annoying advertising items on my desktop

evade28 · Sep 16, 2003

there are annoying ads on my desktop along the lines of 'join up to the internet' kind of thing. there are 6 of them (from different companies).
when i got the computer, brand new, they were on it, must have come with XP or something.
ANYWAY. they are bloody annoying. ive tried deleting them but whenever i restart computer they reappear!

can anyone tell me how to p1ss them off?

jim boy · Sep 16, 2003

Hmm, not sure, try turning off System Restore, deleting them, rebooting and then turning system restore back on again. Windows XP doesn't normally come with this crap, so you might also want to run adaware, otherwise it could be some smart-alec modification in the registry by the seller, which isn't that hard to fix.

myee8 · Sep 17, 2003

I have the same problem, and when i tried to delete it to the recycling bin, it said that it cannot be stored there. I might try what JimBoy said though.

Zeke · Sep 17, 2003

Buy a Mac.

kaysee · Sep 17, 2003

Originally posted by evade28
there are annoying ads on my desktop along the lines of 'join up to the internet' kind of thing. there are 6 of them (from different companies).
when i got the computer, brand new, they were on it, must have come with XP or something.
ANYWAY. they are bloody annoying. ive tried deleting them but whenever i restart computer they reappear!

can anyone tell me how to p1ss them off?

OK the most common place for these are settup in is in you StartUp directory. The Startup directory contains files that will automatically start/run when you 1st start up the OS.

If you goto your: Start Menu->Programs ... you will see a folder in there called "Startup". Go into this folder and see if those advertisements match up to anything in there. If they do delete them out.

Alternatively you should delete them through you local hard-drive.
- Open up my computer and goto you local HDD normally C:
- enter the folder "Documents and Settings"
- now you should have several folders in here; 1 for ALL USERS and folders for each local user who logs onto the system. Do the following for eacg local user folder and the ALL USERS folder>>>
+ Enter the folder then enter the following folders:
Start Menu->Programs->Startup
+ Delete any files you see there which appear to match the advertisements.

- ok now restart and see if they still startup. If they do then they may be added to the System Registry and that is a bit more difficult, but let me know and I will guide you through where you need to check.

SKC

thewhippersnapper · Sep 17, 2003

I have 1 currently and everytime I delete it it just comes back the next time I get into my account.

Its very annoying but I know there is a program that stops them somehow.

evade28 · Sep 17, 2003

Re: Re: annoying advertising items on my desktop

Originally posted by kaysee
OK the most common place for these are settup in is in you StartUp directory. The Startup directory contains files that will automatically start/run when you 1st start up the OS.

If you goto your: Start Menu->Programs ... you will see a folder in there called "Startup". Go into this folder and see if those advertisements match up to anything in there. If they do delete them out.

Alternatively you should delete them through you local hard-drive.
- Open up my computer and goto you local HDD normally C:
- enter the folder "Documents and Settings"
- now you should have several folders in here; 1 for ALL USERS and folders for each local user who logs onto the system. Do the following for eacg local user folder and the ALL USERS folder>>>
+ Enter the folder then enter the following folders:
Start Menu->Programs->Startup
+ Delete any files you see there which appear to match the advertisements.

- ok now restart and see if they still startup. If they do then they may be added to the System Registry and that is a bit more difficult, but let me know and I will guide you through where you need to check.

SKC

i went to start/programs and i couldnt find anything called 'startup' so i tried the other way in my computer and found it. i checked all the users and none of the ads were in there.

what next?

ps thanks for ur help!

evade28 · Sep 17, 2003

Originally posted by Jim Boy
Hmm, not sure, try turning off System Restore, deleting them, rebooting and then turning system restore back on again. Windows XP doesn't normally come with this crap, so you might also want to run adaware, otherwise it could be some smart-alec modification in the registry by the seller, which isn't that hard to fix.

nah it definately came with it. it was on there b4 i even hooked up to the net.
so how do u turn off the system restore?

Mr Q · Sep 17, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
Buy a Mac.

