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My computer is slow and has many errors: registry, privacy, adware, virus, spyware, and junk files. Also my printer acts weird; drivers are not operating. It is a mess. Please help me but first tell me what the cost is?

Computer Cleanup Costs

It sounds as though your computer is indeed a mess. At a minimum, you will need a good, reputable computer security solution that takes care of viruses and spyware, preferably in real time. From there, you may need a registry cleaner, though removing viruses and spyware may solve many of your registry-related issues, so rid the computer of the malware before opting for a registry cleaner. If you are concerned about privacy, privacy software is something to consider as well.

What’s it going to cost? It depends on the choice that you make. Expect to pay about $50 for good computer security product, about $30 to $40 for a registry cleaner, and about $40 to $50 for a privacy product. You could also go for a “one-time fix” which costs about $130 to remove virus and spyware as well as optimize your slow computer though this won’t address the privacy issues. As far as your printer, let’s see if cleaning your computer of the malware and registry issues solves that problem. If not, you can try updating your printer driver which is usually a simple do-it-yourself job.

Cleaning Viruses and Spyware

By far the most import task is to rid your computer of all those viruses, spyware programs, and adware programs. Not only are these programs damaging to your computer, they slow it down dramatically and cause all kinds of computer errors. In addition, spyware has the potential to compromise your bank and credit card accounts. We highly recommend a computer security product that protects against both viruses and spyware such as ParetoLogic’s Antivirus Plus. In addition, we have reviewed additional antivirus products, all of which should be able to clean up your computer and protect it from future infestations. You can read the reviews here. A couple of them are free for personal use, so if money is an option, you might take a closer look at those options. No matter which antivirus program you choose, make sure to update it and run a complete system scan on your computer.

Cleaning the Registry

Once the viruses and spyware are gone, you should notice a significant performance improvement. If your computer is still slow or generating errors, run a free RegCure registry scan and see if your computer is a good candidate for registry cleaning. The scanner will let you see what types of registry errors are affecting your computer. As a scanning tool, it only scans, it will not repair the registry. If your computer has numerous registry errors, you may want to go ahead and invest in the product. What’s neat about cleaning the registry is that you’ll solve so many computer errors at their root and see a big difference in performance. Plus, you can use it regularly to keep your computer running at its best.

Privacy Issues

Next, if you are concerned about someone viewing the files on your computer, you might consider a utility designed to protect your privacy. We recommend Privacy Controls from ParetoLogic. With this product, you can erase your Web history, make your passwords unrecoverable, clear chat logs, clear search histories, and permanently shred files.

You have a bit of work ahead of you. Start by researching computer security products and get rid of the malware ASAP. From there, you have time to consider your other options. While spending $50 to over $100 to clean your computer may not be in your budget, it’s much less than a new computer. Plus, getting rid of the spyware before the bad guys steal your account numbers is crucial.

I need free download software to get the dll error out of my computer. Do you have any free software to remove the dll error for Windows ME?

DLL Errors

You can tell when you have a DLL error because you will see an error message that includes User32.DLL file in the description. DLL files are where Windows stores the instructions for graphic elements for its programs. If a DLL file is removed or damaged, then the program won’t work properly.

Registry Cleaning Software

I can’t honestly recommend any free software that will reliably fix your DLL errors. The best I can do is to point you to some review websites that can give you ratings and the pros and cons of many registry cleaning programs. Two to try are Registry Cleaner Comparisons and Quick Registry Repair reviews. RegCure and Registry Fix regularly rank in the top spots for effective cleaning and repairing. For the price of a dinner out, you can make sure your computer continues to work for you-remember, you often get what you pay for.

Try Windows Update

There are a few things you can try before you download a registry cleaner. The first thing to do is to run a Windows update, either manually by going to Start, Run and then type in wupdmgr in the text box. You can also go to Microsoft Download Center and download the update from the web.

System Restore

If your DLL errors are recent, you can do a system restore to bring your computer back to a point before you began having these problems. To run a system restore, go to Start and then to All Programs. Find Accessories and then System Tools. Choose System Restore. You will see an option to “Restore my computer to an earlier time”. Choose this. You will then pick a restore point to roll your computer back to an earlier time. It is a good idea to download the latest Windows Service Pack after you run a system restore.

You can try a few different things to fix your DLL errors before you download a top-rated registry cleaner to keep your computer running smoothly.

Lavasoft Registry Tuner

Overview

If your computer is underperforming or generating multiple computer error messages, Lavasoft’s Registry Tuner is an excellent tool for repairing errors residing deep within the registry and optimizing performance.

Features

Lavasoft Registry Tuner is able to repair corruption that starts at the registry level. As a result, many common computer errors are eliminated and the operating system no longer struggles to function. The software offers several features including:

• Computer Repairs - Registry Tuner finds invalid registry entries, orphaned entries, obsolete entries, and other problems in the registry and makes the repairs. This process solves common computer problems at their root and helps Windows run as it should.
• PC Tune-ups - Keeping the registry from becoming too overburdened in the first place is a vital step in keeping the computer running in optimal condition.
• Automatic Registry Scans - A built-in scheduler regularly scans the registry in search of corruption, errors, and invalid entries. Regular registry cleaning takes place on a schedule of your design.
• Full Backup and Restore - Registry Tuner backs up the registry prior to cleaning, ensuring the safety of your computer system.
• One-Click Optimization - A single mouse-click is all that’s needed to optimize the registry.   

