[PollyI]

For some reason my photos are unbelievably slow to load up when I go into the files in 'My Pictures'. I also have a strange symbol in the bottom right hand corner which was never there before and I think this slowness might be caused by it? The symbol is reasonably large and is faded into the background. It has a circle on it with a pattern. Could this be the cause of the slowness? I have done lots of virus checks and nothing has made a difference.

Help!

[bonk]

Does the file look similar to this one below??

[PollyI]

This is exactly the symbol I get - is it usual, or is there something wrong?

[bonk]

Go Start>>My Computer
then at the top click Tools>>folder options>>
and makesure that Do Not Show Hidden Files and Folders and Hide Protected Operating System Files is checked then click OK

Now go back and see if can see it.

[PollyI]

Yup it is still there. Could this be why I have a problem with opening photos?

[bonk]

No those files have nothing to do with that...we all have them.

How about telling us what memory you have and what size is you Hard Drive.

[PollyI]

Is the memory the information when you go to properties on the C Drive? If it is, I have 51.1GB and I have 25.1GB of free space. Not sure where I find the Hard Drive bit. Is that symbol on the bottom right hand corner odd though?

[bonk]

OK now we need the Ram (Memory)

Go Start>>Right click on My Computer choose Properties and at the bottom of that screen you will see Ram in MB ...what is it?

[PollyI]

I have 504MB of Ram

[bonk]

Ok so have you defragged lately?

Is the laptop in a place where it getting good ventilation?

Have you run scans for viruses and malware lately?

Have you emptied your Temp folders lately?

This is a free and good cleaner

ATF Cleaner

Run ATF Cleaner
Double-click ATF Cleaner.exe
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

Firefox :
Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.

[PollyI]

Ok I've done the cleaner, and it cleaned 56,000,000 bytes. Is that a lot? The pictures are still slow though and that symbol is still there. I have never defragged the hard drive - should I do that?

[bonk]

Yes that was a lot do it on a regular basis


Yes defragged but it's best to do it over night as it can take sometime.

If you haven't got these download them and Update them before you run them their free

Ad-Aware SE

Spy-Bot S&D,

Also do a Online Scan here:

PandaActiceScan

• Once you are on the Panda site click the "Scan your PC" button
• A new window will open...click the big "Check Now" button
• Enter your Country
• Enter your State/Province
• Enter your e-mail address and click send
• Select either Home User or Company
• Click the big Scan Now button
• If it wants to install an ActiveX component allow it
• It will start downloading the files it requires for the scan (Note: It will take a couple minutes)
• Click on "Local Disks" to start the scan

[PollyI]

Do I need to download these if I have Norton anti-virus?

[bonk]

Well now I know whats slowing you down, Norton.

If you haven't got Ad-AwareSE, or Spybot then download them and update them and run them...Norton doesn't find everything.

[PollyI]

I only just bought Norton today in a desperate attempt to sort this out! Slightly regretting it if it is going to make it even slower!