Computer Question

[Celisasu]

I'm asking this at a few boards I frequent in hopes that someone knows the answer.


Recently something happened to my computer.  I'm not quite sure what.  Three somethings to be exact but they all started at the same time so I assume they're directly related.


1. When using Internet Explorer it takes my computer a long time to load a page if I type in a URL(about 10 minutes or so).  But if I use the favorites menu on IE or use something other than IE(such as Mozilla) it works normally.

2. Sometimes when I try to upload something the window freezes and I get that "error, this program is not working" message.  

3. When going to My Computer it takes my computer forever to find my computer.  I see that little flashlight icon searching around and about ten minutes later it finally finds it.


Does anyone know what causes this?  And how to fix it?

[Priss]

Hmm... I'm not sure, but...

I do know that IE has serious security problems and allows your computer to be infected with all KINDS of nasty things.  I should know.  I just spend about an hour cleaning the various nasties left from when I was still using IE.  

The only thing I know to do with that is to stop using IE entirely and switch to another browzer.  I use Mozilla Firefox cause it works well and is free. (Always a plus. ^_-)  Plus, your bookmarks and things from IE will merge right into Firefox.  Others use Opera and the like, but you'd have to talk to them on how well they work.

But, the main problem with the IE for me is that it was taking all these crap programs and files and shoving them into my Windows drive and making my computer think they were important.  Thus, my 2.6 Ghz P4 notebook was running with a speed similar to a P3 800 Mhz laptop.  Veeeery annoying.

I don't know if that'll help or not, but hey, I figured maybe it might so offer it, eh!  ^_^

[Dracos]

First off, you are using IE.

Second off, may I suggest getting whatever anti-virus package you have (if you don't have one, ask, someone will suggest one) and running a complete hard-drive sweep because that is what I would guess.

It is either a virus, some configuration error at the OS level that is effectively acting like a virus, or a hardware part(s) about to fail.  Most likely the first.

Dracos
hitting enter helps

[Anastasia]

Drac's probably right. It may be a virus, malware or spyware of some sort. Before anything else, I'd run your computer through the gamut of anti virus and anti spyware tools to see if that remedies the situation.

Free virus scanning programs:

http://www.grisoft.com/ - Worth a shot.

http://housecall.antivirus.com/ - Web based virus scanner. Use IE and load the plugin needed. I can vouch for it's plugin safety, and I've had good results with the program. It can run in Firefox or Mozilla, but you'll need to manually insert the plugin and fiddle with it.

www.norton.com - Norton is running a 15 day trial download of it's anti virus program. Worth trying if all else fails.

Free anti spyware tools:

http://www.spybot.info/

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Run both Spybot and Adaware. While not foolproof, the duo is a strong 1-2 punch to begin with. If they pick up and have problems dispatching certain types of specialized spyware, you can move onto specific tools to defeat the brand you have.

If these fail, you may need to investigate hardware issues, or some sort of odd IE corruption/failure.

As for the browser, for the love of the merciful Lord above; STOP USING IE. As the main browser in the world, it has so much crap thrown at it to begin with, and it's a subpar product anyway. Try Firefox or Opera, both are so much more secure.

[CyMage]

She does use Mozilla apparently, but not as her main browser it seems.  And even if she didn't use it at all, it's still a problem unless you can get rid of it completely and that's impossible to do without switching operating systems drasticaly.

[Brian]

The slow network access via IE, and the My Computer slowdown seem (to me) to indicate spyware.

[CyMage]

If all else fails, R&R.  Reformat and Reinstall. :P

[Music-chan]

If all else fails, R&R.  Reformat and Reinstall. :P

Oh yeah, THAT'S a great suggestion. =p

[Bjorn]

Oh yeah, THAT'S a great suggestion. =p

Microsoft Approved!

To address the original question: my experience would suggest that the spyware hypothesis is bang on.

[Celisasu]

Alas, Spybot, Adaware, Norton, and Housecall all say I'm free of spyware and/or viruses(Spybot found a few things Adaware had missed earlier but they're removed now).  And the problem remains.  Nuts.

[thepanda]

Are you running multiple torrents or something else that might be eating your system resources?

[Celisasu]

Torrents?

[Dracos]

That's a no.

bittorrent downloads are brutal on resources.

Dracos

[Brian]

Okay.  If you're clean on Spyware and Virii, the next possibility that occurs to me is:

Corrupt windows files.  Probably one associated with IE.  You can TRY to upgrade IE., but I often find that only makes things worse....

[Celisasu]

So basically some files of Windows itself are corrupted?  How does that happen?  And I'm guessing by what your saying is odds are I'm going to have to go through the fun and joy of a reformat?  Which of course makes me want to know more what corrupts them so I don't reformat just to have the problems come back.