My computers been going real slow and its taking forever to log off, like a couple of minutes where it should only be a few seconds. I know very little about this stuff, anyone know why this is happening?

I don't know much either, but for the purposes of finding out the problem, what type of computer do you have? Has it been working previously with no alterations?

Move to Help Desk?

But anyway... press CTRL+ALT+DELETE... go to the processes, .... start ending every proces-- I am joking.

Do you have anti-virus software? Do you have a lot of programs open when you sign off? (and also, are there a lot of background processes?...)

I don't think this helps too much, I'd say call your nerdiest of friends and ask him about uninstalling meaningless programs. He will be happy to oblige.

I can give you a good list of programs to run and how to remove spyware/viruses/etc., but the question is whether this is the problem or not. Do you already have an (updated) Anti-Virus program that is running or not? Are you getting lots of pop-ups or warnings while surfing the internet (mention what some are if you are), and Google HijackThis, download it, and use it to search/save a logfile which you can then post here or on some techie forum (GREAT place to go when stuff gets really complicated). DO NOT tell HijackThis to "fix" anything on your own, but just save the logfile and post it here as well as answering the previous questions.

Good idea, James. 'Fixing' everything might be overkill ... make the system unstable and maybe even broken!...

I close everything when I log off, I have a Dell and the anti virus security is always running, I'm going to do a scan before I get off but I have been getting a lot of pop-ups.

Have you cleaned your pc lately? Disk defragment? If you haven't, that could be the reason its running slow. But If your getting alot of popups that sounds like adware.

It's spyware its like a virus but more complex you need a special program for theme also delete all of you're history off line stuff and cookies

I ran a virus scan last night and it quarantined a few things and it seems to be doing better, I am defraging right now. I'll let you know how it turns out, thanks for the help

1. Get anti-spyware programs

google for:

Windows Defender
Ad-aware
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware Blaster

Get them, install them, update them and run them.

2. Get a Firewall

Google for Zone alarm

get the Free Version and install it

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that should help out some, if not a lot.


Failing that, there is option 3.

3. Reformat and reinstall Windows

Not recommended if you don't know what you're doing.

Over time windows accumulates a whole load of excess junk, records, files and things. It loads them all and stores them all and slows down Windows LOTS. A good format, reinstall once every 6 months - a year is good.

First of all, open up your Anti-Virus and make sure it's completely updated. Download the following (btw/what AV is it? We may be able to suggest a better free one if it's not a decent one...). Next download ALL of the following -

Ad-Aware free version: http://www.lavasoft.nu/software/adaware/

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Ewido 14 day trial: http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

Spysweeper 14 day trial: http://www.webroot.com/consumer/prod...rc=4129&ac=tsg

CWShredder (just in case): http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-8114.html

VundoFix.exe (Again, just in case. Run it last as it requires restart.): http://www.atribune.org/content/section/4/30/

After installing all of these programs, open all of them and make sure they are updated (with CWShredder and VundoFix.exe as exceptions, as neither require install or update). Afterwards, restart your computer and hit f8 as it's first booting up to enter Safe Mode. After doing so, run your updated Anti-Virus followed by all of these programs (warning: This will take quite awhile). Do NOT quarantine things, delete them. Afterwards, if it's still not clean, grab HijackThis as I already said and post a log. Some techies may be able to identify just what the problem is, but I son't know much spyware that wouldn't be removed after running all that ;). Make sure to un-install the two 14 day trials (Spysweeper & Ewido) when you're done with them so you can use those programs again for free another time if need be.

Do NOT quarantine things, delete them.that can be very dangerous advice if it detects a virus in an essential system file... might render things unbootable. just be careful about what you delete.