WINXP file clean up

[jayjr]

I know there is no DOS with XP installed which is what I would use to remove files in my WIN98SE. A friend running XP Home has a pop up window every time they boot up telling them the program is incompatible (FAT16) with the OS. Not sure what they attempted to load but obviously they shouldn't have. If I can't remove the file(s) with DOS, how do you eradicate them and get rid of the pop up message. Right now it takes 6 clicks to get rid of the box.

[ski]

If the pop-up refers to a program, then see if it appears in the 'Add/Remove Programs' list.
If it does, then uninstall it.

If the pop-up does not refer to a program, then see if the owner recognizes the name of the program in 'Add/Remove Programs'.
If so, then uninstall it.

If the pop-up does not refer to a program and the owner does not recognize it in 'Add/Remove Programs'(or it does not appear there), but the pop-up refers to a file name, then D/L and run 'Hijack This', and check its scan results for the following items:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run/xxx
(where xxx is a program or file name)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run Once/xxx

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run Services/xxx

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run Services Once/xxx

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run/xxx

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run Once/xxx


If the scan results include any of the above Registry entries containing the same file name that's in the pop-up, then check them in 'Hijack This' to delete them.

[jayjr]

Thanks for the information. I think I will set it aside just in case I ever get stuck with a pc running XP. I removed a total 53 virus/trojans while I was at their house. They had no anti virus program installed despite my many recommendations so I installed AVG. On cable, they will not install a firewall. !!! And the pre teens are pretty much left to do what they want with the pc. So maybe a trip to the pc shop will help them get the message.