PC help Please 1 more ?

[shroomman63]

my cursor has the hour glass next to it on a regular basis, almost as if i clicked on something waiting for it to open but i didn't click on anything

when i try clicking on a site it take many clicks like 4-5 times before it even attempts to open that site ( no it's not porno i have another PC for that )

i did a system restore still the same i also have avast and it seems to to a good job

p.s if they wrote a book for dumb and dumber about computers i would still not understand it so be gentle

[Deleted]

When your cursur turns into an hourglass, that means the computer is working in the background and it's taking up all your processing power. often that means it is "swapping." This indicates it is swapping memory between active memory (ram) and passive memory (disk)

This will happen a lot if your machine is low on ram because you have too many applications open.


If you have a relatively old computer and a newer OS, buy a new computer or put in maximum ram or both. Vista is even more of a memory hog than XP was. I purchased a new computer in January and found that even with 2gb of ram, I was still running out of ram and it needed to swap. An upgrade to the 4gb max for this machine solved the problem.

If you didn't have much else open besides a browser or the phenomenon is a recent change, it is very likely you have malware on your computer. Today, I would think that is the most likely answer.

Do a search on Malware and find malware removal programs. My favorite is SpyBot, which used to be free. But, I understand they charge for it, now. AVG Virus is still free and I understand it will also remove malware, I'm not sure. I do have AVG on my machine and it works quite well and is unobtrusive. I am not sure if it is battling malware actively or not. I never worried about it.

cheers

[Twist Capper]

Spybot is still free for a basic version.

I always have used this site for downloads - even when
doing rebuilds or clean installs for myself and friends.

majorgeeks.com There are various programs here for
almost every catagory - some pay, most free. It will
tell you in the description if there is any cost.
www.majorgeeks.com/

Spybot is here.
www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html



I also recommend this site: www.snapfiles.com/freeware/

www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwantispy.html
Both Ad-Aware 2007 & Spybot - S&D can be found here also.

TC


ps. Brig is right - if there is no malware, it's usually a memory
problem. I would also look at how many and what programs
open in the background when you start up Windows. I
suggest keeping that to the bare minimum and only have
programs open as you need them.

[shroomman63]

Thank you guys sooo much i downloaded spy ware doctor and it got rid of the hourglass for now, Now i need something to speed things up i would greatly appreciate it

[Twist Capper]

Oh, and Brig will tell you as well.....you might want to try
Firefox as a browser instead of IE7.....


TC

[Deleted]

Might? LOL

Shroom, I'll put it more strongly than that. If you do not try and use firefox, you are cheating yourself by about 20% on speed.

www.getfirefox.com

peace

[portrush]

Shroom, re-wire it for 220. That should give it a boost!


pr

[portrush]

On a more serious note...if you're using wireless, make sure you're on your router. In my neighborhood I can log onto about 8 homes around me. (no they're not locked) And if you are using wireless, make sure yours is. Sometimes if your computer picks up another signal that is not as strong, it will slow things up when trying to open windows or download.

pr

[shroomman63]

i have Linksys and it says unsecure wireless network how do i make it secured?

portrush said:

On a more serious note...if you're using wireless, make sure you're on your router. In my neighborhood I can log onto about 8 homes around me. (no they're not locked) And if you are using wireless, make sure yours is. Sometimes if your computer picks up another signal that is not as strong, it will slow things up when trying to open windows or download.

pr

[portrush]

It should be secured, otherwise folks can hack into your computer by using your wireless connection. I had to have Geek Squad come out to make mine secure, so I can't walk you through it. Perhaps someone else can.

I just bought a new Mac (after 25+years on PC) and have a new router coming next week. The Apple boys tell me the Mac will walk you through securing the router rather easily...I hope so, or its another $150 for the Geek Squad guys.

I just don't want to learn the techie stuff. I want to turn the key and have it start.

Good luck!

pr

[soonerlew]

Uh-oh!!! My new Vista picks up phone convos I hear thru my speakers. Not all the time but it has done so about three times. I am not wireless. The old dial up. Should I do something?

[St1ck]

Securing Wireless:

1. do not broadcast the SSID ( this is the text string that identifies your wireless network)
2. enable WEB or WPA (preferable the latter) these are encription schemes. They require a keyword to generate keys on the router side and the pc side.
3. enable MAC (not macintosh! but "Medium Access Control") filtering, and then enter your mac address and any other pc in your home that's on a wireless connection. Do an ipconfig /all from a command prompt and look at "Physical Address". when you enter the mac address in the filter list do not include the dashes.

I know this may be confusing if you're not into networking. But look on the Linksys (or your router's support page) on how to do the steps described above.


Hope this helps,
happy (and safe) computing!
-St1

[logictx]

Hey there! I will send you my phn# if you want a session. I'm a pro-geek that earns this way. No chrg for a cmkxer. logictx

[shroomman63]

I'm really sorry to ask you folks another question I'm not sure what the Heck i did, but i can't get my system restore to work, i have tried Everything, help & support, goggled for help, tried on safe mode nothing seems to work any suggestions?

[Twist Capper]

shrooooooom

What do you mean by "restore" ? Are you trying a system
restore via Windows System Tools?

[shroomman63]

YES

twistcapper said:

shrooooooom

What do you mean by "restore" ? Are you trying a system
restore via Windows System Tools?

[Twist Capper]

System restore can be a "bugg*r" sometimes. It won't
alway let you restore to earlier points.

Are you on a network? or is it a "stand alone" ?

[shroomman63]

TWIST not sure what you mean, dumb and dumber here remember

twistcapper said:

System restore can be a "bugg*r" sometimes. It won't
alway let you restore to earlier points.

Are you on a network? or is it a "stand alone" ?

[Twist Capper]

Also,

are you using server2003, XP or Vista?

did someone else set up your computers? To save
resources, "smart guys" often disable drives that
would be "included" during a system restore....
including c:

Are you getting any error message that you can remember?

[Twist Capper]

are there other computers connected with a main
server?

[shroomman63]

it's an XP, on a laptop wireless connection, i used system restore yesterday with no problem after speaking to you and Brigs downloaded spy bot and fire fox then all hell broke loose

[Twist Capper]

are you getting a specific message? or does it just boot
back up and say "unable to restore to selected point" ?

[shroomman63]

when i click system restore nothing happens usually there is a calender etc... Nothing appears almost like a dead link

[Twist Capper]

OK.....

When you go to system restore and you get the calender......
there will be the dates......some will be bold and others not.

The ones that are bold are the ones that have a restore
point. Any other date will appear as a "dead" link...........

[shroomman63]

Twist NO i don't even get the calender, Mike Thank you but i have to call it a night, tomorrow is another day :notworthy: