Computer going REALLY slow. Help.

Ok, I'll try to make this short.
Initially what was wrong with my computer was that it would not connect to the internet. So I called the store where I purchased the computer from and they said that the thing (sorry, forgot the name) that connects my pc to the net was corrupt due to spyware/a virus. They said they could help me but it would cost at least $79. My brother decided that instead of paying the fee, he should first at least try to reinstall Windows and see if that would work. Well needless to say, I'm posting this message so it was successful. BUT... Now my computer runs extremely slow (except for the internet) where before it was fast. My settings themself takes at least 20 minutes to load. Also, I get this message that says: 'Your system is low on virtual memory.' Now what does that mean? I should let you know that this computer has a huge hard drive, so I don't see how it could possibly be low on memory. And why would that all of the sudden come up after the reinstallation of Windows? I'll ultimately call the company, but wanted to know if you may know what's going on in the meantime and if I can expect them to charge me and how much.

Hopefully it won't give me many problems so I can come back and check on this post. Thanks.

 

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try reinstalling it the 3rd time

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I'm serious. Windows...
anyways you can increase your virtual memory ammounts in My computer->properties (I think, don't remember that well anymore)
it's like a RAM memory that system uses from the hard drive and it is a set amount.

p.s. I'd rereinstall windows

 

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You can adjust your virtual memory, but you should let windows handle it. Make sure you have enough RAM (system memory).
But I'd suggest switching to linux.

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It's possible it's being caused by something you have installed.

 

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Thank you. I'll try to increase the memory and see what happens.

 

Don't bother. If it ran fine before but doesn't now, then increasing the memory size is hardly going to fix the problem is it? Logically speaking, the problem must have developed after you bought it - and therefore, leaving unlikely hardware problems aside, you're looking at a software problem, which is why the store you bought it from probably sighed in frustration when you rang them.

When you say your brother "reinstalled", I'm slightly suspicious as to how he went about it. If he knew computers, he would have done that as a last resort, not an initial solution. In my experience, there are far too many who assume they know what it is they're doing when really they have no idea - in much the same way as a car owner deciding he's going to tune his car himself and ends up with a vehicle which doesn't run at all.

Details, laddie. Operating system, processor, ram, how old is the computer, broadband or dialup, details. Nobody can help you if they don't know these things.

My initial impression is that you're loaded with spyware/malware/adware. Do yourself a favour, download adaware and spybot search and destroy, update them, run them, and clean up. They're not 100% effective but they're free, and they do a good enough job to at least allow internet access again in most cases.

If you haven't the faintest idea how to keep windows running smoothly, what spyware is, how to fix viruses and why you're getting them in the first place, then

A: Don't switch to Linux - you'll be even more clueless.
B: Don't fuck around with system settings such as virtual memory if you don't know what it is. System settings aren't the problem, if they were your computer would have been running slowly from the day you brought it.
C: Pay someone to clean it up, and then get them to explain to you what it is you're doing wrong. If you don't, you're going to have the same problem within a week or two of having it fixed.

And in future, stay away from porn sites, stop going to dodgy sites which give you all those wonderful cheats for your games, stay away from Kazaa and other peer-to-peer file sharing programs unless you know how to clean up afterwards, and stop clicking "yes" every time something pops up and says you're in trouble if you don't.

 

Sounds to me like you're out of hard drive space. Did you reformat when you reinstalled?

 

I personaly try maxmen from analogx.com them do a spyware scan, a virus scan del all file you don'T need and thign that are useless. try get more info on why you get this problem