suddenly slow

[vaioaddict]

I purchased my vaio last month, was working fine. Last two days, the Microsoft word is not responding. ( I have installed Microsoft Office 2003 package). When I try to make a Power Point slide, and type in a letter, its appearing after 10 sec, the hourglass sign remains for an awful long time . The letters do not appear clear for a long time.
Even my old computer with half the speed and memory never did like that!
I do not know if this is a coincidence, happened after I made Vaio back up discs. Please help! Thanks very much

[TygerTyger]

Head over to http://www.download.com and get yourself a copy of Spybot and Ad-aware SE. Give your computer a scan and see if it's adware slowing it down. Try a thorough scan for viruses as well just to be on the safe side. I'd also recommend trimming down thr programs running on startup just in case you're running something heavy you don't need.

[vaioaddict]

Thank you for your response. I did not have many programs open. I am not using the laptop tp connect to internet. I have not tried the virus scan yet. Is the installed Norton anti virus not enough? Sorry, I am not very computer literate. Cheers. Bye

[kee-lo_]

Running a full scan every month is always recomended.

[Twisted-Rizla]

 Is the installed Norton anti virus not enough? 

Most definately not! To be safe you have to play safe. As TT and Kee-Lo have advised, you need to get additional security. Get the two progs and run them every few days. I don't rely on Norton contacting me to inform me of an automatic update, I hit the liveupdate option regularly and there are ivariably a couple of upgrades to download. Keep up to date. Do the same when you have Spybot and Ad-Aware loaded. Hit the 'check for updates' button regularly. A firewall is also a need-to-have. If you don't have one with your Norton there's one on XP. I use them both.
Happy surfing:smileygrin:

(Did I sound like a cop?)

[stevep-4]

If you are running XP, it may be worth doing CTRL ALT DEL and looking at the task manager.
Possibly there is a program (such as a anti virus program) which is running flat out and using the majority of system resourses.

Look at the processes tab. With the system idle, the CPU usage should only be around 2 %.

[jammold]

(Did I sound like a cop?)

Lol - just a little there TR.
You are right about those programs you mentioned - I have all of them on my system, I find that once every week for Adware/Spyware is enough and viruses every two weeks to one month normally keeps thinks squeeky-clean.

NIS 2005 should hopefully make my firewall experience a more pleasant pill to swallow - waiting for the form to be processed, then I will get my hands on the CD...

[Twisted-Rizla]

Yeah, and I'm always amazed what they find.
Thing that always worries me is that by the time the sweepers have detected spayware on your computer has the damage already been done? In other words have any of the programs already have transmitted the information they have been sent to get. Know what I mean?

[jammold]

TR - this does scare me I must admit. I found "Blaze" the other week but nothing since. I wonder what they do...

[TygerTyger]

I've found keyloggers and backdoors, but nothing has ever come of them. I dont get caught out anymore cos you get savvy eventually. I have however been seriously molested by a much cleverer method, one which to this day I never managed to work out so I guess sometimes you just can't win if someone takes a real 'liking' to you.