Web sites

[BUDDY HOLLY]

Last week i went to "sort out" my youngest sons pc, now i'm not an expert but i do know a little bit about a lot of things.

Any way, i got him connected to the internet, as soon as we opened it we got a large number of warning messages, they appear to be official windows messages, when you go to the web sites they try and sell you a product, should he be worried about these messages? some said that if he didn't do something about the problems he could damage his pc.

Here are some of the web sites

www.ms-fix.com

www.repairmyreg.com

www.updatepatch.info

www.win-clean.com

Should he ignore them?

He is using windows xp..He has spyware/adware removers etc

[Sammy Snake]

I would ignore them all.  One I looked at in particular - www.updatepatch.info - why would you need this, the windows update feature advises you and downloads all the patches you need.

As long as he has anti-virus software, adware blockers/removers (and regularly updates them) and runs windows updates, scans for viruses regularly etc then I can't see that he would need any of the above sites.  They don't seem to be 'official' Microsoft sites.

Let's put it this way, I have had Windows XP for about 3 years now, have never used any of the sites you mention and have never had any problems!

[vicars]

They are just scams - never go anywhere you are told to go to as even if they sound respectable they can start to download programs on your PC. Sounds like you have an option open that you can easily close down - it is meant for network users but has been used by misfits for a while now as it looks like an authentic message. I did the following 2 years ago and all messages were stopped dead - I copied it from a computer users resource site. Good luck.

 

The workaround solution is to disable the Messenger service as follows:


Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).


Some of you with Windows XP Home Edition have an extra step to perform.
Double-click Performance and Maintenance.

Double-click Administrative Tools.

Double-click Services.

Double-click Messenger Service in the right hand list of local services.

A Messenger Properties window will appear.

In the General tab, set the Messenger service's Start Type to Disabled using the pull-down list of Start Types.

Also in the General tab, click the Stop button in the Service Status section. Your computer will stop the service if it is currently running.

Click OK. The Messenger Properties window will disappear.

Click the File: Exit tab in the Services window, and it will disappear.

Those of you comfortable with the Start - Run line may like to do the following instead:
Click the Start Button and then click Run.
Type services.msc and click OK
You should now get a list of services and you can double click the Messenger Service and disable and stop as per the previous procedure.

[BUDDY HOLLY]

Thank you for your help,I will do what you said.

[PatTheRat]

I used to get the win-clean one on my pc, and I was informed it is spyware. Make sure that whatever your son has by way of spyware remover (ad-aware is good)...make sure it is up to date and he has run it recently. I would guess that there is spyware on the machine.

also, if you have xp service pack 2 you can block all pop-ups. if u dont have xp srvice pack 2, you can get pop-up blockers from google or yahoo.

[d0gsb0dy]

Another suggestion. If you are using Internet Explorer, change to Mozilla Firefox.