"...is not responding" AGHHHH! How do I get rid of it?

dizziblonde

Vista runs fine on my laptop with 1gig RAM - but the one big things I did was to knock the Aero theme off straight away as that does slow it to a crawl (but a pretty crawl). With windows set to windows vista basic things speed up a considerable amount. I do have minimal stuff going on startup on that PC though because it's very much a secondary computer.

closed

Dells attitude is because that is often the fastest route to a working system. If it worked when you got it, then putting it back to square one is far easier than diagnosis.

If you want to attempt diagnosis, start by removing all the programs running at startup, and click on chrome/napster etc when you need to use them. The fault could be down to a 3rd party program bringing down the whole system.

Defragging doesn't increase available disk space btw, just shuffles the files around.

jenniewb

closed wrote: »

Dells attitude is because that is often the fastest route to a working system. If it worked when you got it, then putting it back to square one is far easier than diagnosis.

If you want to attempt diagnosis, start by removing all the programs running at startup, and click on chrome/napster etc when you need to use them. The fault could be down to a 3rd party program bringing down the whole system.

Defragging doesn't increase available disk space btw, just shuffles the files around.

But that's just the problem with Dell- there was an error with a graphics card or something. They wiped the system, started again, the graphics card was still showing errors. I was then quoted a few £hundred to fix it (the computer only costed a few £hundred to begin with!) Didn't have the money, didn't take up the 'offer'. Wish I'd made more of a fuss it was only a year old and I'll bet I could have taken it further and gotten some free help- the computer seemed to have been problematic very early on. Dells fault or mine? guess we'll never know!

I did just got through my start up lists, I took off everything but the Dell stuff (presumably the actual workings of the machine) the keyboard/mouse, the AVG and the modem. I only use the computer for the net so as soon as I sit down and start...the problem starts. I'm not sure if its the programme I'm using or the computer, but it does seem to happen with everything I use, Excel to I-tunes and Chrome, and no malware showed up...

I thought defragging helped as it made the system slightly faster and although doesn't give more actual space, jiggles things about so the space you have is all on one block and so easier to use/may be able to save or use some larger files.

jenniewb

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Shut down all security programs and try again

I shut down all security programmes- fist turned off the firewall, then started up the task master and turned off AVG. There was nothing else I could find via the control panel or the task master to turn off after that. I don't have Windows Defender on as it doesn't seem to work well with anything, but checked and its already off.

I stilll got the same message!

I followed the instructions (to type notepad C:\Windows\systems32\drivers\etc\hosts into the start menu) which has me being told that there is no path to the notepad!

What should I try next?

aliEnRIK

Please run COMBOFIX

Shut down your anti virus
Follow the simple instructions it gives
Post the COMPLETE log it creates here (Split into sections if need be)

If it comes up with a RENAMING error then RIGHT click the exe file and RENAME and call it QWERTY (Making the complete file name 'QWERTY.exe') Or SAVE as 'QWERTY' on download

timmmers

jenniewb wrote: »

For the Questions!
I have Vista home, 32-bit, windows defender is off as AVG doesn't seem to like it on. (problem began before I did this btw)
I have 12 programmes at start up (but the problem doesn't just happen at start up it happens all the time!)
I have apparently 1GB of memory (RAM) and 1800 Mhz speed
And I have to say it doesn't matter if I have one programme or 17 programmes on- the same thing happens. Several times an hour- either its getting worse of my patience is fast running out. It could be both!!

I guess I'll need a separate box to back everything up- are these reduced in the Jan sales? (am willing to do ANYTHING to resolve the issue atm! throwing my computer against the wall feels like it may improve the situation! Logic tells me no but it feels like it would be a good idea...or maybe this would just resolve my feelings about the issue!!)

Those programs ARE running all the time...they start up and stay running.
If you have Windows defender (accessories in stenu) open that go to tools and disable the ones that you don't need runing all the time...they won't be deleted or anything, they just start when you need them instead of hovering aound using up memory you need for other things.
If you aren't sure what's needed and what is.. https://www.pcpitstop.com have a free system scam that includes this..and tells you th vital stuff and the stuff that isn't.

12 on startup is a lot for a gig especially when Vista likes to use a good chunk of that gig on it's own. I'd whack another gig or 2 in there too since it's so cheap.

Don't let your drive get below 25% free space if you can help it either..Vista is not happy then either.

When software pdates...it can add itself to the startup again, so go and kick it off again if you can remember.

t