Computer:
Alright, I have a Windows XP Home Edition with 512mb ram, GeForce something rather 128mb vid card (upgraded from 64mb -ouch-), and i think it is 2.6ghz. I'm fairly new to the computer world and I don't know much about names or any of that but if you need to know more info about my pc I will do my best to inform you.
Problems:
- Every few minutes this thing happens where, if I am in a full-screen program it will minimize, no buttons pushed at all, and if I am in something like IE or pretty much anything that is not full-screen it will go grey on top so if I was typing it makes it so i have to click back in the text box to continue typing. I have been told by my friend that this is a virus but he isn't too sure. If it is how would I detect and get rid of it? preferably (sp?) free because I really am pinched for $ atm, saving for a car.
- It will run slower than it should. When we first got it with the 64 mb video card and 256mb ram i believe it was faster than it is now, when i right click on the desktop (not on an icon) it takes up to 16 seconds for the little menu for new folder/arrange icons and what not to come up. It runs programs pretty well with little lag, it is mainly starting things when it is slow, like opening IE takes about 10-15 sometimes 20 seconds. but once I am on the internet it does pretty well most of the time.
- When the PC starts up it is incredibly slow, it is like it has to warm up before it will do anything quickly or at the speed it is supposed to.
Questions:
- My mom and dad share an account on the computer and I have my own, I did this so I didn't have to keep turning webshots desktop off and weatherbug and all that crap they have on their account. Another program they use is Task Plus, it pops up when the computer starts up and I thought that having my own account would resolve this, it didn't. I believe this could be causing it to slow down a lot so I was wondering how to fix that. and if my parents' account is logged on if all the programs they are running would be "running" on mine, like the computer is still running it but i dont see it. When i click on my account I can see their account (obviously) and it says no prgrams are running but i know they have about 3 or 4 running when it is just sitting still on the desktop.
- It says a few other things like "invalid web backup" or something along those lines and I can only click "ok" to it. I will get a more precise description the next time the pc is restarted/ boots up, whatever. I was wondering what it means and how maybe I could get rid of it.
- If after you have looked at adult sites and you right click on the IE icon and select properties then clear history, is it tracable that you were on those sites?
The main thing I am worried about is the virus. I would also like to know of all of the downloadable (free) anti-spyware, anti-spam and any other programs that hunt down spyware and all that bad stuff and get rid of it. Please tell me if there is a downside to any of them though, as this is the family pc and it can't afford to be down. I need as many of those programs as possible though. and what is a really good (free) firewall? I use Norton and I hate it, so I want to disable it on my account but my parents will want to use it on theirs so how could i disable it on my account and leave it enabled on theirs?
If i think of other questions I will edit this post then post a reply saying that I did so.
Thanks so much for any help, I know it is a lot wrong but at the moment I'm stuck with it and I am missing playing my games and being on the computer in peace. If there is any info you need still I will do my best to get it to you. THANK YOU!
Alright, I have a Windows XP Home Edition with 512mb ram, GeForce something rather 128mb vid card (upgraded from 64mb -ouch-), and i think it is 2.6ghz. I'm fairly new to the computer world and I don't know much about names or any of that but if you need to know more info about my pc I will do my best to inform you.
Problems:
- Every few minutes this thing happens where, if I am in a full-screen program it will minimize, no buttons pushed at all, and if I am in something like IE or pretty much anything that is not full-screen it will go grey on top so if I was typing it makes it so i have to click back in the text box to continue typing. I have been told by my friend that this is a virus but he isn't too sure. If it is how would I detect and get rid of it? preferably (sp?) free because I really am pinched for $ atm, saving for a car.
- It will run slower than it should. When we first got it with the 64 mb video card and 256mb ram i believe it was faster than it is now, when i right click on the desktop (not on an icon) it takes up to 16 seconds for the little menu for new folder/arrange icons and what not to come up. It runs programs pretty well with little lag, it is mainly starting things when it is slow, like opening IE takes about 10-15 sometimes 20 seconds. but once I am on the internet it does pretty well most of the time.
- When the PC starts up it is incredibly slow, it is like it has to warm up before it will do anything quickly or at the speed it is supposed to.
Questions:
- My mom and dad share an account on the computer and I have my own, I did this so I didn't have to keep turning webshots desktop off and weatherbug and all that crap they have on their account. Another program they use is Task Plus, it pops up when the computer starts up and I thought that having my own account would resolve this, it didn't. I believe this could be causing it to slow down a lot so I was wondering how to fix that. and if my parents' account is logged on if all the programs they are running would be "running" on mine, like the computer is still running it but i dont see it. When i click on my account I can see their account (obviously) and it says no prgrams are running but i know they have about 3 or 4 running when it is just sitting still on the desktop.
- It says a few other things like "invalid web backup" or something along those lines and I can only click "ok" to it. I will get a more precise description the next time the pc is restarted/ boots up, whatever. I was wondering what it means and how maybe I could get rid of it.
- If after you have looked at adult sites and you right click on the IE icon and select properties then clear history, is it tracable that you were on those sites?
The main thing I am worried about is the virus. I would also like to know of all of the downloadable (free) anti-spyware, anti-spam and any other programs that hunt down spyware and all that bad stuff and get rid of it. Please tell me if there is a downside to any of them though, as this is the family pc and it can't afford to be down. I need as many of those programs as possible though. and what is a really good (free) firewall? I use Norton and I hate it, so I want to disable it on my account but my parents will want to use it on theirs so how could i disable it on my account and leave it enabled on theirs?
If i think of other questions I will edit this post then post a reply saying that I did so.
Thanks so much for any help, I know it is a lot wrong but at the moment I'm stuck with it and I am missing playing my games and being on the computer in peace. If there is any info you need still I will do my best to get it to you. THANK YOU!
