Can I fix this myself?

[FuzzyKitten99]

Or will I have to bring it in?

My computer has had this issue with typing on any program or internet site. The cursor can't seem to continue at the pace that my typing goes. I know I don't type that fast, and it only started recently. I'll be typing something and every so often, the cursor will get sluggish and it will take forever (ok, 2-5 seconds, but it seems like forever) for it to catch up to where it really should be. The only time it gets real annoying is when I need to backspace, because it doesn't react the way it should, and I have to backspace slowly to make sure I don't delete more than I need to. The other annoying part is when I am typing and I know I hit a wrong letter and I go to backpsace and correct it, and the cursor doesn't keep up with my keystrokes, so sometimes it gets even more messed up and I have to wait a few seconds and then backspace slowly, then type whatever I was typing correctly.

It doesn't happen continually or even consistently as far as a pattern, but it happens every time I go to type something, regardless of what I am on. Whether I am typing in Word, or filling out a form online, the reaction of the cursor is sluggish every couple words/letters that I type.

I will take it in if I have to but can I fix this myself? I have run disk sweeps, virus scanners, spyware detectors, and deleted all .tmp files as I found. Nothing has fixed it or improved it.

I bought the computer brand new in January, 2GB hard drive, run windows XP media center edition, and only have a couple games in it.

[blas87]

I've got a sledgehammer......

That happens to me, too. I don't know if it's my protective services updating themselves, but all of a sudden, I will see the hourglass symbol and the Internet going really, really, really slow and I can't type as fast as I'd like to.........

[Cutenoob]

Ok, it might be something for a pro to look at.

What I'm wondering is:

Have you checked Task Manager when this is happening?
Dates/ times?
Event Log?

What are the EXACT circumstances? Give me a very detailed example.

Is your keyboard usb or ps2?

How many usb ports on the box?

How much Ram?

Pedersen/ Draggy/ TA...ideas?

Cute

[Pedersen]

Pedersen/ Draggy/ TA...ideas?

Have to comment on this first: Somehow I've managed to build a reputation for this? Cool :D

Back to the question:
The only times I've seen such behavior, personally, were on computers where the CPU was being maxed out. The only times I've seen that behavior were when badly behaving programs were running.

Now, despite my general non-preference of Microsoft, their programs are well behaved enough not to cause the sort of behavior you've described.

I'd suspect a piece of spyware myself. That's the only time I've seen that happen. The other possibility is that a critical component got corrupted (such as the keyboard driver) and that's causing the problem.

And, just to be thorough, eliminate the possibility of something at the hardware level causing the problem. Download a copy of Knoppix (http://www.knoppix.org/), boot off of that, and try out the keyboard. If it responds fine, your hardware is good, and Windows is borked. At that point, I'm not sure I'd be much help, but will certainly try.

[Greenday]

I'll second the spyware idea. The only time I've experienced a sluggishness in typing was when my computer was loaded with spyware and/or viruses. Definitely run AVG or ad-aware, etc. See if that helps.

[Seshat]

I have seen similar situations when typing directly to a distant site.

NOT filling out web-forms (you're typing to your local computer, which sends the input all bundled together when you hit submit), but when I've used a communication program (ssh, for the techs) and am effectively typing directly on the machine at the other end.

If this is the problem, FuzzyKitten, it's called 'lag' and it's not fixable. What happens is that for whatever reason, one 'packet' (small bundle of keystrokes) gets delayed or corrupted, the other end is either waiting or requesting a re-send, and then once it gets the delayed or re-sent packet, displays that and all the ones behind it.
(Okay: it could be improved. By upgrading and improving the connection between you and the remote machine.)

However, since you've said it's happening even with stuff like Word (presumably running on the computer your keyboard is actually physically connected to), it's more likely to be the other problems people have already advised you on.

[Cutenoob]

Reason I didnt suggest the AV or anti malware was because user had already posted she did this.

In my experience, kbd drivers are so....bland? it's hard to corrupt them. I've NEVER had kbd drivers go hinky on me. Ever. (there's always a first time).

I still want you to do your typing, do your stuff, and WHEN you catch it happening, check Task Manager, and check Event Log, and look @ time/date.
Give us a place to start.

I'm wondering, since user had posted "website input/ typing and application input/typing" could it be : JAVA? I know a lot of the times you use a java applet to enter data into a webpage, and java is the only thing I know that would be used in both an app and a page. I dont think PHP would be used in an app (besides a page) - correct me if I'm wrong.....

