New Computer... lots of problems

Hi Folks~
I have a brand new Dell Inspiron 1501 (laptop), and it is having issues.
I am running XP on it. (DH had me choose XP over Vista.)
When I got it my DH got me to download IE 7 (I think it was 7, the newest one).
I have the "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close" experience about 1/2 dozen times/day.
I also teach in a platform called Blackboard, and when I try to post to discussion boards there, or add new announcements for my class, the screen starts acting wacky. It will seem to be a double image of itself, with the top layer split in half. All my typing is invisible until I mouse over it, the address bars (top and bottom bar) disappear, and the whole page shrinks a bit and is outlined in black, or appears to have black space behind the page to be more clear. I'm thinking that it may be bad Java, because most of Blackboard (Bb) is run through Java?
Also, I constantly get 2 pop-ups that drive me mad.
One asks me if I want to allow my clipboard to have access to the site I'm on any time I cut and past anything, which I do a lot. YES! Let everything have access! is what I want to scream at the blasted computer.
Rats! I forget what the second one is. I'll add it if my brain re-engages.
Oh, I know, it's the: "Do you want to display the secure and non-secure items?" prompt. RRRRRGGGH! Yes, idiot computer, display them.
As you can tell, I have an infinite capacity to remain calm in the face of computer frustration. The darn thing is 3 weeks old BTW.
I really appreaciate any help because these problems are causing me to take twice as long to do my job.
Thanks ever so much~
chaddie

 

what antivirus program do you have, and is it current? what antispy programs do you have, and is it realtime, or have you run any scans?

have you tried emptying your cache for your browser? i put a link for ccleaner below, it's good for emptying temp files, etc. you just select/deselect the folders etc of what you want to scan, and/or delete.

also, have you tried a different browser to see if it works better than ie?

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html <-- CCleaner Slim (No Toolbar) 2.05.555

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2248.html <-- Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.12

edit - i only mentioned the antivirus/antispyware stuff, as i saw popups, but after re-reading it, i could be wrong.

 

Hi.
I have SuperAntispy that I got from your homepage, and it deleted advertising syuff (cookies?) this am.
i don't have anything for virus i think, because i asked for no norton to be installed, since it really messed-up my previous computer.
thanks!
c-r

 

if you don't have any antivirus software, you had better get it asap!! that is one quick way to mess up your new comp pronto, then you will be visiting the malware forum for help. i've seen new comps get messed up in a few days to a week. avast is what i use (link below). if you register the software ( http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php ), you get it for 14 mos (i think). what all do you have by your clock? do you see any type of antivirus software running? do you see a warning from the security center (which is in control panel)? you can also check add/remove programs to see if you recognize any antivirus software.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Avast_Home_Edition_d1968.html <-- Avast! Home Edition 4.7.1098

now, back to your problem. if it were me, i'd install ccleaner and run it to clear out your temp files. if you'd rather do it manually - in ie, tools, internet options, delete cookies, and files. then try ie, maybe reboot and see if it helps. you might want to also try firefox, to see if it works better?

 

Thanks I am downloading avast now.
My DH says I have to disable all my IE add-ons.
I think IE 7 is having issues, and Java.
I will do the cleaner as soon as the virus software finishes downlaoding. it takes 1/2 hour.
Do you know of anyway to disable the two pop-up messages? They seem to me to be some sort of stupid security thing.
also, it makes me click (as if it was a pop-up) this bar up in the top to download anything.
That really bugs me, as I know what I want to download. Why is it blocking everything?
Thanks so much for your help.
Chadders

 

Well, you have to notice them up by that status bar to click them, and when you're teaching online and jumping back and forth between screens you don't always notice them, and they happen constantly. I would like to be able to turn them off. Is there a way to do that?
C-R

 

in ie, tools, manage add-ons, then disable what you need to. i think the d/l thing is/was a part of sp2 for security? i'm not sure if it can be disabled (steve east beat me to it). however to allow pops to come thru, hold down the "ctrl" key.

i'm not sure about your other popups. just try all this stuff (emptying cache, change settings, etc), and see how it goes.

if and when you finally get avast installed, and it asks about a boot time scan, i'd run it. you can always initiate a scan later on, but seeing that you were unprotected, it'd be best (if it finds stuff, just have it put into quarantine for now). it'll probably take about 45 min - 1 1/2 hr or so, depending on how much stuff you have on your h/d, and how fast your system is. g/l - sos

 

I found out how to turn of the clipboard thing in security internet options.
C-R

 

Thanks very much sosaman! I will do that right now.

Chaddie