Apple puter help and advice please

[Audio Al]

Hi people :)

I have a Apple 24inch I Mac that has and still is performing faultlessly , It's a 2008 model that I purchased new , so one owner

Over the last few months it has started to slow a bit , a suggestion has been mad that it will need a reinstall :scratch:

Being a puter numpty what is involved in this ?

I have the original 2 discs that came with the unit when new , I also have a external drive from my PC :doh: days

Any advice ( excluding buying a PC NEVER AGAIN :D )

[Audio Al]

Forgot to mention I have deleted the system Cache files

Have been told its the system registry that need sorting

[julesd68]

It's worth seeing if any disk permissions need repairing before doing anything else -

http://m.imore.com/how-speed-your-mac-verifying-and-repairing-disk-permissions

[Audio Al]

It's worth seeing if any disk permissions need repairing before doing anything else -

http://m.imore.com/how-speed-your-mac-verifying-and-repairing-disk-permissions

Hi Julian

Just run that check and it found a lot of problems with files , run the repair app and it took 14 mins to repair

Will see how it performs now

Thanks for the link ;)

[Gordon Steadman]

If it doesn't work download Mavericks cache cleaner (or it may need Leopard cache cleaner depending which system you run I'm on 10.6.8 and Mavericks works) and that will run all sorts of stuff. I do it every month.

[Audio Al]

If it doesn't work download Mavericks cache cleaner (or it may need Leopard cache cleaner depending which system you run I'm on 10.6.8 and Mavericks works) and that will run all sorts of stuff. I do it every month.

Hi Gordon

I am on 10.9.3 , do you have a link for Mavericks cache cleaner ? is it free or purchase ?

Cheers Allen

[Gordon Steadman]

Its a freebie

http://download.cnet.com/Mavericks-Cache-Cleaner/3000-18512_4-76019113.html

[nat8808]

My experience is of PCs running smoothly until you run out of hd space or memory and respond to an upgrade whilst macs go slow without explanation and stay that way even after mem upgrades and deleting files..

Filling the machine with software, anti-virus and such (some guesses of the biggest Snowden Files bombshell to be released June/July is that av software is deliberate NSA spyware. I dont use it anyway) is normally what slows computers down and there is more bloatware around for a PC and hence cause people problems more often.

[NRG]

Errrr OSX doesn't have a registry! Good advise to run a permissions check and file system check from the Disk Utility. How much spare disk space do you have left? Also download EtreCheck, it may help pinpoint any issues with the install like unwanted or out-of-date Kernel extensions....

Ohh and don't run any memory clean up programs on Mavericks ;)

[Audio Al]

Oh dear :doh:

Well I downloaded the maverics cache cleaner and now have problems

I now have a nasty re directer installed :eek:

Every time I click on a link the computer goes to the link then instantly goes to what looks like a polish version of Yahoo

Bloody annoying :steam:

HELP

Any ideas how I can clear this :scratch:

[Gordon Steadman]

Oh dear :doh:

Well I downloaded the maverics cache cleaner and now have problems

I now have a nasty re directer installed :eek:

Every time I click on a link the computer goes to the link then instantly goes to what looks like a polish version of Yahoo

Bloody annoying :steam:

HELP

Any ideas how I can clear this :scratch:

Gulp,

Never seen anything like that before. All the cache cleaner does is repair the permissions and clean the caches and the like. There has to be something else.

Are you using Chrome? Every time I use it, it automatically takes me to Yahoo even when I have reset the home page to DuckDuckGo

Might be a case for the chaps at Computer Audio http://www.computeraudiophile.com/forum/

[Audio Al]

How much spare disk space do you have left?

Hi

Just looked at this

I have a 640GB HD and 580 free space

[Audio Al]

This is the HTTP I am redirected too

http://uk.yhs4.search.yahoo.com/yhs/errorhandler?hspart=gt&hsimp=yhse-gt&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinkfishmedia.net%2Fforum%2Fmob iquo%2Ftapatalkdetect.js&type=576859

I will post a short video soon

I have used Firefox for several years

[Audio Al]

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5ShMhhBPo&feature=youtu.be

[NRG]

Have a read here:

http://www.reedcorner.net/eliminating-browser-redirects-and-advertisements/

What router do you have? Are other computers / tablets redirected as well? If so factory reset your router and set it up again.

[Audio Al]

Will read this later

Thanks for the info

[dave2010]

1. Try SophosAV - generally good, though some problems, which I'll come back to later.

2. Try Clam AV. Though it'll probably discover a lot of things which aren't really a problem.

How much main memory do you have?

