when I close various programs they shut down with the screen clearing from top to bottom like its crashing? Then the icons/shortcuts on the desktop flicker sometimes all changing to the unknown application kind of symbol, gradually popping back to their normal icon (email, internet explorer etc) then if I hover my cursor over them in turn they disappear and reappear quickly and then they work fine but the computer has slowed down noticably. I have scanned for spyware and viruses and occasionally finds them but not recently.a friend I described this to said it sounded like lack of memory??
I tend to spend more time trying to sort this out and running scans than using my computer.
I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP
thanks
steve

Is this a new problem? Were things working OK previously? Any new hardware or software?

If this is a new problem try a System Restore to a point prior to the problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore


If that doesn't help then:

As a first response you might want to post a HijackThis log for review by our Pros in that section:

Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.

(Not in this section please).

Please specify what issues you appear to be experiencing along with your log.


Just by the way how much RAM do you have? What type of Graphics Device?

Did this computer ever work well with XP?

The packard bell computer is 18 months old with 512mb DDR RAM with 160 gb HD, not sure what graphics card I have, I did try a system restore a week or so ago, it spent 20 minutes doing it only for a dialogue box to pop up telling me that it was unable to restore to the chosen point so I gave up, I am regularly doing updates and downloads and I seem to be having problems all the way through our 18 months of having a computer and my wife is sick of me finding new problems with it that lead me off down blind alleys when I try to sort them.
Even as I am typing this the screen locks out and I think I am no longer clicked on where I am trying to type, the previous sentence pops up wheree it was supposed to be but with a delay and then I can carry on, have I got a bug? I have run/have a lot of programs on my desktop but use noi more than 4 or 5 of them at any one time eg modem connection, outlook express, internet explorer, my documents, printer, they all seem to slow eachother down drastically.and when I click on what I want I see the egg timer symbol (where the cursor is)for too long before something happens. I am not completely computer illiterate but5 am I missing something here Am I asking too much from my computer, we only spent about £900 in the store, my £150 printer prints either grainy or with an awful red tinge, my 4 day old son causes me less lack of sleep!!!
thanks again for your time/help
steve

I would suggest running a HijackThis log by our Pros over in that section.

This process can pinpoint a lot of problems.

If they give you an all clear then come back here and we can go further.

You might need to reinstall XP which is not that big of a deal. Did Packard Bell give you Recovery Disks? Also what is the exact model and number?

http://support.packardbell.com/uk/

I didnt get any recovery disks, the model no is 1504/EM170 outfit code 519702
please could you explain how to run Hijackthis log? this is a new one on me
regards
steve

Click the red HERE below. If you need further clarification just ask.


Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.

(Not in this section please).

Please specify what issues you appear to be experiencing along with your log.

just to be sure am I supposed to click on and downlaod from the links/headings going down the page and install the program?

Sorry I am not following. The first part of that page lists downloading and running Adaware SE as well as Spybot S&D.

After running these programs it is then advised to download HijackThis:

When all of the above has been done:


Download the new version of hijackthis here: This will install Hijackthis to the correct default folder: C:\Program Files\HijackThis


Hijackthis

Click scan and save a log file and notepad will open up with HJT inside.

Copy/Paste into your reply. Thanks.

I moved your log here:

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=46659

They will get to you ASAP.