TooTech suggested? The malware removal program should be done step by step without going back to the internet except where you are instructed to as part of the program.

Have you looked at the posts above? DaloHarkin sent you to a possible fix but, again, you may have to go there on another PC. Once you have the exe file for malware bytes it should install. Finally, if you are wireless have you tried using the ethernet connection as TooTech suggested? The malware removal program should be done step by step without going back to the internet except where you are instructed to as part of the program.

Which steps could you not do?

Which steps could you not do?