Formatting?

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2005
Posts
2,884
Location
Moving...
I've thought about doing a full format of my computer as it's slowed down a bit and i'm starting to see niggly little problems. But i've never formatted before. Am i right you lose absolutley everything, therefore you would have to back up all my documents. (what about drivers, updates etc) How would you back all this up i dont have a spare hard drive i could use, and i would take up loads of dvd's to burn it all. Any advice as to how i could do it?

Thanks.

Oh and if you could solve a problem i have, it might stop me from formatting: When i try to unistall anything i get an error 6003 in installshield wizard, it tells me to empty temp folders, close all programs and have an active internet connection. I've done all this but no joy. Sometimes I get the error :

Error loading C:\Progra~1\Common~1\Instal~1\Profes~1\RunTime\11\50\Intel32\Ctor.dll

The specified module could not be found.

I've spent ages googling but no success. Any ideas? Thanks again
 
Just backup your files to another hard-drive. If you don't have one spare, then DVD, but I like to use Winace with no compression and use CRC correction, to help safeguard the data.
 
basmic said:
Just backup your files to another hard-drive. If you don't have one spare, then DVD, but I like to use Winace with no compression and use CRC correction, to help safeguard the data.


What should i back up? Is it possible to backup drivers, updates etc? I'm ok with the basics but i dont know about all the 'fiddly' little bits.
 
mpledge52 said:
What should i back up? Is it possible to backup drivers, updates etc? I'm ok with the basics but i dont know about all the 'fiddly' little bits.
Do you have other partitions besides the C: drive?

Basically everything that is installed on the Windows partitions will be gone.

Things to backup from the C: drive:
- Favorites
- Start menu
- My Documents folders
- E-mail messages and contacts

As for drivers and updates it's very easy, you lose everything so you have to reinstall all drivers and updates, also if you have games and programs installed on another partition the chance is high they will also not work anymore and also have to be reinstalled.
 
Since your doing a format to get rid of a sluggish performance and niggling problems then its best just to keep the essentials, like said your emails, address book, favourites, pictures etc.
 
Dutch Guy said:
Do you have other partitions besides the C: drive?
No I dont have any partitions at the moment, if i was to format do you recommend i set one up next time? Is it easy to do? And is there a way i can get a list of all the hardware drivers i have installed because i cant remember them. Thanks
 
When you have saved all your data, just wipe the drive.

When it comes to formatting, it will give you the option of formatting the entire drive, or just part.
A guide.
I split large drives according to size, say 2 x 40s for an 80 gig drive.

If you wan't a list of the hardware in your machine, try EVEREST Free Edition 2.20. Then run the report wizzard and save it.

Ctor.dll relates to Hotbar.
Have you ever run adware or Spybot? <both are free.
 
mpledge52 said:
No I dont have any partitions at the moment, if i was to format do you recommend i set one up next time? Is it easy to do? And is there a way i can get a list of all the hardware drivers i have installed because i cant remember them. Thanks
I always put Windows on a separates smallish partition, I currently have 500Gb of space and my Windows drive is 25Gb with only Windows and Windows related programs installed on that partition.

If I have to Format I copy the essentials I mentioned to a temp folder on another partition and move them back after installing Windows.
 
I have ad aware, norton, and microsoft anti spyware and have updated them all and run them all in the past few hours. I will try spybot though, thanks split.

I have a 160gb hd. I think i may have to research a bit more before i partition, do you think tho performance increase is worth the hassle?
 
Some other things that you can do to speed it up is download Ccleaner and let that do its work, then there are a couple of other things you can do to speed it up. First is junk Norton and MS antispyware and use AVG and Spybot Search and Destroy instead and that will be an instant speed-up. Norton is a resource hog and bogs it right down, I've also found Spybot a lot faster than MS antispyware as nothing runs in the background.

Next up is show the hidden files and also show the 'operating system files'. In the Windows directory delete all the compressed $KB121948585$ folders at the start of the directory which will usually free up a lot of space and hurry things along.
 
I have a 160gb hd. I think i may have to research a bit more before i partition, do you think tho performance increase is worth the hassle?

?

There is no performance increase partitioning your drives.
Having it like Dutch Guy or myself just saves the hassles if you do ever need to re-install windows.
It also makes the drive easier to manage IMO.

We all should back up data on CD, but we don't. (some do)

Spyware can be a pain to remove, and a clean install always seems faster. (if you mean that performance increase)

Only you know whats on the PC, so you decide the hassle.
If it's only going to take you a couple of hours to re-install windows and all your programes, then that can be quicker the playing for hours removing spyware.

