Laptop problems - any ideas?

I wrote not long ago about my old computer, which died because its motherboard gave up.

Now I'm using the spare laptop, which has seen light use over the years and is pretty up-to-date.

The thing is that nowadays it's often just not doing things I want it to do. I can't open my internet security. It does scheduled weekly scans, and I can change the settings of the firewall and the security, but I just cannot open the program. If I do, no window opens but it's one of those windows which need the 'End task now' button pressing when shutting down.

I'm not able to use Yahoo Messenger either. I wanted to upgrade it a month ago and downloaded the newest edition from Yahoo - and it wouldn't install. I got the program on my desktop, but it wouldn't run whatever method I tried. So I deleted it and deleted my Messenger and decided it would work if I installed a fresh install. It still doesn't work, and now I have no Messenger at all. Not that I could use it - it didn't log in, though in the past it did and I hadn't changed anything (and the password & username is valid because I use it as an email address).

I also can't upgrade a Java update the computer has insisted I need, for over a month. I click on it and it says 'downloading updates... 0%' and then that's the last I see of it and it pops up to remind me every time I turn on the computer.

Other than that... everything works ok

A guy my dad knows at work recommends I back up my system and completely un-install it... this sounds a bit extreme... but does anybody else think it's necessary, too? Is there anything I can do to solve the problem? Before anybody asks, I have an internet security suite with enabled firewall, AVG which scans automatically every day, and Spybot search & destroy. Though I know these rarely detect problems on the laptop, but it has always been protected.

I am not in my prime thinking today, but I do know of people who had terrible issues with those constant-on security programs. They slowed the system terribly, they used huge amounts of RAM (you may need to increase the size allotted) and they blocked programs automatically also. But I'm not saying that is your problem.

Silver, within the last year or so, in the technical forum, there was a program to run --free from the internet - that found problems like this I think... sorry I can't even think of who might have posted it. I think originally we were clued in by Dexter, but this was by a more recent computer-savvy member, you might try searching that forum.

Do you have the disks of the original op system? If so, that might be the easiest way to go about things, to uninstall and reinstall...but I would dismantle that auto security system first.

good wishes!

Thanks for replying Sky .

I have increased the RAM of this laptop - it's now 1.2 GB (used to be 256MB and horribly slow) so it works well in that way.

I've also tested the firewall and made sure that all the programs I want to install have access, and I've disabled security programs and firewalls to test if they are stopping them from working - and it doesn't make any difference

I have all the original discs, and there isn't much on this laptop since I relied so much on the old dead computer (though all it needs is a disk drive enclosure and I'll be able to rescue the info on it)

That program sounds good, I do know of a program called Hijack This, if that's what you're thinking of, and apparently it's rather complicated but it's supposed to be accurate. I'll search the tech forum sometime - luckily it's only small

Thanks a lot, Sky

ok maybe I used the wrong term... the amount of memory that your temporary files and games and such use... it's a setting that you might need to increase. I'll try and see where that is no guarantees.

ok ---> Start
then:
control panel
system
system properties
advanced
performance settings
advanced

try that out

also try running disk check and disk clesn up as the first will repair any damage and the second will delete unused tempory files the cookies and compress files making your machine work better also try a defrage if these dont work try rebooting your machine, with the orignal disks so your machine is back to as it was when you first used it

Sorry ..I've scanned the tech forum and I can't find anything Maybe someone gleaned that site of threads. Bummer. The only other thing is maybe the info is embedded within a thread..you know, began with one question and rabbit trailed around?

SOMEONE here has the links to some of those sites! Links...hmm let me go check my computer.. oh I can't... tile men have moved everything... plus it might have been on my old computer