I remember back when 98 was big, and Java was getting started, a few times it would hog ram and over run buffers...and just crash.

Yalls think of anything else?

Cute

[FuzzyKitten99]

I'll second the spyware idea. The only time I've experienced a sluggishness in typing was when my computer was loaded with spyware and/or viruses. Definitely run AVG or ad-aware, etc. See if that helps.

I have AVG for my antivirus and security. I used to have norton but a friend of mine (Chris) who owns several computer repair & refurbish shops installed it for me and removed norton. I have AdAware SE personal, and I have run that already.

my computer is a laptop, so I don't have any kind of plug-in.

although, come to think of it, I did run without norton for 2 weeks because the trial period was over and I forgot to get my laptop to Chris' store before it did. I can't remember when the sluggishness of the keyboard started, but there is a chance it could have gotten something within that two weeks... If so, wouldn't AVG and AdAware take care of it?

[Seshat]

Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs aren't perfect.

For one thing, there's an inevitable lag between when a new virus/spyware/whatever makes it onto the net, and when you install the update that contains its counter and run the checker over your machine.

It's also possible that the virus/whatever that's causing you problems is hidden, and doesn't show up in the general tests for your anti-spyware programs.


My suggestions, which will rule out almost all the not-malware causes:

1. Do Pederson's Knoppix test. If you still have typing problems while running Knoppix as your OS, it's a hardware issue. If not, take the Knoppix drive out and go back to your normal stuff. Wait till you're having the problem, then continue.

2. Hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE when you're having problems, run the Task Manager, look at the Performance tab. If your CPU usage history shows up around 100% at any point, tell us. That's what's causing your problem, and we need to figure out what's causing the CPU to be running so high.

3. While on that tab, look at the 'Physical Memory' section. Check that there's plenty of available memory. If not, that tells us a lot too: chances are your computer is freezing up while it's 'paging'. Ask, if you want to know what 'paging' means.
Tell us the contents of the 'Physical Memory' section. (Which would answer Cutenoob's 'how much RAM' question.)

4. Move to the Applications tab. If there's anything there that's not what you know you should be running, tell us what it is. (It might be fine, it might be a problem.)

5. Move to the Processes tab. Look down the CPU and Mem Usage columns. Look for anything that's using significantly more of either than the other processes. Tell us what that is. (Again, it might be fine, it might be the problem.)

6. I can't find an Event Log in my Task Manager, but if yours has it, let us know what's in that as well. And answer Cutenoob's other questions. (Date/time, type of keyboard connection, what else is on the USB if it's a USB keyboard.)

If we don't find anything suspicious in the answers to these questions, it's almost certainly malware that's gotten past your guard programs.
I'm snugly behind a firewall that's been successful so far, so I'm not sure what the current best malware fixers are. I'll defer to the others on that. ;)

[draggar]

http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=14226

I put up a good list of free anti-malware links and programs as for your friend he did the right thing in deleting Norton and putting in AVG. You have a resource problem. I've seen it on occasion on my computer.

While it usually isn't directly related to malware, the don't help with the situatuion by taking up a few resources here and there, trying to be undetected.

I'm 99% sure there is nothing physically wrong with your computer from this, just respurce management.

What are the specs? Processor? Ram? HDD space?

Right click the My Computer icon and select properties. On the general tab yo should see the processor and ram near the bottom.

Mine says:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU
6300 @ 1.86GHz
1.86GHz 2.00GB or Ram

(Note: If you're using XP, you'll have to click the START button to see the My Computer, if it's on the desktop it's only a shortcut and this won't work).

and for the HDD space, double click the My Computer icon then right click the "C" drive and select properties. On the general tab you should see a pie chart with some numbers above it, Used space and free space. Tell us those numbers, too.

Along with AdAware you should also have SpyBot, one will pick up things that the other won't and since they're not TSR (terminate and stay resonant, or they keep running in the background) they won't bog down your system when you aren't using them.


2. Hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE when you're having problems, run the Task Manager, look at the Performance tab. If your CPU usage history shows up around 100% at any point, tell us. That's what's causing your problem, and we need to figure out what's causing the CPU to be running so high.

