Computer Gurus I Need Assistance

[clayton86]

so I need some help maybe its simple maybe I'm computer dumb well that's not a maybe I def am but here is my question. My internet is painfully slow like to watch youtube videos well I almost cant it takes anywhere from 30min-12hours to stream a 12min video. I'm in Kuwait on there internet carriers but other guys with the same plan can watch videos down load stuff no problem me on the other hand clicked a video on how to pour plastics this morning before my shift I was gone 9 hours it only made it to 47%. So I thought maybe the little bar wasn't keeping up but nope I pressed play and 3 minutes into the video it stopped and started buffering so I went to the gym came back after an hour pressed play I made it another 20 seconds into the video. Is it my computer is it just a POS or could it be my connection. Everyone else loads fast some people have the same problem as me though but just a few of the guys.

I run a defrag every week and virus and malware scan thingy every week to keep that stuff from slowing it down but videos and pics take a eternity it seems like pics of your guys catches and stuff on here if I click the thumbnail it takes like 10 minutes and its still usually not done I see half a pic usually. But Idk if its my computer is just out of date I mean it is kinda old like 5 years maybe more idk its used but it seems like the oldest files and stuff are 07. I use google chrome as a browser and windows xp but its a dual boot I can use vista but i never have its just there should i maybe get rid of vista?

I'm lost its frustrating because i cant even down load pics of my kids my wife sends me in emails there like 750kb or what ever but it takes an hour.

[Marty]

I am definitely not a computer guru. Your problem sounds strange since you have the same Internet connection as the other guys. All I could do is suggest that you put your computer through a speed test and have a friend with the same service do his and see if that reveals anything.

[Traveler2586]

I'm not a computer guru either, but I do know a few things.

If your not using Vista you should get rid of it to free up some disk space.

How much disk space do you have free?

How much memory do you have?

How are you connected to the Internet? Do you have the same equipment as the other guy's. Can you test your computer on their connection?

When was the last time you emptied your Recycle Bin, ran Hard Drive clean Up.

Look in: Start/All Programs/Accessories/ System Tools.

Also, look to see what IE add-on's you have running and why? Disable any you don't need.

While in IE: go to Tools/Manage Add-on's They can eat up memory fast.

CAUTION - Don't go on the Internet to use some free computer clean up, speed up, or disk tools you could get a virus.

A lot of questions, i know, but we need to get a good mental picture of your setup.

Your problem "may" be lack of RAM and/or hard disk space.

[Scorcher214]

Check your tool bar on the lower right. Just left of where it shows the time and date. Make sure you don't have anything running that you don't need. I had some antivirus that I didn't use anymore, along with yahoo messenger, and MSN messenger. Closed them both and noticed a difference. Also, try installing avast! antivirus. They have a free version that is actually really nice. It's all I use and found some things my other antivirus couldn't. Another thing you could do is right click on the battery that shows how much power you have and choose power options, then click "High performance". Uses more power, but the computer will run better.

[clayton86]

I'm not a computer guru either, but I do know a few things.

If your not using Vista you should get rid of it to free up some disk space.

How much disk space do you have free?

How much memory do you have?

How are you connected to the Internet? Do you have the same equipment as the other guy's. Can you test your computer on their connection?

When was the last time you emptied your Recycle Bin, ran Hard Drive clean Up.

Look in: Start/All Programs/Accessories/ System Tools.

Also, look to see what IE add-on's you have running and why? Disable any you don't need.

While in IE: go to Tools/Manage Add-on's They can eat up memory fast.

CAUTION - Don't go on the Internet to use some free computer clean up, speed up, or disk tools you could get a virus.

A lot of questions, i know, but we need to get a good mental picture of your setup.

Your problem "may" be lack of RAM and/or hard disk space.

I connect threw a wireless router as does everyone else. We have 3 options for internet PacNet which I use is the cheapest they advertise 10mbs? if that sounds right idk but thats the cheapest and offered threw the army and theres a router in the barracks that we all connect to those of us on pacnet. Then theres Viva and Zain which is like sprint or at&t in the states but the start up is crazy expensive 280-350 usd depending on the plan you want. the guys with the viva and zain theres is fast and it can go anywhere but start up is expensive and monthly bill is 55-80usd for zain and 85-130usd viva my pacnet is 40 a month and had no start up cost. other guys with pacnet don't have the problems I have I tried the speed test thing it wont even pull it up its so slow. luckily the forums are like the only thing that loads unless theres pics directly attached instead of thumbnails to click.

How would I go about getting rid of Vista

for anti virus and clean up I run a program called advanced systemcare 5and some other one called malware by anti malbytes or something like that.

I dont have any programs running either in my little task bar thingy

I always empty my bin soon as I delete something and run the malware and clean up programs every weekend its set to run every Saturday at 2am

memory idk how to check exactly but when i click the little computer tab it pulls up OS(c:) drive and that's 121GB of 283GB free then it has one labeled recovery (d:) and that ones 13.9GB of 14.9GB free

[Traveler2586]

I connect threw a wireless router as does everyone else. We have 3 options for Internet PacNet which I use is the cheapest they advertise 10mbs? if that sounds right idk but thats the cheapest and offered threw the army and theres a router in the barracks that we all connect to those of us on pacnet. Then theres Viva and Zain which is like sprint or at&t in the states but the start up is crazy expensive 280-350 usd depending on the plan you want. the guys with the viva and zain theres is fast and it can go anywhere but start up is expensive and monthly bill is 55-80usd for zain and 85-130usd viva my pacnet is 40 a month and had no start up cost. other guys with pacnet don't have the problems I have I tried the speed test thing it wont even pull it up its so slow. luckily the forums are like the only thing that loads unless theres pics directly attached instead of thumbnails to click.

