h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, that was a productive 2hrs

For the last month or so I've been having PC problems. All started once I got wireless. Websites freezing, avg throwing up random tracking cookie alerts that weren;t there apparently when it tried to remove them. Random computer freezes, mouse freezes - all sorts of dodgy stuff. Oh yes, couldn't email as apparently email server was 'not set up correctly' - but was run by my alpha-geek linux/unix professional admin friend.

So first thing I found was that boinc was set to use 100% cpu. Changed that and it got a little bit better. Found with some websites that toggling javascript on and off seemed to help. But nothing was 100%. COuldn't access lycos email at all - it just froze.

Oh yes, and windows update refused to work. just nothing from it even though I was on xp sp2 and knew sp3 was out there.

So I restarted in safe mnode and ran avg virus checker. Got a couple of hits in the system restore but I don;t use that. Got one hit on windows explorer but again I don;t really use it and the thing it flagged up had no internet hits so I guess it was just hueristics. Unistalled and reinstalled IE from XP disc but no change in behaviour. Downloaded PC Tools anti virus and ran that - nothing. DOwnloaded F-Prot and ran that -nothing. Ran Spybot - nothing out of the ordinary.

Anyway, started having a good look at it today. Turned everything off. And you know what made the biggest difference? Uninstalling the Vitgin Media (my ISP) broadband guard/help/advisor. Their software that they provide to keep you safe! Suddenly windows update works. Suddenly the whole computer works faster. Downloaded XP3 ok and installed no provs. Downloaded Zonealarm (hence gaps in this post - keeps on popping up with things I need to approve for the internet). Browser works faster everything is suddenly back to what it should be. Can access Lycos again.

Bloomin terrible software from VM if it does all that. CLearly blocking certain ports and protocols without telling me or with anyway for me to rectify except to remove the software.

I wonder if this has owt to do with Phorm? VM software gone from my machine for good! Not impressed.

I will refrain from suggesting the obvious...

You may find some useful information/tools here -- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx

Sounds like the Norton 3 month trial software I tried out when I first signed up to Sky Broadband (it was packaged in).

The first thing it did was disable any internet access


I'd love to know who tests these things sometimes

>>I'd love to know who tests these things sometimes<<

You

indeed - and I have the obvious but I keep XP for my games software as xp emulators still not quite there.

I use the sysinternals stuff sometimes but to be honest (apart from reg cleaners and defraggers) I manage to keep the PC pretty clean most of the time manually. Hence my confusion as to what was going on. Just bizarre it was blocking various ports and stuff. OTOH I ghuess my machine is not configured/used like the average ISP customer!

lycos email and boinc are games?

what, you think I shouldn't use other programs whilst playing games?