# cmesys

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 3, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810 "2003-03-03T19:50:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810/1 "2003-03-03T19:50:24Z")

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What is this file supposed to be? I think it’s some kind of spyware program but I am wondering if it would potentially prevent a computer running Win98 from loading web pages and using AIM. The reason I ask is b/c someone I know deleted that file and now can’t use internet or AIM.

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810/2 "2003-03-03T20:01:19Z")

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It’s Gator adware/spyware. Remove at your leisure: [[link]](http://www.pchell.com/support/gator.shtml).

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810/3 "2003-03-03T21:47:24Z")

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If your 'net isn’t working, try the following :

First, check your IP. Go to Start/Run and type : winipcfg

If it shows you 192.xxx.xxx.xxx or 169.xxx.xxx.xxx or similar, then you aren’t getting a connection to the 'net. Try Release All, then Renew All.

Go to Internet Explorer/Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings. Make sure no incorrect information (e.g. proxy server) is configured there. Set it to Automatically Detect.

If that doesn’t help, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Network.

Then delete all the entries you see there (make sure you note down the entries you see there). Reboot.

Reinstall Network Adapters. Reinstall TCP/IP Protocol.

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**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810/4 "2003-03-03T21:49:23Z")

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I’ll note that removing GAIN will cause any GAIN-supported applications to fail. Though, this shouldn’t affect internet accessibility, unless your friend uses an ad-supported ISP, such as NetZero/Juno.

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmesys/158810/5 "2003-03-03T21:51:18Z")

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Next time you’re unsure of what a Start Up or Registry Entry (Run/Run Services/etc) means/does, take a look at this exhaustive listing :

[http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup\_content.htm](http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm)

Then either manually delete unwanted entries, or download Ashampoo WinOptimizer Suite.