Technology What do you do when

[justwondering]

---

Members do not see this ad.

your computer stops working normally?

My PC/Dell runs reallllllly slowly now. so slow that i really can't use it anymore. i dont think my virus/spyware programs can remove anything else. What do you guys do when you have a computer problem? Is there some place I can take it to?

 

[blankguy]

Do you have a lot of stuff installed? I had to help this kid out who had 6 AIM programs installed in his laptop. His computer took a long time to boot up. I told him to clean up his laptop. Reformat and restore his computer. That did the trick.

 

[digitlnoize]

What do you guys do when you have a computer problem?

Fix it.

No really. Task manager is the best place to start. Ctrl-alt-del it. Look up all of the running processes on google and delete the ones you don't need.

If this doesn't help, then reinstalling always does the trick...but backup your important data first.

 

[justwondering]

thanks for the responses.
i actually wouldnt mind re-installing it since i think it might take too long to get it fixed otherwise (i bet there's some kind of trojan or something on it).

is it hard to reinstall? i have the cd, but someone told me it's risky. i dont know why it would be though.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

thanks for the responses.
i actually wouldnt mind re-installing it since i think it might take too long to get it fixed otherwise (i bet there's some kind of trojan or something on it).

is it hard to reinstall? i have the cd, but someone told me it's risky. i dont know why it would be though.

Back-up all your data beforehand if you decide to format. Formatting and doing a clean install is definitely a good way to eliminate your problem.

You could also try to clean out all the clutter manually... use adaware to screen your computer for spyware, adware, and possible viruses. Remove them all. Use symantec or other anti-viruses to also try to clean up. Then consider defragmenting your harddrive. Also click "start" -> run -> type in msconfig -> go to start-up tab -> remove unnecessary programs/items in your start up configuration... this will improve boot-up time somewhat. There's also a program called CCleaner that's pretty good too.

I think formatting is the best way to go and just do a clean install... but if you know what you're doing you can clean-up manually and forego a format at least for the time being.

 

[175961]

Fix it.

No really. Task manager is the best place to start. Ctrl-alt-del it. Look up all of the running processes on google and delete the ones you don't need.

If this doesn't help, then reinstalling always does the trick...but backup your important data first.

He took the words right out of my mouth. There are tons of programs running in the background that you dont need (itunes for example runs things like "itunes helper"). Head over to http://www.lifehacker.com look up task manager and they have programs to download that will look up those running processes for you so you dont have to google each one of them. that site also has all kinds of tips and tricks that you can use to tweak your system and keep it running smoothly

 

[justwondering]

THanks!

 

[udsoccer7]

Hey Everybody-

I'm illiterate when it comes to computers. My girlfriend a.k.a the human computer virus recently did something to her computer that causes the help screen to open up multiple times so that the computer can't be run. I tried running norton anti virus and spy sweeper to remove any viruses but it is still doing the same thing. I think there is a virus on there that norton's cant detect. Would reinstalling everything from the beginning fix this problem. I don't want to take it to best buy cause its not worth the $200. I'm not quite sure what to do.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Hey Everybody-

I'm illiterate when it comes to computers. My girlfriend a.k.a the human computer virus recently did something to her computer that causes the help screen to open up multiple times so that the computer can't be run. I tried running norton anti virus and spy sweeper to remove any viruses but it is still doing the same thing. I think there is a virus on there that norton's cant detect. Would reinstalling everything from the beginning fix this problem. I don't want to take it to best buy cause its not worth the $200. I'm not quite sure what to do.

If you had it backed up you wouldn't have to worry about this. So if you can get the documents you need and have all of your installation disks erasing and reinstalling everything will fix it.