Computer Problems

[eFestivals]

So no mention at all of VS being the culprit but indeed the victim

it depends how you look at it. I was questioning why VS needs such high resources (when not compiling) that running AV software is an issue.

[Spindles]

Just.....wow.

Hope you get your pc issues sorted feral

[eFestivals]

Intellisense is one example...

the same feature in delphi doesn't cause the same effect.

[windy_miller]

if it's using all your computer resources when doing little more than being a text editor - which is much what you've said it does - then it can't be a good product.

If it was little more than a text editor, then I would just use a text editor. As much as I hate Microsoft, Visual Studio is actually a very good product.

When I said "wreak havoc" earlier, I was talking about compiling. I don't have any AV/VS issues when not compiling. The problem with compiling is not so much the CPU usage, but the ton of data that is being read from and written to the disk.

Edited October 2, 2012 by windy_miller

[eFestivals]

When I said "wreak havoc" earlier, I was talking about compiling. I don't have any AV/VS issues when not compiling. The problem with compiling is not so much the CPU usage, but the ton of data that is being read from and written to the disk.

that's all quite understandable tho, and is really less about the fact of AV running and more to do with the high demands of compiling. Any AV (one you might consider good, or one you might consider bad) is going to have a noticeable impact on that if the compilation is of any size.

Anyway ... don't you programmers run a dedicated machine for compiling nowadays? .. It always used to be the way to keep working when compiling.

[eFestivals]

And hence why it was mentioned as a good example... What you are using your computer for has a big impact on how much the AV / Security is getting in the way... and is a good tool to show they don't all work in the same way as you have been trying to wrongly suggest...

the only meaningful way there's any difference is with which files they might choose to omit from scanning (as you've already said), or virus definitions they might decide not to check a file against .... and for every file that's omitted or virus definition that's omitted, that's one more vulnerability to being infected with a virus'.

There really is a limited way of doing that checking - and so the ones that you think 'better' are only better in particular ways, while simultaneously being 'not better' in other ways. You pay your money, you make the choice ... and perhaps have to face up to the consequences of that choice at some point.

[LondonTom]

[feral chile]

What was wrong with the cat? I hope it did not die as a result. :-(

The printer's operation, not the cat. The poor old cat is hanging in there, but poorly (not as a result of any cancelled operations, I might add).

[feral chile]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, I'll work my way through them on the weekend, when I have time. I was tempted to think it was Flashplayer, because I just updated to the latest version when all the trouble started. And worry that I might have downloaded a virus masked as an update somewhere along the way.

I'll try your suggestions on the weekend when I've time to tinker. I'll probably end up saving stuff to my external hard drive and wiping the computer, I'm paranoid about viruses.

[kaosmark2]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, I'll work my way through them on the weekend, when I have time. I was tempted to think it was Flashplayer, because I just updated to the latest version when all the trouble started. And worry that I might have downloaded a virus masked as an update somewhere along the way.

I'll try your suggestions on the weekend when I've time to tinker. I'll probably end up saving stuff to my external hard drive and wiping the computer, I'm paranoid about viruses.

Hope something helps, and sorry for the derail.

[Spartacus Mars]

yup - that was an issue being caused by particular Flash ads, which were resource hungry. Because it was an issue action was taken to stop it happening, which is why it's now stopped.

Resource-hogging was the primary reason I installed AdBlock into Chrome.

[eFestivals]

Resource-hogging was the primary reason I installed AdBlock into Chrome.

freeloading is the primary reason your posts won't now display when you first make them.

[feral chile]

I'd just like to make it clear that it's definitely not just a problem with efestivals, though it might be flash related, but it's much more general than that.

edit: I have disabled the flashplayer add-on and I'm still having problems.

[eFestivals]

I'd just like to make it clear that it's definitely not just a problem with efestivals, though it might be flash related, but it's much more general than that.

edit: I have disabled the flashplayer add-on and I'm still having problems.

Sometimes the browser's cache gets corrupted, so it's worth clearing your browser cache and seeing if that makes a difference.

[feral chile]

Tried deleting my browser history, cookies, temp files etc, still spiking.

