Is it full up?

[The Beard]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but, here goes anyway:

I have an Acer Aspire 5612WLMi laptop with Widows Vista Home Premium and the device has an Intel Dual Core T2060 1.6 GHz 533 MHz FSB processor. I don't know if any of that is relevant but I've put it in in case it is.

My problems are: If I'm attempting to watch videos from You Tube or from a forum such as this one, of late the videos seem to last for about 10 seconds before I get the little circle rotating in the middle of the screen for up to a minute before I can watch another 10 seconds of video. This has only happened of late in fact up to about a fortnight ago it would load up without problems.

I do have several hundred photos in jpeg format and about 100 music tracks on the computer which I've been trying to transfer onto an external hard drive which leads me to another problem.

Every time I connect the hard drive a message comes up on the screen asking for a password. It's a Windows box and I've tried all the passwords we use for other means yet it still won't work.

Does anyone think my first problem is related to the number of photos and how the hell do I fix the second?

If the first problem is not down to the pictures, any ideas as to what the cause may be?

 

[Eklipze3k]

I don't think the problems are related but out of curiosity - how much free space do you have on your C: drive and how big is it? You can find this out my going into 'My Computer' or 'Computer' (not sure how it's labelled on Vista), you should see something like this:

If your free space is OK, try clearing your cookies, temporary internet files, etc - what browser are you using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc)?

Password thing, not sure tbh...

 

[ChrisUK]

:yeahthat:

That's a good start. The other possible cause is your broadband suddenly getting bad (it happens).

http://speedtest.net/

Go there after it happens and run a speedtest and post the result.

 

[Kaulitz]

It doesn't sound as though your hard drive is full it could either be a problem with your Internet or flash.
As advised above run the speed test and also the quality of service test which is also on the website above. Try it both during the day and also during a peak time usually from 5pm to 11pm. Many providers use traffic shaping which can affect your connection during these peak times.

It maybe a problem with Flash player try reinstalling Flash or installing another browser.

 

[The Beard]

I don't think the problems are related but out of curiosity - how much free space do you have on your C: drive and how big is it? You can find this out my going into 'My Computer' or 'Computer' (not sure how it's labelled on Vista), you should see something like this:

If your free space is OK, try clearing your cookies, temporary internet files, etc - what browser are you using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc)?

Password thing, not sure tbh...

OK, first things first, I've looked at the C Drive and it says Total size: 51.6GB, Space free: 532MB with an ominous looking red line across it.

I clear cookies and temporary internet files after every visit to a site that isn't in my favourites, although I have quite a lot of those, so is it worth clearing any favourites I don't use regularly. I've no idea if they contain anything other than the website address.
As for browser, I use yahoo but when I start it up it says Windows Internet Explorer and the yahoo mail page tells me about upgrading and asks if I want Firefox, Internet Explorer of Safari, and to be honest I haven't a clue which I should use.

 

[The Beard]

:yeahthat:

That's a good start. The other possible cause is your broadband suddenly getting bad (it happens).

http://speedtest.net/

Go there after it happens and run a speedtest and post the result.

Er.....well.....it says my speed loss is "critical" and that there are just over 7,000 issues affecting speed. Mind you, I've just realised that my Norton has expired. I'll blame Mrs. Beard for that one as she said she'd take care of it but has just informed me she didn't get round to it. Before I spend any money on the SpeedUpMyPC doofah, is this a matter that would be sorted by Norton?

As for Broadband, we are with BT and had it upgraded to their much vaunted, admittedly by themselves, fibre optic system that I can't remember the name of.

 

[Hellcat]

OK, first things first, I've looked at the C Drive and it says Total size: 51.6GB, Space free: 532MB with an ominous looking red line across it.

I clear cookies and temporary internet files after every visit to a site that isn't in my favourites, although I have quite a lot of those, so is it worth clearing any favourites I don't use regularly. I've no idea if they contain anything other than the website address.
As for browser, I use yahoo but when I start it up it says Windows Internet Explorer and the yahoo mail page tells me about upgrading and asks if I want Firefox, Internet Explorer of Safari, and to be honest I haven't a clue which I should use.

Yep, 500mb isn't really enough for windows. I'd suggest uninstalling any apps you don't use, and perhaps do a search for any files over 1GB. You might have some temp files or such you can delete.

Get your anti-virus software upto date.

Then consider defragmenting your drive.. but you don't have enough free space to do this right now so don't worry about the 'how'.

I'd reccomend sticking with Internet Explorer. It's already installed and installing another browser will tip it over the edge right now!

