Senior Citizens - have you ever used "Stop Sign" or something similar to clean up your?

From time to time when I'm on the internet, I go into Tools / Internet Options and delete cookies and temporary files. Maybe defrag and disk clean do the same thing ... I'm not that computer savvy either. You can delete History file too, but I usually don't.

I've never noticed the stop sign that you mentioned, but twice a month I do defrag and a disk clean up on my computer and that does help a lot. I use the free edition of AVG anti virus and it scans my files every day and I also do a complete scan at least once a week to get rid of all the cookies. You might also want to ask this question in the computer category here in YA. I've had some great help there.

Hm, I have such a bad memory for how much (or little) I pay for stuff. I just bought a vintage Hawaiian shirt for less then $9 and I'm told it's probably worth a couple hundred (US) but I'm going to wear it and wash it and enjoy it until it shreds (I've decided that's my signature look when I retire, Hawaiian shirts and jeans--although they won't be vintage). Back when I first got it, I thought my building was too expensive but now it's been 30 years and the mortgage is paid off and it's quadrupled in value so that's probably a bargain for me. I keep thinking that my parents paid $10,000 for a 2-storey house back in their day that, if it were still standing, would probably be worth at least 1/2 mill (US)--good solid place in a large US city. Our cats, which we got form free, were a great bargain. I know I overpay for things sometimes when I really want them and I sometimes do find gems for cheap but usually they are only gems ala my taste.

All of these are free downloads for residential users. I.E. if you are a business there is a charge.

Get the following, a search on Yahoo Search should show a web site.

AVG

Ad-Aware 2007

CCleaner

Defraggler

Windows Defender

Advanced Windows Care V2 Personal

If you get and use all of those programs I'll bet you a deluxe lunch at the drive-up window of your choice that things will improve.

In addition get and install a Internet Protection Suite. I use Yahoo Online Protection. If your ISP is Yahoo it comes with the service. If your ISP is another outfit, inquire about getting their software. A suite of programs to protect you is only as good as you are. You MUST ALWAYS run them in the background. I keep mine up whether or not I am on line.

What is happening in your computer is PROBABLY (my official wiggle room if I'm wrong) a compilation of several things.

Your computer is probably full of cookies. Many sites drop a cookie on your machine when you go to an internet site. It helps the site remember who you are if and when you return. CCleaner will rid you of them up.

Your computer hard drive is probably so fragmented that it takes a long time to get a full program from the drive to memory. Defraggler will put all your software in sequence on the drive and speed up disk operations.

AND SO FORTH. Suffice to say, if you get the software, and use it, you should see an improvement immediately.

I started maintaining computers when they still weighed in at 250+ tons and had 50,000+ vacuum tubes per machine. I am still at it. If I can help with more suggestions of interpretations of your problem please feel free to email me at my Profile. Do remind of who you are though, I have several folks who do this for a myriad of reasons and I don't have the greatest memory.

I like Windows Live One Care, because it does a tune up, defragmentation and antivirus all in one. Plus you can back up your files from there, also, to an external drive or other method.

I also use CCleaner (Piriform cleaner) to clean out cookies and clean out the registry at least once a week.

Others that I run occasionally are Spywareblaster and Spybot S & D Resident.

Many, if not most, of these are available for free on downloads.com

Running too many anti virus programs will slow your computer down, so be careful in that respect as well.

**noonecan gave you some great advice. I do the exact same thing as well. It's important to do those things, to avoid problems.

When I put AVG in my computer, it slowed it down a lot, but is it worth it to take it out? It scans so often and that is what does it.

Never heard of stop sign, I clean the c disk and defrag. delete browing history and cookies often.

Sorry CJ I cant help you I need a boffin myself.

I use "Windows and Internet Cleaner-Professional" weekly, and defrag daily.