3. While on that tab, look at the 'Physical Memory' section. Check that there's plenty of available memory. If not, that tells us a lot too: chances are your computer is freezing up while it's 'paging'. Ask, if you want to know what 'paging' means.
Tell us the contents of the 'Physical Memory' section. (Which would answer Cutenoob's 'how much RAM' question.)

I'll second that, too.

Edit: Mods may want to move this to the tech help forum in the unsupportable area. :)

[Pedersen]

(Note: If you're using XP, you'll have to click the START button to see the My Computer, if it's on the desktop it's only a shortcut and this won't work).

Actually, Draggar, on XP: Click Start, right click My Computer, and click Show on Desktop. It's not a shortcut if you do that. I have a habit of doing that to every computer I touch. If others do, too, then it might be a real My Computer icon, and not a shortcut.

The rest, I very much agree with, so I'm not responding to that :)

[draggar]

Then, to tell the difference if it is a shortcut or not is to look at the icon and if you see an arrow on the bottom left corner of the icon (in a white box) then it is a shortcut. :p :)

[digilight]

A couple of things that popped into my mind. Is it possible that this is happening at the same time that your AVG is trying to run its test. I know that on mine it slows the system to a crawl at times. Otherwise I agree with the opinion that it could be a virus/spyware. Also, how are you doing on free space on your hard drive, if you are getting real short maybe under 10% free then you could be having problems also.

Are you running any sort of file sharing program, P2P, BitTorrent, etc. These can really tax the system also.

[FuzzyKitten99]

A couple of things that popped into my mind. Is it possible that this is happening at the same time that your AVG is trying to run its test. I know that on mine it slows the system to a crawl at times. ... I thought this may be it, but then I remember that it did it well before I removed norton and installed AVG.

Otherwise I agree with the opinion that it could be a virus/spyware.
I ran a full scan on all my systems again, and it only came up with a few spyware items and no viruses. So everything is kosher there.

here's a snapshot of my screen for the memory useage:

[Cutenoob]

Fuzzy, that is not memory usage.

That is Drive Management, your STORAGE usage. Hard drive.

To get a copy of memory usage, right click on your task bar (bottom blue bar) and select Task Manager.

A box opens, so click on the tab called Processes, and that lists a bunch of small programs/applications being run by you or the OS currently. Click on the header called MEM USAGE and it will sort by high or low, and you will see a listing of who's taking the most RAM.

Memory = RAM

storage = hard drive, dvd, cd, usb stick.....

Cute

[sms001]

here's a snapshot of my screen for the memory useage:

While lurking (don't want too many people shouting advice at you, I'm sure!) and waiting for the mem usage, I'd like to suggest you d/l and read the instructions for installing Hijackthis.

http://www.merijn.org/files/HiJackThis_v2.exe

Odds are good that your problem is going to be some background task not playing well with others, and it's a tool whose logs will help track it down.

I'm sure this doesn't need to be said, but better safe than sorry :)
Do not use the tool to get rid of anything!!!
Just scan logs may be enough and it's easy to fark your machine pretty badly with it!!!

P.S. Love the Prongs Plates! And where did you get the sticker?

[FuzzyKitten99]

Fuzzy, that is not memory usage.

That is Drive Management, your STORAGE usage. Hard drive.

To get a copy of memory usage, right click on your task bar (bottom blue bar) and select Task Manager.

A box opens, so click on the tab called Processes, and that lists a bunch of small programs/applications being run by you or the OS currently. Click on the header called MEM USAGE and it will sort by high or low, and you will see a listing of who's taking the most RAM.

Memory = RAM

storage = hard drive, dvd, cd, usb stick.....

Cute
Ok, I misunderstood. I thought that is what was meant by "usage"

I looked at processes and because of the long list, I did screen shots of the top and bottom halves and pieced them together in a bitmap:
anything look unusual?

[FuzzyKitten99]

P.S. Love the Prongs Plates! And where did you get the sticker?


license plate
thanks! The sticker was custom made by the company that my husband used to work for, which is also owned by my MIL's best friend and her husband. They make street signs (as well as various other signs & graphic appliques) and the lettering and reflective material on street signs, is actually thick plastic sheeting that adheres to the metal base plates-and you can apply it to any surface, and it is completely removable and won't leave a residue. The machine that cuts the lettering is controlled by a program on a regular pc computer, and you can upload any kind of picture or font into the program. They were able to upload the font from a Harry Potter fansite and make one for me. If you want one, I don't know how much it would run you (probably like $18-20, but I can't guarantee that), but here's the website (yes, they primarily do traffic control, but they still manufacture custom signs & graphics): www.ntsindustries.com . Just ask for Brent and tell him Tim's wife Lea referred you to them for a window sticker in the Harry Potter font that says what you want it to say.

