Screensaver causing internet problem

I don't consider Genuine Advantage as spyware. It checks your system to see if its Windows key is legal. If it's not legal, they offer you the opportunity to purchase a legal copy and that's all it does. People say lots of things that aren't necessarily true. You'll have to decide whether you want to accept it or not.

More importantly, why haven't you installed SP3??? Are you still able to get the latest Microsoft patches and fixes without SP3? If not, then I'd really wonder if you have malware lurking. Sorry, my bad, it's  http://spywarehammer.com/

A Repair Reinstall reinstalls XP on top of the existing version. It doesn't do anything to your data files or the software you installed, though it's always a good idea to back up first.  Since you have SP1a on the CD and SP2 on the hard drive, you'd need to make a "slip-streamed" CD with SP1a from your CD and SP2 downloaded from Microsoft (assuming it's still available for download). Or you'd have to slip-stream SP3 onto a CD with SP1a.

Ron

In trying to download the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service, Microsoft wants to rope me into the Windows Genuine Advantage -- I had previously opted not to, because a lot of people were saying it was tantamount to spyware.  Do you think I should just give in and agree to Genuine Advantage in order to get the Hive Cleanup?

I tried to go to spyhammer.com, but apparently the page isn't there ("Address not found").  Are you sure it still exists? - I couldn't find it even searching for it in Google.

I have XP Home, with SP2.  (I opted against the recent SP3.)  My reinstallation CD includes SP1a.  It's from 2004.  Actually the booklet says it's Version 2002; I got this computer in 2004.  I would prefer to do a reinstall only as a last resort, if possible, though I guess if I eventually had to I would.  But there are a couple of programs on my computer that I no longer have the discs for, but really need to keep.

Thanks again,

I will get Genuine Advantage and download the Hive Repair tool.

The main reason I didn't install SP3 is because it makes it so when you hover over a link, its URL is no longer displayed, at least that is the way it is on people's computers w/SP3 that I have noticed.  But yes I do continue to get Windows updates and fixes.

As to a Repair Reinstall, would it not be possible to use the existing factory disc, then just download SP2 afterward if necessary?

Thanks.

Huh?  I have SP3 and when I hover the mouse over a link, the URL appears at the left side of the bottom line of the browser window with both IE6 and Netscape 7.2.

If you run a repair/reinstall with the SP1a disk, it's going to warn you that the version on the hard drive is newer than the version on the CD and then it will abort the installation.  Here's a good tutorial for slip-streaming SP2 with an older version of XP. And it has a link to SP2 that still works.

Ron

The other computer in the house has SP3 installed.  Immediately after the installation, that area at the bottom of the browser window (in both Firefox and IE) where the URL is supposed to appear when you hover a link, was no longer there.  I suppose I could be wrong, but it seemed like a cause and effect to do with SP3, so I decided not to install it on mine.

I did download and install the Hive Cleanup program today.  Unfortunately it did not fix the problem.  Windows still hangs on "Windows is shutting down" after the internet malfunction thing happens.  Sorry I can't report a more positive outcome.  I really do appreciate the help you've been giving me.

Any other ideas before the last resort of repair/reinstall?

Thanks again,

Go to spyhammer and let them go over your system for malware. . Be sure to tell them you have SP2 and what the problem is with your wireless connection.

No point in doing a repair/resinstall if malware is lurking, because it's likely to still be there afterwards. And there's no guarantees the repair/reinstall will fix your problems since it only fixes XP issues and won't do anything about software that might be knocking the connection off.

Have you tried using ths wireless adaptor on a different PC to see if it works properly elsewhere? If the problem follows the wireless adaptor, then you have a different problem. :emotion-5:

Ron

Thanks for that.  I will try to test the adaptor, and will consult with Spaywarehammer and get back to you.

Saga ongoing at: http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=3687.0