Computer assisttance - and yes I am a sap.

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 08:31:33 AM

OK I fell victim to the "MAXMYSPEED" to help my computer speed. So I "SAP" paid the $39.95 to get the software download and as I am installing it it tells me to phone this #.
Alright "SAP" so I phone the # and the guy comes on and says he needs to take control of my computer and check some stuff out. No problem, all is cool so far, then he checks my registry and says it has to much stuff on it and they need several hours for their tech to clean it out before they can install the "MAXMYSPEED" software. So for $304. for a year they can clean it out and provide service and tech support. I say "OK I can't really afford that right now What with my kids grad and this and that".
Then he says "Well do you have other computers in the house. To which I say " yes 2 others". So he says "well for $349.95 I can provide the same service for all 3 computers".
This is where the sap leaves me cause he has confirmed it to me that this is a legal scam with a flexible price that he can adjust to whatever he wants just to get a whack of my dough. So I tell him I cannot pay this at this time and he tells me that he will put the things he changed back as they were, which he does, but he also removes the "MAXMYSPEED" software which I can't seem to find now and he goes on with his business and I am out of pocket with a now sore rump "If ya now what I mean".
So my question is "does anyone now how to clean my registry?

ADH · June 12, 2011, 08:52:20 AM

I use a program called c cleaner.

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 08:58:39 AM

Ok I will google that. Thanks.

Tenpoint5 · June 12, 2011, 08:59:10 AM

I would suggest sending a PM to Squirt after he recovers from the LPGA weekend.

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 09:00:04 AM

Ok, sounds like an idea for sure.

smoker pete · June 12, 2011, 09:02:28 AM

Quote from: Quarlow on June 12, 2011, 08:31:33 AM

... Alright "SAP" so I phone the # and the guy comes on and says he needs to take control of my computer and check some stuff out. No problem, all is cool so far, then he checks my registry and says it has to much stuff on it ...

... he tells me that he will put the things he changed back as they were, which he does, but he also removes the "MAXMYSPEED" software ...

... So my question is "does anyone now how to clean my registry? ...

If it was me Q I would be more worried about what he might have done/screwed up/etc. while he had control of the computer rather than how to clean up your registry :-\ ??? One little incorrect tweak here or there can do a lot a damage. The Registry is not for the faint of heart or the untrained!!

Maybe I'm just me being paranoid or something but it wasn't that long ago when I knew enough to be extremely dangerous and like I said, the Registry is nothing to take lightly.

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 09:05:33 AM

Thanks pete. I will gather as much knowledge as I can before I touch anything or send it to the shop.

smoker pete · June 12, 2011, 09:16:58 AM

Quote from: Quarlow on June 12, 2011, 09:05:33 AM
Thanks pete. I will gather as much knowledge as I can before I touch anything or send it to the shop.

Not saying he did anything Q ... just saying that the Registry is the brains of the Operating System and needs to be respected.

muebe · June 12, 2011, 09:26:22 AM

This whole thing about needing to clean the registry is a ploy to sell useless software IMHO.

So Q ....I assume that your computer is running very slow correct? Most common causes are conflicting programs(more than one virus scanner) or too many programs that start up with the OS.

How many virus scanning programs, registry cleaners, ect do you have installed?

What I suggest is that you go to www.malwarebytes.com and download their free scanner. Then run the software and install all the updates but do not run the scan yet. Once updated re-boot the computer into "safemode" and run the full scan from there. If you have any viruses this is going to get them out. Then run another scan after you reboot normally. If it finds something again then you have a Trojan horse. Let me know and I can help you with it.

There are a few free virus scanning software available that work well and I trust. One is from www.avira.com It works well and does not slow you computer down. I suggest you remove any of the virus scanning software you have and registry cleaners ect and install this one...

Let me know if you have more questions ;D

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 09:55:29 AM

Ok running the malware scan. We'll see what happens. I seem to have about 300 errors as told by the C Cleaner and the maxmyspeed check too.

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 09:58:32 AM

Ok so no malicious infections detected. So now what. Muebe you said to check for scanning programs and such. How do I do that?

muebe · June 12, 2011, 10:12:23 AM

In the right hand bottom corner on the taskbar there are icons. Take a look at each icon and see what they are. You can see what programs are running. There will be the speaker, wi-fi signal bars ect. Check each one and see if any are virus scanning software ect.

You can also go into the control panel. And then go to the add/remove programs area. This will list every program installed on your computer...

Let me know what you find

Quarlow · June 12, 2011, 10:19:46 AM

It doesn't look like I have anything other than what my service provider supplys called "Telus security service". It seems to be a pretty good product as such. Of course I now have the malware icon in the lower right corner but other than that there is only the speaker, net connection bar and the battery indicator.

muebe · June 12, 2011, 10:21:52 AM

I am going to send you a PM

Wildcat · June 12, 2011, 04:41:45 PM

I purchased System Mechanic Professional for around $40 not long ago from Office Depot. I am not a computer guru but this program is so simple that even I can do it. It will fix registry issues, clutter, will defrag, will fix the too much start up stuff, etc., etc.