Sorry

[cooter]

Sorry, I don't like posting on the wrong forem but can't get any bites in the Geek section. Any of you folks thats computer savy would you mind checking it out for me. I already did what jbasser suggested. Thanks

[jbasser]

You cleared the cache and it did not fix the problem. If you are using Internet expolred go to www,mozilla.com, download firefox, install it and use that. Ie 8 has a lot of issues.

You can also download google chrome and do the same.

Basser

[broncovet]

I concur with Basser, that IE could be the culprit. This site works well with google chrome.

However, time after time whenever your computer does "strange" things, it is often a red flag of malware infection, that is, a virus/trojan horse/backdoor. If your computer is slow, (that is, slower than when it was new), it is highly likely you are infected. Virii consume resources and slow or even stop your computer.

And, I have had lots of people tell me, "Oh I cant have a virus...I have anti virus software". Right. And there cant be crime in my city because we have policemen, right? Yes, you can still have a virus (or worse) with anti virus software.

The best and most dependable method to be certain you have gotten rid of a virus, is to reformat your hard drive and reload the operating system. This means you need to back up your data, which you should be doing anyway. But it does take considerable time.

It takes a skilled technician to be certain that all virii/malware is removed.

Do this: With nothing running on your compuer, Point your mouse at the task bar, then right click and select "task manager". In the tm there will be a number of how many

processes you are running. I can probably tell you if you have a virus from that number, or, at a minimum, you may be trying to run too many things at once, often overwhelming your computer.

If the number of processes is less than 35: This is good, you probably have a fairly clean, good runing computer.

If the number of processes is 35-45. Still good, you probably have antivirus software running, and maybe an IM and a few other things.

If its 45-55, you probably have quite a few things running, and your computer is still ok, but probably will start to slow down a bit, but still work ok under normal conditions.

If its 55-65, unless you have an expensive super fast computer designed for this, you are bogging down.

If it is 65-75 your computer is probably painfully slow.

If you have more than 75 processes running, then your home computer for under $700 is maxed out, almost certainly infected, and your computer is probably a zombie. A zombie computer is a computer so infected that the computer is operated remotely, probably with a key logger, and your computer is being used by a hacker to send out bogus emails.

I would reformat and reload my operating system if I had more than 60 processes running, as it is likely infected.

[cooter]

I'm using google chrome and I have 75 processes running. Not good huh

[broncovet]

Once, I worked on a fellows computer, who had complained it was slow. When I discovered 78 processes running, I told him that was likely the reason.

I explain it like this. If you complained that your car would not go faster than 30mph, and I went to look at your car, and it had a chain on it where it was towing 18 other cars at once, do you think that may be why it wont go over 30?

You have a choice: Either eliminate some of the running processes, and disinfect your computer, or continue to use it. It is even possible your computer is a zombie...where it is actually being controlled by a hacker who uses your email address to send out spam.

If it were mine, I would reformat and reload the operating system and here is why:

If you get a good virus software, update it and run it, along with trojan detector, it will likely show infections. The problem with deleting them is that many virii are polymorphic...this means they copy themselves in other parts of your computer using a different name. These are hard to get rid of even for experts. I dont try. I start clean by reformatting the hard drive. If your computer is over 4 or 5 years old, I would consider replacing it.

If you cant afford it, try this temporary fix:

Go to Start, then run.

Type "msconfig" in the box, without the quotes, exactly. When msconfig opens, click the "startup" tab.

Click "Disable All" then OK.

Reboot (Power off your computer, then power it on).

When you reboot, it will tell you you reconfigured your computer to "selective startup". I check the box to not tell me about that again.

Now, when you check the processes, you should see way fewer, and your computer will likely run faster, and fewer problems BUT things like your printer may not work. If this happens, go back to msconfig, then check your printer box to enable it to run at startup.

I will explain what you just did. They were having a wild party on your computer, kind of like your teenager while you are away for the weekend. They invited over a few hundred of their friends and got a few kegs of beer. You come home. Ok..EVERYONE OUT. I mean everyone. Then you let back in the ones you know are ok, such as your son, your dog, your wife and your best friend. By kicking everyone off your computer you are sure to get "the bad guys", then just let the good guys back in.

[Berta]

John is right on IE.

The last time I had my PC upgraded ,my PC man said to use Firefox instead and stay away from IE.

I sure do.

Avast is an excellent antivirus program and I always depend on it to catch anything. It gets updates automatically and is better then anything else I have had so far for security.

[broncovet]

One of the reasons why people get infected is that they "have an antivirus program" but do not realize it needs almost constant updating.

As Berta pointed out, the antivirus software needs updated, except for those that update automatically. Often the "free" antivirus, and even many of the older "pay" antivirus softwares do not update on their own.

One of the reasons for this is the "automatic updates" can be a security hole in itself that the hacker exploits. It "automatically updates" and then loads the new hacker version, which often disables the antivirus software. This is why you need to stay on top of the number of processes running. This number should not "grow" unless you add programs to the list...messenger, your printer, etc. While the number of processes "grows" as you add capabilities and function to your computer, it should not "grow" on its own.

Think of it as stuff in your house. Yes, you picked out a new chair, and a new lamp (where there was none before), but who put that object over there in the corner? If you didnt, your spouse didnt, then why is it there? Yes..someone was in your house. They "put something in there", but this is not a benevolent gift...it probably has a camera on it that is taking pictures of your mail, as well as who knows what. Get that funny looking object out of your house as it is probably some sort of spy device. Of course its different if you called the furniture company and ordered new furniture. You only want "visitors" to your computer that you specifically invite. You dont need strangers in your house (without a purpose...you know, this does not mean you dont let the Cable guy in, when you call for repair...but if he shows up, and you didnt call, maybe you should consider asking him to leave...you just dont know if that cable uniform he has on is real or not, and if your cable tv does not need fixing, why is he here?) .... and you dont want them on your computer either.