Here's another sticker I have, which is made of the yellow reflective sign material:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p298/FuzzyKitten1999/P1180039.jpg

[Pedersen]

Hey, FK, just to toss in my two cents worth: Nothing there jumps out as being out of whack, not to me, anyway. However, you might wanna edit that screencap. Your real name is included in it. Repeatedly.

[Cutenoob]

The DSAgent.exe is a Dell Support agent...

Do you have some icon of Dell's in your system tray (by the clock) ? Are you actually using it on a regular basis? Or is it just included in the startup?

May want to not have it start with the computer. Personally, I don't need support agent thingys, I use the internet. And all the tubes in it. (joke for geeks here)

Otherwise, it looks ok.

What I'm talking about up there ^^ is fine-tuning. Which would be done after we've pinpointed the real root issue.

FK, can you get to Event Viewer?
Right click My Computer
Manage
opens a window.
Find on left pane Event Viewer.
Go click on the + next to Event Viewer.
Opens a list of logs.

Take a look in the System one ( do the same sort thing you did with the RAM! you did great on that!!) and sort by type, Error/ Caution / Generic.

Remember I asked what day this was starting? Here you can pin point the problems and see if there's a starting point - you see a bunch of Exclamation Points!!!!! ZOMG and they all started on March 1 2007....what happened on March 1 2007....ahhhhh someone installed a piece of wonky hardware...

Do the same thing for the Applications... open the log, sort by type, and look at the dates on the page, can you see a pattern?

So far your hard drive looks fine, and the RAM usage looks normal.

I think what we need to do is recreate the issue. doodle around, do your own thing, work on the PC. When issue starts back up -when you notice it, Write the date/ time and what you're doing. Also check the temp in the room, just to be safe. We can't help unless we can isolate the problem a bit better.

Cute

oh btw did you find out how much ram the machine has?

[draggar]

Ok, I misunderstood. I thought that is what was meant by "usage"

I looked at processes and because of the long list, I did screen shots of the top and bottom halves and pieced them together in a bitmap:
anything look unusual?

Rundll32 - sometimes that's legit, a lot of times it is not. go to http://housecall.antivirus.com and let them scan your system.

On a side note, any reason why you're running a MySQL database?

Also, click on Start - Run and type in MSCONFIG

Go to the startup tab and uncheck everything then reboot and see if it continues. If it stops, then something that you've installed (or elected to load) is causing it, if not, then there's another issue.

[sms001]

However, you might wanna edit that screencap.

Have to second this! If you can't edit to replace, have Raps etc. do it.

Thanks for the sticker info. I think I know the kind of material your talking about and it's quite cool. Twenty bucks may be a bit much to spend on myself, but I know a fan or two, so I'll keep it mind for the holidays. Thanks for the info.

[FuzzyKitten99]

Hey, FK, just to toss in my two cents worth: Nothing there jumps out as being out of whack, not to me, anyway. However, you might wanna edit that screencap. Your real name is included in it. Repeatedly.
I am not worried about it...

[FuzzyKitten99]

The DSAgent.exe is a Dell Support agent...

Do you have some icon of Dell's in your system tray (by the clock) ? Are you actually using it on a regular basis? Or is it just included in the startup?

May want to not have it start with the computer. Personally, I don't need support agent thingys, I use the internet. And all the tubes in it. (joke for geeks here)

Otherwise, it looks ok.

What I'm talking about up there ^^ is fine-tuning. Which would be done after we've pinpointed the real root issue.

FK, can you get to Event Viewer?
Right click My Computer
Manage
opens a window.
Find on left pane Event Viewer.
Go click on the + next to Event Viewer.
Opens a list of logs.

Take a look in the System one ( do the same sort thing you did with the RAM! you did great on that!!) and sort by type, Error/ Caution / Generic.



I just did this, and there is a HUGE list of stuff. Probably a few hundred. I don't know if I could captire all of them in screen caps and not take up lots of space.

I called Dell support and the tech accessed my computer remotely and tried everything he could. Some of the stuff he did do, helped a bit, and the problem isn't as bad as it was, but it is still an issue.

