Legion World Forums LEGION WORLD Science Police Headquarters Why is my computer so slow?

So I bought MacAffee anti-virus and downloaded spyware doctor, and got rid of lots of adware and viruses and stuff.

But now it seems like my computer is going very slow. Websites take longer to download, and I can't get movie trailers play.

Does anyone have any idea why, or how to get my computer back to normal speed? It used to be waaaaaay faster! Please help!

Things may be slower because you no longer have those web pages cached... Your computer saves images for faster pageloads on pages you've already been to. Chances are, aeverything's been cleared and everything's loading new as if you've never been there before. Happens to me when I use IE properties to routinely delete files left by websites.

The movie trailers may be a side-effect of the spyware doctor... does it have some sort of firewall function? If so, or if you're using another firewall, try setting your preferences for whatever program you use to view the trailers to allow internet access.

You're new Spyware software is probably stopping some of the items from loading. I ran into a similar problem with a program like Spyware. They block things like DirectX and ActiveX and pop up windows. I couldn't even get the Graemlin window to work here on LW and I had set LW as one of the exempt sites. Could never figure out how to fix it, so I ended up deleting the whole program.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Everyone else, keep it comin'

The Spyware program does block ActiveX, although I have no idea what ActiveX is. I'll have to get into it and see if I can allow myself to view trailers and make certain sites exempt.

If I have to, I might just delete it like you did, Vee.

Good answer, Vee. I forgot about ActiveX components and the llike...

'Bout time you upgrade, Cobes. The VIC-20 is a thing of the past!

C.K., I had the same problem, and like V., I removed the program, but I also deleted my Windows XP account, and then used my wife's account. After all that, my computer was back up to speed. That spyware/adware blocker really slows the computer down as it's blocking those annoying pop-ups. It's like a war is going on between the pop-ups and the blocker, and it's utilizing all the computer's energy.

Now I don't download ANYTHING, and the pop-ups no longer appear on my screen, and all the websites I access load up instantly.

I don't even know what VIC-20 means!

Cap, that's what I've done. I also have a pop-up stopper installed, and I'm positive that it's making my computer slower too. I guess I should also uninstall that too.

My computer is a bit faster again, although not as it once was. Thanks for the tips guys!

VIC-20, Atari 400, AMIGA, whatever. :rolleyes:

Are you sure it's your computer that's slow Cobalt?

Sanity !

Actually, I just uninstalled my Panicware Pop-Up Stopper, and suddenly my computer is fast again! I'm working on it right now to see if it's as fast as it once was. I should have known that was what was doing it all along. Thanks Captain Dallas, and everyone else!

I tell you, these kids today...

Glad to hear it. Now you need to resist the urge to download programs. That's where the problem starts.

My computer slowed down due to two "legitimate" downloads. I downloaded Weatherbug.com for local weather updates. That slowed my computer down considerably. When pop-up ads began to appear on my screen every 60 seconds (no joke), I installed a pop-up blocker..., and then I couldn't accomplish ANYTHING on my computer.

I had also downloaded ESPN motion so I could watch sports highlights on Espn.com. I eventually had to delete my Windows XP account because the ESPNMotion corrupted my account so badly I couldn't even open Internet explorer.

Lesson: Even seemingly "legitimate" downloads can make your computer crap-out.

It's fast again, but still not as fast as it once was. I'm resisting the urge to uninstall MacAfee, b/c it's so good and I payed for it.

So I guess I have to search through my system and look for other crap that I've downloaded, or downloaded itself, and delete and uninstall it.

Alright, latest update, please help if you can :

I uninstalled my pop-up blocker. I then installed Spybot, b/c I heard it was good, and I wanted something to run at the end of the night to remove all the Adware and Spyware.

Everything was good until last night. Suddenly, I can't open my "My Computer", "My Documents", "My Network Places", etc. icons! I don't know why! But I have no trouble opening Internet Explorer!

Do you guys think this might from SpyBot? From some virus or something? From some dastardly scheme?

Please help

And thanks for helping me with computer stuff guys...me and computers just don't seem to like each other...

Yeah, that sounds like what happened to me (except I could NOT open Explorer). When you shut down, does everything that you opened and can't see suddenly appear on the screen?

Yup, that's exactly what happened last time. I guess it's time to uninstall SpyBot too.

When you uninstalled Cap, were you able to open all that stuff up again, or did you have to take further steps?

Cobalt:

What OS are you using? Sounds like Windows, but 95/98/ME/2000/XP?

Windows XP. What do you have in mind?

One thing I was worried about was that the SpyBot may have removed something important that wasn't supposed to be removed. Is this a possible problem?

