What On Earth is My Computer's Issue?

Such a weird device I have. The specs:

OS: Windows XP SP 2
RAM: 448 MB (Should be 512, I don't know where some of it went)
Hard Disk: 70 GB
Space Used: ~10 GB
Processer: VIA Esther C7-D 1.4 GHz
Video Card: VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP
Resolution: 800x600, 32 bit color depth
Primary Browser Used: Opera 10.1
Internet Connection Type: Wireless-G (I don't know offhand which 801.11 protocol)
How Connected: Netgear USB Wireless Adapter
DirectX version: 9.0c

I've used this computer since 2007... could it simply be that it's that dang old?

I have a myriad of issues with this computer pertaining to speed and lack thereof. To start off with (no pun intended), oftentimes when I click on the Start button the menu will appear, but when it does so it draws one row of pixels at a time at a slow pace. I can literally see the rows get drawn. Also, if I put my mouse over "All Programs", "Control Panel" or anything of that sort, my computer will make a lot of rumbling but it'll be several seconds before the menu appears.

In addition, when I'm browsing the web, the window frequently locks up, where the minimize button in the upper right hand corner of the window is grayed out. This is temporary but seriously annoying. If a site uses Flash, Java or even extensive JavaScript/Ajax (a la Facebook) the computer is often slow to load and activate them.

More issues, present, just can't think of them at the moment. :/
Any help is highly appreciated.

Malware and lots of it, reinstall Windows.

Can't. This machine came with Windows XP, I don't have a Windows CD.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by youssarian

RAM: 448 MB (Should be 512, I don't know where some of it went)

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often a result of integrated graphics

64Mb of your main memory is siphoned off for use with integrated graphics chips
if you have a dedicated graphics card, disable the integrated card in the BIOS - then the 64Mb will not be reserved

The rest.....
one word - fucked

I don't understand how it could be malware. This computer has been connected to the Internet for about a month, and a lot of problems existed long before then. I think.

then it's probably hopelessly out of date, security patch wise

You know the average infection time for an unpatched Windows OS is under 5 minutes?

O.o Fixable? Or does this thing need to go to PC Heaven?

there's multiple things you can do
depends entirely on you, though

- Live with it
- Throw it away
- Reinstall Windows
- Install a more secure OS

Hmm... where can I go to get a Windows XP installation CD?

Assuming it's a pre-built machine, you could ask the OEM (Dell, HP or whoever)

It's Everex. And they're closed in the US. X.X

well, don't know then

Getting XP officially will be hard
and your machine will not be powerful enough for any other MS operating system

Have you thought about another OS
http://www.ubuntu.com

It's free software, so there's nothing to lose
you may even prefer it.....

Use a working computer, go to Ubuntu.com, and Order an Ubuntu installation CD. Linux is safer, faster, more intuitive, open source, free, etc.

If you're really insistent on having Windows or not installing a new OS, I'd try going to the Windows homepage and explaining the problem to customer support. If that still doesn't work, you could always buy Windows (I think XP - 7 should still be available) at your local Best Buy, Staples, etc. although I believe they're a few hundred dollars.

Also, check the box the computer came in. More often than not, a re installation CD is included.

Hope that helped.

Out of curiosity, can you open Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete)? Has Windows installed any updates since you got online?

The only computer I've had to resuscitate so far is my Mom's, formerly mine, which was thoroughly raped by trojans and other malware within a couple months of me giving it to her. I managed to get it pretty well back into shape without a reinstall (couldn't find the disks) by running Malwarebytes, then a registry clean-up tool (be careful with these!), then manually editing the registry to re-enable Windows updates, then installing all the updates she'd missed.

Going by specs, I'm guessing your machine wasn't new in 2007. In any case, it's quite underpowered, and that may be the beginning and end of your issues. I remember trying to run an XP machine on 512MB RAM in 2004, and it wasn't pretty.

Yes it has added updates but I've disabled it because it takes up time and space and has no relevant use that I can see.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by youssarian

Yes it has added updates but I've disabled it because it takes up time and space and has no relevant use that I can see.

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mmm, yeah...those updates are generally closing security loopholes that have been exploited by viruses and malware. I recommend running malwarebytes and then installing all available Windows updates.

Ok I think I might just buy a new computer. This one's about had it I think. But, desktop (which are mostly better than laptops) or laptop (which I could use for my college studies come this fall)? Considering the option, anyway.

You might want to get a stationary for home use (games etc) and a netbook for collage. I did that, only I got a regular laptop. It got heavy after a while, and the netbooks' superior battery life really comes in handy.

How long do netbooks batteries last? I've heard it's only about 5 hours?

