My computer is just plain sick

[Marty]

OK I am trying to find and fix the problem myself to no avail. My computer is barely running for the last two weeks.

I keep getting messages saying "program is not responding" and it is also taking forever to load when I boot up.

When I finally make it to my home page, which now takes me about 20 minues (I have DSL) I get more messages from Microsoft telling me I have errors

Seems like this is all a Microsoft/internet explorer thing

I have run my Anti virus and also my Spybot till the cows come home and they are not detecting anything wrong

Anyone else getting these problems?

 

[Reble]

Marty not sure if this will help.

go to start up to your accessories, click system tools, than system restore go back before your problem started happening...

You will not loose anything, but can help ...Good Luck

 

[stormo41]

I think that "program is not responding" means that the program you are running has froze or something and you need to "end now" and restart that program. It happens to me at work on Photoshop and a program called swift album (this is a really slow program) a lot.

Using Internet Explorer may be the worst thing you can do for your computer. You should down load Fire Fox it's much better protected. As far as Windows goes...well that could very well be your problem Windows although the most popular operating system is not the best one. I Run Linux on my home computers (5 of them between me and my boyfriend) and we never have any issues like that.

 

[Watcheye]

I myself know nothing about computers but Matt thinks that it could be a bad Driver file. In this case it will slowly get worse. He thinks Fire Fox is a good idea but it will not fix your computer. You may need to reformat (worse case scenario). Personally I know nothing about computers this is all I got

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Maybe you had better back up all your photos and important info, in case it crashes on you.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Download and run AVG antivirus scanner. You can download it free online, and Ive seen it find viruses that other programs dont find. Disable your startup items, delete your history, cache, and cookies, and defragment. I would also download mozilla firefox, IMO its a MUCH better browser than internet explorer. All are pretty basic/common computer maintenance steps that should be done on a regular basis, but are often overlooked, and can cause issues like you are having.

Are you running windows XP or Windows Vista, and how full is your hard drive?

And, like before mentioned, back up anything that is important to you on an external rive.

 

[Alex]

I would 100% get out of internet explorer. My computer did the same thing with IE and once i downloaded a new web browser everything was fixed.

Now I use Safari(what you see on macs etc.) or mozilla firefox. So far they are both great for me and i flip flop between the too because i like change.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Safari is a great browser. Im a mac enthusiast, and an ex applecare technical support agent, and there were only ever 2 browsers I reccomended for my customers, safari that comes on a mac, and firefox in case of compatibility issues.

 

[Alex]

Messing with safari a little more, I like it better than firefox I think. Its got an awsome design too.

But I would still recomend both to you, Marty.

 

[sfmini]

Be careful what you download to 'fix' your problems, just got this at work:

The Office of Information Services (OIS) is experiencing an increase in spyware/virus related issues. We would like to remind all ODJFS Network Users to use safe computing practices and to NOT click on any pop-up 'offers' of any kind, including AntiSpyware/AntiVirus software while browsing the internet.

We would like to specifically remind you NOT to install SpyWare Guard 2009 & AntiVirus 2009. This software is classified as "malware" which is defined as malicious software. Malware is designed to intentionally harm a computer system.

My laptop is having the same issues, and I am going to bring it in to work next week and one of the guys is going to look. I am pretty sure I have some kind of zombie program/malware that I can't find any way any how that is eating up the CPUs (yes, it has 2 CPUs) and causes them to max out at 100% each and then it shuts off. I have disabled just about everything on the darn thing and nothing, still crashes.

Someone told me to just reformat the hard drive and re-install Vista, which I plan to do, but not before I find out what is wrong, how to find it, fix it and make sure it doesn't happen to my brand new HP desktop which is huge, Quad processors,

7 gig of memory, 650 gig hard drive. Don't want that puppy to go the same way!

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

Using Internet Explorer may be the worst thing you can do for your computer. You should down load Fire Fox it's much better protected. As far as Windows goes...well that could very well be your problem Windows although the most popular operating system is not the best one. I Run Linux on my home computers (5 of them between me and my boyfriend) and we never have any issues like that.

OH MY

Have you been talking to my son? LOL He would LOVE you. He is always telling me and anyone else who'll listen the same things. He is a huge Linux fan and I am now forced to run Open Office instead of a Windows program as well.

