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Tech Support Question

Okay, all you computer whiz types, I have a question. Let's see if I can post this before my computer goes *kerplooie* again.

I'm having a real problem with my browser shutting down for no particular reason (at least in my opinion). I thought it was just IE, but I switched back to Netscape, and it's doing the same thing.

And if that's not enough, my computer just reboots for no particular reason, at random times.

I'm running:
Windows 2000 Pro, Service Pack 4
IE 6. something
(or Netscape 7.1)
AVG antivirus (and I run a full scan every day, have the latest update installed)
Zone Alarm (latest version)

Any help you can suggest would be deeply appreciated.

Question Support Tech

If you are not killing your memory then you may have some adware or hidden virus in your computer. Here is my recommendation:


1. Run Scandisk on your computer
2. Get rid of IE already! It will only cause trouble for you!

Next step:

1. Go to: https://www.x-setup.net/downloads/home.asp?lang=EN
2. Download X-Setup pro and install it.
3. Use the wizard to reveal all that happens when your computer starts
4. Disable (not delete) anything that looks suspicious
5. Restart and see if that helps

Next step:

1. Download 'Spybot - Search & Destroy' (see another thread in this board)
2. Install and then load the latest updates and run the program
3. Update your virus program and then scan your computer
4. Restart and see if that helps

Tech Support Question Gaming Video & Issues Computer

There are a number of viruses that randomly reboot PCs. Most do it only when connected to the Internet. I would be sure the PC is not connected to the internet in any way, don't launch IE. If the PC then runs relatively stably, I would strongly suspect a virus.

Most of the spyware I have seen will bog thhe PC down so it just won't run, but I haven't seen any reboot the PC, which doesn't mean there aren't any that do, but your symptoms really sound like a virus to me.

Question Support Tech

I've run Scandisk and there were no problems there. Then, I ran my spyware cleaner, and there was a bunch of stuff to fix. Since then, it's been more stable. I'll try that X-setup and see what happens. Thank you for the suggestions! I really hate computer problems...

Both of you mentioned it may be a virus. If it were a virus, why would my program not find it?

Question Support Tech

If none of that works, take the side of your computer off and make sure the little fan on your CPU (processor) is running when you turn your computer off. I had an issue with rebooting and the CPU fan would stop and the the CPU would quickly heat up and shut down. I had to get a new fan. I haven't seen any spyware that boots the PC, that defeats the purpose of spyware by shutting down your browser. Is the browser shutting down, or is it shutting down as part of a system shutdown process? You should upgrade AVG, they just came out with a new version a couple weeks ago. Its still 6 or 7 but its another version and there was a new virus database released just a couple days ago. Also, what all are you doing when it happens? Does it happen under all the same circumstances, or will it do it when your not using it? How much memory do you have in your machine?

Tech Support Question

That is a very good point. I had the same thing happen to my pc before. This sounds more like virus activity than anything else. If you found a lot of spyware, then there may have been a problem with memory running low. I run FreeRam on my machine and that helps keep my memory buffers clean. In Win2000, you can use Ctrl-Alt-Dlt, then select Task Manager. Click the Processes task and then sort the MemUsage column by clicking on the header. See if there are any processes that are using high memory.

Tech Support Question

Here's a new question for you -- and by the way, thank you all for your help with the last issue. I never did figure out what the main problem was, but apparently it was fixed.

I've been having trouble accessing the internet all day today. Could not get connected no-how. I spent over an hour on the phone with tech support at my ISP, and they finally determined it was a hardware issue, and that I should contact the OEM about the NIC, uninstalling and reinstalling the software for it... The OEM tech support said that's not the issue and to contact a local troubleshooter, because it's definitely software related.

I tried one last time to access, and could not, and then had a bright idea to sign on to the computer with my mother's log on. Presto! I'm on the internet.

So here's my question: Why would I get access from one log on and not another? And how would I fix this problem?

Tech Support Question Computer Issues & Video Gaming

Could be a profile corruption issue. The best way to fix that is to click on the start button, then click on 'run'. put this in the command line 'C:\Documents and Settings' and look for your login name. delete that folder with your user name on it. log off, then try logging on with your user name again. Do this with your mothers login name. This will fix the problem if it is a profile issue.