[Gordon Steadman]

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5ShMhhBPo&feature=youtu.be

Most strange. Over to experts.

I take it that you have cleared the caches in Firefox and set up the prefs so no-one can add-on anything etc.

Does it do it in Safari too?

[Gordon Steadman]

I've just downloaded the latest version of Firefox to try and its started redirecting me away from the page I'm on without me asking it to. Could be part of the problem. I'll play some more.

Safari is still fine.

[Marco]

Guys,

I've just received an email from Tony L, from pfm, outlining the following: "There is to my knowledge no issue with any virus on pfm and I'm conscious that a
false positive in this respect is damaging."

Now, I know absolutely nothing about computers or the topic of this thread, but I have to respect his wishes, so could we please have no further references to pfm, in respect of this issue? All references up until this point will be removed.

Cheers!

Marco.

[NRG]

Errrr, I made my post linking to the PFM thread to be of help! There was no insinuation as to PFM being at fault! Tony had made that point in the very thread I linked to!!! :steam:

[Marco]

Neal, Tony asked me to remove ALL references to pfm, in relation to this issue, so that's what I did. However, I know that any input you've had on this thread would've been designed to help :)

Marco.

[StanleyB]

Oh dear :doh:

Well I downloaded the maverics cache cleaner and now have problems

I now have a nasty re directer installed :eek:

Every time I click on a link the computer goes to the link then instantly goes to what looks like a polish version of Yahoo

Bloody annoying :steam:

HELP

Any ideas how I can clear this :scratch:
When you download and install files from download.cnet.com you should pay very close attention to all the option boxes that can be selected or deselected during install. CNET embeds third party files in their downloads. These third party files can range from changing your default startup page in your browser or cause other programs to be installed. You really have to be on the ball when using files obtained via CNET. My protection and defence programs tend to go nuts when I install something from CNET. So I use them as an absolutely last resort.

Mind you, Adobe also uses a similar system to slip their own virus checker into your machine and overpower any alternative ones that you use. One reason I am sticking to W7 as long as I can is because I know how to take care of Adobe and many other of these wrapped downloads.

[Gordon Steadman]

Neal, Tony asked me to remove ALL references to pfm, in relation to this issue, so that's what I did. However, I know that any input you've had on this thread would've been designed to help :)

Marco.

I already confirmed that it was a Firefox issue:scratch:

[Audio Al]

I switched to Safari and it does the same , straight to Yahoo

Re the " WEB SITE I AM NOT ALLOWED TO MENTION " it was just 1 example, it happens with other web sites as well , Better not mention them or it may upset someone again :doh:

[StanleyB]

I switched to Safari and it does the same , straight to Yahoo

Re the " WEB SITE I AM NOT ALLOWED TO MENTION " it was just 1 example, it happens with other web sites as well , Better not mention them or it may upset someone again :doh:
That's because the CNET installer also changes your default browser page to Yahoo, unless you unselect it during install of the CNET downloaded page. Changing browser won't make a difference.

[Gordon Steadman]

That's because the CNET installer also changes your default browser page to Yahoo, unless you unselect it during install of the CNET downloaded page. Changing browser won't make a difference.

Maybe its a Maveriks thing. I have tried again this morning and the only time it happens for me is with Firefox and using 'that link'.

I've tried four browsers and its only Firefox that does this. I don't see why it won't make a difference which browser you use, you can set the default home page separately in all of them.

The thing is, how does Al stop this?

[StanleyB]

I don't know much about MACs except for the spelling of the name. But in general there tends to be a folder in the Mozilla/Firefox directory that stores many default settings. This has something to do with handling the automatic upgrades that Mozilla issues for Firefox, without losing the bookmarks and installed add-ons.
The way to stop the Yahoo page as default would be to uninstall Firefox and then delete the Mozilla directory manually. For PC users you can use a program called MozBackup to back up your bookmarks, add-ons etc. Just back up the bookmarks and add-ons. Leave the rest out just in case. Restore teh bookmarks and add-ons after you have done a clean install of Firefox.

[Gordon Steadman]

I don't know much about MACs except for the spelling of the name. But in general there tends to be a folder in the Mozilla/Firefox directory that stores many default settings. This has something to do with handling the automatic upgrades that Mozilla issues for Firefox, without losing the bookmarks and installed add-ons.
The way to stop the Yahoo page as default would be to uninstall Firefox and then delete the Mozilla directory manually. For PC users you can use a program called MozBackup to back up your bookmarks, add-ons etc. Just back up the bookmarks and add-ons. Leave the rest out just in case. Restore teh bookmarks and add-ons after you have done a clean install of Firefox.

