Slow Computer

[Mae]

My computer has slowed down to ridiculous. Not just the Internet - everything. Yesterday, it shut it self down and rebooted 3 times! It freezes up causing me to have to do a hard boot. This morning the desktop was gone. I had to reboot. I have DSL. We have virus protection and spy web protection. We've cleaned out cookies and files. We tried to run a Microsoft update but it was unsuccessful. Is there anything else to check? What could be causing all of this?

[Madmanmcp]

You probably have a virus or trojan infecting your computer. First thing I would suggest is that you disconnect from the Internet and reboot into safe mode. From safe mode run a full virus scan. Do you have the most current virus signatures? If not try and download them before doing these steps.

[stevevan]

Assuming all is well after performing Bob's suggestion, you might want to look at adding more memory. That's probably the most inexpensive thing you can do to help out your computer.

[Mae]

Problem solved. We apparently had two different spy webroot programs that were conflicting w/each other. DH removed one, and everything cleared up. Thanks!

[Mrs. Muddled]

Problem solved. We apparently had two different spy webroot programs that were conflicting w/each other. DH removed one, and everything cleared up. Thanks!

I have a new problem with my computer. I just got it back from a tech. The fan was making a grinding sound ... that started heating up the tower case.

 

Tech said nothing wrong with fan. Maybe it was dust ... or something.

 

He ran a few (???) tests on the computer - one of which was a test for viruses. Said it was running slow. Blamed it on spyware and my Shaw Secure. That's my cable company's answer to virus checker and firewall and spyware checker. F-Secure.

 

He said he found evidence of spyware. I was dumbfounded! I update and upgrade constantly Anyhow - he doesn't like Shaw Secure. He suggests it does not do as good a job of blocking spyware as other programs. He sold me Webroot Spy Sweeper. (note: today I spoke with him and he tells me ya the spyware could have been stuff my Shaw had already found. Hmm?)

 

I installed Webroot.

 

I have no spyware.

 

Now my computer seems slower. Could be my imagination.

 

My husband (who is also a user) has discovered that as soon as he logs off - it tries saving his settings - goes black and the computer is frozen.

 

I hold down the off switch until it re-boots.

 

This is a drag.

 

It is not doing it on my side.

 

I have no viruses.

 

I have 512 installed memory. Lots of free space. Windows XP.

 

Webroot has one critical shield that is not working. The tech says it doesn't matter. It's the one called Spy Communication.

 

I've run SW on both my side and the user side.

 

Spoke to Shaw today. Guy didn't even know what Webroot was. He made a suggestion as to what file to add to the ignore file. Didn't make any difference.

 

I'm curious as to what you learned about the conflict with the two programs. I figure its gotta be a conflict with Shaw and Webroots Spy Sweeper. Don't know what to do.