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

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