He said that unfortunately the only way he believes he can fix this problem 100% is to do a PC restore or OS reinstall. Unfortunately, I have some things on my hard drive that I will lose and will be difficult to get back. I can back all my stuff up, but there are a couple things I can't and I have to reinstall and start over...

I might just have a guy I know look at it, and see if there was something that the Dell guy missed, but that will run me $100 at least for a diagnostic.

The problem is more annoying than anything, but I really want to have it fixed too.

[digilight]

You know, I just looked at my mother in laws computer last night. Hers is doing the exact same thing including having the system idle process throttling the whole thing (Identical scenario). It lags when you type on both web sites as well as anything else. Programs lag, etc. I'm going to be going into it in depth tonight and I will let you know once I get to the bottom of her problem. She also has a Dell (she bought it around a year to a year and a half ago). And the problem has been going on now since prior to July of this year. I had no idea about it until this week and took a quick last night.

I am pretty certain that she picked up a virius of some sort.

My question to you would be. Who is your Internet service provider, I am asking to see if there may be some correlation possibly to the ISP files or something. but here is what I know for sure about her system

It is a Dell (I don't remember the exact model, but I will right it down tonight).

She has a Canon Pixima 830 printer. Apparently the computer problems where happening before this was installed but I didn't know about it, hell I installed the printer and couldn't tell at the time.

She has AT&T for her ISP (Would also fall under Pacbell, SBC, etc) and is DSL.


I am thinking Virus or Mallware. I will run different scanners and see what I come up with.

[FuzzyKitten99]

My question to you would be. Who is your Internet service provider, I am asking to see if there may be some correlation possibly to the ISP files or something. but here is what I know for sure about her system

It is a Dell (I don't remember the exact model, but I will right it down tonight).

She has a Canon Pixima 830 printer. Apparently the computer problems where happening before this was installed but I didn't know about it, hell I installed the printer and couldn't tell at the time.

She has AT&T for her ISP (Would also fall under Pacbell, SBC, etc) and is DSL.


I am thinking Virus or Mallware. I will run different scanners and see what I come up with.
I have Comcast cable for my ISP, and a Dell 942 AllInOne printer, though it isn't permanently attached or hooked up to a computer all the time.

The problem only started sometime in the last 3-4 months. Even then, I really didn't take much notice until I realized that it wasn't going away, no matter what I did.

[FuzzyKitten99]

oh, and someone told me that AdAware and anti-virus software aren't supposed to be on the system together because the anti-virus will already have the spyware/adware removal program. Is this true? Because I do have AVG for antivirus and AdAware SE personal (the free version). Should I remove AdAware?

[Shabo]

No, you don't have to. Two anti-virus programs will interfere with each other, but you can and should have multiple anti-spyware programs. Each anti-spyware program is different and each has different definition files, meaning each will catch different things. Another good program that I like to use is Spybot S & D, which is also free. There's another really good one that I can't remember the name of off the top of my head... but I think it starts with a P. I'm going to go snooping...

Didn't find the anti-spyware program... but here's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware) an interesting read from our beloved wikipedia

[Seshat]

I just thought of another possibility - this is actually unlikely, given the symptoms you described, but it's possible and it's very, very easy to check.

Your CPU fan might have broken bearings, and your CPU might be getting hot. If it's that, and you have a special circuit in your CPU/motherboard that slows down the CPU when it's hot, your CPU might be running slow. Which could cause the CPU usage to be up around 100%, thus slowing everything down.

The check is easy: is your computer making a horrible grinding noise? If so, then the fan is trying to work and the bearings are busted.
(Okay - one of the fans. The grinding noise can come from any of the fans, or the hard disk. Different grinding noises for each, but it's really hard to describe the difference in text.)

If you open the case, then turn the computer on and look at the CPU fan, does it turn so rapidly it's a blur? If not, it's busted.

The good thing is that if this is the problem, it's an easy and cheap fix for a techie. Probably doable for a non-techie with careful instruction.

[digilight]

OK I think I fixed my MIL's computer and her's was slow as hell at typing in certain programs.

I downloaded and ran AVAST and came up with 3 different viruses. 1 was the Blink Virus (I'm not sure what the other 2 were but I know 1 was a backdoor trojan and I think the other was a worm).

So Far it seems to be doing much better.

I would say to download different Anti Virus Programs and run deep scans using each (I know that certain Anti Virus programs may not catch things that others will).

