XP has been out for approx 10 years, it has proven itself to be good.
The Health Service, Police, Ambulance services is still using XP
Until they buy new computers.
The Health Service complained about no updates, so they gave in and still
Do updates.

I have Service Pack 3 but have no idea why that stopped Systems Restore working.

But I have righted it by cleaning and now it works.
I tested it.
I wanted to use it thinking it would get rid of any virus I might have.

Not true, the Virus just still sits there on the computer.

What Windows do you have Gypsy?

(To find Service Pack...go into My Computer and right click on a space then Properties.)

Win 7 is ok but need to learn how to use it. (Learning a whole load of new things)

Win 8 is now out ... It was made for Touch Screens. I have been told it is not so good with the keyboard.

Guess what they are now working on Win 9

System Restore can track & remove harmful changes to your computer.

Here is how to clean......All Prog. Accessories. System Tools & Turn it off...Tick the Box..
Un tick
(Remove Tick when cleaned)

Go back in to System Restore via Help and Support.
Click setting in RED

You can go back one day to test it.

Microsoft will be ending support (updates) for Windows XP on April 8, 2014 after 12 and a half years of supporting it. Microsoft has gone out of their way to extend support on several occasions, but the 2014 deadline looks like the final one. Windows XP was the most widely used operating system until August 2012, when Windows 7 overtook it.

Are you having problems doing a System Restore? First of all using 3rd party disk cleaners such as Ccleaner can actually cause a problem with system restores. The computer doesn't want to restore what it didn't delete with its own built-in software. I wouldn't use the System Restore option unless its absolutely necessary, use it as a last resort fix to a problem. Its actually hard on the system and is not intended to be used all the time.

My computer is a brand new XP machine thats been sitting in the closet for years, it was used for 3 months then unplugged and put away for storage. This baby even looks new, its shinny and runs fantastic. My old XP machine has been permanently retired. I'll keep it for sentimental purposes, it can still run for a few hours if need be, but its worn out and needed to be retired. This new XP machine is a blessing. I do not and will not run any 3rd party cleaners with it, I've decided to only use the default windows cleaner if I ever do, and I havent even done that yet.

Interesting!!!

But I have righted it by cleaning and now it works.
I tested it.

I think I agree with you about Restore being hard on the system.
I never use it much.

Ok, what made you think service pack 3 had anything to do with stopping your system restore? Did you just recently install SP3? Everyone using XP should have SP3, if not they should get it.

So you have windows 7 too?

Also, whats the name of the virus you still have on your computer that you can't get rid of? Its on your XP machine, correct?

Are they laptop computers or desktop?

runawayhorses wrote:Ok, what made you think service pack 3 had anything to do with stopping your system restore? Did you just recently install SP3? Everyone using XP should have SP3, if not they should get it.

So you have windows 7 too?

Also, whats the name of the virus you still have on your computer that you can't get rid of? Its on your XP machine, correct?

Are they laptop computers or desktop?

One lady on another site said she knew it was to do with service pack 3....I do not know if she is right or wrong.

I downloaded service pack 3 a long time ago.

I do not have windows 7

I have a desktop computer. Never used a laptop.

I do not have a Virus.

The computer was slow because I recently updated Free A.V.G.
To 2013 and the full scan they wanted me to do, takes 4 to 6 hours or more or less. I left it running all night to scan.
(I did not know that)

Even the short scan everyday is now longer. It does a deeper scan now.

I have found out how to PAUSE it while I am working on my P.C.

What Scanner do you use Tyler.

Does Gypsy have XP

I have XP Professional ....2002?

If you do not understand me I will rephrase the answer.

I think Service Pack 3 is to do with security!!!

Ok, glad you don't have a virus on your machine.

Yes AVG is a big program that can definitely slow down your computer because it uses so much of your computers resources. In my opinion AVG is over-the-top for my needs, it runs things that for me are completely unnecessary so I quit using it about 6 months ago. It wasn't so much that it slowed my computer down, although it did to a degree especially on boot-up, I just wanted something quieter and easier on my computer so it wasn't using so much of my computers power for things that are completely unnecessary and over-the-top. I got tired over their occasional popups asking me if I want to upgrade to a paid version. Yeah right, as if I need more processes running on my machine with a paid version. grrr. So I started looking for a new program that respected you and your computer enough not to use so much resources for simple protection. So I did some investigating and learned about a free program thats been out their for awhile designed and made by Mircosoft, that was made especially for windows XP machines, home edition and pro. Its low on resources and runs silently in the background and never bothers you with anything because their is no paid version, its a gift from Microsoft for using a windows computer.

I've had it for quite sometime and love it, I highly recommend it and you can download it here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

I would recommend you first download it to your desktop, then uninstall AVG and kiss that program goodbye, than click the security essentials icon on your desktop and start the install process. It installs fast and its trouble free. You'll love it. Its all you need for protection.

I scan with security essentials once every 2 weeks, and I also have a lifetime paid version of Super Antispyware I bought 5 years ago. They also have a free version that you can scan your computer with but it doesn't have real-time protection, When you get the lifetime subscription version you get real-time protection and can add it to your new computers you get through the years. I installed it on this new machine, although I don't use the real-time protection with it I just scan with it every now and then. The security essentials program is all thew real-time protection I need for this computer.