Remove HotBar


HotBar Description
Marketed as a program to add graphical skins to IE toolbars, it also adds its own toolbar. It monitors all URLs you visit to add link buttons to its toolbar dependent on the site you are visiting.

Manual HotBar Removal
Kill these running processes with Task Manager:
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinst.exe
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\hbinst.exe
c:\windows\system32\hbinst.exe
hotbar.exe
profilepath+\local settings\temp\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hbinst\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.2.8.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.1.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.1.0\hbsrv.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.8.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.8.0\hbsrv.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.4.6.0\weatherontray.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.4.9.0\
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.5.0.0\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.5.0.0\hbsrv.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.5.0.0\weatherontray.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\451~1.0\sbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\hbinst.exe
systemroot+\system\hbinst.exe
systemroot+\system32\hbinst.exe
systemroot+\temp\hbinst.exe

Go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\hotbar, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.
If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\spam blocker for outlook express, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.
If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\weatherontray, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.

Unregister these DLLs with Regsvr32, then reboot:
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinstie.dll
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\hbinstie.dll
googletoolbar_en_2.0.94-big.dll
nphotbar.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbcoresrv.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbhostie.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbhostoe.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbhostol.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbinstie.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.1.8.0\hbtoolbar.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinstie.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.2.8.0\hbinstie.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.1.0\dbenderc.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.6.0\
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.3.8.0\
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.4.9.0\contact.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.5.0.0\wallpaper.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\hbinstie.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\hotbar.dll
systemroot+\system\ctor.dll
systemroot+\system\hbhostie.dll
systemroot+\system32\ctor.dll
systemroot+\system32\hbhostie.dll

Remove these registry items (if present) with RegEdit:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\{69fd62b1-0216-4c31-8d55-840ed86b7c8f}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\appid\{b701a705-f828-11d4-a466-00508b5ba2df}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\appid\hbsrv.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\atlnet.hbwebmailsend
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\atlnet.hbwebmailsend.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbcoreservices.lfgax
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbcoreservices.lfgax.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbcoresrv.hbcoreservices
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbcoresrv.hbcoreservices.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbhostie.hbbho.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbhostol.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbinstie.hbinstobj
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbinstie.hbinstobj.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbsrv.hbcoreservices
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbsrv.hbcoreservices.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hbtoolbar.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\hotbar.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\browser helper objects\{204f937e-519e-4597-96fa-8f1f59f3cb6d}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\browser helper objects\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\hotbar
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\explorer bars\{becafc17-baf9-11d4-b492-00d0b77f0a6d}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\explorer bars\{ff6b2fd5-093c-4d4f-bb98-5641130a9de6}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\shellbrowser\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\webbrowser\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\internet settings\user agent\hotbar 3.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\clsid\{204f937e-519e-4597-96fa-8f1f59f3cb6d}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\clsid\{954814c0-40f3-4249-8528-b4922cd2964e}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\clsid\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hbhostol.hbcmndbaresink
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hbhostol.hbcmndbaresink.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hbhostol.hbwebmailsend
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hbhostol.hbwebmailsend.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\contact.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbcoreservices.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbcoresrv.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbhostie.hbbho.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbhostol.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbinstie.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbsrv.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hbtoolbar.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\hotbar.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\wallpaper.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\hotbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\hotbar\hotbar\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\code store database\distribution units\{69fd62b1-0216-4c31-8d55-840ed86b7c8f}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\extensions\{a80f2db2-80a9-4834-8f5a-4ab70f4ef4c3}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\office\outlook\addins\hbhostol.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\browser helper objects\{204f937e-519e-4597-96fa-8f1f59f3cb6d}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\browser helper objects\{b195b3b3-8a05-11d3-97a4-0004aca6948e}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\internet settings\user agent\post platform\hotbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\hotbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\spam blocker for outlook express
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\weatherontray
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\hotbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\hotbar uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\hotbara\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\hotbarb\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\hotbarc\
HKEY_USERS\.default\software\hotbar
HKEY_USERS\.default\software\microsoft\internet explorer\explorer bars\{ff6b2fd5-093c-4d4f-bb98-5641130a9de6}
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-1960408961-1993962763-1343024091-1003\software\hotbar
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-1960408961-1993962763-1343024091-1003\software\microsoft
\internet explorer\explorer bars\{becafc17-baf9-11d4-b492-00d0b77f0a6d}
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-329068152-1677128483-854245398-500\software\microsoft\internet explorer\explorer bars\{becafc17-baf9-11d4-b492-00d0b77f0a6d}
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-725345543-1078145449-1343024091-500\software\microsoft
\internet explorer\explorer bars\{becafc17-baf9-11d4-b492-00d0b77f0a6d}
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-796845957-842925246-1060284298-500\software\hotbar
HKEY_USERS\s-1-5-21-796845957-842925246-1060284298-500\software\microsoft\internet explorer\explorer bars\{becafc17-baf9-11d4-b492-00d0b77f0a6d}