I know that AVAST is good, So is AVG. I'm sure that you can get some good advice from others on good scanners as well.

[FuzzyKitten99]

OK I think I fixed my MIL's computer and her's was slow as hell at typing in certain programs.

I downloaded and ran AVAST and came up with 3 different viruses. 1 was the Blink Virus (I'm not sure what the other 2 were but I know 1 was a backdoor trojan and I think the other was a worm).

So Far it seems to be doing much better.

I would say to download different Anti Virus Programs and run deep scans using each (I know that certain Anti Virus programs may not catch things that others will).

I know that AVAST is good, So is AVG. I'm sure that you can get some good advice from others on good scanners as well.

I also downloaded Avast to see if my current ones missed anything. And apparently they did, because it came up with two. (see photo) All of the other ones that say "File Corrupted" are from a scrapbooking program that I haven't used in a while that is part of an online thing-I wouldn't miss it if I just removed it. If I delete it, will that take care of the 'corrupted file' status?

So far, I am still having the typing issue. I have noticed that it seems to happen more often when I have to backspace to correct something.

[Shabo]

I would say to download different Anti Virus Programs and run deep scans using each (I know that certain Anti Virus programs may not catch things that others will).

Make sure you completely uninstall EVERYTHING from the previous anti-virus before you install the new one. Otherwise you might fubar your machine and need a reformat.

The good thing is that if this is the problem, it's an easy and cheap fix for a techie. Probably doable for a non-techie with careful instruction.

Eesh... I don't know... it also involves re-applying thermal paste... I wouldn't be comfortable having a non-techie mess around with the CPU.

[Seshat]

He said that unfortunately the only way he believes he can fix this problem 100% is to do a PC restore or OS reinstall. Unfortunately, I have some things on my hard drive that I will lose and will be difficult to get back. I can back all my stuff up, but there are a couple things I can't and I have to reinstall and start over...

Consider doing this:

Pick up a second disk drive.

Install the new drive, unplug the old one.

Unplug off the 'net. Stay off the 'net with this computer while you work.

Install your OS on the new drive. Install your programs and stuff, too. Do a backup of this clean install, so next time you can just restore this backup. ;)

Plug in the old drive, and make sure you're booting off the new drive (so you aren't booting any virus-corrupted OS).* You may need a techie to help you ensure you're booting off the new drive.

Copy all your data files onto the new drive. Everything you created - not programs, but your bookmarks, email, and every document you've made. Do another backup, just the data this time.

Check that you've got everything. Check that you've got all your antiviruses and so forth as well.

Plug into the net. Download updates for all your antivirals &etc.

Check you've got everything again, just because I'm a cynic.

Format over the corrupted hard drive. Use that as extra storage.



* There might be viruses, trojans or whatever that can propogate from the old drive to the new. I'm not currently aware of any, but I'm not a security expert.
If I were doing this for my own machine, I'd do the copying under a different OS. If you're comfortable working in Linux or Unix, do the copying while having booted with a Knoppix disk.

[Seshat]

Eesh... I don't know... it also involves re-applying thermal paste... I wouldn't be comfortable having a non-techie mess around with the CPU.

Good point. The CPU is also an expensive component to risk breaking. It's probably worth paying for a techie to actually do that.

[JustADude]

Good point. The CPU is also an expensive component to risk breaking. It's probably worth paying for a techie to actually do that.

Not really. AS a techie, I have to say it's nearly as simple as changing out RAM. Other than smearing a bit of conductive grease on the back of the thing, it's pop on/pop off as long as you take a bit of care not to bend the pins (assuming you have a processor from before they went to a pinless design).

[FuzzyKitten99]

Consider doing this:

Pick up a second disk drive.

Install the new drive, unplug the old one.

Unplug off the 'net. Stay off the 'net with this computer while you work.

Install your OS on the new drive. Install your programs and stuff, too. Do a backup of this clean install, so next time you can just restore this backup. ;)

Plug in the old drive, and make sure you're booting off the new drive (so you aren't booting any virus-corrupted OS).* You may need a techie to help you ensure you're booting off the new drive.

Copy all your data files onto the new drive. Everything you created - not programs, but your bookmarks, email, and every document you've made. Do another backup, just the data this time.

Check that you've got everything. Check that you've got all your antiviruses and so forth as well.

Plug into the net. Download updates for all your antivirals &etc.

Check you've got everything again, just because I'm a cynic.

