View Full Version : Sick computer
Any ideas, anyone? I am a complete idiot where computer workings are concerned, so please reply as such!!!!! Thank you. :unsure:
Our pc, which I cannot get through the day without, keeps 'freezing' or 'crashing' . When I am online it regularly disconnects [we don't have broadband] Whether online or not, it is running painfully slowly. Just to check my emails requires the patience of a saint, and a spare afternoon almost! Mr sp has run Sophos on it, we have deleted loads of things in case the memory was not enough, and tried all the usual stuff- don't know all the technical terms - told you I was a computer idiot!.
Given the symptoms, does anyone have any ideas of a cure??? Mr sp is threatening to take it away from me and have someone look at it, but the very thought of being without it at all, slow or not, brings me out in a cold sweat, and makes me lose the will to live :cry: :badmood: . I can't possibly survive without it for even one day :sad: :cry: . Please, can anyone suggest anything?
Oh, another thing - it won't let us shut it down at all any more!! :sad:
I'm no expert, but Muckshifter is - try the website here (http://www.muckshifter.co.uk) :D
Hope it helps
Bonkers Mad!!!
12-04-05, 07:36 PM
have either of you checked what processes are running at startup? you can check by going to Start/Run the typing msconfig into the run box and looking under the "startup" tab. it could just be that there are too many things running at any given time ;) things that need to be ticked are: explorer, systray, power profiles, anything to do with your AV or firewall. you can download a startup control panel program from HERE (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml) which will help determine what programs you need to run immediatly and which ones you don't (only uncheck boxes, do not delete anything unless you are 100% sure). it works, is easy to use and best of all it's free.
one other thing to remember, you must clear out your spybot/adaware back-up files regularly, ideally only keep the latest back-up. ive just spent the weekend trying to get rid of a virus that was hidden away in a spybot back-up file :doh:
HOUSECALL (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)
Thanks,all. I will get mr.sp to have a look at the suggestions. It is incredibly frustrating! Like you,Hn, I can no longer 'browse' as everything takes forever, and then it all freezes or disconnects anyway. My language has not been too ladylike today! :blush: I have to keep reminding myself that,actually, computers don't have parents anyway!! :blush: :lol: :hihi: :banghead:
Ouch! I feel your pain!
First of all use Trend Micro's virus scanner which Bonkers Mad posted, it's invaluable and I'd recommend their anti-virus software any day.
Now, when going through your start-up items via 'Run > msconfig' obviously you can't disable everything you don't recognise in case it's legit!
I've never seen mlin.net before, but what I do is search for each programme in the start-up list to find out what it's related to. You can do this via 'Start > Find' or 'Start > Search'.
Just set it to search everything including system folders and hidden files and folders, and type in the programmes you don't recognise from your start-up list. If it turns out to be bad (and use Google if you aren't sure!) disable it, delete it, and move onto the next.
One other point is that this is reversible, and you can enable programmes that you earlier disabled simply by ticking their relative boxes again.
I realllly hope that makes sense!
-------
To safeguard your computer against nasties (you may want to leave this until afterwards as it will be very slow), these two links..
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?...PJUIYCZRWEJGSSK (http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=SDRTPJUIYCZRWEJGSSK)
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?...PJUIYCZRWEJGSSK (http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=SDRTPJUIYCZRWEJGSSK)
..from Norton/Symantec will help get you on your way.
'WinPatrol' is another great little programme to look for, it's very small and runs in the background monitoring activity real-time and alerting you if it finds anything that might be malicious. But I'd wait until everything is resolved before installing it as you may set it to 'allow' whatever's bugging your computer now.
Of course if you haven't got one, you also need a firewall. Many anti-virus (AV) programmes come with these as well, but everyone will recommend ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com) as being the one to have.
Whew! :)
Best of luck, let us know how it goes!
Originally posted by Hazelnut@12th April 2005 - 7:45 PM
There are clearly 'things" running which aren't being picked up. 103342
Hazelnut, sorry if you've already done this - have you tried 'Ctrl-Alt-Delete' and checking out the PROCESSES which are running? Those won't all be present in start-up.
Doing the same 'search and destroy' technique I tried :) to explain above will help you identify what's good and what isn't.
Just an idea..
Thanks everyone for the helpful tips. I am starting with the Start Up /msconfig suggestion. I found there were 30 items ticked. Excuse my ignorance, but is that a lot??? I have know idea what most are, so will follow the other suggestions to find out. There were some I knew, and have no idea why they are there!! Fingers crossed. I'll let you know. :unsure:
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 02:35 PM
30 :bigeyes: i have about 6 things running at startup :blink:
Enterian
13-04-05, 03:48 PM
30 seems a lot personally I would get hold of a copy of AdAware (http://www.lavasoft.de), that will go through these items and will deal with any it considers 'naughty' without touching the important ones.
