Need PC Help Please

***medicvet*** · Sep 9th, 2007 5:55 PM

I have cable broadband, but my pc still runs incredibly slow. I can't even defrag it because you need at least 15% and I only have 11%. I have tried to delete a lot of stuff, but it still hasn't made a difference. Not only that, but I have had even more problems ever since I downloaded 'pc optimizer' pro, and I cannot figue out how to delete it, as I think that is the culprit in making my limewire not able to play at all.

What should I do? How can I get rid of pc optimizer pro? I tried to go to a restore point, but it wouldn't let me go back as far as I wanted to. And when I try to get rid of optimer pro it says it is running and I don't know how to turn it off..I go to where it is on my puter screen, and 'delete' or 'turn off' is not even an option.

Would I be best bringing the pc in to people like the 'geek squad', and should I add more memory or have it just cleaned out and reformatted? My pc is almost five years old and is a wallyworld special compaq presario with only 247 (weird number, I know) GB of memory, and I know most computers these days offer a lot more than that.

I tried getting rid of limewire thinking it would make the computer go faster but it didn't make any difference, so I added it back on, but I still can't get it to turn on because something is still blocking it, and I don't think it is mcafee I downloaded from aolhell but that damn pc optimizer.

**Becks** · Sep 9th, 2007 6:00 PM

Is it 247 GB RAM or 247 GB Hard disk memory?

Your best bet would be to wipe the hard drive and start again.

***medicvet*** · Sep 9th, 2007 8:28 PM

That's what I was thinking too. And I hate to sound stupid, but I don't know the difference between the two, just that I need 15% to spare on my hard drive C and only have 11%, if that would say anything about what it is. I have all my pictures online at photobucket, so there are very few pics online, and I don't really have anything major to lose if it is reformatted. How much do they run, so I will know if I am being given a right price or not..I want to get this done on the 1st of next month.

It's gotten so there is up to a 30 second gap or longer between actions, so it does need to have something done to it. I don't have room to put my paint by numbers next to it on my desk, so I just have a book nearby so I don't get frustrated waiting, lol!

There is one person in our small town that does computer work, but I don't want to go to her, because a few years her son and mine got into a fight...long story, small town, we still don't talk, 'nuff said.

I would love to talk with you more on this becks if you are still around in a few hours online, if not maybe we can chat tomorrow? I'm seeing Meet the Fokkers for the first time, and loved the first one so am glad to be seeing the second one.

Also, periodically, my aol will shutdown, and since I don't have yahoo, that is the only one to get on, except I can use internet explorer if I used my favorites or bookmarks, but that is the only way for some reason.

**techno sapient** · Sep 9th, 2007 8:29 PM

OK, First of all, don't format and install just yet. If it ran fast when you first got it, theres no reason it shouldn't run fast now (unless its a hardware problem, as in a corrupted HD usually)

Can you even run any programs at all? If so...

Download CCleaner (a.k.a. Crap Cleaner)
This little app cleans out all the temp files and unused registry entries as well as system cache and a whole sort of other things... Its one of my favorite programs, It would be good to run, but my bet is... you have spyware and other crap-apps that are bogging down your system...

To get rid of spyware and the "baby viruses"
Download Spybot Search & Destroy. Make sure that after you install it, that you update it, and them immunize before you scan. This usually fixes most issues...

BUT

If you CANT run these apps and are having trouble working in such a slow system, try running these programs in Safe Mode. If you don't know how to get into safe mode, turn off your computer, put your finger on the F8 button, and repeatedly hit the F8 button about 3 seconds after you power back on your system. A black window should pop up and you'll see the option for Safe Mode.

If you dont already have an anti-virus program, Download AVG. Its free and works better than "Nortons" or "McAfee".

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any problems/questions.

Oh, and I would try and uninstall spyware doctor and any other "spyware" or "registry cleaners" if you can... I like using CCleaner to uninstall my applications instead of using Microsuck Windows because it shows you everything that is installed and its a little quicker.

Mk, let me know

-Sapient

**techno sapient** · Sep 9th, 2007 8:37 PM

Originally Posted by Becks

Is it 247 GB RAM or 247 GB Hard disk memory?

Im pretty sure she means 247mb of RAM, sometimes the computer doesn't read it exactly correct, but shes got a 256mb stick of RAM in her computer.

What Operating System are you running? XP, 2000, 98?

If you want to chat, medicvet, we can either get on the live chat here, or gabbly if you want.

***DontBeAfraid*** · Sep 9th, 2007 11:23 PM

OK, First of all, don't format and install just yet. If it ran fast when you first got it, theres no reason it shouldn't run fast now (unless its a hardware problem, as in a corrupted HD usually)

5 years of browsing, aol and limewire and the computer wont run like it used to. I reccomend a reformat as at this point it would be jsut as fast as trying to clean it out. Chances are she has rootkits in there as well.