Zeke, rather than be a useless prick when people ask a simple question why don't you just f*ck off with your Mac crap. Yes Macs are good computers, but it doesn't help when you reply to every PC based question with a stock reply of "buy a Mac."

jim boy · Sep 17, 2003

If it's not in start up, it could well be in the registry, which is trickier to access. Click on Start, then Run then type in regedit and then OK.

Click on the 'plus' symbol next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE then follow the path below. Do the same later with HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

When you get to run, you'll find a list of programs etc that are run when windows starts up, the HKEY_CURRENT_USER settings only start when YOU log in. Most of the programs will be virus checkers or real player settings etc. But it could be one of these that are buggerising you around. If you find one, just delete it. Modifying the registry can be dangerous, but generally I find that most entries in here aren't critical to your computer.

Paul0 · Sep 17, 2003

Do a Google search , e.g. 'remove [exact name of offending icon] from desktop' . Something's bound to turn up.

Zeke · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Mr Q
Zeke, rather than be a useless prick when people ask a simple question why don't you just f*ck off with your Mac crap. Yes Macs are good computers, but it doesn't help when you reply to every PC based question with a stock reply of "buy a Mac."

Sorry, it just baffles me why all the sheep persist with machines that seem to have an endless supply of problems and issues. My solution, is exactly that - a solution, not a band aid.

kaysee · Sep 18, 2003

Re: Re: Re: annoying advertising items on my desktop

Originally posted by evade28
i went to start/programs and i couldnt find anything called 'startup' so i tried the other way in my computer and found it. i checked all the users and none of the ads were in there.

what next?

ps thanks for ur help!

OK most likely they are added to your REGISTRY (as JimBoy as already stated). Bit of background information the REGISTRY is resource used by your computer to important information your applications and devices use. Basic example might be how when you startup an Application and it remembers your last used window positioning and size... well that information was saved to the REGISTRY.

++++++++
IMPORTANT
++++++++
Before editing the registry make sure you are confident in want you are doing and realise that modifcations made in here can severely impact on system programs and operation. It would be best if you save your registry settings before you start making modifications.

Editing the Registry:

- Close all applications.
- Bring up your Windows Start Menu.
- you should have an option there called 'Run'. If not it might located somewhere else in you Start Menu so you will have to search for it. Click on the 'Run' option.
- a small dialog should open up with a single field called 'Open'. If there is currently any writting in this field delete it and type the following and click 'OK': "regedit"
- a Window will now open up with the title called 'Registry Editor'.
- SAVE YOU CURRENT SETTINGS by :
+ Click the 'File' option at the top.
+ Click the 'Export...' option to open up a Save File dialog.
+ Enter in a Filename to save it as and navigate to a folder you wish to save it in and click 'Save'.
- Having saved the current settings you can now make changes and if any mistakes are made your can reimport your former settings.
- Back in the Registry Editor it has 2 sections; left side section contains the Folders, the right side contains the Registry Keys and their values.
- On the left side navigate down to the following folder:

"HKEY_CURRENT_USER->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Run"

- Check the values in the section in the right side and see if any of those appear to match the Advertisement Banners. If they do delete them.
- Also check in the following places in the Registry:

"HKEY_CURRENT_USER->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->RunOnce"

(*** SIDE NOTE: most viruses will copy themselves to this location too***)

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Run"

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->RunOnce"

(*** SIDE NOTE: most viruses will copy themselves to this
location too***)

- And if you have the following Registry Folder you might as well check here too:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->RunOnceEx"

- Once you have gone through these entries Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer and see if the Advertisements persist.

Hope this helps... if not the settings are obviously saved somewhere else and I can't help you there via online.

Cheers
SKC

Mr Q · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
Sorry, it just baffles me why all the sheep persist with machines that seem to have an endless supply of problems and issues. My solution, is exactly that - a solution, not a band aid.

No, you're just being a ****ing ********. People asking questions already have a computer, and its not a Mac. Suggesting that they go out and spend X thousand dollars to buy another computer to solve a simple problem is totally unhelpful.

