Haunted470

Ok, so, lately the computer has been just snailing along. Programs don't open very quickly, Windows Live Messenger freezes frenquently and is being more of a pain than usual, and things don't close out without a fight. When I'm ready to shut down for the night, I try to close out programs as usual, but normally I have to open up the task manager to get things to close and it takes many "end program" window tries to accomplish that. The computer doesn't shut down in one try either. It sits there. I have to keep telling it to shut down until this end program window comes up, and then it'll shut down. Now, I just updated the virus protection from avg. free version 7.5 to 8.5, and stupidly forgot to uninstall the other version. (It started downloading straight from the old program, but it didn't replace it like I thought it would.) So now I can't uninstall the other version because there's basically nothing there. I get that it can't find the shortcut. Could this be adding to my problems?

What I've also noticed lately is if I'm on facebook or something I get the "Low virtual memory" balloon. Now, even PHONES can handle facebook, you'd think a computer definitely could. I have over 10GB free space, so why am I having this problem it seems every night? Why is messenger running slow and freezing, why is my computer being retarded if there are no viruses. XD; HELP.

Angel333

How much RAM do you have? Low Virtual memory has to do with RAM (the memory used when running programs), not actual physical memory of the hard drive (which is your storage). There have been a lot of new trojans that disguise themselves as virus protection software, so you will trust the download, and once installed start taking over your computer (a lot of them aim to steal your passwords etc.) Are you certain that the virus software upgrade was legit and not a trojan? (That would also explain the low virtual memory)

Undead Pygmy

The AVG version upgrade was not a trojan, if you updated it from the website, or by the program itself. It also shouldn't matter if you forgot to uninstall the old version. I didn't and I had no issues. I'm also fairly certain that when we were doing Tablet transfers at IT we had to update AVG, and we also had no problems. But Those trojans that pretend to be virus removers are, for lack of better words, a BITCH. xD

Like Lori said, it could be your RAM, but just to be safe, try using Malwarebytes to do a scan on your computer: that sucker can find stuff that AVG can't.

I'd also recommend running a program called "CleanUp!"

I wish you well!

Shivercide

It could be a number of issues, but yes it does seem something is messing with your RAM. As Lori said, the storage amount on your computer doesn't really have to do with that - however, the fuller your computer gets with files, the slower it can be. It might help a bit to try and delete/uninstall any old programs or games you are no longer using, if there are any.

And I agree with Undead Pygmy about the software, CleanUp! or something like it (I use Vista Manager which is somewhat similar), it will safely clean up your registry, temp files, etc. getting rid of things that aren't needed and bog down the computer. It should help at least a little.

Sometimes virus programs do not in fact replace older versions, and create complications (like what you're having) when you install another one. Also, is this the only virus protection you're using? Is there ANYthing else on your computer running as spyware-protection, firewall, etc.? Because having more than one program of virus protection on your computer can really screw things up. If you're running a firewall through this free program the same time that Windows Firewall is on, it can also screw things up. If this is the case, I would suggest uninstalling the other programs/turning off the Windows Firewall.

It might even help to uninstall the AVG program, because it *might* take out all versions with it. Also, you should check these locations after the uninstall:

C:\Program Files\Grisoft
C:\Windows\All Users\Application Data\Grisoft
C:\Windows\All Users\Application Data\AVG7.5
C:\Windows\Application Data\AVG7.5

And just delete all folders to do with AVG.

If none of this helps, a System Restore can be a lifesaver. Just try to go back to a date before your computer started having these huge complications. It's helped me many times. XD

Undead Pygmy

This is not always true. We install more than one Anti-virus program on the tablets before we issue them to students, and 99.999 percent of the time when we are doing maintenance on the tablets, and on personal computers, if they do not have more than one Anti-virus installed, we install a couple others and run them. (The program that installs automatically when we're doing re-imaging, and when we're setting the suckers up for new students, is called Sophos, and it sucks. Don't use it. Why we still use it...is beyond us. Ask the IT downstairs xD) So having multiple virus protection programs installed is actually a blessing, and it never screws these computers up. I have....3 installed on mine, plus malwarebytes and Spybot Search and Destroy. And all are freeware and have never, EVER caused me grief. One program cannot be relied on to removed all the crap that can infest your machine. Spybot, for example, finds stuff that AVG and Malwarebytes COMBINED don't find.

Sometimes, Norton Anti-virus causes problems with other virus software, and we usually remove Norton and install AVG.

Amen to this. xD

Haunted470

Ok, I have another question (new thing happening). When things are just started up, everything will run slow for a good ten minutes, and then things will pick up and be normal again. This doesn't happen though if the computer has been used earlier in the day/shut down already. Is there something wrong, or is the computer just being old? (We've had it about five years)