Would seem like you have something running in the background that shouldn't be.
Excuse my ignorance again, but can you download anti spyware from anywhere? :unsure:
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 04:53 PM
you can download spybot from HERE (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/) and adaware from HERE (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/).
run them both, adaware first ;)
Enterian
13-04-05, 04:58 PM
AdAware is here (http://www.lavasoft.de)
Microsoft also have a free one which is here (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 05:01 PM
i think the microsoft antispyware is for W2K and XP only but i could be wrong :blush:
Hhmm,thanks,BM. I will get onto that now and let you know.We have ben getting loads, and loads of pop ups, which freeze the computer. I gather this is a symptom?
Thanks for the link,Enterian. Will try that too. :thumbs:
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 05:12 PM
We have ben getting loads, and loads of pop ups, which freeze the computer. I gather this is a symptom?
without a doubt ;)
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 05:21 PM
HN, i use THIS (http://cleanup.stevengould.org/) to clean up before i switch off. another great freebie and it is extremely thorough :thumbs:
Mr Ribbit
13-04-05, 08:05 PM
Hi sp, :hi:
How are you getting on? :unsure: I know it can be very stressful, just hope you are OK.
If you are still having probs, it might be worth taking up Mr sp's offer of taking it to get looked at. At least you will know that everything has been cleared by a professional. :yes:
I know it's hard to be without your computer (ribbit was seriously anxious when I took hers to be repaired once) but it does give peace of mind to know that it's been looked at properly. :flowers:
Hope all is well anyway. :clover:
mr ribbit
Well, I have had some fantastic advice, but it takes a while to do everything suggested. But...... so far, so good. It does seem to be getting better, and I still have things to do that these wonderful IT experts here have advised :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
As for it being removed form me for repair, I would require a general anaesthetic for that to happen, so I am going for the self help approach first!!!! :hihi: :lol: :thumbs:
Keep everything crossed. It's my lifeline!
Bonkers Mad!!!
13-04-05, 08:42 PM
:thumbs:
Crossing fingers and toes over here! :D
Enterian
14-04-05, 09:33 AM
Originally posted by Bonkers Mad!!!@13th April 2005 - 4:01 PM
i think the microsoft antispyware is for W2K and XP only but i could be wrong :blush:
103476
That is correct BM
Personally I have Adaware, Spybot Search & Destroy and the Microsoft one, and use all three.
Very often one will detect things when one of the others has said my machine was 'clean'. Belt & Braces is always the best way! :D
Bonkers Mad!!!
14-04-05, 09:52 AM
Belt & Braces is always the best way!
yep, i agree, although i'm running WinME so i scan online as well as using AdAware and Spybot ;)
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :thumbs: :thumbs:
What can I say,guys?
The pc,though far from perfect still [still sometimes disconnecting fron internet]
is a good 75-80% better. Thank you all so much. I'd like to give you some flowers or choccies, but I can't :hihi: :lol: so just pretend I have,please
We have had NO pop ups at all, it is considerably faster, isn't freezing,and I still haven't managed to finish doing all the suggestions you gave. For some reason, I haven't yet managed to run the trendmicro thingy, but will try again. I have run Spybot, Adaware, done what was suggested in the start up, deleted temporary internet files, and am now using Googles toolbar. The difference is amazing. Thank you all very much. Told you I was technophobic!!!! Trouble is, mrsp is now sulking, as it was ME who finally sorted it, and he has spent days and days trying :lol: :hihi: Of course, I will give it a very good testing today, and surf everywhere I gave up on, like ebay. YAHOO!! [as in, I am pleased, not the other Yahoo! :blush: ] Hope I am not celebrating too soon. :unsure:
HN, hope yours gets sorted soon too.
And, I have only just realised their are more smilies. At this rate I'll be running my own IT business soon :lol: :hihi:
So, here is my thank you to you all :wine: :thankyou:
Have now run trend micro, and nothing was found.
A couple more things to do and we should be there. :thumbs:
Phew!
All done, and it is running almost as good as new.
My new avatar is a wild woman at the computer, and that is just how I am today now it is back to behaving itself!! Couldn't resist it
Thanks again to all you IT experts. Great stuff :notworthy: :jump:
Bonkers Mad!!!
15-04-05, 05:07 PM
well done you :thumbs: :notworthy: