RandyL

Hey raj; Your other post indicates you are using AVG so I suggested to follow our malware guide there. On the off chance it's related you could try that. By the way which browser and version are you running? Do you have all the Windows updates? RandyL

Hi raj; AVG is not reliable. As such can I ask you if you suspect an infection? An infection can cause a wide variety of issues. Maybe your Windows Media Player post is related to an infection. In any case since your using AVG maybe you would like to follow our malware guide to check your system out. It can't hurt and might pick up something so I'll post it. Malware is the term used to describe computer infections such as Adware, Spyware, Viruses, and Trojan Horses. You will need to run at least two malware scanners as well as an Antivirus scanner that are listed in the following instructions. Anti-Malware and Anti-Virus scanners perform different tasks. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 30 and 90 minutes. The Eset online scan should take between 1 and 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/printer-selection.gif ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove "junk" files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected".http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner02.gif ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com - AntiAdware, AntiSpyware, AntiMalware!Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from this link. Malwarebytes - click to directly download the application Accept all defaults for the installer and then click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disable your internet security by right clicking on its icon (usually located in the system tray next to the time display) and choosing "Exit", "Disable", or "Shut Down". Run an online scan with Eset from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computerMake sure your internet security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

Hi raj; A little more info would be helpful if you can give it please. Make and model of your computer. Version of Media Player. Are you showing any problems in Device Manager? What display adapters or video do you have? Have you tried updating the drivers? Is this now happening with non-streaming content? Is this an embedded media player app and not Windows Media Player? RandyL

Hi ct2k7; Check out this Dell link. It seems you might be able to do a repair or restore from the hidden partition if your computer came preinstalled with Vista. Check out the link and see if you have the Windows Recovery Environment available. Tapping F8 at startup should bring up the Windows Advanced Options menu. From there you should see a list of options you can try such as Repair or Restore.

Glad to hear that rakay. Let us know if you need any other help such as setting a password or removing the password prompt. We have some very fine techs who could surely help you in that regard if you need it. RandyL

Hi raykay and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. I'm not familiar with Windows 2000 but it sounds similar to XP. If no password was set then you should be able to bypass it. I can't rember off hand but it should be something as simple as proceeding without entering a password. What options are displayed? Have you tried to logon without a password?

As that software can be used for illegal purposes such as removing copyright protection we can not advise you on it. Thread closed. RandyL

Different programs for viewing system information. Some new. Some old. Pick and choose. Add yours. SIW PC Wizard can be found at CPUID Belarc Advisor Everest Download from Major Geeks AIDA32 Download from Major Geeks

Hi Quacker; Right click an empty area of the command bar formerly known as the toolbar. Go to Customize Command Bar>Add or Remove Commands. Add "Read Mail". RandyL

Thanks so much caskin. Your kind words mean a lot to us and the donation too. The team works hard and is always polite. It's good to hear the thanks. Please let us know how it finishes up caskin. By the way might I ask what antivirus and firewall you are using. RandyL

Hi caskin; It seems there was some confusion on one point. Just to make it clear donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the costs of operating this site. There are expenses but the level of support provided is done by the top notch volunteers and is not based on whether you donate or not. Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help is free. Please feel free to donate by the link below if you wish. We would appreciate it. That being said please follow up with the malware steps and toolbars as seth and wolfeymole stated to insure your system remains functional. Bye the way if you are using two different antiviruses or two different firewalls uninstall one or the other. They can conflict. For instance Norton Internet Security Suite AND Zone Alarm Firewall.

Hi petef: You're just talking about the tip of the ice berge if you ask me. I understand what you mean. I'm not sure if this offers any insight on customizing but since it's sometimes overlooked I'll add it here. When you're in Personalization>Windows Color and Appearances click on Show color mixer. From here you can adjust the Hue, Brightness and Saturation. Saturation might be something you want to look at. RandyL

Hi all; This might be a DVD read/CD read and write combo drive. If so you can only write to CD not DVD. RandyL

Hi Sparx; Have you backed up and saved your data as Kelly and seth suggested? Everytime you start up with a failing hard drive you drastically increase the risk of losing all the data. You need to save it as suggested before even thinking about doing anything else.

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help It could be a number of things but with little else to go on I would start with the following as it does show possible signs. Your computer could be infected with Malware. Malware is the term used to describe computer infections such as Adware, Spyware, Viruses, and Trojan Horses. You will need to run at least two malware scanners as well as an Antivirus scanner that are listed in the following instructions. Anti-Malware and Anti-Virus scanners perform different tasks. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 30 and 90 minutes. The Eset online scan should take between 1 and 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/printer-selection.gif ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove "junk" files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner02.gif ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com - AntiAdware, AntiSpyware, AntiMalware!Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from this link. Malwarebytes - click to directly download the application Accept all defaults for the installer and then click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disable your internet security by right clicking on its icon (usually located in the system tray next to the time display) and choosing "Exit", "Disable", or "Shut Down". Run an online scan with Eset from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computerMake sure your internet security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

Hi Ezekiel; Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. We'll try our best to help you.

Hi again; Please wait until the techs can review this furthur. In the mean time look here and scroll down to Check Disk - Disk Checking Runs Upon Boot. Although this could just be a dirty query I suspect hard drive issues. RandyL

Hi pottypat; As AdvancedSetup stated you are in danger of losing your files as your Windows files are corrupted beyond repair or your hard drive is dying. If I were you I would slave your drive to another computer so you can backup your data. If your drive is dying everytime you start up there is less chance of recovering your data. Try what maynard said. If it completes immediately backup all your data. When chkdsk starts try Ctrl Alt Delete twice to restart your computer. Try tapping F8 at bootup to see if you can get into boot options. Just maybe you can get into Safe Mode. If so maybe you can stop it running from there. However if you did not initiate chkdsk but rather it started on its own then you had better backup your data fast just in case.

Hi; Are you using a ball mouse? If so it might need cleaning. Have you tried updating your graphics drivers? What happens if you change your screen resolution? RandyL

I'll have to try that. lol

That one Maynard is near and dear to my heart.

But funny lol

Hi Peter; Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Just ask away if you have a problem. We're not heavy handed so don't worry about mistakes. RandyL

Hi Phil and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Please be patient. I'm sure our techs can assist you on this when they get back. They know their craft. RandyL

By the way shrimply I can use Readyboost too but I have no reason to use it. 2GB works fine for me.