Problem with Computer and Printer

oliveoil54

I am helping neighbour whose computer was running extremely slowly, & her printer wouldn’t work at all.
The browsing history had never been cleared before, so installed CCleaner ran cleaner & then did a Registry clean (created backup), also installed Malwarebytes & did scan which was clear.
She already runs Avast and Ad-Aware her system is Windows XP service pack 3 AMD Sempron 3000+.
The computer appeared to run much quicker & speedtest.net showed an average speed of 6.9Mb (v good for our area). Problem solved… no!
When she switched on again the next day the computer was incredibly slow and couldn’t access the internet at all, even though the router and wifi were working fine (checked via iPad). Eventually managed to get everything working again by re-installing/merging the CCleaner backup, there is now a huge, long list of registry issues. Although speedtest.net is still showing average 6Mb, the computer in general feels slow & sluggish.
Could it be something on the Registry list slowing down pc, am reluctant to registry clean again as last time lost it connect and v slow system. It would appear that there is something on the CCLeaner Registry Issue List when it is fixed causes a major problem.
But I can find no obvious method of recording/printing this list & am unable to identify which issue is causing the trouble. I have taken a number of photos of the list so can upload jpegs?
There is also a separate issue – HP Deskjet 840C wont print anything, tried to do a test page but complete blank. Tried cleaning printer heads but the printer had been installed using Windows Wizard rather than printer CD rom, so couldn’t clean using the computer, tried to load the HP Deskjet CD but it wouldn’t open (other CDs & DVDs worked ok). I have a spare new Epson SX200 printer but no software CD, so installed using drivers etc downloaded from Epson website. But couldn’t get the ink cartridge to move into the area for installing the ink, it wouldn’t move at all (cant see any ties or anything physically holding the cartridge holder in the inaccessible place. Even though the computer has recognised the Epson Sx200 & made it the default.
Tried to use the printing preferences utility in control panel to load the ink, but kept getting an ink cartridge replacement error message ‘due to communication problem cant replace ink cartridges using the computer’. Tried pressing stop button when on and combo of on and stop still no joy. Tried to update drivers with Epson, but I already have the latest drivers.
Would really appreciate any advice or suggestions on both problems.
Many Thanks Pat

closed

forget all about cleaning/fixing the registry, and uninstall adaware, post a hijackthis log, ram total, commit charge figures and follow this

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

slow internet is different to slow pc, which is it?

drivers are available on the hp website, lasers are less troublesome.

forgotmyname

You seem to be confusing the computer is slow or the internet is slow.

Which one is it?

Printer ink.. Power light must be on and not flashing. Open the cover and then press the stop/maintenance button.

oliveoil54

The computer is slow.

Tried stop/maintenance button on the Epson Sx200 printer already nothing happens. Downloaded the Drivers for this printer but although computer recognises the printer, can't budge the ink cartridge cradle it just wont move.

Already checked HP website this printer is fairly old & doesn't seem to have the facility to clean the cartridge heads using the computer, tried to clean them manually as per HP Instructions online but still wouldn't print, the paper just cycled through.
This message was issued by HP with the driver download.
"Status messaging and bi-directional communication is not available.
Ink level indication on the PC is not available.
HP Print Previewer is not available."

Are you suggesting I uninstall Ad-Aware? I didn't install it in 1st place she had someone else help her set the PC up sometime ago & noticed it uses quite a bit of memory in the Task Manager list. But its actually recommended on the main website http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-anti-virus-software?

I wont be able to get onto her computer till next week but will post a hijackthis log asap, so please keep a look out.

Sorry to sound a bit stupid but had a quick look on my Task Manager/Performances (Vista) & couldn't find anything referring to 'commit charge' figures is that just relevant to XP?

Just had a look at your guide to speeding up PC, fairly certain she doesn't have an external hard drive etc, and not sure if she still has her original windows disk & code number either. Could I use my Vista disk?

Will see if I can persuade her to get a cheap hard drive. She's not v computer orientated, so it may have to be dvd, hence me trying to 'make do & mend' re the printers - it will def have to be whatever the cheapest option is.
Many thanks for your help.

closed

the main ethos of this site is to save money, get things free (even if you don't need them), or cheaply, and to publicise deals, that doesn't necessarily mean the authors of articles have any in depth knowledge of the product being recommended or the use it may be put to - it's cheaper than it was or free, that's all that matters.

The article just lists ways of getting free or cheap AV products, the basis of the mse Antivirus article is far from clear, especially when it comes to using words such as best and our rankings.

. step 5 of the speedup sticky is remove superfluous or duplicated security software - the machine has avast, no need for adware as well.

hard disk - is only needed if you intend to backup - post the details requested before spending money

she has xp, so a vista disk is no use - however there may be a factory restore partition - but post the hijackthis log and ram/commit charge, and model of pc first.

commit charge is harder to find in vista, and less relevant, this point is mentioned in the sticky

oliveoil54

Ok will do.
It was quite late last night so only read sticky quickly, will read more thoroughly today.
Will try and get the hijackthis log etc this week if I can, but I have visitors.
Thanks for your patience.

oliveoil54

Sorry to have wasted your time, but for some reason forget to check the Ram on this particular PC, it's less than .5 Mb.

Have removed the Ad-Aware. The lady was uncomfortable about me posting details of hijackthis on this forum, no matter how much I explained that you were only trying to help.

Will now keep on top of removing her history, cache etc which also seems to also have speeded up her PC quite a bit. Anyway its lightening fast as far as she's concerned, so as long as I maintain it regularly it should be enough to keep her happy.

Any more suggestions re using the Epson laptop which wont move the cartridge holder to middle for loading ink. Tried holding stop button to do it manually but no joy, and the computer recognises the printer but keep gettingTried to use the printing preferences utility in control panel to load the ink, but kept getting an ink cartridge replacement error message ‘due to communication problem cant replace ink cartridges using the computer’. Tried pressing stop button when on and combo of on and stop still no joy. Tried to update drivers with Epson, but I already have the latest drivers."
Thanks for your help

closed

follow the speedup sticky then, and post the commit charge, and or buy some more ram

nothing in logs is personal, it's just a list of programs running at startup, there are 100's of them already on this site.

type out the o4's if you prefer.

clearing temp files doesn't speed things up, you can just set ccleaner to do it automatically at boot, and set the browser to clear history on exit - no keeping on top required.

my suggestion for all inkjets is to place in a large bin, and buy a laser, it's better for the heart and the pocket.

Kernel_Sanders

closed wrote: »

and or buy some more ram

Indeed, 0.5Mb might have been fine in the 1970s, but not now