The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[Trollheart]

Viruses are one thing, but what about spyware? Or malware? Have you checked for those? Virus checker often miss them.

Also, what's the load like on your CPU? What percentage memory have you and what's using the most (usually the browser, but if you happen to have two open, that could be a thing...)

[GuD]

I have trend anti-virus... I'm not sure how to check for malware or spyware. When it's lagging while trying to stream the CPU goes to 100% but the processes in task manager add up to about 40%. It's all chrome.

[DwnWthVwls]

Download a free version of Ad-aware and run the scan. Should clean up a lot of spy/malware.

[Trollheart]

Yeah, or Spyhunter or Malwarebytes. Any of them are good.

When you have task manager open (apologies if you know how to do this already but just in case) click the top of the processes tab and it will reorganise , if it's not already done, the memory in terms of highest to lowest so you can see what's using up the most memory and resources. You can then choose to click that process or those processes and hit "end task" which may give you a little more memory.

Does sound like malware or spyware though.

[GuD]

I've heard that using more than one 'internet protection service' or whatever can cause problems though and may result in one or both no longer working- do I have that wrong?

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by WhateverDude

I've heard that using more than one 'internet protection service' or whatever can cause problems though and may result in one or both no longer working- do I have that wrong?

You're correct, kind of. They'll both try to work, but they'll be fighting for your PC's resources at the same time. This is how I'd handle a PC with the problem you're having:

1. Uninstall any unwanted programs (including installed anti-virus and malware programs), as well as clean out browsing history, and unwanted temp files.

2. Make sure you're clean from any virus. Follow these instructions (it's older, but still relevant): How to Clean Up a Windows Spyware Infestation

You'll need these:
http://download.sysinternals.com/fil...ssExplorer.zip
http://download.sysinternals.com/files/Autoruns.zip

3. Download and run a full scan with a malware/spyware cleaner similar to (or this one): https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/

4. Download and DO A BOOT TIME SCAN using any free anti-virus software. I've had some success with AVG, and MS Essentials in the past. Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows. You can uninstall this if it's taking up resources once all is said and done. Just stay off the gaming/porn sites.

5. Run through #2 one more time.

6. If clean, defrag the drive. If not, repeat steps 2 through 4 until it is, then defrag it.

This will take some time, and I've had a lot of success with this (at work, and friends PC's), although once in a while it takes some investigating into a certain malicious file. Regedit's come into play when that happens, and I wouldn't recommend doing any unless you know whats what.

If this doesn't solve your buffering problem though, I'd check my connection speed and make sure it matches up with what I'm paying for. Although it could be that your connection speed just sucks.

As a last resort, check to see if your neighbors are steeling your bandwidth. If they are, go kick some ass.

At any rate, you'll have a clean, faster PC.

[GuD]

Trend happened to have add-ons that look for both all the other stuff mentioned- nothing turned up. Although I'm not sure one of the addons worked all the way. In the how-to's example picture the list of file types scanned was a bit longer... maybe it was just out of date. IDK. But nothin's turned up so... I'm guessing it's a connection issue. I'm gonna try my luck with hopin on a better wifi connection. I don't pay the internet bill so I'm basically leeching my landlord's internet info atm. Never had an issue before though which is the weird thing.

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by WhateverDude

Trend happened to have add-ons that look for both all the other stuff mentioned- nothing turned up. Although I'm not sure one of the addons worked all the way. In the how-to's example picture the list of file types scanned was a bit longer... maybe it was just out of date. IDK. But nothin's turned up so... I'm guessing it's a connection issue. I'm gonna try my luck with hopin on a better wifi connection. I don't pay the internet bill so I'm basically leeching my landlord's internet info atm. Never had an issue before though which is the weird thing.

Oh.

Carry on then.

[bulbasaur]

have you switched from firefox to chrome since your initial post about these problems, wd? you were using firefox if i remember correctly, but i'm guessing switching browsers didn't help much.

you could run an internet speed test to give everyone in here who's trying to help an idea of what kind of connection speed you're working with.

maybe also give them an idea as to what's going on under chrome://extensions (paste it in chrome's address bar). check to see if any conflicts are listed under chrome://conflicts if you'd like. also, what operating system are you using anyway?

[GuD]

It did at first but not anymore.

I've got a ping of 23ms, a DL speed of 2.79mbps per second, an upload of .47mbps, and no idea what any of that means. No conflicts. Windows 7 64bit OS.