Sorry Marty, I don't really have any ideas that haven't already been covered.

 

[FoRebel]

Go to Malwarebytes and use their scanning program to get rid of any viruses. Then go get AVG anti-virus, it's free!

 

[Marty]

Thank you everyone for all this advice and all the pms too and I'm going to take it!

I loaded firefox a few days ago because i heard IE was causing trouble but then I was having trouble importing my booksmarks, then it loaded yahoo tool bar and I had google and then i ended up with like 3 tool bars so I got mad and said heck with this and went back to IE. I'm like an old shoe stepped in crap with holes on the bottom and hate to change stuff. But this time, big mistake. I'm going to suck it up and go back to firefox and deal with it and get used to it (old habits die hard) work on the tool bar till I get it where I want it and then go hunt for the other stuff and hope things run better. You guys IZ smart!

 

[Reble]

Marty I also loaded firefox

If you want your old favorites etc. go to file than import load them all, than in bookmarks they all will be there for you.. just a suggestion.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Hi Marty.....you know I dont like to blame the dog......but.....3 letters A M Y !!! My computer does the same thing every few months. The computer repair man says he can not believe the amount of dog hair that is inside my key board and even the computer box. My GSD's sit next to me every time Im on the computer and they will often come in here to sleep. Its amazing how much our very loved Shepherds shed.

 

[stormo41]

Using Internet Explorer may be the worst thing you can do for your computer. You should down load Fire Fox it's much better protected. As far as Windows goes...well that could very well be your problem Windows although the most popular operating system is not the best one. I Run Linux on my home computers (5 of them between me and my boyfriend) and we never have any issues like that.

OH MY

Have you been talking to my son? LOL He would LOVE you. He is always telling me and anyone else who'll listen the same things. He is a huge Linux fan and I am now forced to run Open Office instead of a Windows program as well.

Sorry Marty, I don't really have any ideas that haven't already been covered.

LOL. My boyfriend put Linux on my laptop shortly after we meet almost two years ago now, He also turned me into a little bit of a computer geek ( i can read simple code!) I have to use windows at work and it drives me insane!

 

[Wee Mite Miniatures]

My computer has been a little slow but not too bad. Since I am starting a new work at home job next week I wanted it running better. I called a local computer guy. For $40.00 an hour he had me download Syberfix On-line Repair. Then he sits in his office and I sit at home. Click ask for help and he is right in my computer fixing my problems.

He did for the best fix I should bring it in and have it wiped out and start fresh but it is working great. He got rid of a lot of stuff. Down loaded Malwarebytes, Ad-ware, CCleaner ad Spybot.

Took him all of 34 min. I have 26 min banked for next time I need help.

So much easier and faster then me trying to figure out the issues.

 

[Marty]

Can I ask some more questions if anyone is around?

1. Ok I have firefox back. Do I delete Internet Explorer now?

2. I'm pretty anal about my tool bar and its all messed up with a lot of junk I don't need or want. On the top tool bar, where it says bookmarks, I imported them but now I get a drop down menu to get them, then another drop down menu after that and then there they are finally. Is there a way to just get my bookmarks without all these drop down menus?

3. Now I have google and yahoo tool bar both and I prefer google because i use google daily for searches so can I delete yahoo tool bar? I think yahoo loaded on its own because I didn't ask it to come.

edited to add: I guess I cannot uninstall Internet explorer. I have a million programs there such as adobe, my printer, cameras, etc. and it says if i uninstall all that nothing is going to work for me. (sigh)

 

[mydaddysjag]

Marty,

1)You don't have to uninstall internet explorer, just don't use it.

2)I think from what your describing, there are categories in your bookmarks menu, and you have to go into each category to get to the link. It's helpful for people like my mother, who have literally over 150 bookmarks. she has her divided into things like "health" "dogs" "business" and so on. If its driving you nuts, you should be able to drag your bookmarks out of the category, then delete the category.

3)yahoo toolbar sometimes seems to load its self. I hate that toolbar, actually I don't use a toolbar at all, and yes, you can just uninstall the yahoo toolbar.

Are you running windows XP or Windows Vista?

 

[Marty]

ok its getting better now woo hoo~

thanks everyone