Thread: computer help, please!!!

Originally Posted by la Huerta

i am going to keep this thread going as i am sure many members lack computer skills and would benifit ...so next question, any sugestions if a computer has suddenly slowed down and is very slow to respond , and also 'hangs' when downloading websites...?

Hi la Huerta

You could have a couple of problems. You could have spyware on your computer which will slow your computer down no end. To fix this problem you need to download the program Adaware which is free. If you go here you can get it. After I got rid of the 190 spyware programs I had on my computer it doubled the speed.

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-...bj=dl&tag=top5

If you change to Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird and get Adaware you should get rid of 99% of your problems, as I have done. You should also get a good anti-virus software like Vet, Kaspersky or AVG the free one.

The other problem is if I remember you have a satelite connection to the internet. I have a satelite connection and I have been told that when you click on a page the delay comes from that the fact the signal has to go up to the satelite and then back down to somewhere in NSW and goes by ISDN connection to the internet and that is why if you look down in the left hand corner of your browser it will say waiting for www.whateversite you have connected to and as the the upload is only 64k it can take up to 30 seconds for the site to respond.

cheers mate, iheve norton viris and spybot search and destroy, so it can't be that,this broadband suposed to be faster but my dialup was, odd, but somehow i dont think it is the conection as some general programs seem to be slow responding to my actions, i gave the laptop a good clean , temp internet files , old photos etc...i tryed to run the disc defragmenter but it just goes to 10% and then restarts, again and again...

If you are defragging make sure your screen saver is turned off. This will sometimes make the defragger keep restarting and also disconnect your satelite connection.

Originally Posted by la Huerta

..i tryed to run the disc defragmenter but it just goes to 10% and then restarts, again and again...

Norton anti virus can also cause de-frag problems try clicking on the icon and disable it . don't forget to switch it back on when you finish
If you still can't de-frag shut down and restart hold F8 key down and go into safe mode , start in safe mode and try de-frag again
If you havent de-fraged in a fair while it will take time just leave it going overnight .

Barry
but his satelite connection must be connected directly to the computer.

Didn't know that, my Broadband is wireless from a neighbours system via the lan connection


Rgds
Russell

The trouble with life is there's no background music.

Originally Posted by Ashore

Barry
but his satelite connection must be connected directly to the computer.

Didn't know that, my Broadband is wireless from a neighbours system via the lan connection


Rgds
Russell

The trouble with life is there's no background music.

Russell

That is the case with my connection as per Telstra's instructions. It is a USB connection into the satelite modem and must be connected to a USB port direct to the computer and not through a hub.

They say that it wont work other wise. I don't know if that is the case with other HiBIS providers

Hi La Huerta,

Just saw this thread and thought I'd see how you are going with your pc?

If I understand correctly you were undecided with the Linux option? and are still running Win98?? At this point I would agree with previous posts that WinXP service pack 2 is the best of the Windows options.

In addition if you were still keen on the Linux experience you could always look at the live cd option. Essentially it is a bootable cd that contains the operating system, there are many distros that have this install type of linux. (with fear of starting a linux distro war) I would suggest having a quick look at Redhat/fedora and or mandrake. (but that is certainly not the be-all of it)

Next prob is the lack of USB ports and the requirement that you broadband modem requires to be connected directly to you pc and not through a hub?
I think this has already been covered from memory with either the pcmcia card or the docking station.(whatever takes you fancy)

and I think the latest thing was lack of speed? is this a general problem i.e. switching between applications, loading of programs. or is it specific to Internet activity?

Side note: I am also in favor of the Mozilla switch(Firefox&Thunderbird)

is your hard drive full, how much free space? with the defrag thing, how fragmented is your disk? (usually gives some sort of indication in the defrag program)

just to revisit the USB/satellite thing what sort of modem do you have? I ask this because from memory Telstra give you a program that does the connection for you and it may be possible to configure the modem to provide this for you. (although that being said it then going to create a maintenance nightmare for you if config setting ever change, so in fact forget my rambling D)

If none of this is relevant then please feel free to ignore my dribble

cheers
Dean

Originally Posted by la Huerta

only problem is there's only one usb port on this laptop and it's used for broadband...i was thinking of a docking station type device so i can plug in , printer , external storage , broadband, wireless mouse, etc...

Dont take this the wrong way but to me it looks like youre going to end up toting a whole heap of bits and pieces around with your laptop. Youre going backwards with the portability. Do you want the portability just around your house or do you take it with you to work or elsewhere outside your house? If the machine rarely leaves the house and youre on a tight budget then Id look at a desktop....youll get alot more for your dollar and youve got more upgrade options.

Cheers Martin

ok ...i took Barry White's addvice and got the defrager going , took almost 6 hours ! , seemed to help a bit but i just came on line not long ago so i will do some surfing and see how it goes...

i just installed firefox and it's made a big improvement , which email is good and where do i download it, is thunderbird the one to go with firefox...

..........oh,and can i uninstall ie6 now ?

i just did some web surfing and the laptop is pearling along , it must have been ie6 that caused the problem, firefox is just so nice... sorry to be a pest, if someone could answer the above few questions for me that will be great...

cheers

la Huerta

The only problem with Firefox is when sometimes you click on a link in say an ezine I have had an error message come up and say "You are not using a compatable browser" or something like that. Sometimes that compatable browser is IE. Leaving IE there is only taking up space on your hard drive and it wont do any harm if it isn't opened. I occaisionally use IE.

cheers mate i will just leave it as is...and i just got thunderbird from the mozila website...cool


thanks heaps all............

ps. everyingone keep this thread going by adding any computer related stuff....

does anyone know how to delete temporary internet files and cookies in firefox ?