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Need Computer Help (vanity)
6/9/06 | Lucky9teen

Posted on 06/09/2006 6:55:13 AM PDT by Lucky9teen

I've got a problem with my home computer and I was wondering if someone could help me?

My system is: AMD Anthlon Processor 1.24GHz, 384MB of RAM Windows XP Prof with SP2 Cox Cable (ISP)

Everything was working fine until about a week ago. And it only happens when I start a browser (Internet Explorer and Firefox), but my system will hang and lock up while web pages load and it takes forever for them to load up, worse than if I had dial up.

My curser will also disappear for a while and if I try to toggle between other applications, everything just bogs way down and it takes forever to get to the other application. Once the browser is open, it is fine, but as soon as I browse to other pages, it takes forever to load them and bogs my computer down. Without a browser open, my other applications run fine and are not slow at all.

Solutions I have tried to no avail:

Restoring my computer to a month ago, Installing IE 7 Beta 2, to see if that would fix anything, and no it didn't I installed Firefox to see if it was IE and Firefox did it too Ran MS Anti-Spyware, LavaSoft Ad AwareSE and Spybot and removed all that they found, and it still has the problem.

I have Grisoft AVG (free edition) Anti-Virus and have done scans to find any virus and nothing was found.

WTF? It's at the point I feel like formatting my drive and reinstalling windows, but I feel that's kind of drastic and don't want to go that far unless I have to.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Education; Miscellaneous; Reference
KEYWORDS: computer; internet; internetexplorer; technicalsupport; techsupportping
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I know that some of you are very knowledgable on this kind of thing, so I hope you could offer some help.

Thank you, Lucky9teen

1 posted on 06/09/2006 6:55:15 AM PDT by Lucky9teen
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To: Lucky9teen

What kind of virus/spyware/adware programs are you running and have you scanned with then since this happened? Also, do you use a file cleaner like Window Washer or CCleaner?


2 posted on 06/09/2006 7:00:08 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
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To: Lucky9teen

Try to isolate your connection hardware (nic, hub, router)with a second computer if you have one so you can troubleshoot each to see if that is causing your problem. Just watching the little activity lights could give you a clue if it's hardware related.


3 posted on 06/09/2006 7:06:08 AM PDT by Teflonic
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To: Lucky9teen
Try one of these places:

http://www.techguy.org/?

http://www.geekstogo.com/

http://www.thetechboard.com/

...no charge. {g}

4 posted on 06/09/2006 7:09:55 AM PDT by Landru (That does it, no sleep number for you pal.)
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To: Lucky9teen

You are running out of memory. 384 mb isn't enough.


5 posted on 06/09/2006 7:16:34 AM PDT by red-dawg
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To: RacerF150

Anti-virus and firewall software will do this. More RAM might fix it, we had to remove our firewall and anti-virus software from an older system. I've heard of this happening on newer/faster boxes also. Remove them, reboot, see if problem is solved, try another vendors solution.


6 posted on 06/09/2006 7:25:36 AM PDT by conservativewasp (Liberals lie for sport and hate our country.)
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To: Lucky9teen; N3WBI3

Tech Supoprt Ping


7 posted on 06/09/2006 7:44:31 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Lucky9teen
More memory always helps, but since this problem started suddenly I think it's more likely malicious software that's infected your machine.

Had you installed any software, especially anything like a game, screensaver, or music downloaded from a file-sharing service, around the time the problem started?

There is a tool called HijackThis that is particularly efficient at finding malware, but it needs its results interpreted by someone who knows what to look for. It can be downloaded from this link. If you'd like to see whether you may have something malicious lurking on your system, you can download this tool to your computer, unzip and run it, select "Do a system scan and save a logfile", and FRmail me the contents of the logfile (which will pop up in a Notepad window).

8 posted on 06/09/2006 7:55:44 AM PDT by Turbopilot (Nothing in the above post is or should be construed as legal research, analysis, or advice.)
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To: Lucky9teen
Start > run & type in msconfig

Go to startup tab

what's listed other than AV, firewall, anti spy & Cox ?

9 posted on 06/09/2006 8:14:53 AM PDT by TheOracleAtLilac
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To: RacerF150

I have scanned with Spybot, Microsoft Defender, MS Anti-Spyware and LavaSoft Ad Aware SE and removed all the files they found. But still have the problem.

I have used CCleaner before, but not lately. I'll try that and Window Washer. Thanx


10 posted on 06/09/2006 8:20:53 AM PDT by Lucky9teen (Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.)
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To: Teflonic

I don't have a second computer to try the testing you suggesting.

However, all the lights on my cable modem are lit up and working properly, as they should. I even opened up a command prompt and released and renewed my ip to see if that helped, but it didn't change anything.


11 posted on 06/09/2006 8:22:51 AM PDT by Lucky9teen (Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.)
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To: red-dawg
You are running out of memory. 384 mb isn't enough

Could you tell me, how I can tell what memory and how much I am able to put into my computer?
12 posted on 06/09/2006 8:30:46 AM PDT by Lucky9teen (Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.)
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To: Lucky9teen
Another good program for finding registry related bugs is RegSeeker.

http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

You might also want to clear/defrag/rebuild your virtual memory. It's much easier than it sounds. Let me know if you need instructions.

13 posted on 06/09/2006 8:35:42 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
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To: Lucky9teen
Download and run a free utility called "HiJackThis!".

Then take the output and post it to any one of dozens of forums or websites populated by folks who can scan through to detect registry entries or Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) that do not belong.

HJT can then be used to delete the offending nasties...if found.

14 posted on 06/09/2006 8:47:05 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (I can't complain...but sometimes I still do.)
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To: RacerF150
You might also want to clear/defrag/rebuild your virtual memory. It's much easier than it sounds. Let me know if you need instructions.

I'm game...bring it on
15 posted on 06/09/2006 8:54:20 AM PDT by Lucky9teen (Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.)
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To: Lucky9teen
clear/defrag/rebuild your virtual memory

Right-click (RC) on My Computer. Left-click (LC) "Properties". LC "Advance Tab". LC "Performance Options". LC "Change". Change "Initial Size" to 0. Change "Maximum Size" to 0. LC "Set. Reboot. Run Defrag on the hard drive with the OS. When finished, repeat the initial instructions, but change "Initial Size" & "Maximum Size" to about 1.5x your RAM. LC "Set". Reboot. Now you have a fresh page file (V-mem).

16 posted on 06/09/2006 9:23:32 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
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To: RacerF150
change "Initial Size" & "Maximum Size" to about 1.5x your RAM. When you say 1.5x RAM, can you elaborate? My RAM is 384MB, so what would that be for me?
17 posted on 06/09/2006 9:32:39 AM PDT by Lucky9teen (Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.)
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To: Lucky9teen

Check your motherboard manufacturing website for specs on your board....open the box and look at the memory slots,....two or three?


18 posted on 06/09/2006 9:35:40 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: Lucky9teen
If your system is needing to use virtual memory then you are in fact running out of real memory.
Virtual memory is the system using disk space on your hard drive to accomplish tasks because it is out of memory,
and the hard drive is the slowest part of your computer.

If you need to add memory to your system, you will have to shut it down and pull the cover off and look for
available slots on the motherboard. You will also need to "match" the type of memory your system already has installed.
If you have never done this before I would advise taking it to a pc shop.

19 posted on 06/09/2006 9:36:02 AM PDT by red-dawg
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To: Lucky9teen
RAM is 384MB, so what would that be for me?

576 MB

20 posted on 06/09/2006 9:38:37 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
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