Having computer trouble

If there is anyone who knows a thing or two about computers (I thought I did but I realize I don't) maybe you can help?

1. I dont have AOL but I downloaded the free AOL Instant Messenger program since I have alot of friends that have AOL and it's easy for us to keep in touch that way. But every time I open up Microsoft Outlook to check my e-mail the AOL IM program automatically loads up. And it freezes everything. I don't know how to stop it from loading when I click on Outlook, and I don't want to uninstall it. I've tried figuring out why it does that and I cannot. Does anyone know?

2. Ever since I bought Norton Internet security (firewall and antivirus programs in one) my computer is SLOW SLOW SLOW. And it's brand new. Granted I have the Intel Celeron chip which is probably why - I was told that it's crap but others said they liked it. When I saw slow, I mean, if I don't turn on the computer and then wait 10 minutes for everything to load up. If I try to click on an icon, it won't do anything for the longest time, I click a few more times, then everything freezes. It's driving me insane and it's driving FH crazy because he's totally new to computers in the first place and doesn't know why everything is freezing up - at least I pretty much know why but not really and I don't kow what to do other than uninstall it. I was on the phone with Norton but had to hang up because I was getting a call waiting beep.

If anyone has had the similar experience with either one of these things please let me know how to solved it. Thank you!

Mary

I can't help w/ the Norton antivirus, but I too have downloaded AOL IM. What you can do is log onto it and then go into: MY AIM, Edit Options, Edit preferences and then go into Sign On and then take the check out from 'Log on when Windows Starts' and the one below it 'Disable Automatic log in'

This should help.

My computer too has been freezing up a lot lately and I ran the Bulldog free program & it found a number of viruses on my computer. You can download it for free and use it for 20 days. At least get existing viruses off--may make it run a bit better.

I'm online 24/7 with a cable line & it seems more at risk.

Do you have a virus protector? If you do, run it on your pc now...Scan all your files. You may of downloaded something and got a virus while doing so. It is important to scan everything you download before installing it on your pc.

I totally agree with shutting off Aol on start up, it is very annoying....You may also try to remove everything else from your startup folder, so you dont have alot of items opening up at startup. That can slow your pc down alot at startup. You would do this by clicking the
start button in your lower left of the screen...

Goto Programs and wait till it opens up.

Then goto startup and see what opens up next to it....There may be alot of things in there that start up when windows starts...If there is I would remove everything....

To remove these items....put your mouse on them and right click, then click on delete.

This will not remove the programs from your pc, it will just stop them from loading at start of windows.

ok...now that you fixed that problem. You may also want to stop your virus program from scannig your pc at startup...That can take alot of memory from the pc. You can go in to the virus program and shut that off manually.....You would just go into the tools folder or whatever the program may have where you can adjust items, and de click the button that says scan on start up. YOU WILL NEED TO SCAN YOUR HARD DRIVE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, AND ALSO REMEMBER TO UPDATE THE PROGRAM.

You need to clean your computer of all temp files, cookies, and history items, once a week. This will slow the computer down alot if you do not do this. If you want to know how to do this.....Let me know what operating system you have......Windows 98 or windows XP? There are different ways to do them both.

Tell me what computer, and model you have, and how much memory....I know its also a celeron. That was ytour first mistake. You should of spent the extra money and got an AMD Cathalon Processor. Cellerons are junk....but its too late now....

So please post everything I have asked for, and I will try to help you as best as to my knowledge....
Scott

Scott: thanks for all the advice!
I did scan for viruses before I installed Norton. Nothing came up. But I am going to print out your instructions and Sweetcin's too and when I come home later I will work on it.

I have XP. I know how to delete temp files and cookies though.

I just didn't think that with a computer 1 month old it should have become this slow. And it only happened after I installed Norton.

I'll have to FM you the rest, and I can't do it now since I have to be out on LI by 1pm and need to get a move on. I will later today.

Thanks again
Mary