Computer got SLOOOOW - don't know where to start

Computers are great, aren't they???

I had some virus or malware issues that Avast & Malwarebytes picked up on & deleted, but now this computer is almost unusable as far as speed goes: If I click on my bookmark for this site, I can count to 30 (seconds) before it appears. I downloaded & purchased PC Pitstop's OPTIMIZER out of desperation (WASTE OF MONEY!!! ) to fix this.

DSL connection tests show it's fine, but if I watch the lights on the modem, nothing is happening right away -- It used to blink fast, then bam - page loaded. Now it might not flash at all, or flashes very slowly .... like something is preventing it from connecting to a site.

This all got worse after I tried to start a network to connect a DVR to my PC -- now I have to physically go into the CONNECT TO folder on the start button & click on a connection that wasn't there before -- used to only be one connection & it was always on!

I'm so pissed that I'm just ready to waste more money & have someone else fix this thing!

I'm sure there's no clear-cut answer to this, but does anyone know where to start?

start, control panel, add/remove software, highlight and delete spyware and antivirus and unused crap.
sometimes its a prerequisite to remove the antivirus in sequence. such as Norton-symantec.

then do a disc clean and defrag and see how it works. I dont believe in most of the antivirus junk out there these days....

Run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. Get the latest version from here. Its free.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwa ... fault.mspx

Also, clean out your temp internet files and cookies from Internet Explorer.

I live in MA, but my heart is AMERICAN!

FANTASTIC signature

Hello,

To connect a DVr should of been just plug and play or at the most plug and put the disk in and answere a few question to load it up.

Connection problems are an easy fix. You can get more information if you type in connection problems on google, you can even see how fast your connection speed is by typing in connection speed at google it will bring up a page full of places to test your speed.

First I would make sure that the cable, dsl or dial-up is running at the speed you have purchased. At Comcast there are 3 different prices and 3 different speeds.

If it's running at the speed you purchased then you can simply go to your connection center and delete the desired connection reboot the pc and the pc will automaticaly make the connection again. AGAIN type in your type of connection problem at google and it should provide many answeres that you can read and learn about.

Take your time and you can fix it. Hope this might help a little.

OK - this seems fishy...... as in, I probably still have a virus.....

I can't download ANYTHING from microsoft -- it keeps saying: Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at download.microsoft.com.

I tried to download internet explorer too, because I never use it, & somehow the shortcut is missing (???). WTF!



I tried the connection websites & everything looks ok -- that's what's weird about this. I'm getting 800+/- down & 130 or so up. When I click on Outlook Express, it's fast as ever. The DVR didn't come with any disk, & the directions are telling me I have to install a router ( here we go spending more $$$ ), but I thought I could install it through the extra connection on my modem -- that's when the trouble began ( with connecting ).

Poconoeagle wrote:start, control panel, add/remove software, highlight and delete spyware and antivirus and unused crap.
sometimes its a prerequisite to remove the antivirus in sequence. such as Norton-symantec.

To elaborate if you installed a bunch of anti virus programs and have them all running at the same time you're bound to run into issues.

One anti virus and one firewall.

Thanks to everyone for your help first off.

I had McAfee -- just a few months ago I deleted that & installed avast.

I installed CC cleaner which cleaned a ton of files without any improvement.

Took me forever to get on here & reply...... I give up for today .... need to do something else before I grab a sledgehammer.

Hard drives that are infected receive a cleansing at my local gun range.

Black_And_Blue wrote:Hard drives that are infected receive a cleansing at my local gun range.

LOL, you're not serious are you? It's quite easy to remove all remnants of everything on drive and reformat.

If you're really concerned about making sure everything is gone before a reformat run this:

http://www.dban.org/

Having said that a standard full format and reinstall of windows should make any malware inept. The only reason I say inept is because it's never really gone until overwritten but that space might as well be blank as far as the OS is concerned.

Edit: BTW that's quite useful tool if for example you're getting rid of your computer, donating to charity or whatever. It overwrites everything multiple times completely destroying any data on the drive. Chances of recovery of anything is impossible using standard means to the best of my knowledge.

First, have to make sure you didn't happen to get the conficker worm, it will disable any attempt you make at getting updates or downloads from microsoft, so if you can go to a free place and run a check on your pc. I wish I could remember the one antivirus place where you can run for free it's on the tip of my tounge but can't spit it out.

Also I looked at the DVR situation and came up with this, maybe this will help
http://www.ehow.com/how_2001822_hook-up-dvr.html

Hope this helps

SMITTY wrote: The DVR didn't come with any disk, & the directions are telling me I have to install a router ( here we go spending more $$$ ), but I thought I could install it through the extra connection on my modem -- that's when the trouble began ( with connecting ).

Modem might be confused from seeing more than one MAC address if it's not supposed to.

If you still think it's a bug on the computer and the 'usual' tricks haven't worked try resetting TCP/IP and winsock. Since OE works it might just be something messing with port 80 traffic. Note this will clear any configurations on network adapters (eg static IP's.)

from a command prompt

netsh int ip reset reset.txt

restart the computer

command prompt again

netsh winsock reset

restart computer

I just tried that & it says : netsh is not recognized as an internal or external command, etc etc. I tried it several different ways with no change.

My brother is going to stop by tomorrow with a router & the brainpower I need to completely wipe out the disks & start from scratch. I think this is something that I should have done years ago, as I've been living with quite a few quirks on this machine that I just lived with & got used to --- like the bottom bar of Firefox looking like a psychedelic 60's slide show & "burning in" to other windows, & the looooong pause after booting up in which NOTHING works for about 5 solid minutes, until the rest of the system decides to load. Stand-by was my friend ...

I was getting ready to take Black N Blue's advice and pump it full of rounds in my backyard!

Firefox will not do a Microsoft Update, just use IE for the updates.
Run this after reading the instructions.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
Boot to 'safe mode with networking' and try surfing, if it returns to youthful self you have too many programs auto-starting.
A good forum for security issues
http://www.dslreports.com/forums/62

I used Firefox at one time and could not do updates using it either. Could never figure out why. I just went back to using IE after that.

Jeff

You need to launch IE for manual updates or use the automatic update feature in windows.