How would I go about getting rid of Vista

for anti virus and clean up I run a program called advanced system care 5and some other one called malware by anti malbytes or something like that.

I don't have any programs running either in my little task bar thingy

I always empty my bin soon as I delete something and run the malware and clean up programs every weekend its set to run every Saturday at 2am

memory idk how to check exactly but when i click the little computer tab it pulls up OS(c:) drive and that's 121GB of 283GB free then it has one labeled recovery (d:) and that ones 13.9GB of 14.9GB free

OK, so you on the same wifi as others that do not have this problem, so that indicates it's in your computer.

I don't know anything about system care 5 or malware by anti malbytes, where did you get them? I hope not off the Internet, my daughter downloaded a anti-virus SW from the net that was in it's self a virus; we played hell getting that off her computer.

As for Vista, I'm not qualified to help you on the proper way to remove that by it's self. The only way I do it is to save off all files I want to keep onto an external drive, then wipe the hard drive clean and then do a new load of windows and necessary drivers. This is not a fun task and you need to be prepared appropriate SW and driver disks.

Are you deleting temporary IE files when you close IE? Go to Tools/Internet Options/Browsing History & make sure the box is checked.

Then go to Tools/Internet Options/Advanced/scroll down to Security/check Empty Temporary Internet Files.

For System Memory go to the Computer icon/System Properties, look for Installed Memory (RAM).

[deaknh03]

If you go to the back of your computer you will find a cord attached to the computer, running to a socket. Unplug that cord, pick up as much of the computer, monitor and keyboard as you can, and throw it outside in the sand.

[clayton86]

the anti virus soft ware I got off our resident IT guy to help clean up my computer we work different shifts now so I don't see him anymore to bug him how to fix it.

[Hyrule Bass]

reformat it, wipe it clean and start fresh...

is it a Dell by chance? i havent seen a Dell yet that doesnt start severly lagging after about 3 years...

[clayton86]

its a Dell studioXPS 16.5 or something idk I bought it used off my squad leader for this deployment its my first computer i paid 200 bucks for it with a detachable 500gb hard drive with over 300 movies on it.

[deaknh03]

its a Dell studioXPS 16.5 or something idk I bought it used off my squad leader for this deployment its my first computer i paid 200 bucks for it with a detachable 500gb hard drive with over 300 movies on it.

When you smash it in the sand, be sure to take the hard drive out first.

[clayton86]

lol I'm not gonna smash it though id like to some times but I would have gone nuts with out this thing this deployment its been well worth the 200 I paid for it. My first 3 months of my deployment I went with out a laptop I was so bored and so miserable way to much time to just lay or sit there and stare off into space now I have movies I can watch and can skype with the wife and kids I can surf the web though that gets boring when everyone's out fishing and there is no new posts on here.

[Marty]

Malwarebytes is a respected and recommended anti-malware program.

[Traveler2586]

What version of Windows are you running, and do you have the SW disks?

[clayton86]

What version of Windows are you running, and do you have the SW disks?

no clue and I have no disks to go with the computer for anything.

[Fishing Rhino]

When you start your computer, it should show what version of windows you are running on one of the opening screens. It will be Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. Other than that, you can click on the open programs icon, bottom left corner, click on computer. When that window opens, click on properties. The next window should tell you about your computer, including the version of windows it is running.

[clayton86]

oh in that case its windows 7 home premium

[Hyrule Bass]

that computer is probably too old for windows 7. id get rid of it and install XP.

[clayton86]

its quick for everything but youtube and picture heavy pages. I think it may just be the crappy internet because the other day I took a nap right after shift and woke up at 11 at night when everyone else was sleeping and it went fast i was able to watch Glenn May's latest video no problem. I asked the other guys who im sharing this router with for the building and they don't have issues they play world of war craft all the time on it.......so that being said its probably slow for me cuz they are sucking all the bandwidth because they are nerds playing WOWC so when I'm on while they sleep its just me. So idk if switching to zain where I have my own router would be faster or not because a lot of guys have it now and I don't imagine there's a lot of cell towers to go threw so wouldn't it get slower with the more people using it?

[Traveler2586]

its quick for everything but youtube and picture heavy pages. I think it may just be the crappy internet because the other day I took a nap right after shift and woke up at 11 at night when everyone else was sleeping and it went fast i was able to watch flukemasters latest video no problem. I asked the other guys who im sharing this router with for the building and they don't have issues they play world of war craft all the time on it.......so that being said its probably slow for me cuz they are sucking all the bandwidth because they are nerds playing WOWC so when I'm on while they sleep its just me. So idk if switching to zain where I have my own router would be faster or not because a lot of guys have it now and I don't imagine there's a lot of cell towers to go threw so wouldn't it get slower with the more people using it?

Yes, it would. How is the cell coverage where you are? You might be able to get a USB wifi adapter that would let you connect via cell towers.

[clayton86]

Yes, it would. How is the cell coverage where you are? You might be able to get a USB wifi adapter that would let you connect via cell towers.

I think its good they guys that have Viva and Zain have little hot spots that plug in via usb to charge or Zain has one that is like a little stick antenna that you leave plugged in. A lot of guys bought sim cards for there cells and still use there cells like as if there still state side. I just use my laptop I like being out of the loop some times then other times I wish I was able to be reached like right now trying to go home on E leave because my wife is in the hospital with sepsis but i cant get a hold of anyone because of time difference and no phone waiting on the red cross.