Spyware City!

Welcome to Just Ask Matt! Today, Jan writes:

Hi! XP has msconfig to allow you to stop/delete certain files from starting. I have win2000 and would like to do the same but can’t find, despite three hours spent looking through Help, how to do so. The machine is always busy and asking me to increase virtual memory and the same pop up keeps appearing when on the Internet (despite having suppressed them in AOL). The pop ups are titled ‘Web offer’ and there is a corresponding file in the startup process list but I can’t stop it. There is also a file called TBS.exe, which is large. Can I get rid of this too when I know how to?

I really hope you can help, as everything is now so slow and frustrating. Many thanks.

At risk of being the bearer of bad news, you actually have two problems. The first is an easy fix. See, Win 2000 does not come with MSCONFIG. Never understood why, but it is simply a fact of life. Now before you start to fret, take solace in knowing that Startup CPL is going to give most of the benefit of MSCONFIG. It’s a great program and will serve you well.

Now, before you go tweaking your settings with this new download, we need to look at your spyware problem. Yes Jan, you have a spyware infestation on your PC.

Here is the good news. Chances are you may actually have to use to the startup CPL program to disable some junk in order to have enough resources to get some spyware removal programs installed. Once you are in a position that you can ‘work in this mess,’ grab yourself a copy of both Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware. Install both programs and then make sure to update both of them before using them. Hope this helps.

Do you have an IT-related question? Perhaps you are just burnt out on writing on the walls with crayons? Whatever the
comments may be, drop me a line, and you too can “Just Ask Matt!”