Searching Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gareth
  • Start date Start date
G

Gareth

When I click on start, then search my PC freezes up for
about 20 seconds and then continues running like I never
did anything. Does anyone know why my start>search
feature doesnt work or how I can fix it?
 
Did Search ever work? If so, what changed in interim? How much memory
does your machine have? Have you setup indexing for searching yet? What
does Task Manager say is the running process when it freezes like this?
Have you confirmed your machine does not have any virus, spy-bot, or
other nefarious programs which is getting the way?

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms
 
I know for definite that my machine is virus free and all
the other stuff. I have tried all the spy-bot, ad-aware
stuff. Search used to work until the other day when it
just stopped. I don't know is this a coincidence or not
but, this website: amazingautosearch.com began to default
itself to my homepage. It was about the same time that
search stop working. Are these connected and do you know
how I can fix them?

Gareth
 
Despite what you may think, it sure looks like spyware has invaded your
system, as evidenced by the hijacking of your browser home page.

I use AVG from Grisoft for my anti-virus program, and AdAware from Lavasoft
for my anti-spyware program. There are free, downloadable versions for each
of them. Make sure you keep them (or whatever you are using) updated, and
run them often.
 
I have ad-adware and Norton Anti-Virus but not AVG. I'll
download AVG and try that. Thanks for your advice
Gareth
 
Based on what you report, then surely some nefarious program has entered
itself into your computer. Yes indeed, I would say these events are
connected. This makes sense. Something must *cause* problem like this.
Computers normally just don't stop for no good reason. You were attacked.

The creators of this junk are faster than the detectors can release
updates. There is no way you can know for sure you don't have nefarious
software, since these detector programs are not 100% effective all the
time. That's just the way it is. You cannot count on them to provide
you security.

You have to do more. Follow the full program of "safe-computing."

Ensure your anti-virus and spy-bot and ad-aware config files are up to
date and dig deeper into your machine. Also check that your Internet
security settings are not too lax. A minimum, check that you don't
enable running of Active-X controls and that sort of stuff.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms
 
Warning: sometimes two AV programs installed on the same machine can cause
problems, in that they may conflict with one another - thus preventing some
specific virus from being detected (or, on the other hand, misinterpreting
something legitimate as a virus).
 
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