Neil, it's certain sites I visit, while efestivals is not the only one by far, it is one of the sites.

Is there any way this info can give an insight into what particular application of mine might be corrupted? I'm assuming Flash or Java, as was suggested earlier? I have the latest update for Flashplayer, so how can I revert to the previous one, as that's the one I'm suspecting might be the culprit?

(I know next to nothing about software, so the above paragraph might imply more understanding than I actually have ie none).

With 2 sites open my CPU usage is about 50% and physical memory 66% when I open efestivals as well, CPU shoots up to 95%-100% and physical memory to 70%, not sure if that's relevant.

Edited October 3, 2012 by feral chile

[eFestivals]

Tried deleting my browser history, cookies, temp files etc, still spiking.

ah well, it was worth a try.

Neil, it's certain sites I visit, while efestivals is not the only one by far, it is one of the sites.

Is there any way this info can give an insight into what particular application of mine might be corrupted? I'm assuming Flash or Java, as was suggested earlier? I have the latest update for Flashplayer, so how can I revert to the previous one, as that's the one I'm suspecting might be the culprit?

(I know next to nothing about software, so the above paragraph might imply more understanding than I actually have ie none).

If you're still getting the same problems when Flash is disabled, it can't be flash.

efestivals doesn't use java at all, tho I can't guarantee that it's not used by any of the adverts that might be displayed on efests. You could try uninstalling Java (control panel -> add/remove programs) and then rebooting to see if that makes a difference

It could be that your hard disk is failing, and that the delays you're experiencing are due to bad reads & writes (and the retries those fails would involve). It's probably unlikely to be that, but it could be - so it's worth error-checking the disk (right click on the disk in windows explorer, and select 'properties', then click on the 'tools' tab).

Likewise it could be a failure in your memory chips. Again, unlikely but possible (I'm not sure how this can be checked tho ... anyone know?).

If your PC is switched off before use, do you suffer fewer problems when just turned on than you do when it's been turned on for a while? If so, then it could be possible that a component is suffering heat problems (and is likely to fail completely in the near-future). Which component is failing tho would probably be hard to track down.

And finally ... is there some software that you installed at around the same time that these problems started? If so, that might be hogging your resources in the background without you realising.

[feral chile]

ah well, it was worth a try.

If you're still getting the same problems when Flash is disabled, it can't be flash.

efestivals doesn't use java at all, tho I can't guarantee that it's not used by any of the adverts that might be displayed on efests. You could try uninstalling Java (control panel -> add/remove programs) and then rebooting to see if that makes a difference

It could be that your hard disk is failing, and that the delays you're experiencing are due to bad reads & writes (and the retries those fails would involve). It's probably unlikely to be that, but it could be - so it's worth error-checking the disk (right click on the disk in windows explorer, and select 'properties', then click on the 'tools' tab).

Likewise it could be a failure in your memory chips. Again, unlikely but possible (I'm not sure how this can be checked tho ... anyone know?).

If your PC is switched off before use, do you suffer fewer problems when just turned on than you do when it's been turned on for a while? If so, then it could be possible that a component is suffering heat problems (and is likely to fail completely in the near-future). Which component is failing tho would probably be hard to track down.

And finally ... is there some software that you installed at around the same time that these problems started? If so, that might be hogging your resources in the background without you realising.

ah well, it was worth a try.

If you're still getting the same problems when Flash is disabled, it can't be flash.

efestivals doesn't use java at all, tho I can't guarantee that it's not used by any of the adverts that might be displayed on efests. You could try uninstalling Java (control panel -> add/remove programs) and then rebooting to see if that makes a difference

It could be that your hard disk is failing, and that the delays you're experiencing are due to bad reads & writes (and the retries those fails would involve). It's probably unlikely to be that, but it could be - so it's worth error-checking the disk (right click on the disk in windows explorer, and select 'properties', then click on the 'tools' tab).

Likewise it could be a failure in your memory chips. Again, unlikely but possible (I'm not sure how this can be checked tho ... anyone know?).

If your PC is switched off before use, do you suffer fewer problems when just turned on than you do when it's been turned on for a while? If so, then it could be possible that a component is suffering heat problems (and is likely to fail completely in the near-future). Which component is failing tho would probably be hard to track down.