Is it 247 GB RAM or 247 GB Hard disk memory?

Currently no affordable computer can hold 247 GB of ram... I think 8GB is about the upper limit for end users and that would likely only be found in a server. So the 247 either equals your hardrive or you have 256 MB of ram which is probably the case because a 250 gig hardrive 5 years ago was quite expensive. In order to uninstall things that are "running" entering safe mode and going to add/remove programs is the best way. Unless you have your system disk I advise against messing with registry cleaners as you are more likely to brick your system than fix it.

However if you do have your system disk I still say go for the complete reinstall and after you have done that then go get AVG. If your internet access is purchased through AOL then there is not much that can be done to limit its presence on your machine, so if thats the case I would reccomend dropping them as soon as your contract is up and switching to comcast or qwest or whatever highspeed service your local phone or cable company provides. Dont go about reformatting until you are certain you have your windows operating system install disk AND the product license key for it(usually found on a shiny sticker on your case)

**Becks** · Sep 9th, 2007 11:38 PM

Currently no affordable computer can hold 247 GB of ram...

Which is why I was confused that she stated that it had 247 GB Memory instead of 247 MB, unless she was talking about HD Memory.

Dont go about reformatting until you are certain you have your windows operating system install disk AND the product license key for it(usually found on a shiny sticker on your case)

Because she has a Compaq, I would say not as HP has not given out recovery disks with their models for 6 years in North America.

Medicvet, you'll need to order one unless you've done so in the past. HP doesn't charge but for shipping for their recovery disks.

***DontBeAfraid*** · Sep 10th, 2007 12:50 AM

ya. Some models come with a run-one-time program to create the disk but it will save time just to call them and ask for the System Disk. They will offer to try and format over the internet, refuse that and ask for the disk and get an eta on its arrival.

***medicvet*** · Sep 10th, 2007 2:31 AM

thanks for the info and help guys. really appreciate it. It said something about my security settings being too high and wouldn't let me download it..I think it does have something to do with that pc optimer I downloaded, but when I try to remove it is says it doesn't exist, and when I try to do something with it directly it says it is already running.

So I would need to original format disk to reformat then? Would I be able to get it at a computer store, or would I have to call compaq and ask them for it?

I have adaware, and even that is acting funky on me, and windows defender the same..they won't finish, and will only tell me that they can't finish after 12.16 hrs of running!

I am going to try that safe mode thing tomorrow to see if it works. I'll let you know. Right now I just took my meds, albeit a bit late in the night, so I am going to be heading to bed in a little bit.

***DaSoviet*** · Sep 10th, 2007 7:46 AM

AVG and Zonealarm are your best bets. If theres anything there AVG will toast it.

***iulian28ti*** · Sep 10th, 2007 5:45 PM

If theres anything there AVG will toast it.

agree!!! saved my PC once, when no other AV could do a thing

the combination of: AVG, ZoneAlarm, Ad-Aware, Spybot and CCleaner is deadly.... and free...

**FireAnt** · Sep 10th, 2007 7:06 PM

Originally Posted by Becks

Because she has a Compaq, I would say not as HP has not given out recovery disks with their models for 6 years in North America.

This is why I always like custom built PCs. You always know what you are getting and have all the necessary equipment to rebuild it if needed.

Medicvet, I have to ask whether you have considered upgrading? A 5 year old PC with 256 MB of RAM is fairly old for some of the more complex programs coming out now. I guess it depends what you are using it for and if you really have the money to spend on a new PC. Nevertheless, there should be no real reason why your current PC shouldn't work properly.

As others have said, Safe Mode is always a good bet when trying to deal with problems like this. It stops a whole heap of stuff from starting up and allows your PC to run much faster.

Have you tried checking in the task manager to see what programs are chewing up processing power and RAM? I'm not sure what OS you are using, but I know atleast XP gives that information. I think earlier versions give some information too, just not sure if its as much as XP.

Originally Posted by medicvet

I have cable broadband, but my pc still runs incredibly slow. I can't even defrag it because you need at least 15% and I only have 11%. I have tried to delete a lot of stuff, but it still hasn't made a difference. Not only that, but I have had even more problems ever since I downloaded 'pc optimizer' pro, and I cannot figue out how to delete it, as I think that is the culprit in making my limewire not able to play at all.

I've had that trouble with not having enough space to defrag. I ended up needing another hard drive to put stuff on for a while. You can try deleting internet files for a start. You can also try searching, using the windows search function, for the largest files and then deleting them if you don't need them.

Other than that I guess try what the others here have posted regarding the possible virus, registry and spyware solutions. You would be amazed how much of this stuff can accumulate on a PC over 5 years.