Unfortunately, you're going to have to take a drastic step..., delete your Windows XP account.

When you first boot up the computer, do you have a choice of accounts to access or only yours?

For instance, when I boot up my computer, I can access one of three accounts:

Kira
Kimberly
Shannon

(My two daughters and my wife.)

I had to delete my account due to the problems you're experiencing, C.K.

If you don't have another XP account besides your own, create one and then transfer all of the files from your old account to your new one. Then delete your old account.

I experienced your problems a few months ago, and after I consulted with my university tech support people, I was told the ONLY way to fix the problem was to delete the account.

Questions?

Ok, that sounds like something I'm going to need to do. I'm a bit nervous about it. I don't have another account besides my own (called 'Des').

How exactly do I create another one, transfer my files to this one, and then delete my current one?

Thanks guys for everything so far and any more help you give me.

Just checking, since a Win 9x/ME box is more likely to have problems. Did you buy it with XP, or is that upgraded from an older version?

Not unless you had something nasty tied directly into the OS, which isn't likely. Spybot CAN break programs which depend on spyware/adware, but it's upfront about it. And at any rate, provided you have System Restore on (you DO, don't you?), you should be able to hit rewind, since Spybot creates a Restore Point in XP every time you make significant changes (unless you have System Restore off, or you've disabled the option from within Spybot [which since you've confessed to a certain degree of computer ignorance, isn't likely since it'd require you to use Spybot's Advanced mode]), so you should be able to revert if absolutely needed.

In order once you've done what capt_dallas said (since his advice is specific - this is just general good practice), do the following:

1) Update VirusScan's definitions (although this shouldn't be needed, since you've got the autoupdate turned on, haven't you, it's still a good idea). Scan. Never even THINK of turning it off unless you're upgrading/replacing it and you're offline at the time.

2) Update Spybot's definitions. Scan.

Make sure you've got a firewall (like ZoneAlarm . I'm still using 4.5, since there was some trouble with early v5, but 5 should be okay by now).

I also recommend downloading & running AdAware Personal and Spyware Blaster (neither of which ahve Resident programs - you only run AdAware Personal to scan and update & Blaster to update it)

If you're convinced Spybot is the cause of your current problem, here's their Official Forum: http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?act=SC&c=7

Obviously though, the more programs you run, the more memory & CPU cycles they'll take up and your computer will slow a bit. With a firewall, Spybot Resident and a [current, updated] anti-virus program, things will be a bit slower, but it's Safe or Sorry, and you've already tried Sorry as I recall.

I've definately tried Sorry

I already updated Virus Scan and ran it, and nothing came out of it. I ran SpyBot again, and nothing appeared there either.

Here's the first step I've taken, after worrying it might be SpyBot. I'm restoring all the systems on it (you're right, I never changed anything and it still existed). I want to see what this does and if things will go back to normal. So if Spybot did screw things up, this should restore it.

After this, I'm going to see where to go next. SoM and Cap, you guys are really great, I appreciate everything. Keep all the suggestions coming.

Oh, here's one more thing about my computer I've learned: I ran 'HouseCall' on it's free website, since I've been told it can give a quick run through your computer and tell you what's on it. It scanned for viruses, and found one that it could not remove 'Troj. SMALL KQ' in 'windows\msopt.dll'. When I ran both McAffee adn Spybot, it never came up in either. Have you guys (or anyone else) ever heard of this, and have any idea how to get it off?

Go to the Control Panel, then User Accounts (if you've got the subcategories on, I can't remember which one it's in offhand, but it shouldn't be too hard to find). Then click on "Create a New Account" and follow the instructions.

If you're not given an option to copy the files over, they'll be in (I'm assuming the C:\ drive, since that's by far the most likely, but it could be elsewhere) C:\Documents and Settings\Des . Copy everything you need out of there to the equivalent location in C:\Documents and Settings\(New Account).

Thanks SoM! I'm going to do the virus thing first, then get to the account transfer. I'll update this thread with my progress.

Ok, virus Deleted. That's a relief. Thanks SoM

Now I'm going to create new account/transfer files.

SoM, I've created a new user Administrator User account (Desmond). Now I'm unsure how to transfer the files.

I can go to C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.Des and copy everything, but I don't know where to paste it. Should a new file have popped up, under Administrator.Desmond now? I'm a bit unsure of where to transfer it to.

I'm crossing my fingers, C.K.....

Let us know the result.

There should be a folder containing the name "Desmond" in C:\Documents and Settings

Paste the stuff in there from Desmond, after clearing your internet cache (Internet Options | Delete Files) from Des (once you've done that, DON'T go back into Des)

Ok, I'm in my new user account (I've named it "Cobalt", not "Desmond", b/c I was worried "Desmond" was too close to "Des").