You can get Super Antispyware here:

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Yes service pack 3 was just a security update, but also important because you can't use the latest version of Internet Explorer which is 8 for windows XP if you don't have SP3 installed. Also other programs have been known to insist you have SP3 or they won't install. In fact you can't even use the windows update site if you don't have sp3 and IE-8, which can be a headache and hassle to get if you have sp2 using IE-7 and didn't get the update automatically. But thats another story which is too long for this particular post.

Windows Essentials is built into the computer and IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH.

Be back Dinner has been put on the table.

Always a pleasure talking with you candy,,

runawayhorses wrote:Always a pleasure talking with you candy,,

I know... I am A ...can't remember....NIGHTMARE!!!

Windows 8 comes with incorporated Essentials built in ...but P.C. World puts on Norton or (Macafee which is also rubbish) because they know Essentials is not good enough.

A.V.G. Is resource hungry...which means it will use any memory it can find. But it can do a DEEP scan.

So what I am going to try, is to alter the setting to LOW.

PAID version of Super Antispyware is on offer for a knock down price of £20 was £30

I will stick to free version cause I am tight & mean with money.

By rights your computer should be quick scanned every day.

Turn off your Virus protector and I guarantee you will pick up something within 5 mins.

*********************************************
O.M.G. Brain damaging...REAL TIME

Real-time protection, on-access scanning, background guard, resident shield, autoprotect, and other synonyms refer to the automatic protection provided by most antivirus, antispyware, and other antimalware programs, which is arguably their most important feature. This monitors computer systems for suspicious activity such as computer viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious objects in 'real-time', in other words while data is coming into the computer (for example when inserting a CD, opening an email, or browsing the web) or when a file already on the computer is opened or executed, in other words loaded into the computer's active memory. This means all data in the files already on the computer is analyzed each time that the user attempts to access the files. This can prevent infection by not yet activated malware that entered the computer unrecognized before the antivirus received an update. Real-time protection and its synonyms are used in contrast to the expression "on-demand scan" or similar expressions that mean a user-activated scan of part or all of a computer.

LOL, well first of all the program I use is called "security essentials" I never heard of "incorporated Essentials." Anyway I know that my program "security essentials"  is not the best protect you can get, but perhaps thats why its so low on resources. In any event its all I need for the kind of web browsing I do, in addition I always have my paid version of Super AntiSpyware with real-time protection I can turn on anytime I want if I feel I might need to enter a site that is questionable.

Just out of curiosity, why are you defining what "real-time protection" means? If you were doing that for my benefit I already know..

PC world is not a windows edition or computer manufacture, so when and where are they putting on Macafee and Norton??

runawayhorses wrote:LOL, well first of all the program I use is called "security essentials" I never heard of "incorporated Essentials." Anyway I know that my program "security essentials"  is not the best protect you can get, but perhaps that's why it's so low on resources. In any event its all I need for the kind of web browsing I do, in addition I always have my paid version of Super AntiSpyware with real-time protection I can turn on anytime I want if I feel I might need to enter a site that is questionable.

Just out of curiosity, why are you defining what "real-time protection" means? If you were doing that for my benefit I already know..

PC world is not a windows edition or computer manufacture, so when and where are they putting on Macafee and Norton??

Oh! My I do not know the answer to the last question.
Maybe they just do before they sell it.

Yes Bad English..slap wrist. I should have said "Windows
Security Essentials" which is incorperated into the system.

I did not know what Real Time Protection meant...I assume other people read my post.

Yeah, AVG and security essentials both have real-time protection if you have it turned on. They are on by default but you can turn it off if you want. I keep it on all the time. If you ever go to your windows "Security Center" part of your computer you can see what program is protecting your computer and if its on or off real quickly. Actually if its off your computer will tell you so with a little windows "Security Center" taskbar notification. It wants you to keep it on all the time. It will notify you if your firewall is turned off too. However some security programs won't show up in the "Security Center", but AVG and of course security essentials does and many others. Why some programs don't I'm not sure, I guess some programs aren't approved for one reason or another.

To access your "Security Center" if you don't know already click: Start>>Control Panel>>

On that screen click the "Security Center" link.

Your computer might have a different screen layout from mine since you're using xp pro and I'm using xp home edition, but it should be in control panel somewhere I believe.

Tyler wrote: "I would recommend you first download it to your desktop, then uninstall AVG and kiss that program goodbye, than click the security essentials icon on your desktop and start the install process. It installs fast and its trouble free. You'll love it. Its all you need for protection."

I agree. My Windows 7 came with essentials live and it has been doing fine. Keeps me outta the mud puddles,so to speak with warnings. On my 3d year with no probs. My experience has been that ALL purchased security programs are either A) Bullshit or B) Intrusive. I still use Spybot though.

Now Moon I will say it once and I will say it twice...

Security essentials is Crap.

My A.V.G. Free Edition is now working fine and I have used it for 6 years.

Your security is built in with Microsoft Windows.

Candy Cottingham wrote:Now Moon I will say it once and I will say it twice...

Security essentials is Crap.

My A.V.G. Free Edition is now working fine and I have used it for 6 years.

Your security is built in with Microsoft Windows.

I thought my "security essentials" was part of my "Windows Live Essentials" package. I really don't care. Crap or not, my ol' machine keeps humming along.