my computer hangs!

[wazy]

My comp keeps on hanging everytime im on the internet. i recently installed AVG 7.5 but nothing is solved....wat should i do?

[jbennet]

sounds like a bad driver or overheating

[nesquick]

your computer memory could be low when your r using internet. try opening afew sites at a time.

[bobbyraw]

tell us the amout of memory you have, and the CPU speed. you might have to open the case and check the fan on the CPU

[Darvus]

This ONLY happens when you're browsing the web? Please elaborate on the problem. Does the system actually stop responding at all (as in, even mouse cursor won't move), or are the pages just timing out? Please be a little more specific.

Assuming it's completely freezing up, it does sound heat related. Although somewhat less likely, it might also be a power supply problem. I've seen that happen before.

As already requested by others, please post your system stats. Also, please include your average running numbers for installed memory (task manager, Performance tab: PF Usage and , if you don't know how much RAM you have, the Total under "Physical Memory").

[wazy]

it only happens when im browsing. the system does not stop responding. the mouse cursor can move but with an hour glass.
my system stats are: cpu usage 100%, PF usage is 386MB. Intel(R) celeron CPU 2.53ghz, 480 mb of RAM.

[jbennet]

IE7 does not run well on under 512 ram when more than 1 page is open

[Darvus]

Yeah, as jbennet said...IE7, or rather Windows, for that matter, doesn't like running a lot of stuff with less than 512MB installed. Now, technically you DO have that much, but 480MB is an odd number, which means you have onboard video. Either you have a non-gaming desktop or a laptop. Either way, I'd suggest a memory upgrade first.

Also, do you run multiple windows of IE7, or are you using tabs?

As a suggestion, after a fresh reboot and without opening IE7, open the Internet Options window (on desktop or Start menu right-click IE7 icon or open it from the Control Panel). Empty Temporary Internet Files and Cookies. Might empty history as well to be safe. Once finished, click on "Settings". You may get a message about there having been too much space used or somesuch. Just click OK. When the window comes up, if the number for the Temp. Int. Files is bigger than 250MB, I'd drop it back. I generally use 128MB, but I've seen as little as 50MB work just fine.

Next, click View Objects. Anything that says "Damaged", get rid of. Just right-click it and Remove. You might get minor warnings about it not completely getting rid of it, but just click OK. Also, if you have a LOT of them, look through them. You should be able to open them up and see what website it came from towards the bottom. If the website isn't familiar to you, or the control seems suspicious, just get rid of it. These aren't mandatory files and can be removed without crashing the system. Worst case, they just ask to reinstall themselves when you re-visit the website.

Once that's all set, make sure you hit Apply, then OK. (OK applies anyway, but why chance it?) Do this until all the config windows are closed.

Reboot just to give it a fresh start, and try again.

I'd still upgrade the memory, regardless, but the cleanup should at least help. Let me know how it works.

[confusertech]

1. Run free Ccleaner
2. Run AVG free Antivirus
3. Run AVG free Antispyware

Make sure you uninstall Norton or McAfee Anitvirus, or any other Antivirus software you have first before loading AVG Antivirus. AVG catches viruses Norton and McAfee misses. We know from experience.

NORTON REMOVER FROM NORTON/SYMANTEC:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nsw.nsf/0/1ca221de0acf8b6a88256c2f0074213c?OpenDocument

[Darvus]

confusertech, (he) already mentioned having installed AVG 7.5 in (his) initial post. Although, that does bring up an interesting point:

wazy, check your Add/Remove Programs list and make sure you only have ONE Antivirus and ONE Firewall installed. Also, which AVG product are you referring to, the free edition, or the full Internet Security suite? Free only has the AV, but the full one has a firewall as well. If you do have any other antivirus or firewalls installed, those can DEFINITELY cause an issue. Antivirus programs are known for fighting one another and locking up systems.

DEFINITELY check that out!!!!!

[jbennet]

my laptop has 384mb ram.

it runs well with IE6 and the old windoes media player and msn messenger etc... but IE7 and WPM11 kill it.

[confusertech]

confusertech, (he) already mentioned having installed AVG 7.5 in (his) initial post. Although, that does bring up an interesting point:

wazy, check your Add/Remove Programs list and make sure you only have ONE Antivirus and ONE Firewall installed. Also, which AVG product are you referring to, the free edition, or the full Internet Security suite? Free only has the AV, but the full one has a firewall as well. If you do have any other antivirus or firewalls installed, those can DEFINITELY cause an issue. Antivirus programs are known for fighting one another and locking up systems.

DEFINITELY check that out!!!!!

I don't use the AVG Security Suite with firewall. I use the free version of Zone Alarm and turn off the Windows Firewall. Some people find Zone Alarm confusing and can actually accidentally disallow a site that should be allowed.

[Darvus]

Honestly, that's true of ANY decent firewall. My advice is to generally keep an eye on the notifications. If you are ever not sure about allowing something, deny it, but make sure you don't "remember this action". That way, in case it blocked something you needed, it'll just ask you again instead of permanently blocking. Then, you can say allow and "remember". Also, any decent firewall will prompt you about the Windows firewall and disable it for you when you install it. I think Comodo still has trouble turning it off, but it's easy enough to go in and do it manually, so no huge loss there.

I've used Zone Alarm, Norton, McAfee, AVG, Trend Micro, Panda, etc. and I've yet to find one I like better than Comodo. What's nice here is that when you install, you can decide whether to use the default advanced configuration (REALLY strict with lots of notifications), or basic install which works just like every other firewall on the market. What can I say...I'm all about quality and FREE STUFF. :p If I find a better one, I'll be sure to post it here. I'm always on the lookout.