I think I've been able to transfer all my old files from C:\Documents and Settings over. I've got all my old papers and documents, music on Media Player and other stuff.

So far, so good--I think. I can open all that stuff that I wasn't able to before. A few things:

-I don't have all the icons on my computer top like before. I guess I just have to re-set it up like I first did.

-It also looks like I'm going to have to go through all the 'first' screens of every program again, like I was opening them up for the first time. Both of these are no biggie, it's good to know I can use my computer.

-I've lost all of my old favorites on Internet Explorer. Is there anyway you know of that I can get them all back?

All in all, it looks like the problem is getting solved. Now I have to delete my old account.

I haven't re-entered the 'Des' account yet, and from what you say, that's good. I'm thinking of deleting that username account now and sticking with this one. Is it cool to proceed now?

Thanks guys

I think you have to change the "Cobalt" account from a "Limited" account to a "Computer Administrator" account. I'm assuming "Des" is a "Computer Administrator" account. When you delete "Des", you want to make sure "Cobalt" is already a "Computer Administrator" account (Windows XP can have several "Computer Administrator" accounts.)

Like when you created the "Cobalt" account, Go to "Control Panel" then click open "User Accounts," then click "Change an account", then click "Cobalt" then click "Change the account type" and change it from "Limited" to "Computer Administrator".

SoM, am I right on this?

Regarding your other issues, it's like you're starting from scratch..., except you've kept your important files and documents. Like you wrote, you just have to re-set everything.

Cap, I saw that already and changed the "Cobalt" account to administrator. Since I didn't have any other accounts on my computer, the second one I registered had to be an administrator. Thanks for the heads up though!

I think I'm all set at this point. I'm going to delete the old account and see how it goes.

Cap and SoM, you have no idea how thankful I am for this. Thanks guys

Your IE favourites should have been in C:\Documents and Settings\Des\Favorites. Did you make sure to "Show all Hidden and System Files" first?

Ah well - let us know if you're up & running.

I didn't see a place to hit 'Show all Hidden and System Files', since I copied and pasted 'C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.Des' into the Cobalt folder.

So far, so good. Everything is working fine. As for my favorites, I was able to find them and add them back in, and my music and other stuff was still there. I'm pretty sure I can find anything else that I think might be missing.

SoM and Cap: thank you guys. A LOT .

Here's a question now: should I keep SpyBot? I'm considering uninstalling it.

One other thing: previously, I had my laptop set up in a way that my mouse could go 'back', 'forward', 'minimize', etc. if I hit certain areas of it. I can't remember how to get to that screen. Do you know this off-hand?

No, do NOT uninstall Spybot.

I wouldn't know for sure with the mouse. Check Control Panel | Mouse as yer most likely spot to fix it.

No problem at all. I wish I had consulted SoM a few months ago when I was having the same problem. Computer problems drive me CRAZY, so I'm more than willing to help someone else solve theirs.

Like SoM wrote, keep it. You'll know soon if SpyBot is the cause of the slow-down. I'm pretty sure I wrote earlier in this thread that I discovered that the cause of my computer slow-down was a plug-in for ESPN.com. I was able to watch sports highlights on espn.com through their "ESPN Motion." It was this ESPN Motion that eventually hijacked my computer to the point of what you experienced: I couldn't open "My Computer" or other programs. I don't *think* SpyBot is the cause of the slow-down. It's probably something else that you down-loaded.

Like I've written before, my best advice to you right now is to download NOTHING. The next time you have the urge to download something from the internet, ask yourself, do I REALLY need this, or am I downloading this for some temporary amusement? If the answer is the latter choice, just say "NO."

Keeping SpyBot sounds good. And from now on, I'm not downloading anything without asking about it first here on Legion World.

It appears that not only is my computer back to normal, it's faster again--which was my original problem and the reason I started this whole thread. It's not as fast as it was in the first month I bought it, but having an updated MacAfee, and now SpyBot as you guys say, is worth it.

SoM- I'm pretty sure that's where I have to go for the mouse. Thanks!

Guys, thanks a ton. I was freaking out last night, and my computer seems back to normal now. Now if only I could get those whole job situation and love-life problems fixed...

In fact, if you see this thread bumped up again from time to time, it'll probably be me asking for advice on computer questions.

You guys are the best. Now I know where to go if I have computer problems!

They really are! This has been probably the most stressful week I've had in about five years, and my computer going nuts the other night only made it worse. Thanks to SoM and Cap Dallas, I was able to get that little problem squared away. Thanks guys