Router lights go like billy-o

[cambs flyer]

I've done all the clean sweeps to remove clutter, with Advanced Windows Care, Ccleaner, Spybot and nothing seems to stop my lappy communicating with god know what, my HDD light continually flashes as do the two lights on my Router as if I'm downloading music files.

This is making even typing seem slow on the screen with my fingers constantly a split faster then when they each letter displays on the screen, and basically the performance is half the speed it was two days back?

Any Idea's on better clearance programs, I've checked the startup files in Win Patrol and nothing other then the usual is displayed.

Like watching a You Tube vid, the screen stop/starts/stop/starts, so what ever is causing it is taking vast resources, as I say this has only started in the last few days.

Any ideas guy's

Thanks for any help.

[Big.Chopper]

stop watching dodgy porn sites!

[cambs flyer]

Yea, yea, (is this from your own personal experences lol,) now we have that one out the way has anyone please got any serious Ideas what I can do I'm one step from formatting the disk and reloading it all again.

[scallybert]

If something is using a lot of CPU, it's worth having a look in Task Manager to try and see which process(es) it is.

If you really are compromised, the only 100% safe thing is to format & re-install. This is often sub-optimal, as (IME) home users rarely have their data stored safely.

[3dx]

Assuming we are talkin about windoze xp- usual method is to try system restore on a date before all your probs started- failing that it looks like either usiing a xp installation disc to do a repair or a full system reinstallation!

[cambs flyer]

Thanks mate, but I've already been there too, I'm not happy about this at all, had I been a dirty bastard and went trawling for porn I'd only have myself to blame, but it went from running great to crap in a second, and I have no idea why?

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[Tim Procter]

Wayne.

Its often cases like this that can take not hours but days trying to sort out sadly.

To re-instal windows takes no more than 2 hours so why not make a start.

I know it sounds extreme but as quoted, You can mess about for hours even days pulling your hair out.

[cambs flyer]

Thanks 3DX, I'm running Vista on the Lappy and tried a system restore and it bottled out of it says due to problems the system couldn't be changed to a past time?

[timflyer]

Rather than Task Manager you could try Process Explorer (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx). Right click on each process > Properties and you can see which ones are busy. It's a nifty little tool though I've only used it on XP.

[cambs flyer]

Yea your right BB, I was hoping something might have popped up that I'd over looked, as you say it'll take 1-2 hours to completely start from a fresh canvas rather then digging through registry files one by one.

I'm trying to recall where I've been in the last few days?

I've managed to dig out a few offending files that shouldn't be there, but they haven't any info as to what or where they came from, however the speed has been gained by a factor of around 30%, but I really can't be arsed to carry on further....Shit!

Thanks mate.

[cambs flyer]

Thanks Tim I'll try that now, cheers mate.

[chugga-bug]

Sorry if I sound a bit dumb..It's cos I am when it comes to computers!
I'm thinking about re-installing windows myself for similar reasons to Wayne.
If I install to a new HDD can I then transfer all my files from the old drive without fear of bringing any nasty stuff with them? All files will have been scanned by Norton for virus's etc.

[cambs flyer]

I'm not sure mate, the only thing I can think of is I possibly exposed myself while downloading music from third party means if you get my drift, so if a rouge installer was piggybacked along with a song its fair to say the installer is still buried in that track, plus got passed my Norton 2008 suite and even a Norton HDD scan not to mention the other programs I use, so I'd guess it's fair to say if your got trouble in the registry or system files if you transfer data back that may have the installer buried, when you replace it all on a freshly installed HDD all your troubles will return to square one.

I've collected all the driver disks, the OS Vista disk, AOL VR, Norton suite 2008, saved all my Fav's list in a file saved on the AOL server, plus other doc's I wish to save, plus set up programs installers on a couple of 2gb portable Flash drives, plus any photo's I have installed on the Lappy.

All ready for tomorrows format and reinstall, everything else will get killed off when you HDD gets scrubbed, I can't be bothered to **** about with it any longer

Thank you for the suggestions everyone, however I had a feeling it was time for a clear out, its been over 8 months since the last one.

I use other programs to clear on line clutter that PC's collect while on line, but what evers infested this HDD, is beyond what any program in this field can find.

[Tim Procter]

If I install to a new HDD can I then transfer all my files from the old drive.

Yes mate.

You can fit a new hard drive and install windows to that via the CD Rom from the OS disc then when finished install the original hard drive as a slave to save or transfer files to the new drive if needed.

[Smoothound]

As an aside, Norton itself is a well known resource hog if you have it always running in the background. I'd not use it personally

I only have 1 PC here and it suffers far more from system slow down syndrome than either of the Macs or Linux box! In 3 years it's had countless reinstalls whereas my old MDD G4 Mac has only ever had system updates applied and still runs fine.

Why do PC's suffer so badly from this when they are certainly here doingvthe same job as the other computers? Bloke I know redoes his PC system every 6 months and considers it's perfectly acceptable/normal to do this and he is working with PC's for a living??