Benefits

The Windows registry is at the heart of the Windows operating system. This registry contains instructions and information that Windows regularly accesses in its routine operations. However, as the computer ages and goes through changes, such as new software or hardware installations or uninstalls, its registry isn’t always updated properly. In addition, spyware and computer viruses often make changes to the registry. When the registry has too many invalid entries, the operating system follows incorrect instructions. These instructions may lead to computer errors or sluggish performance as the computer tries to follow directions.

By clearing out the invalid instructions, the computer no longer flashes error messages because it is no longer being told to load drivers that don’t exist or follow an incorrect path to a file and so on. In addition, performance improves as the operating system no longer goes through the motions of following invalid instructions.

Reducing computer errors and crashes by using Registry Tuner is a smart way to further protect the integrity of the data on the system because every computer crash has the potential for causing further damage to files.

How it Works

Registry Tuner works by scanning the registry and comparing its findings to a complex algorithm. Once an entry has been determined to be invalid, the Registry Tuner corrects it. The software is available on an annual license basis with one, two, and three year licenses offered by Lavasoft.

Recommendations

This product is an excellent tool for keeping the computer running at its best. Not only will it solve numerous existing computer errors, it will also prevent future ones from occurring. Best of all, system performance improves - and remains running at its best through regular registry cleaning.

Lavasoft Products

• Lavasoft Ad-Aware - Ad-Aware comes in several editions including Free, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise editions. Each version adds additional features. For example, Ad-Aware Plus adds protection against computer viruses and real-time protection - both features not found in the free version of Ad-Aware.
• Lavasoft Personal Firewall - This product helps secure computers from hackers and other network threats.
• Lavasoft Registry Tuner - The Registry Tuner software keeps computers running at their best by finding common errors in the Windows registry and repairing them.
• Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox - The Privacy Toolbox is a combination product containing File Shredder and Digital Lock - two applications designed to protect private data from prying eyes.
• Lavasoft File Shredder - Because deleted files and formatted hard drives are easily recoverable, it is important to completely shred electronic files or risk data falling into the wrong hands. Lavasoft File Shredder is a tool for such a purpose.
• Lavasoft Digital Lock - For computer users who must store or send sensitive information, encryption is a must. Digital Lock locks and encrypts data, making it impossible for those who don’t know the password to crack the code.

Feedback

Do you have experience with the Lavasoft Registry Tuner product? Please share your comments below …   

PC Tools Registry Mechanic (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

Try Free Download!

Overview

The Windows registry contains information, values, and instructions related to just about everything on your computer. However, the registry is susceptible to becoming bloated with irrelevant information, corrupt entries, and other problems. When this happens, the computer’s performance suffers in general and computer errors occur. Registry Mechanic is a tool from PC Tools that optimizes the registry and cleans it up.

Features

• Fast and easy - Registry Mechanic is fast and easy to use. You don’t need advanced computer knowledge in order to clean out your computer’s registry and repair computer errors.
• Safely repairs the Windows registry - Registry Mechanic safely cleans the registry and makes the necessary repairs with minimal risk to your computer.
• Searches for invalid entries, orphaned startup programs, and invalid shortcuts - This utility scans the registry in search of invalid, missing, and obsolete registry entries, all of which adversely affect the stability and performance of your computer.
• Automatically backs up the registry beforehand - Automatic registry backups ensure that should the cleaning deliver undesirable results, you can selectively restore it after the fact.
• Registry monitoring - Registry Mechanic monitors changes to the registry and alerts you when it is time for a cleaning.
• Registry compaction - Registry compaction keeps your registry from becoming bloated with wasted space and corrupt entries.
• Performance optimization - A “optimize” button applies a set of pre-defined performance enhancements and patches to the registry, boosting and optimizing your computer’s performance.
• Links to popular Windows management tools - Links to related Windows management tools are provided directly within the Registry Mechanic, making it easy to take care of computer maintenance tasks in one location.

Benefits

Many computer errors can trace their cause directly to entries in the Windows registry. By finding and repairing these incorrect, corrupt, empty, or missing entries, you will also repair the undesirable results such as sluggish performance, blue screen errors, system crashes, computer stop errors, and Dr. Watson errors.

As a result of a thorough registry cleaning, your computer’s performance will also improve. After all, instead of committing resources to following invalid instructions, your computer’s resources will be available for more important tasks such as running your favorite software.

How it works

Registry Mechanic scans the registry in search of incorrect entries. It uses an advanced algorithm to find invalid results. From there, the results are listed where you can selectively choose which ones to correct. You can also allow Registry Mechanic to automatically remove them all.

A free trial version is offered with limited functionality. The full featured version of Registry Mechanic covers three computers with additional licenses also available.

Recommendations

If your computer is slower than normal or generating errors, corruption within the registry is possible. Try the Free Download to see if Registry Mechanic finds repairable registry errors before buying the full featured version.

