Computer problems

SmokingTarpan · 03-10-2006, 01:07 PM

A friend of mine mentioned to me the other night that she just recently started having problems with her computer. Apparently it's running "slow" (not network-wise) and having other issues. I said I'd see if I could figure anything out. Now, keep in mind that I haven't actually seen the machine myself yet, I'm just going off what she said the problem is at the moment. Here's the email I got from her:

Quote:

Started "running slow" last Friday- took longer to load pages or open a
program. By Saturday morning it was freezing up when I tried to open
things. I tried running virus check software (Trend Micro PC-Cillin) and it
kept freezing up. Tried different things all weekend- including downloading
Spy-bot- couldn't get it to run-kept freezing up. Overall my computer kept
getting worse- freezing up. Sometimes freezing up at the WindowsXP menu
(The one where you click on your name and it loads your preferences). At
one point- I think Sunday night or Monday morning- my Trend Micro PC-Cillin
indicated an "unknown computer logged on to my network" but it would freeze
when I clicked "don't trust" which if you click that it's supposed to kick
them off. So- I unplugged my router and effectively disconnected myself
from internet access. I got the Virus disk from the help desk Monday- ran clean
boot- it said my computer was clean! I then ran in safe mode and deleted a
bunch of stuff off my desktop and ran the clean boot again- again- said it
was clean. Ran spybot again- was able to at least scan- but couldn't "fix"
anything. It said there were firewall overrides, password overrides,
winfix2006, and a bunch of other issues- 29 problems in all. Eventually I
was able to persevere and get it to fix in safe mode- but it won't take off
wintangent- keeps freezing up. I then ran stinger off the help desk disk in
safe mode- caught a bunch, fixed them all. I tried to follow the help desk disk
instructions but I had to log onto the internet to run Windows updates- so I
was restarted in regular mode and realized that all the "fixes" hadn't fixed
anything. I thought maybe the Windows updates might help- but I can't get
them to load and then run- because of the freezing up problem. AND- if I
turn on my internet- I get the "unknown computer logged on" message- but
can't kick them off. I tried again last night to run windows updates and
was able to download a malicious program fixer but when it scanned it said
it didn't find anything on my computer. Then it just kept freezing up and
by 11:30 I was so tired I just couldn't keep it up.

Oh- and when it freezes- sometimes it freezes with "bits" of the screens
still up on my desktop- so eventually it freezes up with all these pieces of
programs I tried to close. Ummmm- let's see- I use the task manager a lot
to try and close programs that are "unresponsive" but that doesn't always
work either and eventually freezes up itself.

I have cable internet- and for some reason the "initializer" runs
and runs and runs until I try to shut it down- all the while I already have
internet access- but it usually freezes up too.

It isn't totally broken down- I can still sometimes use
Firefox to at least get on the internet briefly. I can usually open my
Start menu- at least early on when starting up. I can sometimes open other
things too.

Oh- one more thing- for some reason- I can't get to the menu (when I first
boot it up) to run in safe mode any more- it just seems to have gone away
for some reason...not sure what happened there either.

Frankly, I don't think it's a virus or spyware. If it's anything on the software side of things, it's probably a screwed up install that's causing a memory leak. I'm leaning toward the actual problem being hardware-related, either the video, RAM, or a bad fan causing overheating. It's a 3-month old Dell machine, so if it's the video the whole system board will need to be replaced.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Mateo · 03-10-2006, 01:11 PM

First problem: it's a Dell. LOL.

Sounds like hardware: I'd be looking at the memory and storage first.

Grab Knoppix, and see if it boots the system. If it detects the hardware correctly, then it's the install.

Trooper · 03-10-2006, 01:12 PM

download a program callled ace utilities and run the registry cleaner, i had bubba do that to his and it fixed his speed problem. Then possibly run the microsoft spyware program.

**Wimpinator** · 03-10-2006, 03:10 PM

I would check CPU and memory usage before I blamed hardware. If the CPU is @ 100% during "lock up" times then that will give you somewhere to look. She didn't mention if it ran fine in safe mode. That would also be useful info.

KillerTarget · 03-10-2006, 03:35 PM

Quick and easy fix for this if it is software, REFORMAT. If it is a hardware problem then have her call Dell and have them fix it, it is that easy.

Spyder · 03-10-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerTarget

Quick and easy fix for this if it is software, REFORMAT. If it is a hardware problem then have her call Dell and have them fix it, it is that easy.

That's also the quick and easy way to fix most virus and spyware problems that can't be easily resolved

Usarion · 03-10-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyder

That's also the quick and easy way to fix most virus and spyware problems that can't be easily resolved

Agreed, this is usually the easiest way to resolve most issues. Not the mention it is hassle, and stress free.

SmokingTarpan · 03-10-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerTarget

Quick and easy fix for this if it is software, REFORMAT. If it is a hardware problem then have her call Dell and have them fix it, it is that easy.

Oh no, if it were my machine, I'd just nuke it from orbit and rebuild from the glowing ashes. Might not be an option with hers, however.

Thanks for the input, confirmed pretty much what I thought my options were. I'll see if I can do anything about it.

aesop rock · 03-10-2006, 04:27 PM

Some especially tenacious viral software protects itself by disabling (and doing everything it can to prevent the re-enabling [of]) your anti-virus software. This may explain why your computer freezes up every time you attempt to clean it.

My recommendation, short of formatting (cuz that's what I did when I had a similar problem), is to take the hard disk in question out of your machine and load it on a different machine for scanning. Make sure, of course, that the other machine is properly protected prior to attempting this.