Computer Problem

J70 · November 02, 2008, 02:14:58 PM

Quote from: downgirl on November 02, 2008, 11:20:05 AM
What's the best antivirus software to buy? Laptop has started being very sluggish and I think my free antivirus software isn't cutting it anymore.

Some antivirus or internet security packages are resource hogs and certainly could account for slowing down of startup. Norton has been notorious for this, although I am currently using Norton 08 and it is much improved.

Do you do general maintenance on your computer e.g. defragmenting, cleaning out the cache and registry and so on? If these aren't done on a regular basis, that will slow you down. Download Ccleaner, which is excellent for cleaning up. It does a registry clean up as well.

DownFanatic · November 13, 2008, 01:15:34 PM

Right, Ive been working on this problem now for a week. Ive finally isolated it. The CPU is overheating. Now, what should be my next step? PS - No sarcasm please Hardstation

mylestheslasher · November 13, 2008, 01:47:06 PM

Buy a fan and attach it in the vicinity of the CPU. These are cheap little things you can buy at any comonent supplier. You could also check where yuo have your pc, can air get in at it of is there loads of stuff clogged all around.

tyrone86 · June 30, 2009, 11:50:29 AM

Rather than start a new thread I may resurrect one.

Right, a couple of probably minor problems but here goes.

First off, I turned on the computer recently it tells me that the boot.ini is missing and proceeds to run from c:\Windows. I'll edited the boot.ini to a typical XP one, saved it and that was it ok. Then it proceeds after 2 or 3 more log ons to repeat this and it has been doing it since.

I've also a problem with AOL in that it won't load. I've uninstalled and reinstalled with different versions and similarly to the boot.ini problem, it works the next time after the reinstall but every other time after I get the same error message about reinstalling the software.

While the 2 problems probably aren't related, I thought I'd do a system restore just to be on the safe side in case it was a virus. However the system restored hasn't been turned on and now I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Muzz · June 30, 2009, 01:17:58 PM

Go to run and msconfig. See under the General Tab. Try using the Normal Startup radio button? See if that gets rid of your issue.

tyrone86 · June 30, 2009, 11:26:47 PM

Quote from: Muzz on June 30, 2009, 01:17:58 PM
Go to run and msconfig. See under the General Tab. Try using the Normal Startup radio button? See if that gets rid of your issue.

Didn't work unfortunately.

Have another symptom now to throw into the mixer. Checked my AVG log and it hasn't run a full scan in a while. Tried running it a few times today but the computer kept turning itself off - not even shutting down, just completely powering off mid scan. Tried running it again but this time looked at the CPU usage, and the virus scanner was consistently at 100% in the processes before it shut itself off. Any other ideas?

imtommygunn · June 30, 2009, 11:38:43 PM

Sounds like a bugger of a clever virus that I've heard about.

Download a program called malware bytes. It seems as good as any about. (recommended on here)

Not sure that'll solve things but give it a go. It may be intelligent enough to detect it too...

ardmhachaabu · June 30, 2009, 11:39:59 PM

Download HijackThis and post the log file it generates here and I will go through it

ardmhachaabu · July 01, 2009, 09:09:23 PM

The log is clean.

Try malware bytes as imtommygunn suggested

tyrone86 · July 01, 2009, 09:43:33 PM

Cheers lads.

Tried them both, seem to have sorted the virus checker and the boot.ini problem - AOL is still up the left but not too worry.

tyrone86 · July 09, 2009, 01:22:10 AM

In keeping with the problems I had previously, is there any possibility that Service Pack 3 could be the cause? When I look at my updates, things only really started going wrong after installing it. I still have the problem with the computer cutting out and with AOL

amallon · July 09, 2009, 11:53:22 AM

tyrone86 I'd scan the disk for corruption. Open My Computer and right click on your hard disk and select properties. Click the Tools Tab and click the Check Now button. Check Automatically Fix Errors and Scan for and attempt repair of bad sectors. Click Start. A message will pop up telling you that the disk is in use and asking do you want to schedule a disk scan. Say yes. Reboot your PC. Chkdsk should kick in when its booting and let this run, you don't need to do anything. It could take a couple of hours depending on the size of your disk and how much damage there is. When the scan is finished Windows will boot as normal.

Let us know how you get on.

tyrone86 · July 09, 2009, 12:06:10 PM

Cheers, will do

gerry · August 09, 2009, 08:10:21 PM

A few weeks ago i came home from work to find that the power had tripped due to lighting. When i had left for work my pc was of but when i went to switch it on, it wouldn't and the normal green power light was flashing. I have disconnected the power supply to the mother board which when i googled it was one of the responses it said to fix it but it didn't

Any suggesions would be great as using the net with my phone is a pain.

Mhic Easmuint · August 09, 2009, 09:22:46 PM

Did you google for the make of your computer with power button flashing.
The power button flashing means something.

The power source could be goosed.