[black][size 3]During several months of usage, my PC is acting a little quirky. Problems like slow startup, inability to connect with my DVD/CD drive, occasional loss of sound, overall slowing down, etc.[/size][/black]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]Just a few little things that are getting worse, and driving me crazy.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]I was wondering if a registry cleaning software would be the answer. I'm sure that there are many members who have considerable more knowledge that I possess, and would be able to offer advise. [/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]Please point me in some directions that will cure my problems.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[signature]
Sounds like one thing you have for sure is spyware on there. Now, you might have some spyware software already.. be sure and update it.. but also, I have never found one software app that gets all the spyware.
There is a good combo that you will want to make sure and run.. Adware and Spybot search and Destroy.. Both are free, (Thats usually what I pay for stuff) and you get way more than your moneys worth out of them! Download them and run their scans.
Here are the links to them.
[url "http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php"]Adware[/url]
[url "http://httphttp://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html"]Spybot [/url]
On the spyware software.. Spybot has a good monitor program that runs real time.. but most of them, I don't like that run real-time.. as they really slow down your system.. so I just run the scans often.
Also, you should switch to mozilla firefox for your browser, as it is much less prone to spyware. Now, there are some sites that will only work on IE. So, if you find a site that won't load right.. Open it in IE. Mozilla has some great "addons" or extensions. Besure and get the Ad Block plus one. This isn't for adware, it's for ads on the internet. When I go to Yahoo.com.. I don't see any ads. If there is an ad you see, that you don't want to see anymore. Just right-click on it and select "adblock image" Boom.. ad is gone and you'll never see it again.
Another thing that will help with performance once you have gotten all the spyware gone is to manage your startup programs. There are a lot of programs that will start when you turn on the computer that you never even know are running, nonetheless, they take up resources and slow down the computer. Use this to sniff out your startup, and you might be surprised what all is starting up, that you can simply turn off.
[url "http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml"]Startup Control Panel[/url]
Now, on the DVD/CD drive. It could be going bad.. They are really easy to replace and fairly inexpensive as well. However.. I would do a good spyware sweep and see if that doesn't improve your performance on the CD/DVD Player.
Also, don't forget to de-fragment your hard drive.. that can improve performance as well (once you've gotten all the spyware off the computer).
Hope this helps.. I am sure a lot of this info you already know.. but just in case..
[signature]
I do not know if you subscribe to a Anti-Virus and spyware program. If not, it is a good idea to do so. You probably have multiple problems acting on the machine simultaneously. If you have restore disks, or have created restore points, I would reccomend just restoring the system. In fact, if I were you, I would save up what I want, and just start over and restore the system to the original starting point.
If you have a virus or somethin after that, then I don't know. A similar thing happened with my old PC, and at the end it turned out to be virus that got me real good. I had to buy another one, after it burned up my mother board and circuitrly. Definitly install a Anti-virus program, no matter what.
[signature]
To ad to the antivirus post
Go to download.com and search for avast, or AVG, they are both free, they work fine. not as good as mcaffe but they work great for free.
[signature]
[black][size 3]I currently run AVG for virus and Zone Alarm as a firewall. [/size][/black]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]I think that with the recommendations from Waljustia, I should be able to work out some of my problems.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]Still working on them. If I can get this taken care of, I'll post what I have learned.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3][/size]
[signature]
[cool][#0000ff]If you would like me to come over and do a troubleshooting scan, I have some software that will do that...and can fix a lot of the registry problems.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I can also help with a complete defrag is you haven't done that in a while.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Might even bring some fish for a fish dinner while we are waiting for the defrag.[/#0000ff]
[signature]