No such thing as a 'directory' - you are talking a foreign language!!

I'll have a look to see if I can make mine stop.

[Gordon Steadman]

OK Al try this.......but only if you are prepared to lose all your bookmarks. I have all the bookmarks copied in each browser just in case.

Go to 'users' - 'library' - if you see a Mozilla folder, delete it. There might not be one!!

Next: still in the library folder, 'application support' - dump the Mozilla folder and the Firefox folder.

I did that and nasty things no longer happen in Firefox. When you start it up again it should ask you to confirm settings, import bookmarks etc.

However, that would only sort Firefox and I don't understand why it could happen in Safari too.

There is a Mac support guy in Computer Audio, he may well have a solution, might be worth checking there first. I'll see if I can find his name and PM him.

[dave2010]

Sorry to hear about the browser redirect problems. Could try uninstalling Firefox and re-downloading and installing. Similarly for the others - though a PITA.

Re the original post - and slowness - is the 24 inch machine one of the white plastic models? It may only have limited memory in that case, and would in any case be limited to 3Gbytes. If it's got less than that at present, then it is possible to upgrade to 3Gbytes by installing additional modules - it's not too difficult to do, and doesn't cost too much, though it may require more brute force and less than delicate handling than one would expect. The upgrade uses 4Gbytes of memory, but because of the architecture only 3Gbytes will actually be used. The later, metal case models, can take more memory. Crucial is a good site to use for memory modules - http://uk.crucial.com

I did this not too long ago, and although I say it wasn't too difficult - I'd forgotten that a cautious approach led me to tackle this with several retries over a few days, and that at one point there was less memory showing than originally. The problem was actually extracting the old modules, and I'm afraid in the end I used fairly fine nosed pliers directly on the modules - not a procedure I'd recommend, but it seemed the only way. Possibly I might have broken some of the clips in the process, but I'm not intending to try again to check since the machine has been working quite well since.

Activity Monitor - in Applications ->Utilities is useful to have in the Dock to check out how much memory is actually being used.

[Gordon Steadman]

http://dottech.org/23420/cnet-crapware/

!!!!!!!:eek:

[StanleyB]

http://dottech.org/23420/cnet-crapware/

!!!!!!!:eek:
Have you read my previous posts? I already mentioned that more than once ;).

[Gordon Steadman]

Al,

Also this....


Also have him check Safari>Preferences>Security>Manage Web Settings. If he sees an entry for Yahoo have him set the drop-down menu to " Blocked. " This works better than removing it because Yahoo may try to reinstall the plugin if he uses their site again.

[Gordon Steadman]

Have you read my previous posts? I already mentioned that more than once ;).

Nah, I'm ignoring you 'cos you didn't send me my prize for your headphone amp name:lol:

[StanleyB]

You didn't make the cut :D.

[Gordon Steadman]

You didn't make the cut :D.

:ner:

Well, wots it gonna be?

[Ammonite Audio]

Going back to the opening post, my 2008 alloy-frame iMac really started to slow down when I upgraded to OSX Mavericks. There was no going back from that, but I replaced the HDD with a SSD, which really perked the thing up nicely. Changing out the HDD was actually very simple, after studying a few videos on YouTube; and making the new SSD a bootable copy of the original HDD was a doddle over USB with SuperDuper.

[Audio Al]

This is doing my head in now , Its about to go out the window :steam:

Tried several suggestions from folk on here ( thanks )

I removed Firefox and tried to use Safari , this went straight too Yahoo . If I right click on safari in the tool bar it show a Ticked Yahoo search - Web search , I cant find a way of resetting this :steam:
F in F in F in ARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

[Audio Al]

Going back to the opening post, my 2008 alloy-frame iMac really started to slow down when I upgraded to OSX Mavericks. There was no going back from that, but I replaced the HDD with a SSD, which really perked the thing up nicely. Changing out the HDD was actually very simple, after studying a few videos on YouTube; and making the new SSD a bootable copy of the original HDD was a doddle over USB with SuperDuper.


May have to try something like this and up the Ram from 2 x 2 GB :rolleyes:

[Gordon Steadman]

I've taled to my nephew who used to be a Mac systems person. He said the following!!


Wow, weird one… Those kind of things usually have to start up as applications, as Macs don’t have too many things that can run at a service level, unlike stupid PCs. So, it’s usually pretty easy to sort out. First thing I’d try is System Preferences>Users & Groups>*user*>Login Items.