Apart from that you had a Richo style sook a while back about people not respecting Macs - what you're doing here is exactly why.

Zeke · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Mr Q
No, you're just being a ****ing ********. People asking questions already have a computer, and its not a Mac. Suggesting that they go out and spend X thousand dollars to buy another computer to solve a simple problem is totally unhelpful.

Apart from that you had a Richo style sook a while back about people not respecting Macs - what you're doing here is exactly why.

The bulldogs already have players - doesn't make them a good team.

What I am simply trying to say is that Mac's don't get the recognition that they deserve. They are not just design industry machines, they are a suitable platform for just about any computing application.

Mr Q · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
The bulldogs already have players - doesn't make them a good team.

What I am simply trying to say is that Mac's don't get the recognition that they deserve. They are not just design industry machines, they are a suitable platform for just about any computing application.

Bollocks. You're invading any thread where someone has a PC problem with a catchcry of "Buy a Mac". Now if I've spent $2000 on a new Windows based PC and something doesn't work, the last thing I want someone to tell me when I ask for assistance is "Buy a Mac". The only way that solves my problem is the outlay of another huge sum of money, not something I really want to do. Don't try and tell me Macs are bug free, I know that is impossible. Macs might be suitable platforms for just about any computing application (I would dispute that), however by the time a question about a Windows PC pops up on this board the person ALREADY HAS A WINDOWS PC so why don't you shut up about it.

Zeke · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Mr Q
Bollocks. You're invading any thread where someone has a PC problem with a catchcry of "Buy a Mac". Now if I've spent $2000 on a new Windows based PC and something doesn't work, the last thing I want someone to tell me when I ask for assistance is "Buy a Mac". The only way that solves my problem is the outlay of another huge sum of money, not something I really want to do. Don't try and tell me Macs are bug free, I know that is impossible. Macs might be suitable platforms for just about any computing application (I would dispute that), however by the time a question about a Windows PC pops up on this board the person ALREADY HAS A WINDOWS PC so why don't you shut up about it.

Did you forget to take your chill pills?

otaku · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
Did you forget to take your chill pills?

i think he is just pointing out the fact that you are being a ********

evade28 · Sep 18, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
Did you forget to take your chill pills?

why dont u just shutup (as you have been previously advised). i am asking a simple question and if youve got nothing pointful to add then just p1ss off.

ANYWAY

i went into registry and looked and it has a few things like REG_SZ and IMAIL shyte like that which i dont understand!

hmm i think i might have to be annoyed by this a little longer til i figure it out! but thanks for helping anyway jimboy and kaysee!

kaysee · Sep 19, 2003

Originally posted by evade28
...
i went into registry and looked and it has a few things like REG_SZ and IMAIL shyte like that which i dont understand!

hmm i think i might have to be annoyed by this a little longer til i figure it out! but thanks for helping anyway jimboy and kaysee!

I will PM you.]

SKC

thewhippersnapper · Sep 19, 2003

Zeke,

Someone has posted a problem about there PC and you are going on about stupid Macs. Talk about Macs when the topic is about them.

Jabber · Sep 19, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
What I am simply trying to say is that Mac's don't get the recognition that they deserve. They are not just design industry machines, they are a suitable platform for just about any computing application.

Tell that to software developers, and it might eventually become worthwhile to get a Mac.

Zeke · Sep 19, 2003

Originally posted by Jabber
Tell that to software developers, and it might eventually become worthwhile to get a Mac.

What software (or equivalent) can you not get for a mac?

Mr Q · Sep 19, 2003

Originally posted by Zeke
What software (or equivalent) can you not get for a mac?

There would be a whole bunch of games for a start....

So, here's a quick question for you then - What software (or equivalent) can you get for a Mac that you can't get for a PC?

otaku · Sep 19, 2003

still muttering about macs Zeke?

i didnt realise your were this thickheaded. Well, goes to show that even I can be wrong.

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annoying advertising items on my desktop

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annoying advertising items on my desktop