Does anyone have Windows ME?

[Minion]

My computer (not this one) is missing a file called GStartup
My computer has been down for about a month because this file is missing.
If any of you have this file, please IM me at QBSneak5. I would be VERY grateful.
Thanks :)

[TRXRacing]

The sooner you get rid of ME, the sooner you can be a happy person...I'll look for the file when I'm at school tomorrow (one unlucky pc has been cursed with ME) and upload it for you to download. Is it in the WINDOWS directory? An exe file?

[madrusty289]

I have ME and just did a search for it, and nothing came up. Sorry!

[Minion]

Maybe the file is only on the HP Pavilion. Thats what I have.
Not to rush anyone, but I need the file within the next couple of hours.

[banditjon]

is the error you get

GStartup.lnk is not available to you, try again

or something similar?

From what I've seen that file is installed by Gator, a crappy adware/spyware program that tracks everywhere you go on the net.

Look in your startup folder and see if you see anything about gstartup or gator in there... if so remove it.

While you're at it drop by www.download.com and get ad aware. It's a great program that will search and get rid of all the spyware and adware that kazaa and other internet apps secretly install on your box.


I'm gonna let you guys in on the computer troubleshooting secret of the pros...

http://groups.google.com/
and
http://www.google.com

I searched for GStartup and got this:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=GStartup&sa=N&tab=wg

in particular:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win2000/r1041203933

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=10a9c01c26ae7%24ac59c870%243bef2ecf%40TKMSFTNGXA10&rnum=5&prev=/groups%3Fq%3DGStartup%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26selm%3D10a9c01c26ae7%2524ac59c870%25243bef2ecf%2540TKMSFTNGXA10%26rnum%3D5

[Minion]

No, i don't think thats what it is.

[banditjon]

It is definately gator that is causing your woes:

http://www.alanluber.com/pcfearfactor/officiagatorpage.htm

"If you see Gstartup or Gator eWallet in your list of Startup items, you have been Gatored."

[Minion]

Ya, it's in a file called GAIN. If I can get rid of it, will my computer be fixed?

[banditjon]

Looks like it... Gain == gator... Not sure if you'll be able to remove it through the add/remove software utility... Alot of spyware is devious and has no way to remove it... So then you are left with installing ad aware (which is free from download.com) and having it purge all the spyware on your system. Which is good to do anyway. Less popup ads is a good thing.

[ND4SPDR]

Start -> Run ->Type "msconfig"

Go to the startup tab, uncheck that file and anything else that you don't need to start on startup (AOL, AIM, Kazaa, etc.) and restart the computer. :)

[Minion]

I can't find the folder. Maybe i deleted it and thats why my computer is messed up.
the backgorund is really messed up and i can't use my mouse :(

[mooi]

Ok heres the deal,
I have a question for you first and formost.... IS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT DRIVE U NEED????????
If not format and start over.....
If yes then use the preset winblows shortcuts to navigate the start menu, and go to run/msconfig/startups, and look for anything that says gat, gato,sIgt,gait, or gator, then uncheck it using the tab key.....and up and down arrows...the tab again to the exit thingy
(GOD I HATE WINDOWS)
Then reboot...
if that dont do it, lemme know and I'll see if I can get the file u need from school....

[mooi]

GS startup is GATOR crap.....
I know that for sure I just looked into it... KILL IT..KILL IT to death...NOW.....
SPYWARE IS BAD, it hogs up all your system resources.....
Use the keyboard shortcuts , which if i rember correctly are something like ctrl+s or alt+s to get the start bar open, and then just use the arrow keys to fix it........just follow the path to msconfig....
only turn off stuff your sure of, if you turn everything off , your puter may not reboot...
(usually it will, but not always..)
I know that better than most being a tech, and a software engineering student

[Minion]

Is Gator the reason why I can't use or see my mouse, and the color on my computer is really messed up?
I can't start my computer over, because I lost the cd that does that. I have to cough up $100 at Best Buy to get a new one.


edit: One more thing, the time I shut down my computer, and when I turned it back on and it was messed up, I didn't do a shut down, I just turned it off. Could that have to do with it?