HELP Already getting 'not responding' messages

Cuddlebug

New Member
Messages
5
Location
Canada
I just my laptop back from Lenovo repair with a new harddrive and a new thermal door. I've got just about everything back on the laptop as it was before problems and I'm already getting 'not responding messages'. I have IObit Malware Fighter running, and Super AntiSpyware Free running, and I use McAfee from Bell, and Avast! free Antivirus, as well as running ccleaner, Slimcleaner, and Winutilities weekly and I run Advanced Care System (always), and System Mechanic monthly. You'd think I'd be safe but obviously something has gotten into my laptop and is playing havoc with my harddrive. I've checked around and got some ideas about running some hard core free malware programs that I might try but thought I'd ask here first.

So, Here it is: What do you think I should do now? My warranty with Lenovo ran out on the 3rd of March 2014 but I have an extended warranty with the laptop seller. So do I call a Technician or do I run some programs, and if I do, what programs do you suggest?

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G585
    Memory
    4 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Raedon HD 7310
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MAafee, Avast
You paid for the warranty so I suggest you take advantage of it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
You are running all those security and "performance enhancing and cleaning" programs at the same computer together ?? and you are wandering what went wrong ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
You are running all those security and "performance enhancing and cleaning" programs at the same computer together ?? and you are wandering what went wrong ??

+1 to that observation!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
You are running all those security and "performance enhancing and cleaning" programs at the same computer together ?? and you are wandering what went wrong ??
What do you maen CountMike? Could you please explain?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G585
    Memory
    4 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Raedon HD 7310
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MAafee, Avast
There should be only one resident Anti Virus on a system, 2 or more tend to clash and try to "repair" or cancel each other. You can have some AV and a anti-spy programs together. For instance: I Use Avast as resident AV, SpyBot Search and Destroy, for spyware that AV did not cach and McShield for protection of malware from USB drives. all play nicely together, each one does it's job without interference although there is some overlapping of their jobs. Occasional sweeps with some programs that target specific threats may be warranted if some infestation is suspected but one has to be careful with them as they can be pretty aggressive.
As far as those "miracle cleaning and optimizing programs" go, no dice with them either, specially 2 or more and on their default settings. Windows have a perfect tool for cleaning boot drive (Disk Cleanup) that can safely remove "extra" stuff including old restore points, internet leftovers etc.
If you combine that with a good uninstaller, like "Revo Uninstaller" for instance, that cleans up leftovers from uninstalled programs, it can leave system in sufficiently clean state. Windows 8 are very "gentle" with registry and fragment drives very little. One example, after over a year of almost daily installation and uninstallation (with Revo) of various programs I decided to defragment HDDs and one was only 0.2% fragmented and there were literary hundreds of programs and thousands of files written and erased from them.
If you take reasonable care with OS, watch what you install ( some programs tend to come with bunch of extra "bloatware), uninstall unwanted programs right way and use Disk Cleanup occasionally, not much more is required to have everything running smoothly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
There should be only one resident Anti Virus on a system, 2 or more tend to clash and try to "repair" or cancel each other. You can have some AV and a anti-spy programs together. For instance: I Use Avast as resident AV, SpyBot Search and Destroy, for spyware that AV did not cach and McShield for protection of malware from USB drives. all play nicely together, each one does it's job without interference although there is some overlapping of their jobs. Occasional sweeps with some programs that target specific threats may be warranted if some infestation is suspected but one has to be careful with them as they can be pretty aggressive.
As far as those "miracle cleaning and optimizing programs" go, no dice with them either, specially 2 or more and on their default settings. Windows have a perfect tool for cleaning boot drive (Disk Cleanup) that can safely remove "extra" stuff including old restore points, internet leftovers etc.
If you combine that with a good uninstaller, like "Revo Uninstaller" for instance, that cleans up leftovers from uninstalled programs, it can leave system in sufficiently clean state. Windows 8 are very "gentle" with registry and fragment drives very little. One example, after over a year of almost daily installation and uninstallation (with Revo) of various programs I decided to defragment HDDs and one was only 0.2% fragmented and there were literary hundreds of programs and thousands of files written and erased from them.
If you take reasonable care with OS, watch what you install ( some programs tend to come with bunch of extra "bloatware), uninstall unwanted programs right way and use Disk Cleanup occasionally, not much more is required to have everything running smoothly.


I'm now running McAfee Internet Security, Avast! antivirus, windows defender, and Zonealarm. I do these weekly scans: ccleaner, Slimcleaner, and Winutilities. Once a month I run Advanced System Care7 and System Mechanic. And when my system isn't running quite right I run Registry Recycler, IObit Malware Fighter, and Antispyware Free Edition. And last but not least about every 3 months I run my driver updaters.