On the other hand, the Comodo antivirus is a bit lackluster and has caused some problems. It's not bad, but it needs a LOT of work before it'll compete on the same level as their firewall. I'm currently checking out the AntiVir product suggested earlier in the thread. Just installed it as a test on a new client's system (custom build...will go to them when I'm sure it's secure). If it's good, I'll leave it there and put it on my desktop and laptop as well. So far, so good.

[jbennet]

i use a h/w firewall and block/unblock individual ports as needed

[Darvus]

i use a h/w firewall and block/unblock individual ports as needed

That's too much work for most people (like me). I prefer a good software firewall behind a router. The firewall does all the standard monitoring and just asks me specifically when something comes up. I've got too many other things to do than reconfigure a hardware firewall every time I want to play a game or download something.

Well, short of disconnecting your internet access, your solution is definitely the safest, though, I'll give you that!

[Suspishio]

[QUOTE=Darvus;494555]......I've used Zone Alarm, Norton, McAfee, AVG, Trend Micro, Panda, etc. and I've yet to find one I like better than Comodo. ..... What can I say...I'm all about quality and FREE STUFF. :p If I find a better one, I'll be sure to post it here. I'm always on the lookout.

On the other hand, the Comodo antivirus is a bit lackluster and has caused some problems....QUOTE]
You can't beat internal consistencey when giving advice!

[bobwahler]

If "browsing" is the only difficulty, I would try other browsers.

Firefox has a portable version, so it wouldn't even alter your system.
Opera has that AND a "one use" true executable that doesn't even write to your profile folder.
I believe that 1by1 or 1on1 is also zero footprint. And all would identify IE as the problem, if it is. Then you have 2 choices; more memory or switch browsers. Security tweaks won't help much and are more likely to hurt performance.
Then consider the size of your swapfile; though old hardware is another potential obstacle that "adjustments" will not fix.
Again, just my recommendation, but I would do this before tinkering with Security settings and tools.

[Darvus]

[QUOTE=Suspishio;494730]......I've used Zone Alarm, Norton, McAfee, AVG, Trend Micro, Panda, etc. and I've yet to find one I like better than Comodo. ..... What can I say...I'm all about quality and FREE STUFF. :p If I find a better one, I'll be sure to post it here. I'm always on the lookout.

On the other hand, the Comodo antivirus is a bit lackluster and has caused some problems....QUOTE]
You can't beat internal consistencey when giving advice!

I apologize for the confusion...I should have been more specific. I was referring specifically to the Comodo FIREWALL in regards to my initial statement. The antivirus is a wholly different application as they don't have an all-in-one security suite. The antivirus is also still in beta, while the firewall is in release status.

Thanks for calling me on that...I'm sure others were also confused.

[Suspishio]

[QUOTE=Darvus;495167]
Thanks for calling me on that...I'm sure others were also confused.
He he. I'm sure nobody was confused as reading stuff thoroughly isn't everyone's strong point! Nor mine, come to that but since the guy with the original problem didn't seem to be bothering, a bit of self indulgent amusement came into my mischievous mind.

It amazes me, though what people use. Some poor sods actually use Norton! Can you imagine that? The most hijackable and resource hungry of all the AV class software so far as I can see.

I use McAfee for its all embracing protection (except that I trust none of them to prevent a Trojan) - they can't prevent the newest trojan until next time. Having 2 or 4 CPUs eases the load and indeed I hardly notice McAfee except when it's running a scan.

Lavasoft's AdAware suite looks after the spyware side.

I do a weekly trojan scan with SpyBot (updated weekly) - but that's just a ritual since a trojan would make itself known pretty quickly.

Anyway, Darvus, keep up the good work.

[Darvus]

Security tweaks won't help much and are more likely to hurt performance.

I wouldn't call making sure you only have ONE IS suite installed a "tweak". Antivirus and firewall programs are NOTORIOUS for causing problems when double-stacked. I actually had a client's server-based network come to a crashing halt because the Symantec Corporate on the server was fighting with the McAfee they'd installed on their workstations. That was NOT fun. And that was just 2 different ones on the same NETWORK, let alone the same system.

And before you ask, they did thisbefore I was called in. :p

Also keep in mind that bad security settings can block or allow things that shouldn't be. Properly configured security is both very valid and very important.

NOW...although changing browsers to something NOT IE is definitely in one's best interests for SEVERAL reasons, it does not solve the underlying problem. I think consensus is that upgrading your memory is a big step. I run 2GB myself and it's cheap enough there's little reason not to have at least 1GB anymore. This solves a LOT of common issues with Windows just by default.

At this point, I'd be looking at your installed plugins for IE. Either go to "Tools" -> "Manage Plug-ins" from within IE, or the "Manage Plug-ins" button on the Programs tab in Internet Options. Any listing that seems like just random letters and numbers or has a corporation name misspelled (saw one labeled as being from "Kodack" on a client's system recently) are red flags. I wouldn't try to get rid of them manually...if your anti-spyware didn't catch it, it may on the next update. Just disable those entries and try again. Worst case, nothing changes or you disable something you wanted. Easy enough to reverse.

The size of your swap file, as bobwahler mentioned, really shouldn't be a big issue unless you are low on memory and/or hard drive space. He's not wrong, I just think it's the less likely of causes. Then again, this is Windows we're talking about...

Please let us know how it's coming along!

(btw...sorry about the earlier thread hijack...that wasn't intentional!)