 

[The Beard]

Yep, 500mb isn't really enough for windows. I'd suggest uninstalling any apps you don't use, and perhaps do a search for any files over 1GB. You might have some temp files or such you can delete.

Get your anti-virus software upto date.

Then consider defragmenting your drive.. but you don't have enough free space to do this right now so don't worry about the 'how'.

I'd reccomend sticking with Internet Explorer. It's already installed and installing another browser will tip it over the edge right now!

By apps, do you mean things like Acer Arcade Deluxe which I've never used and others such as DivX Converter and DivX Player that I don't think I'll use. These are all on the equivalent of Desktop.....I think in as much as they appear on screen when you first turn it on.

Actually, now I look at it, when BT upgraded the line I suddenly acquired 3 extra icons in connection with BT. It certainly didn't get any better since that's happened.

There's Google Earth which I do use quite a lot; NTI CD & DVD Maker 7 which I haven't used and have no idea if I need to use that to burn CDs and DVDs but generally it looks like some kind of editing device.

I'd like to know if I can get rid of any of that lot..............

 

[Focus Owner]

do you have any other drives?
i have found for me my documents is always too large so i move it to another drive. saving around 10gb

depending on how organised you are you might get a smaller gain

 

[Papa P]

Take Norton off of your laptop...I can guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that while it may not be contributing to your problems, it is slowing your machine down.

I've yet to come across a machine that has Norton installed that isnt running slower than it should be!

Acer machines come with LOADS of un-needed bloatware that you can remove to be honest. The same can also be said for BT Broadband software.

Would you be able to post a screenshot or list all of the applications that appear in your Add/remove Programs so we can give you an idea of what you can uninstall?

 

[ChrisUK]

Take Norton off of your laptop...I can guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that while it may not be contributing to your problems, it is slowing your machine down.

I've yet to come across a machine that has Norton installed that isnt running slower than it should be!

Acer machines come with LOADS of un-needed bloatware that you can remove to be honest. The same can also be said for BT Broadband software.

Would you be able to post a screenshot or list all of the applications that appear in your Add/remove Programs so we can give you an idea of what you can uninstall?

I have to agree although the latest "Norton" package aimed as home users & small business is MUCH better than the ones of old. It's more inline with other security software.

Personally I'd install Microsoft Security Essentials and be happy that's it's free and has one of the smallest footprints

 

[The Beard]

My Norton expired some time ago which may, or may not, be part of the problem. Er Screenshot.....I know what you mean, sort of but not sure how to do it.

I know, I know, I know. I can see you all shaking your heads now in disbelief. Any hints on how to do this would be gratefully received. Just a thought but you don't think: www.hugebreastedswedishteenagenymphoschoolgirlvirgins.com might be causing a problem do you? Oops, forgot /wholikemiddleagedmenwithfacialhair.

I do seem to have been on there quite a lot recently. In fact I seem to be the only subscriber!!!

 

[Eklipze3k]

My Norton expired some time ago which may, or may not, be part of the problem. Er Screenshot.....I know what you mean, sort of but not sure how to do it.

I know, I know, I know. I can see you all shaking your heads now in disbelief. Any hints on how to do this would be gratefully received. Just a thought but you don't think: www.hugebreastedswedishteenagenymphoschoolgirlvirgins.com might be causing a problem do you? Oops, forgot /wholikemiddleagedmenwithfacialhair.

I do seem to have been on there quite a lot recently. In fact I seem to be the only subscriber!!!

You do make me giggle Mr Beard

If I had some free time I'd be happy enough to take a little trek across to Manc to help you out but I'm stacked at the moment.
Taking a screenshot - find your way to where you need to go (in this case Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs). Press the "Print Screen (Prt Sc)" button - it normally sits above "Insert" "Home" etc. From your start menu go to Programs > Accessories and open Paint. Press Ctrl+V to paste the screenshot, save the file and attach it to a post. Voila!

 

[The Beard]

You do make me giggle Mr Beard

If I had some free time I'd be happy enough to take a little trek across to Manc to help you out but I'm stacked at the moment.
Taking a screenshot - find your way to where you need to go (in this case Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs). Press the "Print Screen (Prt Sc)" button - it normally sits above "Insert" "Home" etc. From your start menu go to Programs > Accessories and open Paint. Press Ctrl+V to paste the screenshot, save the file and attach it to a post. Voila!

I've got a bit of time tomorrow, actually I'm off all day so I'll have a go at following your instructions.

With regard to the aforementioned website, I'm the administrator as well as the photographer, no just wait till I can manage to use the camera as well as get in the shots.