Dhavaer
2008-09-02, 05:53 AM
Short version: I can get Firefox or Opera to work, and Internet Explorer works really, really badly.
Long version: I think it's down to antivirus programs. I started off with Norton Anti-Virus, which caused my computer to slow down to a crawl for about 15-30 minutes after I turned it on and intermittently afterwards. I then tried uninstalling it and downloadeda program called Avast! which was much better until its automatic update failed and it started constantly sending error messages. Firefox and Internet Explorer failed at the same time. I did a system restore, which got Internet Explorer working, and eventually Firefox started working again as well, but Avast! never recovered, and kept sending error messages. Norton also kept sending error messages claiming its settings were being changed by a hostile program i.e. its own uninstaller. I tried reinstalling Avast!, hoping to get an updated version and thus stave off the error messages for a while, but it didn't change anything.
About a month ago, it happened again; Firefox and Internet Explorer stopped working. I did three system restores, which eventually got IE working again, but Firefox is still deadweight. I just downloaded Opera today, and it's having the same problem as Firefox.
Internet Explorer works, after a fashion. It browses just fine, although it lacks some of the features I liked about Firefox (tabbing is the main one). The problem I'm having with it is that it takes 2-5 minutes after opening to become responsive. Any new IE window, whether I'm opening the program for the first time or a link is opening in a new window, will freeze the computer for 5-15 seconds and be entirely unresponsive (can't minimise, maximise, close, anything) for that 2-5 minute period. This is making the lack of tabbing feel much worse than it is.
Firefox and Opera simply don't work; they're entirely unable to connect to the internet.
Possibly important is that the problem is a software one; I've never lost the ability to use, say, MSN, so there's nothing wrong with the actual connection.
Can some tech-savvy Playgrounder please take a guess at what is afflicting my browsers?
Long version: I think it's down to antivirus programs. I started off with Norton Anti-Virus, which caused my computer to slow down to a crawl for about 15-30 minutes after I turned it on and intermittently afterwards. I then tried uninstalling it and downloadeda program called Avast! which was much better until its automatic update failed and it started constantly sending error messages. Firefox and Internet Explorer failed at the same time. I did a system restore, which got Internet Explorer working, and eventually Firefox started working again as well, but Avast! never recovered, and kept sending error messages. Norton also kept sending error messages claiming its settings were being changed by a hostile program i.e. its own uninstaller. I tried reinstalling Avast!, hoping to get an updated version and thus stave off the error messages for a while, but it didn't change anything.
About a month ago, it happened again; Firefox and Internet Explorer stopped working. I did three system restores, which eventually got IE working again, but Firefox is still deadweight. I just downloaded Opera today, and it's having the same problem as Firefox.
Internet Explorer works, after a fashion. It browses just fine, although it lacks some of the features I liked about Firefox (tabbing is the main one). The problem I'm having with it is that it takes 2-5 minutes after opening to become responsive. Any new IE window, whether I'm opening the program for the first time or a link is opening in a new window, will freeze the computer for 5-15 seconds and be entirely unresponsive (can't minimise, maximise, close, anything) for that 2-5 minute period. This is making the lack of tabbing feel much worse than it is.
Firefox and Opera simply don't work; they're entirely unable to connect to the internet.
Possibly important is that the problem is a software one; I've never lost the ability to use, say, MSN, so there's nothing wrong with the actual connection.
Can some tech-savvy Playgrounder please take a guess at what is afflicting my browsers?