Posted on 06/10/2005 1:09:43 PM PDT by texasflower
I sure could use some help for a couple of problems I'm running into. My dad died a few months ago and I'm trying to make sure my mother's computer stays updated.
What I am finding is that everything new programs install very slowly. Last night she bought a new HP all in one scanner, printer etc.
Last night, I tried to install it and in 12 hours now it has only 31 percent installed. It is still trying to install, but it is just so slow.
I would take it out and start over, but the install screen has no cancel or X button. I've tried to shut down the computer but it won't shut down while this is in progress.
Other minor things seem to install, like virus updates etc., but they also run slowly. Not this slowly of course.
What can I do about this?
I have run all of the virus scan and spyware scans I have available.
Spybot Search and Destroy
Ad-Adware
Norton Anti-virus
AVG anti-virus.
Spyware Doctor
Zonealarm is the firewall.
I'm thinking this must be an installer driver or something like that but I don't know anything substantial about computers.
Also I would love to get rid of a dead program on here called pc-cillin, but the add and remove program thing won't let me do it. Any ideas?
So, if you have an answer or suggestion, you probably should baby talk me through it.
The computer is a SonyViao running Windows XP.
Oops. One more thing, for some reason there is an external zip drive attached to this computer. Shouldn't the computer be able to unzip regular files?
Remember, it probably needs to be explained to me in simple terms!
Thank you
Tammy
Both are significant to performance.
If you want to stop it, just turn it off, or pull the plug. If it hasn't installed this thing by now, it's not going to, at least not on this go 'round.
In the Task Manager window, click the Processes tab, then click the CPU column and see if there is anything there that may be running at a very high utilization (like 90+ %).
A zip drive has nothing to do with unzipping files.
Do a defrag. Empty the Temporary Internet Files. What kind of internet connection does it have?
If it's a Vaio that came from the factory with XP, it most definitely has sufficient performance to run a scanner/printer.
You might try defragging the disk too.
The external zip drive is probably manufactured by Iomega is rather old technology for storing data. A USB thumb-drive is the modern variant. Your zip drive likely has nothing in common with a PkUnzip utility that would help your system unzip compressed files.
Try what the Hermit is requesting and let us know, i.e. looking at the permformance monitor.
First, you can shut down by holding the on-off button (depressed) for about 6 seconds...either that or do a Ctrl + alt+ delete to bring up the "task manager" and terminate the install, then try the install again.
Rem and CPU would be helpful. Please post.
A zip drive and a zipped file are 2 entirely different things. A zip drive stores files on removable media, and a "zipped file" is a file which has been compressed.
A Zip drive has nothing to do with zip-compressed files.
It can happen due to a variety of reasons from viruses to tracking cookies installed on your machine to slow CPU or insufficient memory.
Can you please post here your system properties?
Please right click on My Computer and click Properties from the pop-up menu. Please post the info you get from under General Tab.
Press and hold in the power button for about 8 seconds and it should shut down.
Rem=RAM
IT'S GOOD TO F-DISK AND START ALL OVER EVERY YEAR OR SO.
True, but the key word is "if". Vaio's came out pre-XP, and XP requires more of a minimum system requirement.
Before you follow texasflower's advice, push alt-del-cntr at the same time. If you're lucky, a box will pop up that will give you the option of discontinuing certain programs or shutting down. I'd choose shut down and see what happens. If nothing happens, then I'd just hold down the on/off button until it goes off, or unplug it, if necessary, and reboot.
I'd uninstall unnecessary programs before trying to install new software.
I would also recommend finding a reliable teenager or friend to look at it.
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