And finally ... is there some software that you installed at around the same time that these problems started? If so, that might be hogging your resources in the background without you realising.

It could be a corrupted Windows file, I had a crash about a month ago and Windows had to repair itself - I now have my Welcome pack as if I've just started using my computer, including an introductory version of Norton, which might be clashing with my purchased version.

I've often had Norton notifications in the past about high usage, but I've just ignored them as it hasn't affected performance.

But over the weekend I had a huge problem with my PC freezing. I'll just try uninstalling and reinstalling a few things, and hope it goes away - if not, I keep the local repair shop busy, might need them to check the hardwear, maybe needs a declog of cat fur lol

I notice your quoted post duplicated itself...related maybe?

Edited October 3, 2012 by feral chile

[eFestivals]

It could be a corrupted Windows file, I had a crash about a month ago and Windows had to repair itself - I now have my Welcome pack as if I've just started using my computer, including an introductory version of Norton, which might be clashing with my purchased version.

those two versions of norton is quite possibly the problem - it might even be the case that some data is getting stuck in an endless loop between them, because of the way that AV software is designed to intercept certain operations.

Get one of them uninstalled asap (the introdyctory version).

I've often had Norton notifications in the past about high usage, but I've just ignored them as it hasn't affected performance.

AVG gives similar notifications of high resource usage, and if they're the same feature (I've no idea if they are) then it's not (generally) the AV software itself which is causing the high load, but merely the AV software bringing your attention to the program which is causing that high load (in my case it's always firefox, when I have lots of windows &/or tabs open).

Like you, I ignore those warnings because they're caused by the computer doing what i've asked it to do - but in your case it's certainly worth taking note of which program its saying is causing the high load.

I notice your quoted post duplicated itself...related maybe?

nah - that will have been caused by you clicking the 'quote' button twice.

[eFestivals]

if it's happening for feral continually you might be on to something, but as far as i've noticed it's not a regular occurrence for her.

[feral chile]

I've had a look at my extensions, there don't sxeem to be any dodgy ones, I've disabled Shockwave, I have Adobe PDFReader enabled, all the rest are from Microsoft, so I'd assume safe, though don't know how to check what they're for, there's loads of them under run without permission, which is a bit of a worry.

Edited October 3, 2012 by feral chile

[eFestivals]

all the rest are from Microsoft, so I'd assume safe,

safe, very probably. Resource hogs, very likely - it's what Microsoft do and always have done.

However, it's probably the case that what is running are the bits and pieces required for windoze to run, and probably aren't the issue.

Have you removed one of the Norton's, and done a disk error check?

[feral chile]

safe, very probably. Resource hogs, very likely - it's what Microsoft do and always have done.

However, it's probably the case that what is running are the bits and pieces required for windoze to run, and probably aren't the issue.

Have you removed one of the Norton's, and done a disk error check?

Not yet, I'm waiting for the weekend, when I can have hubby and son support, as I'm not at all confident in my ability to get rid of all of Norton, based on a bad experience trying to uninstall mcafee cleanly. I plan to get rid of it all, then get on the norton website and download a clean version, just to be safe.

[eFestivals]

Not yet, I'm waiting for the weekend, when I can have hubby and son support, as I'm not at all confident in my ability to get rid of all of Norton, based on a bad experience trying to uninstall mcafee cleanly. I plan to get rid of it all, then get on the norton website and download a clean version, just to be safe.

In which case I'd stop trying anything further until you've dealt with the two Norton's issue - of everything you've said, that's the most obvious candidate to deal with before anything else.

[pothead pixie]

I used to have Norton when I first got my laptop, I didnt have so much an issue with Norton, but its email checker Symantec was what I had an issue with, it would take forever to scan my emails to the point of frustration that I thumped the computer and broke the hard disc. Have since removed it and have not had the urge to thump computer since then I use AVG free edition now myself which is ok.

[feral chile]

Yes, I think I'll leave it till I've got plenty of time to go through everything, and try everything suggested, one at a time.

Starting with Norton.