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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?
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*
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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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.
Posts: 204 | Registered: Dec 2004
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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.
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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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 Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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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.
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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.
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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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.
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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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.
Posts: 293 | Registered: Jun 2004
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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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