PCtools Products

• Spyware Doctor - A standalone spyware prevention application
• Spyware Doctor with Antivirus - This product adds anti-virus protection
• PC Tools Antivirus - A standalone program that protects against computer viruses
• PC Tools Internet Security - An entire suite of tools to protect against online threats including viruses and spyware
• Registry Mechanic - A registry cleaner for cleaning, repairing, and optimizing the computer
• Privacy Guardian - Software that clears the computer of online histories, habits, and program activities
• PC Tools Disk Suite - A suite of tools for maintaining computers including data backups, disk partitioning, disk defragging, and disk optimization. 

Feedback

Do you have experience with PCtools products? Please share your comments below … 

My pc has been used for about 2 years with many people on it. Some of them were young children. Many sites and items have been downloaded. God only knows. I’m also hoping that my computer will pick up much needed speed.

Two years of hard usage coupled with download after download usually adds up to one slow computer. Cleaning the Windows registry is indeed smart and I’m confident that you’ll see an improvement after RegCure works its magic.

More Tips for Speeding a Slow PC

Since your computer has been used by kids who have downloaded multiple programs, there’s also a good chance that they have downloaded all kinds of free games and other cool freebies like animated cursors, smilies, screensavers, and wallpapers. Many adults do this as well. Unfortunately, an uninvited guest often arrives with these so-called freebies: malware.

Getting Rid of Malware

As part of reclaiming your computer, find and use a good anti-spyware application to scan your system and remove any malicious programs. Many infected computers have dozens of suspicious programs running. Not only do these programs spy on you and report your personal information such as Web surfing habits or credit card numbers, they also take up valuable computer resources and slow your computer down to a crawl.

Several excellent products exist for eradicating spyware including free products such as Windows Defender and Trend Micro’s Online Housecall. As far as paid products go, the Tech Jocks recommend XoftSpySE and Antivirus Plus from Paretologic Software. Commercial products tend to offer better protection, larger databases for detecting threats, and automation. While the Online Housecall is terrific for one time scans, you can’t schedule regular scans.

Cleaning the Desktop

Another excellent step for recovering lost computer speed is to clean up the desktop. No doubt, the kids have probably changed the background image and you probably have dozens of shortcuts and icons all over the place. A large background image and all of those icons take time and resources to load. Right click a blank area of the Desktop and select Properties. Choose a default Windows background or browse your computer for your own image. Pay attention to the image size and opt for one with a small file size rather than a large one. For example, given a choice between a 5 MB image and one that is 700 KB, choose the 700 KB image. It will look just as pretty but won’t be as memory intensive.

Remove Themes

While you’re at it, if your kids have applied special themes to your computer, remove them. Themes are neat in that they change the look and feel of your operating system. However, they require more system resources - resources that a slow PC can’t afford to lose.

Manage Startup Items

RegCure comes with a neat feature for managing the startup items. Programs that automatically load each time Windows starts up are often not needed frequently, yet they’re running all the time. By removing them from starting automatically, you’ll free up memory.

Defragging the Hard Drive

Finally, after sweeping your Windows registry, wiping away malware, and removing startup items, give your hard drive a thorough defragging. As time goes by, the hard drive becomes fragmented as your hard drive attempts to manage its contents. The built-in defrag utility (Start >Programs>Accessories >System Tools> Disk Defragmenter) will rearrange the files in a more orderly fashion.

What is RegCure?

RegCure is a registry cleaner that offers users many features to keep their computers running smoothly. It offers backup and restore features as well as locates and removes incorrect shortcuts that can slow you computers performance. RegCure can be set to schedule scans at startup, weekly or monthly - whatever schedule works best for you. It will get rid of any empty registry keys, manage your startup items and improve the speed of your PC. You can also customize it to scan only those registry items that are of concern. You can find RegCure here: http://www.filetonic.com/regcure/

What is a Registry?

The registry is the component on your computer that controls the operation of Windows. If it isn’t working properly, the operating system can get corrupted, crash or freeze at any time. The registry records the relationship between your computer’s hardware, memory and addressing. Older versions of Windows store the registry in two files - system.dat and user.dat, while newer versions store the information in files called hives that are stored on the hard drive. A centralized registry system can be a failure point and incorrect handling can result in a slow running system or even an inability to boot up completely.

Cleaning the Registry

You can clean the registry manually by going into it and deleting any unwanted items. Doing it this way can take time and can be dangerous if you delete the wrong thing.

Programs such as RegCure will clean your registry automatically while giving you a measure of control over how it works. If you need more information on this particular product, see the RegCure whitepaper: http://www.regcure.com/media/regcurewhitepaper.pdf .

RegCure offers a free scan download which may be offered as an MSN Featured Offer. In fact, Filetonic.com also offers this free scan download because it can tell you about problems in your system that you may want to address. Many of us tech jocks swear by it. Once you are aware of registry issues, you can choose to purchase the program from RegCure to clean your system, use another program or do it yourself manually. That is most likely where the confusion about the charge came in. At no point are you forced to purchase the program, and you would be told of the charge before completing your purchase.