I would wait until you get to college to decide what computer you want. See what format your professors expect things in. When I started college, all professors wanted Office documents, but the time I graduated, they all wanted PDFs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

How long do netbooks batteries last? I've heard it's only about 5 hours?

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It varies. Some last 5 hours, some lasts 8.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

I would wait until you get to college to decide what computer you want. See what format your professors expect things in. When I started college, all professors wanted Office documents, but the time I graduated, they all wanted PDFs.

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You can create both on a netbook... I mean, the format really isn't an isshue any more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

How long do netbooks batteries last? I've heard it's only about 5 hours?

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Highly dependant on how you use them

Wi-Fi is a huge power drain
especially if it's on, and constantly searching for a signal

Hmm, odd. I ran Malwarbyte's scan and only got one entry: Hijack.startmenu. No one on the internet seems to have a consensus of whether it's good or bad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by youssarian

Hmm, odd. I ran Malwarbyte's scan and only got one entry: Hijack.startmenu. No one on the internet seems to have a consensus of whether it's good or bad.

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o.O

Bad. Look at the name! Hijack Start Menu. Not good.

Get some serious anti-malware on that system. Ad-aware, spybot, CCleaner, all that.

If you're not playing any games, the best solution is going Linux really. Installing Ubuntu is easier than say Windows XP and it's free.

Fixing your system is a possibility, but you'll have to go through a lot of thing in order to recover it, and in the end you might find out that the system was FUBAR from the beginning.

Have you ran any anti-virus software on it? There are tons of free virus scanners out there. While it does come down to personal preference, you can use free scanners such as Avast (Which I personally use) or AVG.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by khh

It varies. Some last 5 hours, some lasts 8.


You can create both on a netbook... I mean, the format really isn't an isshue any more.

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Ouch, but I guess that you can plug it in after class and you shouldn't ever get it down to nothing.

I meant with the formatting is this, check what format professors want things in. You don't want to spend the extra money on Office if your professors want PDFs. As far as I know Microsoft is still resisting exporting documents to PDF and you'll just have to download OOo anyway.

Its a low-spec machine, but I wouldn't give up hope yet. It shouldn't be quite that slow.

I'm surprised no one has suggested it, but I would download and install Service Pack 3.

AVG and Avast are both good suggestions, but I use Avira personally. It updates daily, so you can always be sure that you have the latest definitions.

Also, download and run scans with both SpyBot: Search and Destroy and Malwarebytes. They often pick up nasty spyware, adware and malware that fly under the radar of anti-virus software.

As for re-installing Windows, your computer might have a recovery partition if it didn't come with a disk. It varies between manufacturers, but the usual way to access it is to hold down 'CTRL' and press either F10 or F11 repeatedly. You will then be given the option to restore to factory defaults.

Best of luck.

There's a company creating a flexible, thin charge pad that will charge devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops, portable games, such as Nintendo DS lite... this could be placed under the laptop to give it a longer battery life, also i'm buying a netbook this month and i just went ahead and bought an extra battery for it....

I think it was a good suggestion of getting a desktop and a net book, you can find both of decent spec's at an affordable price... Although i'm in love with this laptop= Hp touch smart tx2z http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...ci_sku=VB222AV
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with a price starting at $799.99 from Hp!
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lol, i'm just presenting one of the best laptops out there that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
The one i had had a fingerprint reader...

Edit!!!: GET WINDOWS 7 ON IT, VISTA BLOWS MAJOR ASS ON THIS LAPTOP... YOU"LL FEEL LIKE IT"S HOLDING YOU BACK BECAUSE VISTA's MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK A COMPUTER VERY WELL... TRUST ME, YOU'LL BE WANTING TO THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW IF IT HAS VISTA ON IT

A friend of mine has that computer and the features on it are completely useless and mostly a gimmick. Windows, in it's current form, is not made for touch displays. Maybe Windows 7, with the more squary formats, but anything before Windows 7, no.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Buddy

Have you ran any anti-virus software on it? There are tons of free virus scanners out there. While it does come down to personal preference, you can use free scanners such as Avast (Which I personally use) or AVG.

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Microsoft security essentials has actually done pretty well on tests too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marvo

A friend of mine has that computer and the features on it are completely useless and mostly a gimmick. Windows, in it's current form, is not made for touch displays. Maybe Windows 7, with the more squary formats, but anything before Windows 7, no.

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that's why i said to get 7 and not Vista if he were to get it.... they aren't useless, they're just restrained.... it's great for taking notes which is why i suggested it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MementoMori

that's why i said to get 7 and not Vista if he were to get it.... they aren't useless, they're just restrained.... it's great for taking notes which is why i suggested it

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My friend from school only found it practical for biology, where he had to draw cell structures and other complicated things. Math and most other classes have better ways of taking notes.