"Clean Up My PC" - a question on such services

[bullwinkle]

Everyone has seen TV ads for "Clean Up My PC".  I don't believe them for a moment and realize that you have to buy the package for any actual cleanup to be done.

But are there truly programs that can perform this function?  I realize that there may be a fee, but many contain hidden programs to monitor your system and other such tricks.

I just wondered if there was a program that could actually help make the PC run faster without the hidden issues.

Thanks to those who reply.

[Allan]

Are you having some specific problem(s) with your system?

[patio]

I build a few PC's a month...and i was curious about this service.
Brand new build...never connected to the web...Win7.
Very 1st thing i did when connecting to their service logged in and ran the scanner...

Results 874 bad registry items...
Numerous ad/spyware exploits...
5 trojan and trojan related infections...
Etc.etc etc...

You decide.

[bullwinkle]

My biggest problem is my email.  I use MSN Mail Premium, which used to be affiliated with Verizon but is now independent.  It is very difficult to get through for answers and their forums are useless.

It literally takes 15 minutes (I'm not exaggerating) to load because of freezes and half the time it crashes while loading.  Then once it's loaded it takes another 10 minutes (no exaggeration) to open the first piece of email.  Once it does that however, it runs OK.

One other thing...if you terminate it when its frozen, it picks up from where it left off when you restart it.  So if you want to get it up and running as quickly as possible, you have to continually delete and restart it.  If you do that it takes only about 10 minutes to come up.

My other programs run fine, so I don't think it's my system but I was just wondering if there was some registry foul up with MSN Premium Mail.  Hence my question regarding PC cleaners.

[Allan]

There is no such thing as a good registry cleaner, only some that aren't as harmful as others. NONE of them do anything beneficial. If you are having a program specific problem you should see if there is a support forum for that particular program. If it's an installed app you can try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

[patio]

Have you tried opening it and going to get a cup of coffee and a sandwhich and let it finish loading what is out there in your inbox ? ?
Sounds like thats why it's hanging everytime.

[bullwinkle]

lol - that's what I do.  After bootup in the morning I start my browser so I will have something to do and then start email.  Then I go to my daily hockey sites, check on the news, etc. 

After a half hour I go back to email (if it hasn't crashed), try to open one and then go back the the browser while I wait for it to open.  I rarely have more than 7 emails in my inbox on any given day, so I know that's not what's causing this enormous slow down.

[patio]

Is this a paid service ? ?
Have you considered switching to another e-mail such as Yahoo or Google ? ?

Here's a link i found that explains how to close the existing account but retain your e-mail addy...
See Here...

The reason this is hard to answer is MS is once again changing their e-mail service...for example they are eliminating Hotmail but current allowing users to retain their addresses and migrating it all to new servers...don't ask cause it makes zero sense to me as well.
If you do switch to another account most will have a migrate option which means you set it up so any mail going to your existing account is auto-forwarded to your new address...
Apologise for making this more confusing than it should be...but we'll find you a solution once we know more.

[bullwinkle]

Thanks for your help.  Yes, this is a paid service.  I had two options last year when Verizon departed from MSN, a $10 and the $70 choice per year.  I chose the $10 option, which means I am not able to call them with problems plus I don't get some anti-virus program.  I did this because one, I am cheap and two, they weren't very good in their coverage when I did call them.

I am beginning to rethink that because in two days I have to renew.  However this time it will cost me $90 for the higher option.  The $70 was a one-time deal.

I would switch to another provider, but I run my business email with MSN and I do not know how to export the addresses.  There is no option to do that with the MSN mail system when I run through their menus. 

I will look into the information your link provided.  Again, thanks for helping.