Computer Help Needed-Vanity

me ^ | 6/10/05 | texasflower

[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?

[velocityguy]

DLL is a Dynamic Linked Library. It is called by the executables.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I haven't used XP but would be inclined to pull the primary and replace it with the slave.

[Eva]

Is the computer XP? I have had a terrible time with printers that don't match the operating system, even down loading new drivers didn't solve the problem.

[TheRightGuy]

I suggest you go to HP's web site and download the latest install set and drivers for your device. I've gotten trashed-as-shipped install sets on several HP products I've purchased.

[ProudVet77]

Install a second disk drive, just about every PC can handle a second disk drive. Then you move all your low activity files like error logs, mail, and even internet files there. What happens it leaves the disk heads close to what you need. The primary spindle leaves it's head near program files and .DLLs
The other neat trick is there is a big square chip on most disk drives now. This is the read/write cache. 2 disks give you 2x the controller cache space. Meaning most the the disk reads you do will get handled by the cache and not the disk drive.
Sorry, I've been a geek for 35 years ;)

[don-o]

I'm way behind on the thread. So much great help

No doubt about it. FR IS tech support. Couple months back, I had a bad bad crash. Freepers helped me through installing a second hard drive and recovering all my old data.

Hang in there texas. And to all the pro's and geeks who show up when we have trouble.

Thanks!

[ProudVet77]

You're headed to the same place as I am ;)

[texasflower]

When I put it in, it said that there were partially installed files and that I should uninstall them first. But I can't find them in the add/remove thing.

Where else can I look?

[A CA Guy]

Right, download any workproduct you want to keep and have all the original program disks available.

You would want to write down all Email addresses, access info and word files for that matter.

But naturally over time, the computers slow down, so toF-disk at least every 1.5 years is good.

[texasflower]

Yes, it's an XP. I've never had trouble before this time though.

[jpsb]

Oh OK thanks, I guess I am in good shape cause I always install a D drive and I try to keep C as free of stuff as posible. Well good luck with tammy I think you might be looking a a hardware problem. :(

later

[Eva]

I'd check with HP. My guess (a not very uneducated one) is that the problem is with the software, not the computer. We returned a computer one time, only to find out that the problem was with the printer software.

[Dinsdale]

But naturally over time, the computers slow down

Don't just fdisk and reinstall. The transistors in the CPU get clogged up with low energy electrons. To keep your computer running at its best once a year to run it for 24 hours in the oven with the thermostat set at 250. It gives the low energy electrons enough energy to clear out the 'pipes' in your CPU. Otherwise Bill Gates and Intel will succeed in their evil plan to make you buy new computers every year or two.

[SoDak]

No quarter given to Wintel boxes.

[ProudVet77]

I don't have XP on my machine, but I think if you do
Start
control panel
add or remove software.
let me know if that does not work, I can find out where it is on XP if you need.

[jwh_Denver]

Do not under any conditions try to plug the power cord back into the computer unless it is SHUT OFF! You'll fry your motherboard amoung other things.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

You should be running AV to prevent these problems. Many people are switching to Fire Fox and Netscape as well to avoid the hackers. Installing another, copying out your addresses into the other browsers, and removing IE will help alleviate the problem.

[ProudVet77]

Just to cover my bases, a second spindle is not a second drive. A drive in MS world is a partition of a disk. So a single drive can have two disks on it.
I'm referring to an actual physical disk drive. (that is where the term spindle comes from) What you are describing with keeping your C drive clear is very good, but a whole second disk drive, labled E is even more betterer.

[Adiemus]

"Remember g=c800:5 ? lol"

Yes, the memory is quite clear. In fact, I have a couple old Seagate RLL 62MB drives in my garage. They, and the controller still work as far as I know. One thing though, I was never sure I selected the correct interleave value. :)

[A CA Guy]

Hi, I was serious that older computers tend to run poorly after a few years.
F-disk is starting all over by reformatting the Hard Drive and reloading the operating system, your programs again and then bringing back your saved files, like email addresses, connection information, word files.... on and on.

You would need some neighbor with some modest knowledge to help you with this, but I bet that in the end will be what you need to do.

Could be it runs slow from some previously downloaded virus on the computer, it is quicker to reload everything after you take your files off the computer on a zip drive, thumbdrive, writable CD rom or a bunch of 3.5 disks.

You wipe it all out and do it again and it will run much better for sure.
But, get a knowledgeable neighbor to do all this for you as a favor. You could spend at least tens of dollars paying to have this done. You should find a neighbor or their kid who will do it for a dinner out, or movie coupons.