Format over the corrupted hard drive. Use that as extra storage.



* There might be viruses, trojans or whatever that can propogate from the old drive to the new. I'm not currently aware of any, but I'm not a security expert.
If I were doing this for my own machine, I'd do the copying under a different OS. If you're comfortable working in Linux or Unix, do the copying while having booted with a Knoppix disk.

can the external hard drive operate off the wireless router? I don't want to have to connect my laptop to a cable every time I want to save/store data...

[Seshat]

Not really. AS a techie, I have to say it's nearly as simple as changing out RAM. Other than smearing a bit of conductive grease on the back of the thing, it's pop on/pop off as long as you take a bit of care not to bend the pins (assuming you have a processor from before they went to a pinless design).

To us, it's easy enough. To some non-geeks, it's doable. To other non-geeks, figuring out exactly how this particular combination of CPU + fan + CPU socket works is a daunting and scary task.

I don't want to have to connect my laptop to a cable every time I want to save/store data...

Gah. I forgot you're using a laptop. It's probably doable to connect some hard drives to some routers, but it's non-standard AFAIK.

The cost of a second hard drive may not be worthwhile, since you're on a laptop and can't just shove it in the tower to be available at all times. :(

[JustADude]

To other non-geeks, figuring out exactly how this particular combination of CPU + fan + CPU socket works is a daunting and scary task.

:headscratch: I just don't see it. Not trying to be arrogant, but I just REALLY don't see how someone could be daunted by popping some simple catches and swapping out some pretty-much plug'n'play items. The things only fit one way without forcing something. It's impossible to screw up horribly if you don't actively try to break the things. Even forgetting the Thermal Paste isn't a death-blow, since it's really just a performance enhancement, not a necessity, and can be applied later in any case.

The only reason for someone to be afraid of ANY basic change-out, be it Computer, Car, Shower Heads, Car Stereos, etc, is fear of the unknown.

[Pedersen]

I just REALLY don't see how someone could be daunted by popping some simple catches and swapping out some pretty-much plug'n'play items.

Well, maybe I can help out a bit: Many people are mechanically disinclined. Now add in the fact that computers are expensive, costing (for cheap ones) $300+. Throw in the mysterious bits about how people have to spend their whole days working on these things and still can't always fix them. Give a healthy dash of the stories people tell about how the computer just never works right for them.

And now, you're suggesting "popping some simple catches and swapping out some pretty-much plug'n'play items". You've crossed the fear threshold of many many people. They're terrified that they're going to open this mysterious box up, void their warranty, trash their computer, and be screwed over when they go to get a real repair done.

Now, sit down with someone. Tell them you're going to be there to guide them through it, but that you know they can do this if they wish to. Fear factor plummets, since they now have a safety net in case something goes wrong.

Will it? Most likely not, but they don't know/understand that.

Yes, it amounts to no more than a fear of the unknown. But that is what people feel when told to open their computer. That's also why USB sells like hotcakes: It's simple stuff. You plug in the cable here, it goes in one way, and you're done. Again, perception, since we both know how much can go wrong, but that's how it's viewed.

Fear of the unknown is an extremely paralyzing fear.

[RichS]

:headscratch: I just don't see it. Not trying to be arrogant, but I just REALLY don't see how someone could be daunted by popping some simple catches and swapping out some pretty-much plug'n'play items.

You didn't get the customer my former boss got last week.

I was in the shop with him (he still lets me use the high-speed 'net :) ). Lady brought in a computer locking up because of overheating. He opened it up. CPU fan got so clogged with dirt that it came off of the housing. Not the fan part came off of the heatsink part - the fan blades came off of the housing.:eek:

Boss gets replacement (Socket 370 fan/heatsink, old Pentium 3), says for $50 he could install it and also clean out the system, both the physical system and the OS. Customer refuses, says she can do it herself. She asks a few questions, boss repeats that she should pay and have him install it if she's unsure, she refuses. Repeat for a couple more times, she pays and leaves.

She, of course, comes back. She's gotten the old heatsink/what was left of the old fan off, and somehow can't figure how to get the new one on.

One look, and we saw - she must've yanked off the old one with a lot of force, because one of the locking tabs on the socket was broken clean off. She got upset, of course, didn't outright blame my boss, but her tone of voice definitely implied it. I guess he was able to get something rigged, and told her that she could run the computer long enough to get her info off, but that's as far as he would trust it.

