BigFix seems redundant with Win XP

[soybean]

My mother recently received an eMachine that someone gave away.  It's a T1440 model (1.4GHz Celeron, 256MB, 40GB HD).  I used to Restore CDs to restore it to the original software configuration.  That software includes an update utility called BigFix.  I was not familiar with it and did some research.  I found nothing negative about it, but it just seems redundant with Win XP, since BigFix identifies updates to Windows and seems to basically do the same thing as Windows Updates.  BigFix really seems to be a tool for IT support in an organizational environment.  Their home page is http://www.bigfix.com/

I'm inclined to remove it.  I think it's going to be confusing to my mother.  Just wondering whether anyone is familiar with it and, if so, how you like it.

[Fed]

It doesn't look like anything a single user would need.
Why not a clean install Soybean?

[soybean]

I believe the "Restore CD" accomplished a clean install.  When I started the restore, I discovered that it was actually a Norton Ghost installation of the original configuration.  I do not recall seeing a screen that gave me options such as formatting and partitioning.  Do you think I still should have approached this in a different way to truly get a clean install?

After the restore procedure, Win XP was back to the original (pre-SP2) Win XP.  I then installed SP2 and all updates.  

[Calum]

Ooh, I used to have Bigfix on my Evesham.
It seems to identify issues with the machine and suggest knowledge base articles, updates and the like.
I had no use for it so I uninstalled it, I do my updates manually.
Just my $0.02.

[soybean]

Thanks for replies, Calum and Fed.  I removed it via Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, but found it was still on the Programs menu and would still start if I clicked on it.  I ran CCleaner and used opened it's Uninstaller to see whether it showed BigFix.  It did not.  I also downloaded an uninstall utility called ZSoft Uninstaller.  It also did not show anything for BigFix in it's list of uninstallable items.  

I'm inclined to manually removed the files for folders for BigFix and maybe manually delete Registry entries for it.  

[Fed]

Because you're more or less at day 1 with this computer I think you would be better off if you formatted and gave your mother a fresh start.
Of course you would need that shiny XP disk or a used (LOL) W2K disk.

[soybean]

All I have to work with is the Restore CD.  Of course, that had stuff my mother doesn't need, such as CompuServe, AOL, Winamp, Real Player, Viewpoint Media Player, etc.  I removed those things before updating Windows, including SP2, and then installed AVG, Spybot S & D, and CCleaner.  

I did manually remove the files for BigFix and also removed a few Registry entries for BigFix.  I also downloaded and ran Eusing Free Registry Cleaner.  It removed additional entries for BigFix.  Still, the Registry contains an entry which keeps reappearing in scans by Eusing Free Registry Cleaner.  I've tried to manually remove that and it can not be removed.  

I could start over and repeat the restore, then try removing BigFix before doing anything else.  Guess I'll either do that or leave it as is.  

[Neil]

Provided this BigFix isn't causing any problems, I'd be tempted to leave it be.

[unlovedwarrior]

just change the msconfig so it doesnt start up and confuse her.

[patio]

If there is an i386 folder on the restore disk couldn't you just use WinLite and slipstream SP2 and the appropiate drivers needed and burn them to a CD and do a clean install ? ?

[soybean]

just change the msconfig so it doesnt start up and confuse her.

When I turned the computer on today, I tried running msconfig and it was not available.  I did run it yesterday and BigFix did appear there.  I don't know whether something I did yesterday caused msconfig to disappear.  Anyway, I decided to start over and repeat the restore process.  Soon after restoring the system to it's original configuration again, I opened Add or Remove Programs and removed BigFix.  However, I soon realized this merely removed it from the Add or Remove Programs panel.  It was still on the Programs menu and, upon restarting, it's icon reappeared in the Notification Area.  Then, I did a Google search, went to the BigFix website, and found that they have a removal tool.  I downloaded it and used it. I also installed CCleaner and ran it; the Issues scan found quite a lot of stuff, including some BigFix items.  

At this point, the only remant of BigFix that I'm aware of is a Registry entry which I tried to manually delete; but, it can not be deleted.  I think I'll just keep the computer for few days before returning to my mother, to make sure BigFix does not reappear and no other abnormal behavior develops.

[soybean]

If there is an i386 folder on the restore disk couldn't you just use WinLite and slipstream SP2 and the appropiate drivers needed and burn them to a CD and do a clean install ? ?

That sounds like a good idea.  However, that restore disk is actually a Norton Ghost backup of the original system and I find no I386 on the CD.  

I encountered another weird situation today with this computer.  I wanted to remove Adobe Reader 5.0.  It was not in Add or Remove Programs.  So, I found an installation file for Adobe Reader 5.0, installed it on top of the existing installation to make it appear in the Add or Remove Programs panel, and then removed it.  

[patio]

I'm in a good mood...

Here Ya Go Soybean

[Neil]

As a possesive pronoun, "its" should not have an apostraphy.

       -Grammar police

[soybean]

I'm in a good mood...

Here Ya Go Soybean

That article assumes the Norton Ghost is installed on a computer; then, it is used to extract the file.  I don't have Ghost.