Home computer nightmare.

[SavageHoutkop]

try installing firefox instead of IE.

 

[Globalti]

Programs like adobe and activeX are constantly trying to update themselves. You may have set your firewall/security to stop these programs updating automatically, which isn't a bad thing, but it may be clogging the system with repeated update attempts.
Have you tried to manually update these programs?

or as many an IT specialist will suggest; try turning it off for ten minutes

Hmmmm.... my wife thinks the problems started a few days ago when she updated Adobe. Could this be causing a conflict with an older version?

 

[Steve Austin]

Adobe did a big update recently, so that could be it. Try uninstalling(properly using the uninstall function) it, and re installing it.

As suggested Firefox is less resource hungry than explorer, and is a much faster better running product

 

[Mr Pig]

I'd recommend the 'wipe it' option. Save all your files and settings and format the thing.

Over time your computer collects loads of little programs, many of which you don't even know are there, and lots of other bits and pieces that take up space, use system resources, fight with each other and generally clog up the tubes. Formatting the computer removes all of them and gives you a clean sheet again.

I'd also recommend using Firefox, although it not as slick as it used to be it's still better than IE.

 

[Globalti]

Isn't Ccleaner supposed to remove all those little bits of rubbish?

 

[Mr Pig]

Isn't Ccleaner supposed to remove all those little bits of rubbish?

Yes, but it's not the same as formatting it. It's like the difference between getting someone in to clean your house and moving to a brand new one!

 

[Radius]

CCleaner and all the stuff you recommend, but then:
Treesize free: have a look at what folders are taking the most space and if there's anything unexpected...and if you use photoshop, have a look for the temp files, they can hang around weird places and take up TONNES of space...

 

[chris667]

Microsoft's line on computers that potentially have malware installed is to do a complete reformat, then reinstall. Make sure your Windows is running its firewall, as well as defender, then install AVG free and Spybot, but only if you will remember to update spybot and use it to scan once a week. If not, get one of the paid antivirus programs.

And whatever you do, don't disable updates on anything. Without updates, no computer is safe.

 

[CopperBrompton]

AVG is pretty bloated these days; I'd recommend Avast Home (also free).

 

[alecstilleyedye]

my bro-in-law (who's quite a techie) says that people with adsl modems who turn them off at night can suffer from slow net speeds as the modem works out 'average' traffic speeds or something…

 

[Garz]

my bro-in-law (who's quite a techie) says that people with adsl modems who turn them off at night can suffer from slow net speeds as the modem works out 'average' traffic speeds or something…

Qe?

 

[on the road]

He's talking bollocks

 

[Garz]

But he's "quite a techie" on_the_road.. (must be as useful as pc world tech-guys)

 

[rh100]

He's talking bollocks

Hmmm, however, this is from thinkbroadband.com, wasn't aware of it myself, although I stay switched on anyway.

.

If no-one is at home for more than eight hours then it probably is worth switching off your broadband router. So switching on to check mail before leaving for work in the morning at 7:30am, and then switching off until the kids come home at 4pm, before switching off again at 11:30pm is fine. Switching off more often than this carries a risk that some automatic monitoring systems will think your line is unstable and may slow your service down.
Some contest that switching electronics off and on too often can wear them out, and this may be true if you do this multiple times every day, but with kit switched off it is also less likely to be damaged by power surges.
If there is an electrical storm unplugging and turning off ADSL kit is recommended, as the lightning creates RF noise that affects ADSL. If the storm is overhead though it is best to err on the side of caution and not use telephones or touch anything plugged into the phone line.

 

[chris667]

AVG is pretty bloated these days; I'd recommend Avast Home (also free).

Actually, it's all relative; if your computer is working properly you shouldn't find any of them make your computer unacceptably slow.