Windows 7: Problems w/ various programs

Hey there.



I'm new to this forum so i apologize in advance if another thread already dealt with my problem.

I have a legal copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit running on a homebrew rig with Intel Dualcore 2.67 processor with 4 gigs of ram.

I've been running Windows 7 for over a year now, mostly without problems and have been pleased with the new operating system.
A while ago i started running into some problems. I've been experiencing process crashes with Firefox and explorer, and various other programs.
The biggest problem for me now is that i cannot update to the newest version of Avira Antivir and the new Windows Live Messenger 11. I also (rarely) experience a blue screen crash.
I keep my registry clean and limit the number of startup processes and regularly scan with anti-spyware/virus programs.

Welcome
Download the BSOD reports. They will most likely hold the clue to the problem
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...tructions.html

In addition, first thing. Make a full antivirus scan
Download and make a scan with malwarebytes. Be sure to update first and make both scans a full scan
As you said you make scans, but make one with malwarebytes.

Hi you said you keep you registry clean, in windows 7 you very rarely need to clean the registry in windows 7 unless you do a lot of installing and uninstalling of programs.

if you are getting a lot of these crashes when using firefox try disabling all addons then eventually starting one by one as one of the addons could be causing this.

what prgrams are causing you problems?

But firstly type in SFC /SCANNOW in the elevated command prompt and let it scan, it should fix all problems if any found, then restart pc.

also you should only be using one Anti Virus program on your pc! as this will cause you problems, and if you insist on using registry program use ccleaner. nothing else.

let me know how you get on.

With what and how do you clean the registry? Win 7 is not XP; Win 7 manages the registry very differently. Do not use a registry cleaner on Win 7 unless you are very knowledgeable of the registry and no exactly what you are doing. Registry cleaners can screw up Win 7 and the repair is a clean install.

Hey again.

Thanks for all the advice.

First off, I only use Hijack This to clean up my registry and i hand pick only the programs I know. I'm not using an automated registry cleaner.

I tried the SFC /SCANNOW command in command prompt but got an error: "You must be an administrator running a console session to use the sfc utility"

I downloaded Malwarebytes and intend to do a scan, will let you know how it turns out.

you will need to right click command prompt - run as administrator!

Abberline is spot on. Run the command prompt as an administrator then type your sfc command. Read this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

As was stated above the Reg cleaner is doing more harm than good. Dont know if it is the cause of this problem, but discontiune use

EDIT
Congrats Carl

I didn't realize registry programs were harmful, I will discontinue their use immediately!

I scanned with malwarebytes and it found 3 infections, which i removed.

Since I've begun scanning and cleaning up I've been able to install Windows Live Essentials and a new version of AntiVir, which i hope is a good sign.

When i try and run the command "sfc /scannow" in the Elevated Command Prompt as an Administrator, it now proceeds to try to run, only to display the message: "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation"

I accidentally closed the .txt file that came up after i did the BSoD scan, so i have to do another one

Be sure that it is done correctly
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker