I am describing two seperate problems for two PCs:
1. Laptop Compaq, circa 2004 running Win XP Pro using only Wireless internet cannot access said internet. Using Zone Alarm firewall/ virus/ spyware scanning, and have read that in the past (July 08) ZA has conflicted with internet usage. This computer can perform all functions EXCEPT acknowledging any wireless networks, which there are at least a dozen in my complex. I have tried updating ZA with no luck. About to try disabling ZA and getting a new free software; looking for suggestions on the best ones- perhaps AVG.
2. Desktop hybrid running I believe 2 ghz processor, with at least 1 gig DDR2 ram running Win Xp Home. It's been awhile since we built it, and I cannot really access it to check system specs, or at least not well. This computer will freeze at a random time fairly soon after booting up, sometimes at the XP login screen, sometimes after logging in. The mouse remains able to move on screen, however even the time freezes. No applications can be open, not the start menu, and Ctrl-Alt-Delete proves useless. This seems to happen no matter how many times I reboot.
It has been a long while since I did any kind of computer troubleshooting, and no longer know anyone who can do so. My gut tells me to boot into safe mode (but I can't remember how, and trying got me into the BIOS by accident) and attempt to reload an additional antivirus software. I have AVG installed (although it expired!) and a few "spybot" type antispyware programs. I am considering re-installing AVG (does the free year restart?) and scanning again for viruses. I do use torrents and suspect I caught something hanus, but fear the computer would freeze before the scan completed.
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Any help for either of these problems would be lovely, as I am going nuts trying to only use my work computer. I do believe these are both software issues only, but the time problem makes me consider the battery, even though that computer was only built in 2007 and is entirely too new to do so.
Please advise!
1. Laptop Compaq, circa 2004 running Win XP Pro using only Wireless internet cannot access said internet. Using Zone Alarm firewall/ virus/ spyware scanning, and have read that in the past (July 08) ZA has conflicted with internet usage. This computer can perform all functions EXCEPT acknowledging any wireless networks, which there are at least a dozen in my complex. I have tried updating ZA with no luck. About to try disabling ZA and getting a new free software; looking for suggestions on the best ones- perhaps AVG.
2. Desktop hybrid running I believe 2 ghz processor, with at least 1 gig DDR2 ram running Win Xp Home. It's been awhile since we built it, and I cannot really access it to check system specs, or at least not well. This computer will freeze at a random time fairly soon after booting up, sometimes at the XP login screen, sometimes after logging in. The mouse remains able to move on screen, however even the time freezes. No applications can be open, not the start menu, and Ctrl-Alt-Delete proves useless. This seems to happen no matter how many times I reboot.
It has been a long while since I did any kind of computer troubleshooting, and no longer know anyone who can do so. My gut tells me to boot into safe mode (but I can't remember how, and trying got me into the BIOS by accident) and attempt to reload an additional antivirus software. I have AVG installed (although it expired!) and a few "spybot" type antispyware programs. I am considering re-installing AVG (does the free year restart?) and scanning again for viruses. I do use torrents and suspect I caught something hanus, but fear the computer would freeze before the scan completed.
----
Any help for either of these problems would be lovely, as I am going nuts trying to only use my work computer. I do believe these are both software issues only, but the time problem makes me consider the battery, even though that computer was only built in 2007 and is entirely too new to do so.
Please advise!