DSL Meltown!

I'm running a Sony Vaio, 248 MB, Genuine Intel Family 15 Model 2 2.4
Hard. 74.56 and Verizon Online DSL

My husband got this brand new about six months ago and used it offline for Works only. We brought it home and restored it to its factory settings 2 days ago. We were running Verizon DSL on our old computer, and when setting the account back up, Verizon accidentlly gave us a new username which deleted all our email access. This was resolved by remote access, but we are still using a new username (don't know if it matters).

The internet connection is insanely slow.. the ping test came back at 3,000 and verizon says 400 is terrible. They don't know why it's happening but thought that spyware was running (we'd only been on 2 websites). I ran Spydoctor and removed 96 traces even though we'd just connected yesterday.

My connection is so slow, it's impossible for me to download anything new. When connected to the internet, all other programs become virtually unusable. Also, I only have 51% usable memory, but there is practically nothing on this thing.... there are about 35 processes running. It takes forever to shut down and start up and when I ran msconfig in start up there were about 40 items that I didnt' recognize so I disabled them.

 

Also, you should know that when my computer does finally startup - eveything works fine and fast (including the internet) for about 2-5 min. and then it gradually slows down to wear it took me 15 min. to post my first thread here. I fear people may be hacking into my dsl connection??

 

Welcome to MG. As an aside to your major problem, are you using a Firewall and AntiVirus program? XP users please step in with recommendations for XP. I use Zone alarm free version, and Avast for W98SE with dialup.

Zone Alarm http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=388 and

Avast download http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1968.html Baz

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Hey Bazza, I'm stepping in for Jean since I recommended her to this site and her computer is so slow that she can't even get on MG's site. She is using the XP firewall since she didn't even have a chance to download anything else. I told her about Avast and Zone Alarm which I'm sure she'll use once her computer is running properly. Please step in if you can suggest solutions! Thanks, Stephanie

 

First thing you need is a virus protection. If you can't download anything from that system use another. I use AVG. Also get Ad-aware and Spybot, perhaps some others like CrapCleaner.

Burn them to CD from another system and install them all on the troubled system. Then boot into safe mode and run a scan from each program.

If this does not help, you may want to do another restore like you already have done this time before you hook it up to DSL install your virus protection and Ad-aware.

Good Luck.

 

Steph, download all the latest stuff you use, via your computer, from MG. Burn it to a cd and load it on your friends PC as a stopgap. At least you could check out various possibilities while your/her major problem is solved. Burn CrapCleaner (CC), ZA, Avast or AVG, Spybot S&D, Cleanup! http://www.stevengould.org/ , AdAware SE, Pest Patrol for starters. Keep us informed. Bazza

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I've decided that this is a problem with the dsl line itself.. i've been able to install spypot and will check out the virus protection now.. For this moment the dsl is working so I better do it while i can.

 

I forgot to say THANKS !!