could you please give me your honest opinion of how I take care of my laptop. I'd really appreciate anyone's opinion. Thanx.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G585
    Memory
    4 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Raedon HD 7310
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MAafee, Avast
There should be only one resident Anti Virus on a system, 2 or more tend to clash and try to "repair" or cancel each other. You can have some AV and a anti-spy programs together. For instance: I Use Avast as resident AV, SpyBot Search and Destroy, for spyware that AV did not cach and McShield for protection of malware from USB drives. all play nicely together, each one does it's job without interference although there is some overlapping of their jobs. Occasional sweeps with some programs that target specific threats may be warranted if some infestation is suspected but one has to be careful with them as they can be pretty aggressive.
As far as those "miracle cleaning and optimizing programs" go, no dice with them either, specially 2 or more and on their default settings. Windows have a perfect tool for cleaning boot drive (Disk Cleanup) that can safely remove "extra" stuff including old restore points, internet leftovers etc.
If you combine that with a good uninstaller, like "Revo Uninstaller" for instance, that cleans up leftovers from uninstalled programs, it can leave system in sufficiently clean state. Windows 8 are very "gentle" with registry and fragment drives very little. One example, after over a year of almost daily installation and uninstallation (with Revo) of various programs I decided to defragment HDDs and one was only 0.2% fragmented and there were literary hundreds of programs and thousands of files written and erased from them.
If you take reasonable care with OS, watch what you install ( some programs tend to come with bunch of extra "bloatware), uninstall unwanted programs right way and use Disk Cleanup occasionally, not much more is required to have everything running smoothly.


I'm now running McAfee Internet Security, Avast! antivirus, windows defender, and Zonealarm. I do these weekly scans: ccleaner, Slimcleaner, and Winutilities. Once a month I run Advanced System Care7 and System Mechanic. And when my system isn't running quite right I run Registry Recycler, IObit Malware Fighter, and Antispyware Free Edition. And last but not least about every 3 months I run my driver updaters.

could you please give me your honest opinion of how I take care of my laptop. I'd really appreciate anyone's opinion. Thanx.

I have found over the years that Norton Internet Security, And malwarebytes play well together and are all I need. I don't use any Cleaners or Registry Cleaners. or uninstallers, I update drivers as needed or released. I make OS Drive Images often so if anything goes wrong I only need to restore the latest Image.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
There's difference between resident AVs (they are loaded at boot time and have their service running all the time and actively scan all the comings and goings of files, data and eventually internet). There should not be 2 of them.
On the other side is combination of resident AV, let's say Avast and a non resident one like Malwarebytes that scans for specific threats on demand and most of those combinations usually play well together and supplement each other. I don't think that you are running Defender too because most AVs shut defender's service at installation time.
I and lot of others do not give much credit to so called "Cleaners and optimizers" as they can make more trouble than good by deleting wrong registry entries, files, shared DLLs and temporary files needed by some programs. Programs uninstalled by a "Revo" or other uninstallers do not leave "tails " after being uninstalled. Only properly written programs (and there's no too many of them) clean up after themselves and some leave leftovers in registry on purpose so they can track if you uninstall them and then want to install them again or newer version, which can be handy sometimes but mostly are nuisance. Registry cleaners tend to ignore such entries anyway and clean up mostly just loose links etc.
So, one good AV plus a program that deals with threats that AV is not designed for, should be sufficient. An extra firewall that is easier to configure than Windows own could be added but be prepared to change it's settings more often if it plugs up to many "holes". There are a lot of small programs (preferably "portable") that can be used occasionally if some particular infestation is suspected but are really not needed on daily / weekly / monthly basis. It's much better to be careful when downloading files, copying them to disk or sticking USB memory sticks and other portable data bearing devices. Also read carefully when installing programs, there's a lot of bloatware and even worse stuff coming in a package with programs nowadays with ambiguous and small letter choices to skip their installation. (like Babylon for instance, that is very difficult to get rid of).
Newer internet browser come with some protection from nasty sites too. Google also blocks reported attack sites so heed their warnings too and don't force going there.
So yes, there's a lot of danger lurking out there but also a lot of protection available, so getting too paranoid about all of that, cramming all the protection at once will just clog up computer and slow it down worse than some less offensive addware etc.
Last but not least it's important to keep AV up to date (Avast does it sometimes 5 or more times a day). Backing up important files and even whole OS drive on regular basis goes even without saying. That and being careful on internet and passing over any suspicious files and e-mail can do more for safety than all the AVs can.
Driver downloaders and updaters are also known to install wrong drivers. It's much better to make exact list of all the hardware you have and to update drivers from it's manufacturer's site only if there's a problem or you are sure that there will be any gain of doing so. Majority of "new" drivers just add a new device to it's list, leaving the part for your older hardware exactly the same and some totally omit it so you are left "high and dry" for driver support. If you "must" use driver downloaders, at least pick some that back up old drivers first so you can get back to them if something goes wrong or you have to reload Windows at some point. My pick is "Slim Drivers" but I don't use them on my computer, only when working on other ones if I do not want to spend time on chasing them and uninstall it after use but keep backups of drivers. I also keep all the drivers in a secure place updated all the time as I get newer ones so I can change them at will or reinstall them as needed. When working on other people's computers I always make a folder named "Do Not Delete This" on their hard drive, preferably on a partition or other drive than the one with the OS on it so when they schmuck it (and a lot of them do) I can restore their systems much easier. I also keep a large base of drivers for all the computers I worked on. Now, with relatively fast internet, sometimes is faster to find on it then to look for them in collected ones but all the same I keep them all.
So be safe, back up anything of importance and watch what you are doing because all the software in the world can not save you from results of doing stupid things.
PS. Keep pictures, music and all the things you value off the drive with OS because if you have to reinstall or format the OS drive all of it will be gone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Thank you Count Mike for all your help. I think I've got it all straightened out now. We'll see how the laptop runs now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G585
    Memory
    4 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Raedon HD 7310
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MAafee, Avast
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