Remove these files (if present) with Windows Explorer:
bubbles.cdf
bubbles.xip
bubbles_bubbles.bbl
bubbles_images.res
bubbles_images.xip
bubbles_images2.res
bubbles_images2.xip
c:\documents and settings\administrator\desktop\wowpapers.lnk
c:\hotbar\hotbar new files\hotbar.log
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinst.exe
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\hbinstie.dll
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.6.0\install.scr
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\4.2.8.0\install.scr
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\hbinst.exe
c:\program files\hotbar\bin\hbinstie.dll
c:\windows\downloaded program files\hotbar.inf
c:\windows\system32\hbinst.exe
profilepath+\local settings\temp\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hbinst\hbinst.exe
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\
programfilesdir+\hotbar\hotbar.dll
programfilesdir+\hotbar\hotbar.log
progress.res
progress.xip
samplegroups.txt
samplegroups.xip
setupapi.log
systemroot+\downloaded program files\hotbar.inf
systemroot+\system\ctor.dll
systemroot+\system\hbhostie.dll
systemroot+\system\hbinst.exe
systemroot+\system32\ctor.dll
systemroot+\system32\hbhostie.dll
systemroot+\system32\hbinst.exe
systemroot+\temp\hbinst.exe
wbemess.lo_
weatherontray.exe-01b746fd.pf
weatherontray.exe-1c07a355.pf

Remove these directories (if present) with Windows Explorer:
c:\documents and settings\emma umber\application data\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\emma umber\application data\hotbar\v3.0\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\ray umber\application data\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\ray umber\application data\hotbar\v3.0\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\saly umber\application data\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\saly umber\application data\hotbar\v3.0\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\sarah umber\application data\hotbar
c:\documents and settings\sarah umber\application data\hotbar\v3.0\hotbar
c:\program files\hotbar
profilepath+\application data&
profilepath+\application data& </div>
profilepath+\application data\hotbar
programfilesdir+\hbinst
programfilesdir+\hotbar
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.4.6.0
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.4.9.0
programfilesdir+\hotbar\bin\4.5.0.0
systemroot+\application data\hotbar
systemroot+\system32\config\systemprofile\application data\hotbar
Other Spyware
 
I've downloaded and run CClenaer and Spybot S&D but still nothing. I've also looked through the registry and task manager for the entries that you suggested split but i've found no entries. I've also got a friend to send me his installshield folder and i've replaced mine with that but i still got the same error message :confused: Any other ideas? I think a format is the most likely option now but i will have to wait till i finish uni first. :(
 
The problem with spyware is the people who write the stuff change it. (apart from it being a total pain)

What is the problem you are getting?
Is it still the Error loading C:\Progra~1\Common~1\Instal~1\Profes~1\RunTime\11\ 50\Intel32\Ctor.dll

You have prolly deleted that file, but not the thing that launches it hence it's missing.


Have a look here or search through here for 6003 for the InstallShield error.

This is often when it's as quick to do a format if you have all your stuff backed up.
 
split said:
What is the problem you are getting?
Is it still the Error loading C:\Progra~1\Common~1\Instal~1\Profes~1\RunTime\11\ 50\Intel32\Ctor.dll

You have prolly deleted that file, but not the thing that launches it hence it's missing.

Yes, i'm still getting that same message but I havn't deleted it because I can find the directory through my computer and it still there, along with several other files:
iGi.dll
iKernel.dll
iscript.dll
iuser.dll
setup.dll
and DotNetInstaller

This looks identical to what's in all the other folders, and i've also tried copying the same folder from a friend and it still doesn't work :( Is there a way i can download/re-install installshield?

And i've had a look through those links but couldn't see anything of use. I think i had a similar problem before and iirc i renamed one of the folders and problem solved but its not the case this time. I renamed the whole installshield folder as well but no success :(
 
I'm not sure how this works, but maybe it uses the latest installshield from whatever you installed.

Mine only goes to "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Professional\RunTime\10\50\Intel32"

Note the 10 against your 11.
I do have ctor.dll in there tho..

10.0.0.159 - InstallShield (R) Ctor DLL- Copyright (C) 2004 InstallShield Software Corp.

Just seen here...InstallShield is now Macrovision!.

You can get an evaluation copy there, but no idea really/
 
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