That will list everything that’s trying to fire up when you log in to the Mac. You can untick and/or remove them here, but also right-click on a login item and choose Show In Finder, which will take you straight to it, where it can be nuked.

The other thing to check is inside the browser: Security>Manage Websites on Safari to delete anything that looks dodgy, and Advanced>Show Developer In Menu Bar allows you to clean caches directly from the browser.

Sometimes it’s simpler just to reset the browser

[Stratmangler]

May have to try something like this and up the Ram from 2 x 2 GB :rolleyes:

That's a good idea - it'll get you to your redirect place quicker :eyebrows:

[Stratmangler]

Is it possible to pull the HDD, fit a new one and do an install from fresh?
Assuming of course that you've backed up all the important stuff on the machine before this problem occurred ....

[NRG]

This is doing my head in now , Its about to go out the window :steam:

Tried several suggestions from folk on here ( thanks )

I removed Firefox and tried to use Safari , this went straight too Yahoo . If I right click on safari in the tool bar it show a Ticked Yahoo search - Web search , I cant find a way of resetting this :steam:
F in F in F in ARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

I'll go back to my previous question: Does this only happen on your Mac? Can you run etrecheck? Let us know what it says...

[Audio Al]

I'll go back to my previous question: Does this only happen on your Mac? Can you run etrecheck? Let us know what it says...

I have a ipad , this connect through my iphone using Apples hotspot function

This is the report

EtreCheck version: 1.9.11 (43) - report generated 26 May 2014 12:13:36 BST

Hardware Information:
iMac (24-inch, Early 2009)
iMac - model: iMac9,1
1 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
4 GB RAM

Video Information:
NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

System Software:
OS X 10.9.3 (13D65) - Uptime: 0 days 0:11:6

Disk Information:
WDC WD6400AAKS-40H2B0 disk0 : (640.14 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 639.28 GB (581.73 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

PIONEER DVD-RW DVRTS08

USB Information:
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse
Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Gatekeeper:
Mac App Store and identified developers

Startup Items:
AdobeVersionCue: Path: /Library/StartupItems/AdobeVersionCue

Launch Daemons:
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist Support
[loaded] com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist Support

User Launch Agents:
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support
[not loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.helperTool.plist Support
[not loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.trashSizeWatcher.plist Support
[not loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.volumeWatcher.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plis t Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist Support
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

User Login Items:
None

Internet Plug-ins:
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 13.0.0.214 - SDK 10.6 Support
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYLI: Version: 2.1.0.1 Support
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.9 Support
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.9 Support
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: Version: 2.1.0.1 Support
Flash Player: Version: 13.0.0.214 - SDK 10.6 Support
Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 Support
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Silverlight: Version: 5.0.61118.0 - SDK 10.6 Support
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

Audio Plug-ins:
BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9
AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9

iTunes Plug-ins:
Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9

3rd Party Preference Panes:
BDSPrefPane Support
Flash Player Support

Time Machine:
Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:
2% firefox
2% WindowServer
1% sysmond
0% fontd
0% Microsoft Word

Top Processes by Memory:
229 MB firefox
102 MB mds_stores
102 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent
94 MB WindowServer
82 MB Spotify

Virtual Memory Information:
1.20 GB Free RAM
1.64 GB Active RAM
457 MB Inactive RAM
472 MB Wired RAM
448 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs

Thanks

[Gordon Steadman]

I'll leave that to the experts but why isn't Time Machine configured?

You do a back up I hope? If not, when you are buggered, what are you gonna do?

Just off to see the back surgeon. Will have more thinks about this when I get back. (or perhaps return would be better:rolleyes:)

[NRG]

I have a ipad , this connect through my iphone using Apples hotspot function

Can you connect the iPad to your home network instead and see if it is also affected?



.......

Launch Daemons:
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist Support
[loaded] com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist Support



Not saying this is your problem but is there any reason you have the highlighted Remote Access Software loaded? Where you aware it was loaded? I've seen reports that this s/w might be a little dubious! I would recommend killing it and moving it out of the way.