After she leaves, I told him that she couldn't blame him - he told her that he should have done the install at least 4 times. Oh, well...

[JustADude]

Fear of the unknown is an extremely paralyzing fear.

Okay, let me rephrase that a little: While I understand the whole chain of logic and emotions that leads to it, in a purely cognitive sense, I just can't seem to grok it at an instinctual level. I've NEVER been afraid of the unknown, the strange, or the different. Period. It's just not on my list of reactions.

I devour knowledge like a 5yo devours candy. My first instinct is always to try to understand things, as deeply and in as much detail as I can, and I guess some part of me keeps expecting everyone else to seek that same understanding of the world I look for. I guess the fear of the unknown and different is why people seem to always fall short of my eternally high hopes for them.

[Shabo]

I devour knowledge like a 5yo devours candy. My first instinct is always to try to understand things, as deeply and in as much detail as I can, and I guess some part of me keeps expecting everyone else to seek that same understanding of the world I look for. I guess the fear of the unknown and different is why people seem to always fall short of my eternally high hopes for them.

There are 3 kinds of people in this world... there are those that know, those that can learn, and those that should never try. (And this applies to everything, too)

You fall into the "those that can learn" category. We are assuming that the non-techie is falling into the "those that should never try" category, in which case, no, I wouldn't let them even try to open their case. But for someone who is eager to learn, I wouldn't mind showing them or sticking around and making sure they do it right. Those people aren't "non-techie" but rather "soon-to-be-techie". :D

[Seshat]

I devour knowledge like a 5yo devours candy. My first instinct is always to try to understand things, as deeply and in as much detail as I can, and I guess some part of me keeps expecting everyone else to seek that same understanding of the world I look for. I guess the fear of the unknown and different is why people seem to always fall short of my eternally high hopes for them.

I'm a learner too, which is why I have a list of skills that impresses and frightens the non-learners. I'll give anything a go if the risk/reward ratio is acceptable. (IE: I won't mess with mains electricity, and if I want to sew expensive fabric, I'll practice on cheap fabric first. That sort of thing.)

But I've learned (ha!) that there are non-learners out there.

I braid my hair. Almost every time I go out in public with a braid, someone asks me, with awe in their voice, 'How do you do that?'

I explain. If I have time, I'll pull my braid out to show them - it's simple enough, no big deal to me. If I'm just killing time, I'll let them try it in my hair.

The most common response is 'I could never do that!'

I repeat. They're telling me they could never braid their hair.

We're not talking mains electricity here. We're not talking about making a structurally sound piece of furniture. We're not even talking about wrecking expensive fabric by screwing up making a kimono.

We're talking about a simple, easy hairstyle. And they 'could never do it'.

[JustADude]

We're talking about a simple, easy hairstyle. And they 'could never do it'.

Same as braiding rope, right? Left-edge strand (locke in this case) to middle, then Right-edge strand/lock to middle, NEW left-edge... etc... etc... until you run out of hair or rope, then tie off with a little twisty-stretchy thing instead of melting the ends together?

Yeah, that made me go :headscratch::wtf::confused:. I guess lowering my expectations on people's adaptability is the one thing I've never learned to do.

[Shabo]

The most common response is 'I could never do that!'

I repeat. They're telling me they could never braid their hair.

I used to be able to braid my hair, but now I keep it too short to really bother. I could even french braid it myself. Of course, it never looked as good or was as tight as when someone else did it, but still!

Those people who claim they can't do it probably tried once and gave up. It takes some time to get the feeling of it down.

[technical.angel]

Pedersen/ Draggy/ TA...ideas?

Cute

Better late than never, eh?

FK, how much RAM do you have? (Sorry if you posted it already, I didn't see it)

(Start-> Right click My computer-> Properties -> __ of RAM)

It might just be me, but while none of the processes stood out, the NUMBER of them did.

Someone else suggested this, but run this.. http://www.merijn.org/files/HiJackThis_v2.exe

Just save a log, don't try to make any changes. C&P the log here, or PM me with it. That gives a pretty good overview of the computer.

The amount of RAM is very important though.

A word on anti-malware.

You said you were running the free version of Ad-aware. While that's well and good, that's not protecting you. It'll pull your fat out of the fire, but won't keep you out of it in the first place. A program like Spysweeper works like an antivirus. It'll keep an eye on your traffic, and block something before it gets in. Just a thing to keep in mind.