I'm sitting here at an aunt's computer trying to figure out what's wrong with it. A few major problems. Many programs do not seem to be working correctly. It takes forever for it to start up, and about 25 seconds just for the desktop icons to appear. The toolbar is gone, but it's set normally; it wasn't accidently turned off. Activeshield won't start and it keeps saying there may not be enough diskspace.
This computer is brand new and this woman hardly uses it; she never downloads anything at all. It's Windows XP and she's using a ton of protective software, most of it is McAfee. I found nothing in the registry editor and stinger and Spybot didn't find anything either. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks guys.
[ June 05, 2005, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
PSI! Welcome back!
-Trevor
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
What's the hard drive usage? How much free space?
The toolbar is dropped to the bottom of the screen? Can you click and drag it up?
Has she always had these problems?
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Tons of free space.
No, I couldn't pull up the tool bar.
The problems started a couple of weeks ago, but she's only had this computer for a couple of months.
And thanks!
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
What does she use the computer for?
Web surfing?
Any unusual websites appearing? Toolbars?
-Trevor
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
PSI! *hug*
I have absolutely nothing helpful to add. But I'm glad to see you post again, even if you only love us *sniffle* for our geekitude. *weep*
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yeah, surfing. There's nothing weird appearing.
Edit: Thanks, rivka. I'm suddenly wondering if this thread will contain my 5,000 landmark. Heh.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Can you load the task manager?
Can you see the processes and performance?
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yes and yes. There are like 35 processes! But they look normal.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
The CPU usage on Performance - is it high or low? What percentage?
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
It's very low, like 3%, but when I clicked on this box it spiked to 20%.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
That's about right.
Sorry PSI, I have no idea.
Accio A Better Geek Than Me.
-Trevor
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Than I.
Tsk!
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Don't get down on yourself. You're a plenty big enough geek. : )
Posted by NinjaBirdman (Member # 7114) on :
Well, does she have anything really important on the computer that she can't get rid of? If something really screwy happens to my computer I usually just reformat.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Two more things that won't work. I can't turn off system restore, and it won't let me start "Firewall/ICS" and so forth.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yeah, we're considering reformatting. There's nothing on here that she cares about.
I'm going to take my children home to bed. I will check back in tomorrow.
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
I'm screaming Virus, personally. Stuff that freaky doesn't just happen. Personally, I'd try to figure it out, but since this is forum tech support and I'm lazy lately, I'd just say format and forget it Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
I've missed you Good to see you Stick around for awhile
Posted by Wonder Dog (Member # 5691) on :
Yah, sounds like it could be a virus/worm. Have you tried something like TrendMicro's housecall?
Oh, and does she use an email client, or handle all of her mail via the web?
Good luck!
Posted by Grisha (Member # 6871) on :
i have no idea how to help you, but it's great to see you around here again!
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
I just wanted to say hi!!
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I'm a Mimbo. Being used is what I do best.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Did you run those various diagnostics in safe mode?
Good to see you lady! Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
If you don't mind nuking and re-installing, that's the most thorough way to go.
Boris is probably right but every virus I've run across has some form of secondary indicator, usually highly visible and nasty ones like locking out access to the Task Manager and so forth.
Unless it's some seriously obnoxious spyware.
It may very well be some pre-installed software that is glitching and causing the delays - is she on dialup or high speed connections? Is McAfee trying to auto-update? That might account for the slow load time.
@Rivka - really? My high school English teacher will be crushed. Of course, he's also the one who had a coronary every time someone used "and," in a sentence.
-Trevor
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
What's wrong with "and"? ("and?")
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
He objected to placing a comma after the word and.
quote: Jack ran up the hill and Jill fell down the hill.
-or-
Jack ran up the hill and, Jill fell down the hill.
-Trevor
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Well, he's right. That comma DOES NOT belong there. Even before the "and" it would be a comma splice, I think.
And yes, really. While it is becoming more acceptable to say, "than me" in that sort of sentence, it is not really correct.
You are really shortening the phrase, ". . . than I am."
Posted by Haloed Silhouette (Member # 8062) on :
Is anyone still on this thread?
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
PSI hasn't posted the results, so I don't know.
@Rivka - I'll defer to your expert knowledge. I didn't meant to sound as flippant as I did.
-Trevor
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Flippant is fine. I only snarl when people yank my grammar chain deliberately (you know who you are!)
But I will elaborate -- at length -- when given the smallest opening . . . Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Bleh, sorry. It's really hard for me to get over here and I'm never over here long enough to run the full diagnotics. Reformatting is starting to sound like the best (read: easiest) option but I think my aunt is scared to do it. I wish I was a bit more savvy but I'm apparently the most savvy person SHE knows. Thanks for all the replies and greetings. I tried everything I could think of and never found a virus. I mean, she never uses this computer for anything. She's barely on it at all. As for her email I'm pretty sure she uses MSN, who is her provider.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
What kind of connection does she have?
Before you nuke the drive, check what programs are auto-updating.
1. What type of computer? Dell? It tries to download new updates.
2. Windows xp? Is it set for auto-updating?
3. Mcafee? Is the program trying to auto-update?
Otherwise, good luck - I hope everything works out for you.
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yes, McAfee is trying to update. Is that related?
I don't actually know much about computer stuff (please conceal your gasps of shock.) I have to be walked through most stuff.
Posted by Bekenn (Member # 6602) on :
I kinda wonder if all of this protection software (virus software and the like) is somehow conflicting; you might try disconnecting from the net (physically, by pulling the cable) and then turning off as much of that as possible and rebooting to see what happens.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Can I just say, it's so good to see you again! Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
If Mcafee is trying to download a large update across a slow connection like dialup, that would seriously slow down the machine.
Bekenn's idea is a good one - try booting the machine without a net connection and then try booting it without a net connection and turning off the "auto update" feature on Mcafee.
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