Fire up a Terminal session
Navigate to: cd /Library/LaunchDaemons/
type ls <enter>
You should see it listed
Stop it with: sudo launchctl unload com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist
Move it to your desktop(you can delete later if you want) mv com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist ~/Desktop/
Restart your system

[Audio Al]

Fire up a Terminal session ( what is a terminal session ? ) sorry I am a computer numpty
Navigate to: cd /Library/LaunchDaemons/
type ls <enter>
You should see it listed
Stop it with: sudo launchctl unload com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist
Move it to your desktop(you can delete later if you want) mv com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist ~/Desktop/
Restart your system

[Gordon Steadman]

Fire up a Terminal session ( what is a terminal session ? ) sorry I am a computer numpty
Navigate to: cd /Library/LaunchDaemons/
type ls <enter>
You should see it listed
Stop it with: sudo launchctl unload com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist
Move it to your desktop(you can delete later if you want) mv com.shinysoft.ShinySoapHelper.plist ~/Desktop/
Restart your system

Yikes, all getting a bit complex init. I guess Maveriks must be different. I'm still on 10.6.8. I just have to go to Users:me (obviously):library:launch agents: I have just thrown away a couple of redundant items from progs no longer used. I would be interested in the Terminal thing as well but the Mac was always about keeping it simple for this 'ere stupid.

[NRG]

Launch Agents are started when a user logs in, this is a Launch Daemon, something that is started during system boot, if its loaded you won't be able to move or delete it without using Terminal.

Snow leopard is no different to Mavericks in having a command line interface otherwise known as Terminal, you'll find it in the utilities menu.

But if you are not comfortable using it then best not do anything.

[33 1/3]

I just did a bit of googling on this, I suspect it's your wifi router, not your mac.
Macs themselves are pretty resistant to malware/viruses.

If you've got a separate router and modem:
Get a network cable, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable), they usually come with a router/modem.
Switch off the Wifi on your mac ('Turn AirPort Off', at the top of screen, where you go to select other Wifi networks)
Connect your iMac directly into your modem (not your router).
If you don't get redirected it's definitely the router.


Alternatively, as suggested above try other devices on the same WiFi network and see if they do the redirect too. If they do it's very likely the router as they couldn't all be infected.
If you can get someone with a Windows laptop round and it does it for them too it's definitely the router.

[Audio Al]

I just did a bit of googling on this, I suspect it's your wifi router, not your mac.
Macs themselves are pretty resistant to malware/viruses.

If you've got a separate router and modem:
Get a network cable, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable), they usually come with a router/modem.
Switch off the Wifi on your mac ('Turn AirPort Off', at the top of screen, where you go to select other Wifi networks)
Connect your iMac directly into your modem (not your router).
If you don't get redirected it's definitely the router.


Alternatively, as suggested above try other devices on the same WiFi network and see if they do the redirect too. If they do it's very likely the router as they couldn't all be infected.
If you can get someone with a Windows laptop round and it does it for them too it's definitely the router.

Hi Donny

I have a Virgin Hub and it is installed as per the Virgin instructions that came with it , I did not have the problem until I downloaded this Mavericks cleaner software :doh:

Thanks for trying ;)

[33 1/3]

Do you still have those instructions?

I've been reading some more and some people have solved it by resetting their router back to factory defaults. This usually involves holding down a reset button or poking a paperclip in a hole on the side, see how for your router here: http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=27643

This will reset your router back to as if you'd just received it (hence me suggesting getting the old instructions to get back online). It'll reset your wifi network name/password if you have changed them from the defaults that are written on the back of the router. You might want to do this during office hours so you can phone Virgin if you do run into trouble.

Also, if this does work you might want to immediately change the router's default admin password. (This is different to your wifi password). See how here:
http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=27564
All routers come with a default password, often just 'password' or 'changeme' or something else generic. If you don't change it it's easy for malware or possibly a hacker to change settings on your router. If your google/yahoo problem IS down to your router, it was probably down to this issue. I rekon 99% of the country don't change the password from the default!

Did you say you have a son in law or someone who understands these things? Show him what I've posted, he'll understand what to do if it seems a bit daunting. :)

Also, other people have suggested upgrading the router's firmware to solve this issue - if he can help you do that you might be able to solve your problem that way too.

[Audio Al]

Hi

Neither of the links open up a page , all I get is a blank white page ?

Did you say you have a son in law or someone who understands these things? ( No sadly not )

[33 1/3]

Hmm that's odd, they worked for me but now I get blank pages too.

Try these...

Resetting router:
http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=27643&CURRENT_CMD=SEARCH&CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTY=us&VM_CUSTOMER_TYPE=Cable

Changing router's password after the reset (remember this is different to your wifi password. The username is fixed as 'admin' I think, and can't be changed):
http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=27559&CURRENT_CMD=SEARCH&CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTY=us&VM_CUSTOMER_TYPE=Cable

Ideally your router's password and your wifi password should be different.
Remember to make a note of what you changed it to (stick it to back of router or something, over the old 'changeme' password). :)