Reloading WD

[rickym]

Well IMO I would loose the toolbar altogether but I know some people like them they are not allowed on any of our PC's at work because of past issues!! I can't say if this will help this was just and FYI!

OK, I'll try that tomorrow and see if it makes any difference.  Meanwhile, explorer.exe has been fine all day today until now when I note that it is 138,000 to 142,000 K.  Apparenly not enough to cause any problems yet.  Something sets it off and it has happened in the last hour or two.  What?????????????

[Varadero]

Hi

I haven't followed the thread right the way through, but have you tried monitoring the processes with process explorer from sysinternals (free). It allows a very graphic view of all the proccesses going on and I've even spotted malware kicking off and taking huge chunks of overheads. If you have used it, I'll go back to sleep..just thought I'd mention it!

Richard

[rickym]

Thanks Richard.  I might try that.  However, I have already started some other things and will see them out first. 

I have now disabled all add-ons, including two for Google Toolbar.  The only ones remaining are three for AVG, and one for Java. 

If that doesn't work, next I'll try Google Chrome.  Someone said it was better to do that than to switch to Firefox. 

After trying these things, if it still doesn't work properly, I'll try sysinternals.  It looks to be an intersting program, doing everything that StartWatch will do and more. 

Cheers,

Rick

[Weather Display]

note that explorer.exe is different to ieexplorer.exe
the former is "windows itself" the latter is the browser

[rickym]

Thanks Brian.  Yes, I realised that earlier today.  Now I don't know whether I was talking about iexplore.exe or explorer.exe when I listed what Task Manager was showing me.  I suspect, but don't know, that I was talking about iexplore.exe.

Having worked out that it could have been iexplore.exe, I did a Google search on that and discovered that I am not the only one with these hassles.  Most seem to have solved it by getting rid of add-ons (hence my previous post).  One swapped to Firefox and said that solved it for him.  My IT guy, though, said rather than swap to Firefox I should try Chrome first as Firefox is too similar to Explorer. 

We'll see. . . .  Just maybe, I'm on a winner here??????

Cheers,

Rick

[Varadero]

Thanks Brian

Yes, this is resolved too..best to start afresh I agree

Regards

Richard

[rickym]

Just a note to update everyone -- computer crashes continue (see http://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index.php/topic,54892.0.html#new).  I am in the process of taking all software off, one at a time, to see if that helps.  Nothing has worked so far.  The last item was AVG (fully paid up version) and I am yet to see if that does anything.  It has worked fine for the last 36 hours, but it's done that before.  It needs to run properly for four days before I'll be happy. 

Rick

[Weather Display]

there are lots of posts were people have moved away from AVG

[rickym]

Yes I am aware of that, Brian.  However, most of the posts that I have seen were using the free version of AVG.  I have the fully paid up version and it works fine on two other computers. 

More than that, among all my tests to see if I could sort out problems the WD computer, I transferred WD to a little Notebook computer that I have.  It worked fine there, alongside AVG over four days.  That is not to say AVG is OK when run on the usual WD computer.  And, maybe, four days was not long enough as a test?  Maybe, too, on the WD computer alone, there is a conflict between AVG and WD/Explorer that does not occur on most other computers?  We'll see. 

I'm not happy though, not having any protection just now other than Windows Firewall.  However, I don't have Outlook or similar program set up on this computer, so no email comes and I'm avoiding surfing the net except for a few known safe websites, like this one. 

Cheers,

Rick

[jbrooks987]

However, most of the posts that I have seen were using the free version of AVG.  I have the fully paid up version and it works fine on two other computers.

I used the fully paid version of AVG for 3 or 4 years, until last spring.  Don't remember which version, etc,  but suddenly many programs, including WD, began having problems.  I uninstalled/reinstalled AVG several times with no change and finally went with Microsofts freebie.  So, AVG is no longer part of my system.  The part that hurts is that all this began shortly after I'd renewed my AVG subscription.

[rickym]

. . . So, AVG is no longer part of my system.

Thanks for sharing jbrooks.  You're the first fully paid up version person who has said that -- to my knowledge anyway  .  I'll be very sorry if I have to take it off because in all other respects, it works so well.  It's fast, efficient and does the job extremely well.  Just about everyone I know who does not use AVG paid up version has still gotten the occasional virus or other form of malware.  AVG has never failed me. 

Have a good day,

Rick

[rickym]

Thanks Richard.  I might try that.  However, I have already started some other things and will see them out first. 
I have now disabled all add-ons, including two for Google Toolbar.  The only ones remaining are three for AVG, and one for Java.
If that doesn't work, next I'll try Google Chrome.  Someone said it was better to do that than to switch to Firefox. 
After trying these things, if it still doesn't work properly, I'll try sysinternals.  It looks to be an intersting program, doing everything that StartWatch will do and more.

To start, thanks again to all you guys who have been offering advice here.

However, it just failed again, so AVG is not the culprit.  Not only did I uninstall it using a special AVG uninstall program, but I went into explorer and removed all folders.

Also, just now, I removed the Google Toolbar program and installed Google Chrome.
 
Two attachments list the current programs on this computer.  Can anyone see a program that I might uninstall next?  Or do I try sysinternals.  I'm fast running out of ideas other than to ditch this computer altogether.  I know it all works fine on a little Notebook that I have, but prefer to not use it -- its great for travelling and I do a lot of that. 

Cheers,

Rick

[Weather Display]

when you say it failed again, can you provide more information?
i.e was the memory use of exporer or Iexplorer high again in task manager?

[rickym]

Thanks Brian.  The desktop background (wallpaper) turned black, the icons at the bottom left of the screen on the Task Bar were still there, but no longer had any distinguishing pictures (they all looked the same), and when I went into Task Manager, explorer.exe was about 170,000 K (not as high as it has been, but very high nonetheless).  I didn't wait to see if the computer would grind to a halt, I just rebooted it.  This is the second time it has happened since removing AVG. 

[yamiacaveman]

Hi Rickym,

Over the years I have been plagued with almost the same types of problems you describe (except the blue screen of death). More specifically the FTP thing - sounds almost identical to one of my issues. I would come home from work and find my that my station stopped uploading at 1:10 in the afternoon. I would then log into my hosting company, use the cpanel software provided by the hosting company, check the FTP sessions and I would usually fine 5 or 6 sessions just laying there Idle. I would delete these idle sessions and WD would start uploading again. Right now, I am using a different hosting company and all is good. If it continues good for a few months I am going to switch back to my old hosting company and see what happens. I will also keep a close eye on your proble.

yamiacaveman